Plants in Space

Activity: How Does Gravity Affect Root Growth?

by Gregory L. Vogt, Ed.D. Nancy P. Moreno, Ph.D. Stefanie Countryman, M.B.A.

RESOURCES For the complete guide, related resources and professional development, visit www.bioedonline.org or www.k8science.org.

© 2012 by Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas © 2012 by Baylor College of Medicine IMAGE SOURCES All rights reserved. Page 1: Photo of Astronaut Peggy Whitson Printed in the United States of America. courtesy of NASA, www.nasaimages.org/. ISBN-13: 978-1-888997-77-4 Page 2: Leaf © Jon Sullivan, www. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Leaf_1_web. jpg/. Chloroplasts © Kristian Peters, www.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Plagiomnium_ Teacher Resources from the Center for Educational Outreach at Baylor College of Medicine. The mark “BioEd” is a service mark of Baylor College of Medicine. affine_laminazellen.jpeg/. Page 3: Sunflower plant © Bluemoose, The activities described in this book are intended for school-age children under direct supervision of www.commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ adults. The authors, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), BioServe Space Technologies (University of Colorado), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and program funders cannot be File:Sunflower_seedlings.jpg/. Mung bean responsible for any accidents or injuries that may result from conduct of the activities, from not and green pea seedlings © Annkatrin specifically following directions, or from ignoring cautions contained in the text. The opinions, findings Rose, Ph.D, www.flickr.com/photos/ and conclusions expressed in this publication are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily blueridgekitties/. Cucumber plant © Peter reflect the views of any partnering institution. Chastain, www.commons.wikimedia.org/ Authors: Gregory L. Vogt, Ed.D., Nancy P. Moreno, Ph.D., and Stefanie Countryman, M.B.A. wiki/File:Cucumber_Seedling.jpg/. Editor: James P. Denk, M.A. Creative Director: Martha S. Young, B.F.A. Page 4: Root by Jim Haseloff © Welcome Photographer: Travis Kelleher Images. www.images.wellcome.ac.uk/. Seedling in flask by Travis Kelleher © Baylor Cover photos by Travis Kelleher © Baylor College of Medicine. College of Medicine, www.bcm.edu/.

Page 5: Illustrations by M.S. Young © Baylor ACKNOWLEDGMENTS College of Medicine. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of Bobby R. Alford, M.D., Jeffrey P. Sutton, M.D., Page 6: Brassica rapa © Robert A. Klips, Ph.D., and William A. Thomson, Ph.D. We especially acknowledge the valuable contributions of Louis Ph.D., www.flickr.com/photos/49147273@ Stodieck, Ph.D., of BioServe Space Technologies. N04/with/5495204189/. Plants in Space Teacher’s Guide is supported by National Space Biomedical Research Institute through NASA NCC 9-58, and by Houston Endowment Inc., and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Page 7: Seedlings © University of Wisconsin Plant Teaching Collection. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic or electronic process, or in http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/. the form of an audio recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise copied for public or private use without prior written permission of the publisher. Black-line masters Page 8: Aeroponics chamber reproduced for classroom use are excepted. courtesy of NASA and AgriHouse, Inc. NATIONAL SPACE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE www.nasaimages.org/. Scientists BioScience Research Collaborative, 6500 Main Street, Suite 910, Houston, TX 77030 harvesting crops courtesy of NASA, 713-798-7413 / www.nsbri.org www.nasaimages.org/.

BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH Page 9: Experiment components courtesy 1 Baylor Plaza, BCM411, Houston, Texas 77030 of Bioserve Space Technologies. 713-798-8200 / 800-798-8244 / [email protected] / www.bcm.edu/edoutreach www.colorado.edu/engineering/BioServe/.

BIOSERVE SPACE TECHNOLOGIES University of Colorado, 429 UCP, ECAE 1B02, Boulder, CO 80309 Wisconsin Fast Plants™ 303-492- 4010 / www.colorado.edu/engineering/BioServe www.fastplants.org Contents

1. Introduction 1 2. Seeds and Germination 3 3. A Closer Look at Roots and Stems 4 4. Plants in Space Investigation: Brassica rapa 6 5. How Does Gravity Affect Root Growth? 7 STS-134 Protocol: Brassica rapa 9 Teaming with Benefits – NASA and the NSBRI 10

Plants in Space is a cooperative effort of the following organizations. National Space Biomedical Research Institute Houston, Texas www.nsbri.org BioServe Space Technologies, University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado www.colorado.edu/engineering/BioServe Center for Educational Outreach, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas www.bcm.edu/edoutreach National Aeronautics and Space Administration Washington, D.C. www.nasa.gov

