An Oxygen Delivery Polymer Enhances Seed Germination in a Martian-like Environment.

ABSTRACT: Critical to the success of establishing a sustainable human presence on Mars is the ability to economically grow crop plants. Several environmental factors make it difficult to fully rely on local resources for agriculture. These include nutrient sparse regolith, low and fluctuating temperatures, a high amount of ultraviolet radiation, and water trapped locally in the form of ice or metal oxides. While the 96% CO₂ martian atmosphere is ideal to support photosynthesis, high CO₂ concentrations inhibit germination. An added difficulty is the fact that a vast majority of crop plants require oxygen for germination. Here, we report the production of a polymer-based oxygen delivery system that supports the germination and growth of cress seeds (Lepidium sativum) in a

SUBMITTER: MacDonald JG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7368388 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature