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Gavriil Adrianovich Tikhov with his wife in the tower of the 6-inch Bredikhinsky astograf in Pulkovo, 1912.

Astrobotany is an applied sub-discipline of botany that is the study of plants in space environments. It is a branch of astrobiology and botany.

Russian astronomer Gavriil Adrianovich Tikhov is considered to be the father of astrobotany. Research in the field has been conducted both with growing Earth plants in space environments and searching for botanical life on other planets.

History

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Russian scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky was one of the first people to discuss using photosynthetic life as a resource in space agricultural systems. Speculation about plant cultivation in space has been around since the early 20th century.[1] The term astrobotany was first used in 1945 by Russian astronomer and astrobiology pioneer Gavriil Adrianovich Tikhov.[2]

Extraterrestrial vegetation

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The search for vegetation on other planets began with Gavriil Tikhov, who attempted to detect extraterrestrial vegetation via analyzing the wavelengths of a planet's reflected light, or planetshine. Photosynthetic pigments, like chlorophylls on Earth, reflect light spectra that spike in the range of 700-750 nm. This pronounced spike is referred to as "vegetation's red edge."[3] It was thought that observing this spike in a reading of planetshine would signal a surface covered in green vegetation. Searching for extraterrestrial vegetation has been outcompeted by the search for microbial life on other planets[4] or mathematical models to predict the viability of life on exoplanets.[5]

Growing plants in space

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The study of plant response in space environments is another subject of astrobotany research. In space, plants encounter unique environmental stressors not found on Earth including microgravity, ionizing radiation, and oxidative stress.[6] Experiments have shown that these stressors cause genetic alterations in plant metabolism pathways. Changes in genetic expression have shown that plants respond on a molecular level to a space environment.[7] Astrobotanical research has been applied to the challenges of creating life support systems both in space and on other planets, primarily Mars.

Plants grown in space

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Main article: Plants in space

 
"Outredgeous" red lettuce cultivar grown aboard the International Space Station.

Plants that have been grown in space include:

Some plants, like tobacco and morning glory, have not been directly grown in space but have been subjected to space environments and then germinated and grown on Earth.[17]

Life support in space

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Lettuce being grown and harvested in the International Space Station before being frozen and returned to Earth.

Algae was the first candidate for human-plant life support systems. Initial research in the 1950s and 1960s used Chlorella, Anacystis, Synechocystis, Scenedesmus, Synechococcus, and Spirulina species to study how photosynthetic organisms could be used for O2 and CO2 cycling in closed systems.[18] Later research through Russia’s BIOS program and USA’s CELSS program investigated the use of higher plants to fulfill the roles of atmospheric regulators, waste recyclers, and food for sustained missions. The crops most commonly studied include starch crops such as wheat, potato, and rice; protein-rich crops such as soy, peanut, and common bean; and a host of other nutrition-enhancing crops like lettuce, strawberry, and kale.[19] Tests for optimal growth conditions in closed systems have required research both into environmental parameters necessary for particular crops (such as differing light periods for short-day versus long-day crops) and cultivars that are a best-fit for life support system growth.

Tests of human-plant life support systems in space are relatively few compared to similar testing performed on Earth and micro-gravity testing on plant growth in space. The first life support systems testing performed in space included gas exchange experiments with wheat, potato, and giant duckweed (Spyrodela polyrhiza). Smaller scale projects, sometimes referred to as “salad machines”, have been used to provide fresh produce to astronauts as a dietary supplement.[18] Future studies have been planned to investigate the effects of keeping plants on the mental well-being of humans in confined environments.[20]

More recent research has been focused on extrapolating these life support systems to other planets, primarily Martian bases. Interlocking closed systems called “modular biospheres” have been prototyped to support four- to five-person crews on the Martian surface.[21] These encampments are designed as inflatable greenhouses and bases.[22] They are anticipated to use Martian soils for growth substrate and wastewater treatment, and crop cultivars developed specifically for extraplanetary life.[23] There has also been discussion of using the Martian moon Phobos as a resources base, potentially mining frozen water and carbon dioxide from the surface and eventually using hollowed craters for autonomous growth chambers that can be harvested during mining missions.[22]