Support to develop the Plants in Space web-based component and teacher’s guide was provided by the following organizations. National Space Biomedical Research Institute Houston, Texas www.nsbri.org Houston Endowment Houston, Texas www.houstonendowment.org Howard Hughes Medical Institute Chevy Chase, Maryland www.hhmi.org

n May 16, 2011, Space Shuttle root growth in microgravity and on OEndeavour began its final mis- Earth, and to collect the data needed sion, a trip to the International Space to answer their questions. Station (ISS). In addition to its primary payload, the Shuttle carried PREREQUISITES two small-scale investigations that While anyone can participate in the invite student participation. The first investigation, it is suggested that prior investigation involved the behavior of to beginning, each investigator become orb-weaving spiders, Nephila clavipes, familiar with fundamental aspects of in microgravity. The second examines the microgravity environment of space plant root growth in space. This inves- and with basic research techniques. tigator’s manual describes the plant The following supplemental guides, Gardening in space has been part of root growth investigation and provides available free of charge on BioEd the International Space Station (ISS) the details necessary for students and Online and K8 Science, offer useful from the beginning. Understanding teachers to collect and analyze data background information. photosynthesis and plant develop- while conducting their own parallel ment is a critical component of future investigations. • Designing Your Investigation long-duration space missions. By Any classroom or individual around • Keeping a Naturalist Journal generating oxygen, removing carbon the world is invited to participate • Scientific Image Processing dioxide and purifying water, living in this project. Each participant (or plants could help maintain a healthy group) must set up an Earth-based PLANTS ON EARTH spacecraft atmosphere and reduce growing chamber with plants to com- Plants are found virtually everywhere the costs of air and water resupply. pare to those growing on the ISS. on Earth’s surface, from deserts to Plant research also will have direct Once the investigation begins in the tropical rainforests to high moun- application to future production of fall of 2011, a steady stream of ISS tains. Scientists have identified about crops that the ISS crew could eat. plant images will be made available 300,000 different species of plants, Shown above, astronaut Peggy for viewing on the BioEd Online which are among the most adaptable A. Whitson, Expedition 5 NASA ISS (www.bioedonline.org) and K8 Science of Earth’s organisms. Plants can range Science Officer, holds the Advanced (www.k8science.org) websites. These in size from microscopic to the largest Astroculture soybean plant growth images will provide many opportuni- known living things. Like other living experiment in the Destiny laboratory ties for creative studies that compare organisms, plants need energy, nutri- on the ISS. Photo courtesy of NASA. root growth in normal gravity with ents, air and water. They produce off- growth in microgravity. spring, are made of cells, react to their This manual begins with a primer surroundings, grow and die. Complete image citations, including on plant roots and plant tropisms Plants’ characteristic green color URLs, are available at the front of this (growth movements in response to a comes from the pigment, chlorophyll, guide. stimulus). Later sections provide full which also is found in algae (close rela- details on setting up a ground chamber tives of plants). Chlorophyll enables and growing the plants. plants to capture light energy and con- The guide does not present a formal vert it into chemical energy through research plan. This investigation a process called photosynthesis. allows–and requires–participants to Photosynthetic organisms (green plants ask their own questions about plant and their relatives) are Earth’s primary

