Crop candidates for the bioregenerative life support systems in China

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1 Acta Astronautica 63 (2008) Crop candidates for the bioregenerative life support systems in China Xu Chunxiao, Liu Hong Bioengineering Department of Beijing, University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing , PR China Received 5 June 2007; received in revised form 15 January 2008; accepted 15 February 2008 Available online 18 April 2008 Abstract The use of plants for life support applications in space is appealing because of the multiple life support functions by the plants. Research on crops that were grown in the life support system to provide food and oxygen, remove carbon dioxide was begun from To select possible crops for research on the bioregenerative life support systems in China, criteria for the selection of potential crops were made, and selection of crops was carried out based on these criteria. The results showed that 14 crops including 4 food crops (wheat, rice, soybean and peanut) and 7 vegetables (Chinese cabbage, lettuce, radish, carrot, tomato, squash and pepper) won higher scores. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), rice (Oryza sativa L.), soybean (Glycine max L.) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) are main food crops in China. Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis var. communis), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia Lam.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.), carrot (Daucus carota L. var. sativa DC.), tomato (Lycopersicon escalentum L.), squash (Cucurbita moschata Duch.) and pepper (Capsicum frutescens L. var. longum Bailey) are 7 vegetables preferred by Chinese. Furthermore, coriander (Coriandum sativum L.), welsh onion (Allium fistulosum L. var. giganteum Makino) and garlic (Allium sativum L.) were selected as condiments to improve the taste of space crew. To each crop species, several cultivars were selected for further research according to their agronomic characteristics Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Crop; Bioregenerative life support systems 1. Introduction The use of plants for life support applications in space is appealing because of the multiple life support functions by the plants [1]. Through photosynthesis, plant remove carbon dioxide, while producing oxygen; and photosynthesis can also supply food. In addition, through the process of transpiration, plant growth systems can be used for water purification [2]. Research on the application of crops to the life support system was begun from Criteria for the selection of potential crops included yield potential, nutritional value, Corresponding author. Tel./fax: address: Lh64@buaa.edu.cn (L. Hong). horticultural and environmental requirements, harvest index, processing requirements and others [3 5]. Boeing Company has ever produced a list of suggested leafy vegetables and root crops for the Controlled Ecological Life Support System in 1962, which included 14 crops. In the test of BIOS-3, 13 crops were introduced in the system, which provided approximately half the food for two or three man crews [6]. Eighty-six crops were grown in the test of Biosphere 2 for food production, which provided about 80% percent of overall nutritional needs of eight crews. Five crops including rice, sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.), beets (Beta vulgaris L.), banana (Musa supientum L.) and papaya (Carica papaya L.) were identified to grow well in this system [7]. To each crop, not all the cultivars are appropriate /$ - see front matter 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi: /j.actaastro

2 X. Chunxiao, L. Hong / Acta Astronautica 63 (2008) for the cultivation in the controlled life support system, a higher production of cultivars in a limited space at a certain period of time is a better selection. To select appropriate cultivars for the space life support system, Bugbee and his research group have performed selection of wheat genotypes with appropriate characteristics for food production in space on a large scale. Over a thousand wheat genotypes have been analyzed. Finally, a dwarf cultivar, USU-Apogee, has been obtained by 12 years hybridization and breeding [8]. In the study of the feasibility of growing potato in the controlled ecological life support system, Wheeler has identified three potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars that grew well and produced tubers in the controlled environment [9]. Crop production test in the Breadboard Project at the Kennedy Space Center has identified best performing cultivars for 14 crops, which grew better in the biomass production chamber [6]. Based on previous research performed by the world research institutes, together with the consideration of Chinese sitology criteria and Chinese diet habit, selection of crops for the research on the bioregenerative life support systems in China was carried out. In this study, 14 crops were selected as candidates for the research on bioregenerative life support systems in China, which included 4 food crops, 7 vegetables and 3 crops that were used as condiments. The 14 crops can provide a variety of foods for the space crew. Moreover, several cultivars have been selected according to their agronomic characteristics for each crop species. 2. Methods 2.1. Criteria for the selection of crop species According to the requirement of the closed life support system, the space for the growth of crops is limited. Therefore, researchers hope to produce more foods in a limited space at a relative short period of time, which requires crops with higher productivity and shorter life cycle. During the selection of possible crops for the life support system, 13 factors have been considered (Table 1). The selection criteria were made according to the requirement of closed life support system and published papers [3,10,11]. Among the 13 factors, Chinese diet habit was used as a factor for the selection of crop species. In addition, several factors are connected with the growth characteristics of crops. Selection process includes three steps. First, a social investigation on the food inclination was performed by questionnaire. One hundred persons, including students and teachers from various regions of China, were asked to choose crops Table 1 Criteria for the selection of crops Factor Diet Plant height Productivity Harvest index Nutritional value Absorbability of light Resistance Use of space Propagation Horticultural manipulation Flavor Environmental requirement Plant density Table 2 Criteria for the selection of cultivars Factor Yield Edible part Plant height Plant life cycle Nutritional value Resistance Horticultural and environmental requirement Required criterion Favored by Chinese Dwarf nutrition content efficiency Smaller Easy Easy and simple Better Similar growth condition, not strict Can grow at higher density Required criterion production harvest index Dwarf Short, early maturity More resistant to pathogens, insects and stress Easy to cultivate and manipulate favored by them among the provided crops in Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Second, phenotype analysis of the crops that won higher scores in the first step. Those that need larger space for growth were excluded. Third, a fully analysis of the left crops and final identification of the crop candidates according to the criteria. During the selection, the criteria were used flexibly, because there are inconsistencies among some criteria and few crops can satisfy all the criteria Criteria for the selection of cultivars To choose appropriate cultivars, seven factors were considered (Table 2). Some factors of them overlapped with those for the selection of crops. Criteria were made according to the requirement of the closed life support system and the agronomic characteristics of cultivars. Agronomic characteristics of cultivars of each crop were analyzed for the selection of appropriate cultivars according to these criteria. Selection of cultivars was performed by searching of the Chinese Crop Germplasm