Astrobotany research used in traditional horticulture

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Astrobotany research has yielded information useful to other areas of botany and horticulture. Extensive research into hydroponics systems was fielded successfully by NASA in both the CELSS and ALS programs, as well as the effects of increased photoperiod and light intensity for various crop species.[18] Research also led to optimization of yields beyond what had been previously achieved by indoor cropping systems. Intensive studying of gas exchange and plant volatile concentrations in closed systems led to increased understanding of plant response to extreme levels of gases such as carbon dioxide and ethylene. Usage of LEDs in closed life support systems research also prompted the increased use of LEDs in indoor growing operations.[24]

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Astrobotany has had several acknowledgements in science fiction literature and film.

  • The book and film The Martian by Andy Weir highlights the heroic survival of botanist Mark Watney, who uses his horticultural background to grow potatoes for food while trapped on Mars.[25]
  • The film Avatar features an exobiologist, Dr. Grace Augustine, who wrote the first astrobotanical text on the flora of Pandora.[26]
  • Charles Sheffield's Proteus Unbound mentions the use of algae suspended in a giant hollow "planet" as a biofuel, creating a closed energy system.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ https://www.degruyter.com/downloadpdf/j/opag.2017.2.issue-1/opag-2017-0002/opag-2017-0002.pdf | Agriculture for Space: People and Places Paving the Way
  2. ^ Briot, Danielle (2013). "The Creator of Astrobotany, Gavriil Adrianovich Tikhov". Astrobiology, History, and Society: 175. Bibcode:2013ahs..book..175B. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-35983-5_8. | The Creator of Astrobotany, Gavriil Adrianovich Tikhov
  3. ^ Seager, S.; Turner, E.l.; Schafer, J.; Ford, E.b. (2005-06-01). "Vegetation's Red Edge: A Possible Spectroscopic Biosignature of Extraterrestrial Plants". Astrobiology. 5 (3): 372–390. doi:10.1089/ast.2005.5.372. ISSN 1531-1074.
  4. ^ Limaye, Sanjay S.; Mogul, Rakesh; Smith, David J.; Ansari, Arif H.; Słowik, Grzegorz P.; Vaishampayan, Parag (2018-03-30). "Venus' Spectral Signatures and the Potential for Life in the Clouds". Astrobiology. doi:10.1089/ast.2017.1783.
  5. ^ "Exoplanet Archive Planet Counts". exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  6. ^ http://astrobotany.com/plants-and-spaceflight/ | Challenges of Growing Plants in Space
  7. ^ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11431-016-0232-7 | The impact of space environment on gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings
  8. ^ Administrator, NASA (2013-06-07). "Getting to The Root of Plant Growth Aboard The Space Station". NASA. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Growing Pains". Air & Space Magazine. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  10. ^ Heiney, Anna (2017-02-17). "Cabbage Patch: Fifth Crop Harvested Aboard Space Station". NASA. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  11. ^ "NASA - A Plant Growth Chamber". www.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  12. ^ "NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 6 February 2018 - Celebrating 10 Years of ESA's Columbus Module - SpaceRef". spaceref.com. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  13. ^ "ISS space flowers may need some help from 'Martian'". Florida Today. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  14. ^ "'Outredgeous' Red Romaine Lettuce, Grown Aboard The International Space Station, To Be Taste-Tested By Astronauts". Medical Daily. 2015-08-10. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  15. ^ "Photo-iss038e000734". spaceflight.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  16. ^ Salmi, Mari L.; Roux, Stanley J. (December 2008). "Gene expression changes induced by space flight in single-cells of the fern Ceratopteris richardii". Planta. 229 (1): 151–159. doi:10.1007/s00425-008-0817-y. ISSN 0032-0935. PMID 18807069.
  17. ^ Tepfer, David; Leach, Sydney. "Survival and DNA Damage in Plant Seeds Exposed for 558 and 682 Days outside the International Space Station". Astrobiology. 17 (3): 205–215. doi:10.1089/ast.2015.1457.
  18. ^ a b c Wheeler, Ray (2011-01-01). "Plants for human life support in space: From Myers to Mars". Gravitational and Space Biology. 23.
  19. ^ Wheeler, Ray; Sager, John (2018-04-08). "Crop Production for Advanced Life Support Systems". Technical Reports.
  20. ^ Lucie, Poulet,; D., Massa, G.; R., Wheeler,; T., Gill,; R., Morrow,; C., Steele,; T., Swarmer,; K., Binsted,; J., Hunter, (2014). "Demonstration test of electrical lighting systems for plant growth in HI-SEAS analog mars habitat". elib.dlr.de. Retrieved 2018-04-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ "Development and research program for a soil-based bioregenerative agriculture system to feed a four person crew at a Mars base". Advances in Space Research. 31 (1): 69–75. 2003-01-01. doi:10.1016/S0273-1177(02)00661-0. ISSN 0273-1177.
  22. ^ a b Wheeler, R.M. (2000). Mars Greenhouses: Concepts and Challenges (PDF). NASA.
  23. ^ "Advantages of using subsurface flow constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment in space applications: Ground-based mars base prototype". Advances in Space Research. 31 (7): 1799–1804. 2003-01-01. doi:10.1016/S0273-1177(03)00013-9. ISSN 0273-1177.
  24. ^ Morrow, Robert C. (2008-12-01). "LED Lighting in Horticulture". HortScience. 43 (7): 1947–1950. ISSN 0018-5345.
  25. ^ Weir, Andy (2014). The Martian. New York, NY: Crown Publishing. ISBN 978-0553418026.
  26. ^ Cameron, James, Director. Avatar. Produced by James Cameron and Jon Landau, 20th Century Fox, 2009. Accessed 18 Mar. 2018.
  27. ^ Sheffield, Charles (1989). Proteus Unbound. New York, NY: Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 9780345344342.