1. Introduction © 2012 Baylor College of Medicine 1 Plants in Space BioEd Online | K8 Science primary recycling system. During Successful pollination leads to seed photosynthesis, leaves extract carbon formation inside the ovary or base of dioxide gas from the atmosphere and the pistil or pistils. After pollination, use it to store energy that enables the ovary expands and becomes fleshy plants to live and grow. At the same or hard, and begins to form the fruit. time, plants release the oxygen that Sometimes, other flower parts become A leaf is an above-ground plant organ enables our atmosphere to sustain life. part of the fruit as well. In non- specialized for the process of photo- In addition, plants are the first link in technical usage, “fruit” means a fleshy, synthesis. The internal organization of almost all food chains, upon which all sweet, edible seed-containing structure, most leaves has evolved to maximize animals and other consumers depend. such as an apple, orange, grape, etc. exposure of chloroplasts to light, and They also are an important source of However, biologists consider any seed- to increase the absorption of carbon fiber, fuels and many medicines. containing plant structure to be a fruit. dioxide. Photo © Jon Sullivan, released Land plants include tiny mosses, There are many kinds of fruits: pea into the public domain on Wikipedia. ferns, pines and flowering plants. Of pods, acorns, tomatoes and even corn these, flowering plants, or Angio- kernels are just a few examples. Fruits sperms, are most numerous, with serve important roles in seed dispersal. close to 250,000 species. Angiosperms Some, such as coconuts, float to new typically are made up of roots, stems, environments; others, such as berries, leaves and flowers. Roots anchor the are eaten along with their seeds, which plant and absorb essential nutrients are transported by animals to new and water. Stems provide support, locations. raising leaves and flowers above the Plants’ atmospheric recycling and ground, and serve as conduits through food production properties make them which nutrients, food molecules and very important to planners of space This microscopic image of water travel between roots, leaves and missions. Voyages to the planets will Plagiomnium affine, (a Many-fruited other parts. Leaves expand a plant’s require continuous replenishment of Thyme-moss), reveals its chloroplasts. green surface area to maximize the food, water and atmosphere. Plants Chloroplasts in plants capture radiant capture of solar energy. Pores in leaves could provide the basis for a closed, light energy from the sun and convert enable the exchange of gases, par- self-sustaining system that requires it into chemical energy. Oxygen is ticularly oxygen and carbon dioxide, only the input of solar energy. n released as a waste product. Photo between plants and the atmosphere. © Kristian Peters, Wikipedia Creative Flowers contain the reproductive Commons 3.0. parts of a plant, the anthers (produce pollen) and the pistil or carpel (contains ovules, which become seeds after fertilization). Some flowers have showy petals or fragrance, which serve to attract animal pollinators, such as insects or birds. Plants with small, inconspicuous flowers, such as those found in grasses, typically rely on wind to carry pollen from one flower to another.

he seeds of flowering plants consist Shortly after the radicle emerges, the T of a protective coat, an embryo shoot pushes through the seed coat. and stored food. The embryo, which Often, the embryo stem curves and is a tiny new plant, remains dormant pushes through the soil as a hook to and protected until favorable condi- avoid damaging the delicate shoot tip. tions arise. One end of the embryo, the In some cases, the cotyledons emerge radicle, develops into the plant’s root through the soil. In other cases, such Sunflower seedlings, photographed system. The other end of the embryo, as in pea plants, the cotyledons remain three days after planting. Notice the called the hypocotyle, forms the initial buried; only the new shoot tip is visible initial curvature of the seedling stem, stem and leaves. Most seeds also con- above ground. the two cotyledons emerging from the tain stored food to fuel development remnants of each seed coat, and the until the young plant begins to produce hairs on the developing primary root. its own food through photosynthesis. Photo © Bluemoose, Wikipedia Sometimes, the food is contained within Creative Commons 2.0. the seed leaves or cotyledons. In other cases, the food surrounds the embryo as a starch reserve, known as endosperm. When external conditions are satisfac- Mung tory, the seed and embryo take in water. Bean In a process called germination, the tiny Garden new plant consumes its food reserves and Cucumber seedling showing two oval- Pea begins to grow. Sometimes, germination shaped cotyledons, a leaf (top) and emerg- also requires an additional environmen- ing new leaves (center). Photo © Peter tal signal, such as light of the correct Chastain, Wikipedia Creative Commons 3.0. Cotyledons wavelengths or a series of days at a par- The early leaves expand and begin the ticular temperature. process of photosynthesis. The number During germination, the young plant of cotyledons present is a characteris- Cotyledons may be carried above sends out a single root, the radicle, to tic used to distinguished between the ground during germination or remain begin capturing water and serve as an two major groups of flowering plants. underground. The mung bean seed- anchor. Eventually, the growing radicle Monocotyledonous plants (“monocots”) ling (top) shows cotyledons that have becomes the primary root. The primary have one seed leaf and dicotyledonous been carried above ground. The green roots of all land plants look much alike, plants (“dicots”) have two. Grasses are pea seedling’s cotyledons remained but later development differentiates monocots. Beans and mustard plants encased in its seed coat, which acted them. For example, carrots and radishes (such as the Wisconsin Fast Plants® as an underground storage organ. form fat taproots, consisting of the Brassica rapa, used for the Plants in Photo © Annkatrin Rose, Ph.D. primary root with many thin, lateral Space investigation) are dicots. Similar to branching roots. In other plants, such as animal development, plant germination, grasses, the primary root is short-lived growth, reproduction, and responses to and is replaced by a new, fibrous root the external environment are regulated system that originates near the base of by internal signaling pathways and the stem. hormones. n

