Life support approaches for Mars missions

Drysdale, Alan; Ewert, Michael K.; Hanford, Anthony J.

doi:10.1016/s0273-1177(02)00658-0

Cited by 62 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The plants and associated microbial communities in these bioregenerative systems provide, in whole or in part, critical life-support services including food production, air revitalization (oxygen production and carbon dioxide removal), and wastewater recycling (Mitchell 1994, Wheeler & Sager 2006. Modifying the architecture of any given crop, through such responses as thigmomorphogenesis, could help reduce the equivalent system mass (ESM) of bioregenerative systems ultimately leading to viable 'agriculture in space' (Drysdale et al 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanical Stimulation Modifies Canopy Architecture and Improves Volume Utilization Efficiency in Bell Pepper: Implications for Bioregenerative Life-support and Vertical Farming

Graham

Wheeler

2017

Open Agriculture

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Open Agriculture. 2017; 2: 42-51 vertical system requirements or by expanding the species range that can be grown in a fixed production volume. Mechanical stimulation is also discussed as a microgravity countermeasure for crop plants.Keywords: Thigmomorphogenesis, Plant Dwarfing, Capsicum annum 'California Wonder', Advanced LifeSupport, Vertical Agriculture IntroductionIt has long been recognized that mechanical stimulation (MS; stress), such as wind action, rubbing, constriction, shaking, and encounters with physical barriers can have a dramatic influence on plant morphological development (Biddington 1986, Darwin 1880, Jaffe 1973, Mitchell et al. 1975, Mitchell 1977. Jaffe (1973) demonstrated that daily MS to partially mature internode tissue, applied by rubbing stem tissue between two fingers, could induce dramatic reductions in internode length resulting in dwarf phenotypes in a range of crop species. Jaffe (1973) coined the term thigmomorphogenesis, (thigma being the Greek word for touch) to describe these long term morphological responses to touch. Over the ensuing 40 years many others have followed up on Jaffe's work, notably amongst others, Cary Mitchell's group at Purdue (West Lafayette, IN, USA), Joyce Latimer at Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA, USA), and Janet Braam at Rice University (Houston, TX, USA). It is now known that thigmomorphogenesis includes a wide range of responses including, but not limited to, shortening of internodes, stem thickening, reduced leaf expansion, changes in chlorophyll content, and alterations in plant hormone levels (Beyl & Mitchell 1983, Biddington 1986, Braam 2005, Chehab et al. 2008, Latimer et al. 1991, Mitchell & Myers 1995, Monshausen & Haswell 2013. Abstract: Mechanical stimuli or stress has been shown to induce characteristic morphogenic responses (thigmomorphogenesis) in a range of crop species. The typical mechanically stimulated phenotype is shorter and more compact than non-mechanically stimulated plants. This dwarfing effect can be employed to help conform crop plants to the constraints of spaceflight and vertical agriculture crop production systems. Capsicum annum (cv. California Wonder) plants were grown in controlled environment chambers and subjected to mechanical stimulation in the form of firm but gentle daily rubbing of internode tissue with a tightly wrapped cotton swab. Two studies were conducted, the first being a vegetative growth phase study in which plants were mechanically stimulated until anthesis. The second study carried the mechanical stimulation through to fruit set. The response during the vegetative growth experiment was consistent with other results in the literature, with a general reduction in all plant growth metrics and an increase in relative chlorophyll (SPAD) content under mechanical stimulation. In the fruiting phase study, only height and stem thickness differed from the control plants. Using the data from the fruiting study, a rudimentary calculation of volume use efficiency (VUE) improvements was conducted. Results suggest t...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanical Stimulation Modifies Canopy Architecture and Improves Volume Utilization Efficiency in Bell Pepper: Implications for Bioregenerative Life-support and Vertical Farming

Graham

Wheeler

2017

Open Agriculture

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“…As for current space missions, supply and physiochemical regeneration (of water and oxygen) are the most cost-effective, but for longer periods and permanent bases, bioregeneration becomes more attractive (Drysdale et al 2003). A controlled ecological life support system (celss) would not only provide fresh food to the astronauts, but also deal with waste, and provide oxygen and water (Saha and Trumbo 1996;Benjaminson et al 1998;Drysdale et al 2003). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prospectus of cultured meat—advancing meat alternatives

2010

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“…This conclusion significantly impacts the feasibility of using higher plants for atmospheric regeneration under lg conditions (Wheeler et al 2001;Drysdale et al 2003) since the total mass and volume of a BLSS would have to be increased by an appropriate factor to meet the minimum crew requirements for a long-duration mission. The associated increase in size, mass, and cost ultimately, has far reaching implications in the overall design and feasibility of a BLSS.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microgravity effects on thylakoid, single leaf, and whole canopy photosynthesis of dwarf wheat

Stutte

Monje

Goins

et al. 2005

Planta

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The concept of using higher plants to maintain a sustainable life support system for humans during long-duration space missions is dependent upon photosynthesis. The effects of extended exposure to microgravity on the development and functioning of photosynthesis at the leaf and stand levels were examined onboard the International Space Station (ISS). The PESTO (Photosynthesis Experiment Systems Testing and Operations) experiment was the first long-term replicated test to obtain direct measurements of canopy photosynthesis from space under well-controlled conditions. The PESTO experiment consisted of a series of 21-24 day growth cycles of Triticum aestivum L. cv. USU Apogee onboard ISS. Single leaf measurements showed no differences in photosynthetic activity at the moderate (up to 600 micromol m(-2) s(-1)) light levels, but reductions in whole chain electron transport, PSII, and PSI activities were measured under saturating light (>2,000 micromol m(-2) s(-1)) and CO(2) (4000 micromol mol(-1)) conditions in the microgravity-grown plants. Canopy level photosynthetic rates of plants developing in microgravity at approximately 280 micromol m(-2) s(-1) were not different from ground controls. The wheat canopy had apparently adapted to the microgravity environment since the CO(2) compensation (121 vs. 118 micromol mol(-1)) and PPF compensation (85 vs. 81 micromol m(-2) s(-1)) of the flight and ground treatments were similar. The reduction in whole chain electron transport (13%), PSII (13%), and PSI (16%) activities observed under saturating light conditions suggests that microgravity-induced responses at the canopy level may occur at higher PPF intensity.

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Life support approaches for Mars missions

Cited by 62 publications

References 2 publications

Mechanical Stimulation Modifies Canopy Architecture and Improves Volume Utilization Efficiency in Bell Pepper: Implications for Bioregenerative Life-support and Vertical Farming

Mechanical Stimulation Modifies Canopy Architecture and Improves Volume Utilization Efficiency in Bell Pepper: Implications for Bioregenerative Life-support and Vertical Farming

Prospectus of cultured meat—advancing meat alternatives

Microgravity effects on thylakoid, single leaf, and whole canopy photosynthesis of dwarf wheat

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