Radiation-Treated Grape Seeds

Texas A&M Launches Its TAMU-SPIRIT Grape Seed Mission

Texas A&M University launched a six-month TAMU-SPIRIT experiment sending hundreds of Texas grape seeds to the International Space Station to study how cosmic radiation affects their genetics and viability. The mission uses a custom protective carrier designed to expose the seeds to radiation without rendering them non-viable.

After returning to Earth, the seeds will be planted alongside identical control seeds at Texas A&M’s AgriLife Research vineyard to compare growth, grape production and genetic expression. The study includes three grape varieties, including the historic Lomanto cultivar, and brings together researchers from AgriLife Research, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and engineering students who helped develop the payload.

For growers, the project could reveal radiation-induced mutations that improve disease resistance or climate adaptability, supporting future grape-breeding efforts. If the seeds remain viable, the experiment could also eventually produce a novelty wine made from grapes grown from seeds that travelled through space.

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