oots can do more than anchor a Water and nutrients are transported R plant in soil and absorb water and efficiently throughout the rest of plant nutrients. Thick roots, such as those of through the vascular system. Unlike beets and carrots, are modified to store vertebrate animals, which have a single food supplies. Others, particularly those closed circulatory system, plants have of legumes (beans, peanuts and their one network of tubules (called xylem) relatives), house bacteria that take in to transport water and mineral nutrients, nitrogen from air and make it available and a separate set of conduits (called in a different chemical form for use by phloem) to carry products of photosyn- the host plant. thesis. This microscopic photo of the tip of A plant’s first root, usually called Not all stems serve as plant support a maize root reveals the structure of the primary root, originates with the structures. Some stems, such as the its protective root cap. Photo by Jim embryo. In dicots and gymnosperms underground tubers we call potatoes, Haseloff © Wellcome Images. (pine trees and their relatives), the pri- are important for food storage. In other mary root grows downward and forms plants, stems are modified to facilitate a large taproot with lateral branches. In climbing or twining (vines) and water monocots, such as grasses, the primary storage (succulents, such as cacti). root usually disappears and is replaced The stems of many trees and woody by a fibrous network of roots that form shrubs are reinforced over time through at the base of the stem. the development of wood and bark. Most roots grow continuously and fol- Known as secondary growth, this pro- low the path of least resistance through cess enables plants to survive and grow the soil. The availability of oxygen (con- for many years, and it leads to a gradual tained in spaces between soil particles), increase in the diameter and strength of water and nutrients also influences the stems, branches and roots. direction and proliferation of roots. Roots grow by adding cells at their tips. ORIENTING STEMS AND ROOTS A layer of cells, collectively called the Generally, leaves and stems grow root cap, protects the rapidly dividing upward, toward light sources, while and expanding cells of the root tip (see roots grow downward. But plants do image, upper left). As the root pushes its not have nervous systems or sensory way through soil, cells on the outer sur- organs—no eyes, ears, or vestibular face of the root cap are sloughed off and system like animals have. So, how do replaced. plants “know” which way is up? Brassica rapa seedlings shown with New and growing roots absorb water Plants sense and respond to their envi- stems growing toward a light source. and nutrients through cellular tubes, ronments in a number of ways. Receptor Photo by Travis Kelleher © Baylor called “root hairs,” located just behind molecules within plant cells perceive the root tip. These tiny hairs greatly changes in external conditions, such College of Medicine. increase the amount of surface area as light, and initiate internal signaling through which water and dissolved pathways that enable the plant to react. nutrients can pass into the root system. Communication inside plants occurs

© 2012 Baylor College of Medicine 3. A Closer Look at Roots and Stems BioEd Online | K8 Science Plants in Space 4 PHOTOTROPISM through hormones, chemical substances He called this messenger hormone auxin. Auxins are Cell elongation plant hormones occurs on the produced in one part of the plant that Today, synthetic auxins play important with important shaded side of have a developmental or physiological roles in agriculture as weed killers, and roles in plant a stem. effect elsewhere in the plant. There are in preventing fruit from dropping off growth and seven major kinds of plant hormones, trees and bushes before it can be har- development. In and one, auxin, is primarily responsible vested. light responses (phototropism), Bending for directional growth responses. Because stems grow toward a source occurs auxin causes Light is important for plant develop- of blue or white light (which, of course, below the cells on the growing tip, ment, including flowering and seed contains wavelengths of light in the blue shaded side of toward the germination. It also is essential for range), they are said to have a “positive” a stem to light source. photosynthesis, and can stimulate plant phototropic response. Conversely, roots elongate more growth in a particular direction (toward have a weak response in the opposite than cells on the lighted side, thereby bending the stem toward the light or away from a certain wavelength of direction. Because they grow away from source. Illustration by M.S. Young light). A plant’s growth response to light a source of blue or white light, roots are © Baylor College of Medicine. is called phototropism, from the Greek said to have a “negative” phototropic words trope (for “turn”) and photo (for response. “light”). A phototropic response involves Plants also respond to red light, which the detection of a light wavelength by can stimulate or inhibit seed germina- GRAVITROPISM receptor molecules in plant cells, and tion, and sometimes has a role in the transduction (i.e., conversion) of that timing of flowering. These responses signal into biochemical responses that involve different receptor and signaling Elongation lead to altered growth patterns. pathways than those related to photot- of cells on lower side of roots Charles Darwin, the great evolution- ropism. The roots of some plant species inhibited. Root grows in ary biologist, investigated grass seedlings’ show a positive phototropic response the direction of gravity’s pull. growth responses to blue light (about to red light. Phototropism is an area of Auxin influences root 460 nanometers in wavelength) as early active investigation, with Arabidopsis orientation in response to gravity as 1881. He already knew that growing thaliana mustard plants being stud- (gravitropism). If a plant is turned plants would bend toward light com- ied in experiments on Earth and the on its side, elongation of cells on ing from a single direction. However, International Space Station. the lower side of roots is inhibited, thereby bending the growing root he found that when he covered the tips Gravity provides a much stronger downward. Illustration by M.S. Young of grass seedlings with a foil cap, the stimulus than light does for root orienta- © Baylor College of Medicine. seedlings no longer tilted toward the tion, and also influences the direction light source. Normal bending occurred of stem growth. If you place a plant when he covered the seedling tips with seedling on its side in the dark, the stem a glass tube and when he covered the still will curve upward and the roots stem below the tip with an opaque col- will bend downward. This response to lar. Darwin and his coinvestigator son, gravity is called gravitropism. Stems are Francis, proposed that the seedlings were negatively gravitropic and roots are posi- bending toward light in response to an tively gravitropic. Like phototropism, “influence” that was transported down gravitropism involves auxin and different the stem from the growing tip. rates of cell elongation on the sides of In 1926, Fritz Went, a Dutch scien- the root or shoot. Special starch-con- tist, identified the chemical messenger taining structures, called amyloplasts, are that causes cells on the shaded side of a believed to have a role in detecting grav- shoot to elongate and grow faster than ity. Amyloplasts inside cells sink toward cells on the lighted side, thereby bending the direction of gravity’s pull. n the stem toward the light source.

