title: Development of a plant growth unit for growing plants over a long-term life cycle under microgravity conditions.
abstract: To study the effect of the space environment on plant growth including the reproductive growth and genetic aberration for a long-term plant life cycle, we have initiated development of a new type of facility for growing plants under microgravity conditions. The facility is constructed with subsystems for controlling environmental elements. In this paper, the concept of the facility design is outlined. Subsystems controlling air temperature, humidity, CO2 concentration, light and air circulation around plants and delivering recycled water and nutrients to roots are the major concerns. Plant experiments for developing the facility and future plant experiments with the completed facility are also overviewed. We intend to install this facility in the Japan Experiment Facility (JEM) boarded on the International Space Station.
authors.affiliation: College of Agriculture, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitaya
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000389:Air Conditioning / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000392:Air Movements; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D018504:Ecological Systems, Closed; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D004867:Equipment Design; D001467:Hordeum / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D006813:Humidity; D008021:Life Support Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008029:Lighting; D013026:Space Flight / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013696:Temperature; D014893:Weightlessness
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide