New Brunswick Seedlings Sent to International Space Station

April 20, 2010
Sussex, NB - New Brunswick seedlings are part of a 30-day space experiment that will allow scientists to gain valuable insights. The 18 white spruce tree seedlings were grown at the J.D. Irving, Limited, tree nursery in Sussex, and provided to Natural Resources Canada, the organization leading the study along with the Canadian Space Agency. The white spruce varieties used in the experiment were propagated by a tissue culture technique known as somatic embryogenesis. While the 18 baby trees are growing in space, 18 seedlings of the same varieties are growing on earth under the exact same conditions, except for the near zero gravity in space. Tissue samples from both sets of trees will be analyzed to determine any differences in genes expressed. Because gravity is the only difference in the environments, if there is a difference in genes being expressed in the growing seedlings it could help scientists better understand genetic control in the formation of wood.

J.D. Irving, Limited, sent the seedlings to the lead scientist Jean Beaulieu, of Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Wood Fibre Centre in Sainte Foy, Quebec, on March 22. The seedlings were kept in a research growth chamber until they were taken to the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida the week prior to lift off.

The seedlings were put in Ziploc bags and a small box called a Replant Kit two days before liftoff and kept at four degrees Celsius. On April 5 the seedlings were launched into space and the 18 healthiest were planted on flight day five. Control plants of the same varieties were also grown in similar conditions at NASA's Kennedy Space Center for comparison.

After 30 days, tissue samples will be taken from the growing seedlings in the space station and on the ground. The samples will be studied to determine the effect of gravity on gene expression, tissue composition, organization, plant growth and wood formation.

The Canadian Space Agency conducts research on the International Space Station in 14 different areas ranging from experiments with plants, to studying the affects space travel has on the human body to space medicine.

About J.D. Irving, Limited's (JDI) Tree Growing Program
J.D. Irving, Limited has had an active tree growing program since 1957 as part of the company's commitment to a healthy forest future. Today, JDI has the largest private tree improvement research program in Canada. JDI nurseries grow white spruce, red spruce, black spruce, Norway spruce, white pine, jack pine, red pine and cedar, plus minor amounts of other species. Mixtures of tree species are commonly planted. The company's nurseries are located in Juniper and Sussex, New Brunswick and produce up to 26 million seedlings per year for planting in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Maine. JDI foresters in each region determine the best species or species mixtures for their area based on soils, forest type and drainage. Since 1957, JDI has planted over 800 million trees - a national record!

About Forestry in the Maritimes
Due to more than 400 years of European inhabitation in a relatively small land area, private ownership of forested land is greater than 50% in all three Maritime Provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island). This contrasts sharply with Canada's national average of 7% privately owned forests, with the rest owned and managed primarily by governments. The influence of private ownership has led to more intensive management practices, including plantations, as well as lower levels of tolerance for fire and insect pests (which are major contributors to greenhouse gases), and higher levels of forest certification.

For more information on the seedlings in space, please visit:
http://nbbusinessjournal.canadaeast.com/front/article/1021593
http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/rss/article/1018195
http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/sciences/apex_csa2.asp

For a general picture of forestry in Canada in 2009, please visit:
http://warehouse.pfc.forestry.ca/HQ/30071.pdf

To learn more about J.D. Irving, Limited's current research programs, please visit:
JD Irving's Current Research Programs

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