he Plants in Space investigation The primary variable in the investi- T will focus on root growth in gation will be the effects of gravity. In Brassica rapa, a member of the crucifer, space, plants will not sense the direc- or mustard, family of plants (which tion of gravity, and therefore, will not also includes cabbage, turnips, and be impacted by gravitropism. Plants broccoli). Brassica rapa, also known as on Earth, however, will show typical Wisconsin Fast Plants® or rapid cycling gravitropic responses (roots growing Brassica, were developed over 30 years in the direction of gravitational pull). at the University of Wisconsin. This is What will happen to plants grown in Wisconsin Fast Plants®, also known a an ideal plant for student study, and for space aboard the ISS, where the effects “rapid cycling Brassica,” are especially an investigation of plant root growth of gravity are greatly reduced? How will fast-growing, easily maintained vari- in microgravity. First, its complete life the roots grown in microgravity compare eties of Brassica rapa (field mustard, cycle, starting with germination of a with those of the same type of seeds in rapeseed, canola). While the species seed and ending with the production of normal gravity on Earth? Will the lights has long been cultivated for its oil, new seeds, takes approximately 30 days. in the plants’ growing chambers help these varieties, which grow from Substantial root growth occurs in just a roots to grow and orient themselves seed to seed in just one month under few days. Second, other than continuous normally? constant illumination, are extensively light and water, little care is needed to Students and other investigators will used in schools to demonstrate flow- grow these plants through a complete be able to download daily images from ering plant life cycles, Mendelian life cycle. the ISS, showing primary and secondary genetics and plant physiology. These To send astronauts to distant locations root growth for comparison and study. flowers (above) were photographed on in space, we must be able to grow plants Because these images will be available a two-week old plant. Photo © Robert to produce food and oxygen, and to permanently on the BioEd Online web- A. Klips, Ph.D. process waste. The experiment onboard site (www.bioedonline.org), teachers and the International Space Station (ISS) students will have the option of delaying will include 72 Brassica rapa plants, the start of their classroom investigations Find out more about Wisconsin Fast started 18 at a time, in a total of four until a convenient point in the school Plants® at www.fastplants.org. planting sessions. For each session of year. The investigation does not depend The site includes growing tips, the flight investigation, seeds will be upon calendar-coordinated observa- downloadable explanations of the germinated in a clear gel and allowed tions, or even being conducted while the Fast Plants™ life cycle, and teaching to grow for five days before being plants are on ISS. In fact, it is possible resources and lessons for all grade replaced by new seeds. The investigation to use this module at any time. As long levels. will conclude after 28 days. The gel, a as images of the space plants are paired variant of agar, will provide moisture with those of Earth-based plants at the for seed germination and the production same elapsed growth time, the compari- of roots. Plants both in microgravity son and activities will be successful. n and on Earth will be provided with artificial lighting (blue-enriched white light) and will be germinated in the same manner.

