Abstract
The realisation of manned space exploration requires the development of Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS). In such self-sufficient closed habitats, higher plants have a fundamental role in air regeneration, water recovery, food production and waste recycling. In the space environment, ionising radiation represents one of the main constraints to plant growth. In this study, we explore whether low doses of heavy ions, namely Ca 25 Gy, delivered at the seed stage, may induce positive outcomes on growth and functional traits in plants of Solanum lycopersicum L. 'Microtom'. After irradiation of seed, plant growth was monitored during the whole plant life cycle, from germination to fruit ripening. Morphological parameters, photosynthetic efficiency, leaf anatomical functional traits and antioxidant production in leaves and fruits were analysed. Our data demonstrate that irradiation of seeds with 25 Gy Ca ions does not prevent achievement of the seed-to-seed cycle in 'Microtom', and induces a more compact plant size compared to the control. Plants germinated from irradiated seeds show better photochemical efficiency than controls, likely due to the higher amount of D1 protein and photosynthetic pigment content. Leaves of these plants also had smaller cells with a lower number of chloroplasts. The dose of 25 Gy Ca ions is also responsible for positive outcomes in fruits: although developing a lower number of berries, plants germinated from irradiated seeds produce larger berries, richer in carotenoids, ascorbic acid and anthocyanins than controls. These specific traits may be useful for 'Microtom' cultivation in BLSS in space, in so far as the crew members could benefit from fresh food richer in functional compounds that can be directly produced on board.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Irradiated Microtom seeds completed the seed-to-seed cycle.
- Taxon
- Solanum lycopersicum L.
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Material
- Microtome0
- Treatment
- irradiation of seeds with 25 Gy Ca ionse0
- Outcome
- achievement of the seed-to-seed cyclee0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“irradiation of seeds with 25 Gy Ca ions does not prevent achievement of the seed-to-seed cycle in 'Microtom'”
t0“Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Microtom’”
Claim · model-written summary
Irradiated Microtom plants were more compact than controls.
- Taxon
- Solanum lycopersicum L.Solanum lycopersicumt0
- Material
- Microtomt0
- Treatment
- irradiation of seeds with 25 Gy Ca ionse1
- Outcome
- plant sizee0
- Direction
- more compacte0
- Comparator
- the controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“induces a more compact plant size compared to the control”
e1“irradiation of seeds with 25 Gy Ca ions”
t0“Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Microtom’”
Claim · model-written summary
Plants from irradiated seeds had better photochemical efficiency than controls.
- Taxon
- Solanum lycopersicum L.Solanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- irradiated seedse0
- Outcome
- photochemical efficiencye0
- Direction
- bettere0
- Comparator
- controlse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Plants germinated from irradiated seeds show better photochemical efficiency than controls”
t0“Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Microtom’”
Claim · model-written summary
Higher D1 protein and pigment content may explain improved photochemical efficiency.
- Taxon
- Solanum lycopersicum L.Solanum lycopersicumt0
- Gene
- D1 proteine0
- Outcome
- photochemical efficiencye0
- Direction
- bettere0
- Qualifier
- likelye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“better photochemical efficiency than controls, likely due to the higher amount of D1 protein and photosynthetic pigment content”
t0“Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Microtom’”
Claim · model-written summary
Leaves of plants from irradiated seeds had smaller cells.
- Taxon
- Solanum lycopersicum L.Solanum lycopersicumt0
- Organ / stage
- Leavese0
- Treatment
- irradiated seedse1
- Outcome
- cellse0
- Direction
- smallere0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Leaves of these plants also had smaller cells with a lower number of chloroplasts”
e1“Plants germinated from irradiated seeds”
t0“Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Microtom’”
Claim · model-written summary
Leaves of plants from irradiated seeds had fewer chloroplasts.
- Taxon
- Solanum lycopersicum L.Solanum lycopersicumt0
- Organ / stage
- Leavese0
- Treatment
- irradiated seedse1
- Outcome
- number of chloroplastse0
- Direction
- lowere0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Leaves of these plants also had smaller cells with a lower number of chloroplasts”
e1“Plants germinated from irradiated seeds”
t0“Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Microtom’”
Claim · model-written summary
Irradiated plants developed fewer berries.
- Taxon
- Solanum lycopersicum L.Solanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- irradiated seedse0
- Outcome
- number of berriese0
- Direction
- lowere0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“although developing a lower number of berries, plants germinated from irradiated seeds produce larger berries”
t0“Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Microtom’”
Claim · model-written summary
Irradiated plants produced larger berries.
- Taxon
- Solanum lycopersicum L.Solanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- irradiated seedse0
- Outcome
- berriese0
- Direction
- largere0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“plants germinated from irradiated seeds produce larger berries”
t0“Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Microtom’”
Claim · model-written summary
Berries from irradiated plants were richer in carotenoids, ascorbic acid and anthocyanins.
- Taxon
- Solanum lycopersicum L.Solanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- irradiated seedse0
- Outcome
- carotenoids, ascorbic acid and anthocyaninse0
- Direction
- richere0
- Comparator
- controlse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“plants germinated from irradiated seeds produce larger berries, richer in carotenoids, ascorbic acid and anthocyanins than controls”
t0“Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Microtom’”
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