Astrobotany

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History

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Creator of Astrobotany -> https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-35983-5_8

Halstead T.W. & Dutcher F.R. (1984). Status and Prospects, Annals of Botany, 54 (supp3) 3-18.

Paul A.L., Wheeler R.M., Levine L.G. & Ferl R.J. (2013). Fundamental Plant Biology Enabled by The Space Shuttle, American Journal of Botany, 100 (1) 226-234. DOI: 10.3732/ajb.1200338

more about Tikhov -> https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=nEqhom6fcG8C&oi=fnd&pg=PA86&dq=astrobotany&ots=gly82MG6EK&sig=0cbpZmtCelvuT8OoEGosevoK-so#v=onepage&q=astrobotany&f=false

paper about the "new" science of astrobotany -> https://journals.co.za/content/sajsci/56/10/AJA00382353_1418

review article on astrobiology -> https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-journal-of-astrobiology/article/elements-for-the-history-of-a-long-quest-search-for-life-in-the-universe/E77E6AC3D8075C9ACDA40AE81C6CABE3

astrobio bibliography -> https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ted_Peters/publication/258816353_Would_the_Discovery_of_ETI_Provoke_a_Religious_Crisis/links/55123e3b0cf20bfdad50ec24.pdf

review of research for space plants -> https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1990/V1-532.html

observations of some NASA studies -> https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20130011164.pdf

zeoponics in space -> https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/40479(204)106

Current research

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Morning glory seeds in space -> http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/ast.2015.1457

BLiSS and other plant-growing projects; space horticulture

Terraforming

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https://badgerherald.com/news/2017/11/07/astrobotany-gets-a-new-look-new-research-generates-fashion-line/

http://astrobotany.com/

The Martian

See also

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Astrobiology

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