lants respond directly to Earth’s normal growth can resume. Pgravitational attraction, and also to investigate the effects of gravity light. Stems grow upward, or away from To learn the effects gravity has on the center of Earth, and towards light. growing plants, students create a simple Roots grow downward, or towards the germination chamber from a Zip-loc®- Auxin caused the roots to grow in center of Earth, and away from light. type plastic bag and a moistened paper the direction of the pull of gravity These responses to external stimuli are towel. (gravitropism). Photo © University of called tropisms. Plants’ growth response Wisconsin Plant Teaching Collection, to gravity is known as gravitropism; the MATERIALS http://botit.botany.wisc.edu. growth response to light is phototro- Per student or student group pism. Both tropisms are controlled by • 1–2 large seeds, such as corn or bean plant growth hormones. • Resealable sandwich bag Indoleacetic acid, or auxin, is a plant • Cardboard square, cut slightly larger hormone that, in high concentrations, than the sandwich bag stimulates growth and elongation of cells • One sheet of white paper toweling in stems, while retarding the growth of • Clear tape root cells. When auxin is distributed • Metric ruler uniformly throughout a stem, all sides of • Pair of scissors the stem grow at the same rate, thereby • Water enabling the plant to grow toward light and away from gravity (see illustration SAFETY ISSUES on page 5). If the plant is tipped over on Have students wash hands before and its side, auxin concentrates on the lower after any lab activity. Clean work areas side of the stem, causing the cells on the with disinfectant. lower side of the stem to elongate. This Supplementary educational materi- process turns the stem so that it once PROCEDURE als about a variety of topics, such as again grows upward, presumably toward 1. Fold a piece of paper towel to fit Scientific Image Processing, Designing the light. inside the sandwich bag. Your Investigation, and Naturalist Roots also will change direction when 2. Moisten the paper towel until it is Journals, are available for free down- a plant is tipped on its side. Auxin con- uniformly damp. Empty any excess load from www.bioedonline.org and centrates on the lower sides of the roots water from the towel and place the www.k8science.org. and inhibits the elongation of root cells. towel in the bag. As a result, root cells on the upper side 3. Position one or two seeds on top of of the root grow longer, turning the and in the center of, the moistened roots downward into soil and away from towel. The seeds should be visible the light. Roots also will change direc- through the bag. Seal the bag. tion when they encounter a dense object, 4. Position the bag in the center of the such as a rock. In these cases, auxin con- cardboard, and secure the corners centrates on the lower side of the roots, with cellophane tape. Stretch the enabling the roots to change direction bag tightly to prevent sagging, and and find a way around the rock so that to help hold the seeds in place.

5. How Does Gravity Affect Root Growth? © 2012 Baylor College of Medicine 7 Plants in Space BioEd Online | K8 Science AEROPONICS. Successful long-term missions into deep space will require crews to grow some of their own food during flight. Plants can provide fresh oxygen and clean drinking water. But this is about more than a breath of fresh air or taking a quick shower. Each ounce of food and water produced aboard a spacecraft reduces payload weight, thereby allowing the spacecraft to carry other cargo that can’t be produced onboard. Experiments conducted on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) have grown plants in an air/mist environment that requires no soil and very little water. In this process, called aeroponics, plants are started from either cuttings or seeds, and then suspended mid-air in a growing chamber. The developing root systems grow in an enclosed, air-based environment that is regularly misted with a fine, nutrient-rich spray. Aeroponic growing systems provide clean, efficient and rapid food production. Aeroponic crops can be planted and harvested year-round without interruption, and without contamination from soil, pesticides or residue. The clean and sterile growing environment greatly reduces the chances of spreading common plant diseases in a contained environment, such as the ISS or other spacecraft. Source: NASA. Photo courtesy of NASA and AgriHouse, Inc.

Stand the cardboard upright on its QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS side and lean it against a wall. • In which direction did the root begin 5. Observe the seed and record its growing? appearance over the next few days. • What happened to the root growth To find which plants are more suitable for life in a contained environment in UP when the cardboard was rotated? • Based on these observations, would outer space, NASA scientists experi- you say that gravity affects the direc- ment to learn how plants react to different kinds of lighting, carbon dioxide Seed orientation tion of root growth? If so, how? • Do you think the roots would grow levels and temperature levels. Plants Root in the same way on the International can provide people who live and work Root in space with food, a reliable source of directional Space Station, where gravity’s effects oxygen, carbon dioxide removal, and growth are not felt? What differences might there be, and why? water purification. • If a stem formed during your experi- During a 418-day experiment at 6. When the first root has formed and ment, in which direction did it grow? Kennedy Space Center, potato crops grown one to two centimeters long, • What happened to the stem when the grown in the Biomass Production turn the cardboard 90 degrees, as cardboard was rotated? Chamber provided the equivalent of a continuous supply of oxygen for one shown below. UP astronaut, plus 55% of that astronaut’s Rotate 90° food requirements, and enough purified

