Responsible Center: NASA KSC
Grant Monitor: Blancaflor, Elison B.
Center Contact: 580-224-6687
elisonwhiteflower@gmail.com
Unique ID: 15922
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Solicitation / Funding Source: 2022 Space Biology NNH22ZDA001N-SBR: E.9 Space Biology Research Studies
Grant/Contract No.: 80NSSC24K0755
Project Type: GROUND
Flight Program:
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No. of Post Docs: 1
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| Space Biology Element: |
(1) Cell & Molecular Biology
(2) Plant Biology
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| Space Biology Cross-Element Discipline: |
None
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| Space Biology Special Category: |
None |
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| Task Description: |
This project will characterize the responses of potato to exposure to lunar regolith simulants at the growth, developmental, physiological and molecular levels. It is directly relevant to the scope of the E.9 Research Studies program element of Space Biology “for ground-based plant studies (and/or their associated microbes) that will characterize the responses of these organisms to conditions that recapitulate the stressors encountered in space exploration, specifically, exposure to lunar regolith (simulant)”. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an ideal clonally propagated food crop for space exploration because it provides more calories per land area than many other crops, grows on a wide variety of soil media, and it is nutritious and has a high satiety index. Potato is also a good model organism for plants that produce underground tubers because its genome has been sequenced and many large-scale omic datasets are publicly available. It also has a large untapped genetic diversity that makes it amenable to genetic studies and trait improvement. However, we currently do not know how potato might respond to lunar regolith simulant as a growth substrate, and whether there are potato genotypes that perform better than others on such substrate. It follows that we have no knowledge about the adaptability of potato to grow on lunar regolith simulant and the underlying mechanisms of acclimation. We have no knowledge either of the chemistry of potato tubers produced on lunar regolith simulant and whether these are safe for consumption by space exploration crews. By combining phenotypic, physiological and molecular characterization of a genetically diverse set of potato genotypes, this project will advance our knowledge of how potato responds to lunar regolith simulant and how it regulates and sustains growth and metabolism. The objective of this proposal is to characterize and compare the responses of potato to exposure to Lunar Highlands and Lunar Mare regolith simulants. Specifically, this project will: Aim 1. Characterize and compare the growth, physiology, leaf gene expression and leaf and tuber metabolism of the reference potato genotype ‘Modoc’ grown on Lunar Highlands regolith simulants OPRH4W30 and LHS-1E, Lunar Mare regolith simulants JSC-1A and EJSC-1A, and Earth Quincy Series Soil; Aim 2. Assess the genetic potential of potato to grow on Lunar Highlands and Lunar Mare regolith simulants LHS-1E and EJSC-1A by characterizing the performance of ten potato genotypes. This project will pinpoint potentially impaired physiological/biological processes that hinder the full growth potential of potato and inform on physiological and molecular mechanisms of adaption to growth on lunar regolith simulants. |
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| Research Impact/Earth Benefits: |
The research provides the foundations for growth optimization on lunar regolith for a major food crop, potato that is clonally propagated. |
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