Articles
Growth requirements for space cultivation of microgreens as fresh food to integrate the astronauts’ diet
Article number
1441_28
Pages
223 – 230
Language
English
Abstract
During long-term manned missions beyond Low Earth Orbit (e.g., on Mars), integrating the astronauts’ diet with fresh food rich in functional compounds, like microgreens, could be a countermeasure against diseases related to oxidative stress induced by space factors.
Hence, defining cultivation protocols to optimize the product yield and quality is essential in plant growth modules, where the small volume and closed environment impact plant performance, with crop-specific responses.
We evaluated the influence of two levels of vapour pressure deficit (VPD), 0.14 (LV) and 1.71 (HV) kPa, and two light intensities, 150 (LL) and 300 (HL) μmol m‑2 s‑1, on growth and nutraceutical features of two microgreen species, cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. sabauda ‘Vertus’) and radish (Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus ‘Saxa’). Microgreens were grown in growth chamber under controlled conditions (temperature 18/24°C, red-green-blue light ratio 45:10:45, and photoperiod 12 h), until the emergence of two true leaves.
Differences in growth primarily depended on plant species, with cabbage reaching greater length and dry weight.
Crops showed a different response to environmental conditions: the lower radiation always promoted the microgreens elongation, and in radish also reduced the biomass accumulation in plants grown under low VPD, while in general VPD had no relevant effects.
Nutraceutical value mainly depended on plant species and cabbage had almost the double of ascorbate, 33 and 26% higher polyphenols and
-carotene, and less than half the nitrate.
The higher VPD reduced the synthesis of-carotene but also of nitrate in both species.
The lower light intensity did not influence the antioxidant profile, except for a reduction of ascorbate.
In conclusion, these microgreens species are both suitable for cultivation under reduced light intensity and without a strict control of relative humidity, and this is relevant for designing crop production modules for space.
Hence, defining cultivation protocols to optimize the product yield and quality is essential in plant growth modules, where the small volume and closed environment impact plant performance, with crop-specific responses.
We evaluated the influence of two levels of vapour pressure deficit (VPD), 0.14 (LV) and 1.71 (HV) kPa, and two light intensities, 150 (LL) and 300 (HL) μmol m‑2 s‑1, on growth and nutraceutical features of two microgreen species, cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. sabauda ‘Vertus’) and radish (Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus ‘Saxa’). Microgreens were grown in growth chamber under controlled conditions (temperature 18/24°C, red-green-blue light ratio 45:10:45, and photoperiod 12 h), until the emergence of two true leaves.
Differences in growth primarily depended on plant species, with cabbage reaching greater length and dry weight.
Crops showed a different response to environmental conditions: the lower radiation always promoted the microgreens elongation, and in radish also reduced the biomass accumulation in plants grown under low VPD, while in general VPD had no relevant effects.
Nutraceutical value mainly depended on plant species and cabbage had almost the double of ascorbate, 33 and 26% higher polyphenols and
-carotene, and less than half the nitrate.The higher VPD reduced the synthesis of
-carotene but also of nitrate in both species.The lower light intensity did not influence the antioxidant profile, except for a reduction of ascorbate.
In conclusion, these microgreens species are both suitable for cultivation under reduced light intensity and without a strict control of relative humidity, and this is relevant for designing crop production modules for space.
Publication
Authors
R. Paradiso, C. Amitrano, G. Paglialunga, A. Battistelli, V. De Micco, M. Del Bianco, A. Pannico, S. Moscatello, S. Proietti, Y. Rouphael, S. De Pascale
Keywords
cabbage, Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. sabauda, radish, Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus, light intensity, vapour pressure deficit (VPD), antioxidants
Groups involved
- Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Working Group Vertical Farming
- Working Group Urban Horticulture
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