Direction change water for four astronauts, while also in root growth. absorbing their expelled CO2 . Photo courtesy of NASA. Revised orientation

7. Continue observing and recording the root growth for several days.

Brassica rapa, or Wisconsin Fast Plants® 4. Aboard the ISS: are flowering plants that belong to the Temperature on the mustard family. These plants have a very ISS will be about 25°C. quick life cycle of about a month, and Brassica growth is at its in Earth’s gravity environment, germi- highest in a moist envi- nation typically takes place after 1 to 2 ronment. Due to condi- days. By day 4, the stem will begin to tions on the ISS, the experience significant growth toward Brassica will be kept in an the source of lighting, while the roots environment with 50% grow in the opposite direction to anchor humidity. the plant. Flowering of the plant takes 5. Lighting: Proper lighting place around day 14. Around day 35 (5 is crucial to this experi- weeks), the plant begins to wilt and die. ment. The bracket to Sample of experiment components. Photo courtesy of The science objective of this mission hold the germination BioServe Space Technologies. is to examine the growth of Brassica roots flasks is equipped to pro- in microgravity when grown under con- vide white light and infrared (IR) results documented. tinuous white light (phototropism) and light to each individual flask from • Plant growth will be measured when the seeds are intentionally planted two separate downward angles, as via units placed on the growth in different orientations. well as backdrop lighting near the container at 1/8-inch increments. top of the flask. The “light” condi- Images will be taken every 30 1. Preflight: A seed box holding 27 tion will utilize only the white lights. minutes during all 24 hours of balsa wood seed sticks mounted The “dark” configuration will utilize each day. For each time lapse with Brassica rapa seeds (3 seeds per the IR lights, which are turned on between images taken, the growth stick) inserted into individual seed only when photos are taken. Half of can be estimated to obtain a stick tubes, two flask brackets to the plants will experience only the growth rate of both the roots and hold germination flasks (3 flasks per dark conditions. The other half will stems of the Brassica plant. bracket), a storage box of tweezers, experience 24 hours of light. • As the experiment progresses, light barrier and stow bag insert will 6. Planting: A total of four separate the Phytagel™ will begin to warp be assembled into flight configura- plantings will occur. Brassica seed and decrease in volume as nutrition and shipped to NASA Kennedy sticks will be inserted into flasks pre- ents are consumed by the plants. Space Center (KSC) prior to launch. filled with Phytagel™. Measuring the change in height of 2. Five days prior to launch: • Installation and Seed Planting the Phytagel™ over time will help Phytagel™ (water-based medium) A crewmember transfers 1 seed determine if this change is cor- will be prepared and poured into stick into each germination flask, related with growth rates in the seed germination flasks. The flasks inserts the flasks into the two plants. Notes can also be made will contain labels on the face, 1/8- brackets and installs both brackets about whether the Phytagel™ has inch gridlines and serial numbers and two camera modules into begun to pull away from the sides which will either be black on clear the CGBA Science Insert. of the flask and if it is breaking (“light” condition) or white on Historical video will be captured up into small pieces. clear “dark” condition) for visibility of the planting activity for docu- • Other observations can be made, in both lighting conditions. Final mentation. such as whether contamination assembly of the germination flasks • Seed Planting 2–4: A crewmem- has occurred within the plant will take place at KSC. ber replaces the germination flasks flask, and the stage that the plant 3. Launch and Delivery: The stow bag with new seed sticks and germina- is currently in (germination, flow- will be handed over 36 hours prior tion flasks, and inserts flasks into ering, etc.). These observations to launch of STS-134, for delivery the brackets. may be key when comparing a and transfer of experiment com- 7. Measurements and observations: generally accepted life cycle for ponents to the International Space Daily observations will be made of Brassica plants with outcomes in Station (ISS). each flask during the experiment and microgravity. n

STS-134 Protocol for Brassica rapa © 2012 Baylor College of Medicine 9 Plants in Space BioEd Online | K8 Science NASA AND THE NSBRI Teaming with Benefits by Jeffrey P. Sutton, M.D., Ph.D., Director, National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI)

pace is a unprecedented, with substantial It will become necessary to Schallenging benefits for both the space program perform more investigations in the environment for the and the American people. unique environment of space. The human body. With Through our strategic plan, NSBRI vision of using extended exposure long-duration mis- takes a leadership role in counter- to microgravity as a laboratory for sions, the physical measure development and space discovery and exploration builds and psychological life sciences education. The results- upon the legacy of NASA and our stresses and risks oriented research and development quest to push the frontier of human to astronauts are Dr. Jeffrey P. Sutton program is integrated and imple- understanding about nature and significant. Finding answers to these mented using focused teams, with ourselves. health concerns is at the heart of the scientific and management directives NSBRI is maturing in an era National Space Biomedical Research that are innovative and dynamic. An of unparalleled scientific and Institute’s program. In turn, the active Board of Directors, External technological advancement and Institute’s research is helping to Advisory Council, Board of Scientific opportunity. We are excited by the enhance medical care on Earth. Counselors, User Panel, Industry challenges confronting us, and by our NSBRI, a unique partnership Forum and Academic Consortium collective ability to enhance human between NASA and the academic help guide NSBRI in achieving its health and well-being in space, and and industrial communities, is goals and objectives. on Earth. n advancing biomedical research with the goal of ensuring a safe and pro- NSBRI RESEARCH AREAS ductive long-term human presence in space. By developing new approaches CARDIOVASCULAR PROBLEMS group behavioral health during flight and post flight. The amount of blood in the body is reduced when People on Earth can benefit from relevant assessment and countermeasures to prevent, astronauts are in microgravity. The heart grows smaller tests, monitoring and intervention. minimize and reverse critical risks to and weaker, which makes astronauts feel dizzy and RADIATION EFFECTS AND CANCER weak when they return to Earth. Heart failure and health, the Institute plays an essen- Exploration missions will expose astronauts to greater diabetes, experienced by many people on Earth, lead tial, enabling role for NASA. NSBRI levels and more varied types of radiation. Radiation to similar problems. bridges the research, technological exposure can lead to many health problems, including HUMAN FACTORS AND PERFORMANCE acute effects such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, skin and clinical expertise of the biomedi- Many factors can impact an astronaut’s ability to injury and changes to white blood cell counts and the cal community with the scientific, work well in space or on the lunar surface. NSBRI is immune system. Longer-term effects include damage engineering and operational expertise studying ways to improve daily living and keep crew to the eyes, gastrointestinal system, lungs and central of NASA. members healthy, productive and safe during explora- nervous system, and increased cancer risk. Learning tion missions. Efforts focus on reducing performance how to keep astronauts safe from radiation may With nearly 60 science, technology errors, improving nutrition, examining ways to improve improve cancer treatments for people on Earth. sleep and scheduling of work shifts, and studying how and education projects, NSBRI SENSORIMOTOR AND BALANCE ISSUES specific types of lighting in the craft and habitat can engages investigators at leading insti- During their first days in space, astronauts can improve alertness and performance. tutions across the nation to conduct become dizzy and nauseous. Eventually they adjust, goal-directed, peer-reviewed research MUSCLE AND BONE LOSS but once they return to Earth, they have a hard time When muscles and bones do not have to work walking and standing upright. Finding ways to counter- in a team approach. Key working against gravity, they weaken and begin to waste away. act these effects could benefit millions of people with relationships have been established Special exercises and other strategies to help astro- balance disorders. nauts’ bones and muscles stay strong in space also with end users, including astronauts SMART MEDICAL SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY may help older and bedridden people, who experience Since astronauts on long-duration missions will not be and flight surgeons at Johnson Space similar problems on Earth, as well as people whose able to return quickly to Earth, new methods of remote Center, NASA scientists and engi- work requires intense physical exertion, like firefighters medical diagnosis and treatment are necessary. These and construction workers. neers, other federal agencies, industry systems must be small, low-power, noninvasive and and international partners. The NEUROBEHAVIORAL AND STRESS FACTORS versatile. Portable medical care systems that monitor, value of these collaborations and To ensure astronaut readiness for space flight, diagnose and treat major illness and trauma during preflight prevention programs are being developed flight will have immediate benefits to medical care revolutionary research advances that to avoid as many risks as possible to individual and on Earth. result from them is enormous and

For current, in-depth information on NSBRI’s cutting-edge research and innovative technologies, visit www.nsbri.org. © 2012 Baylor College of Medicine Teaming with Benefits – NASA and the NSBRI BioEd Online | K8 Science Plants in Space 10