3 1078 X. Chunxiao, L. Hong / Acta Astronautica 63 (2008) Table 3 Recommended cultivars for each crop Crop Cultivar Note Grain Wheat Jing Plant heights < 45 cm, protein contents > 15%, early maturity Hei Hei Jing Rice Fumi 7 Plant heights < 60 cm, protein contents > 13%, early maturity Huangheguandao Zaoxing Beidou OR Soybean Huangdou Plant heights < 59 cm, protein contents > 40%, fats > 17%, early maturity Bayuemang Xiaohuapi Siliqing Peanut Wendengxiaolihong Protein contents > 30%, fats > 50%, early maturity Haiyangsilihong Baitu 19 Baitu 46 Vegetable Chinese cabbage Zhangcunbaicai Plant heights < 39 cm, life cycles < 55 days, edible biomass > 3kgm 2 Wanerqing Sanlengcai Tiaogengbai Lettuce Chigengyechuncai Plant heights < 38 cm, life cycles < 55 days, edible biomass > 1.5kgm 2 Nanpingyeyongwoju Nonganshengcai Jianyeshengcai Radish Yangxianjiangbabailuobo Life cycles < 78 days, edible biomass > 3kgm 2 Jinanpeijiayingxiaoye Tongziluobo Baishiluobo Carrot Jixianhong Life cycles < 95 days, edible biomass > 3.5kgm 2 Jiexiu Pingding Huangpi Tomato Daxingruiguang Life cycles < 63 days, edible biomass > 8kgm 2 Xinfengsihao Xinfanerhao Zhongshuliuhao Squash Tiepi Life cycles < 95 days, edible biomass > 4kgm 2 Xuyi Huangniutui Xiaomopanwogua Pepper Xianjiao Plant heights < 95 cm, life cycles < 55 days, edible biomass > 1kgm 2 Tonganxiaojiaojiao Jianjiao Coriander Bendixiangcai Plant heights < 38 cm, life cycles <75 days, edible biomass > 2kgm 2, strong flavor Yan 9 Xiangcai Yan 10

4 X. Chunxiao, L. Hong / Acta Astronautica 63 (2008) Table 3 (Contd.) Crop Cultivar Note Welsh onion Kaifengdacong Plant heights < 98 cm, life cycles < 130 days, edible biomass > 3kgm 2, strong flavor Xihuaducong Podidacong Baipishuicong Garlic Hongpi 1 Edible biomass > 2kgm 2, strong flavor Jinxiang Taicangbaipi Chengduershuizao Resources Information System ( During the selection, the criteria were used flexibly, because each crop species has its own traits and few cultivars can satisfy all the criteria. Furthermore, based on these criteria, the detailed criteria were made for each crop for the selection of appropriate cultivars (data not shown). 3. Results 3.1. Crop candidates To choose possible crops for the research on bioregenerative life support system, 13 factors that are associated with diet, nutrition and system condition were considered. Over 70 crop species were analyzed step by step according to the criteria. Twenty-five crops have been selected in the first step. The number of crops was confined to 18 in the second step. Finally, 14 crop candidates including 4 food crops (wheat, rice, soybean and peanut) and 7 vegetables (Chinese cabbage, lettuce, radish, carrot, tomato, squash and pepper) have been selected for bioregenerative life support system research in China (Table 3). Wheat, rice, soybean and peanut are main food crops in China. They can provide carbohydrate, fat and protein for the space crew in the life support system. Chinese cabbage, lettuce, radish, carrot, tomato, squash and pepper are seven vegetables favored by Chinese, which can provide vitamins and minerals for the space crew. The other three crops, coriander, welsh onion and garlic, were selected as condiments to improve the taste. Though the 14 crops can provide a majority of nutrient elements and dietary variety, they cannot provide a complete diet. Other supplements, such as salt, flavorings, etc., are necessary. Though sweet potato and potato are two crops with high productivity, they were not selected in the first step, indicating that Chinese people do not like to eat them. Some crops, such as maize (Zea mays L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), etc., favored by Chinese people were not included in the final list of crops, because the plant heights of them are higher than the selected crops. A larger space is required for the growth of them Cultivar candidates for each crop For the selection of cultivars, more consideration was focused on the agronomic characteristics. Due to the special environment and limitation of space in the life support system, dwarf cultivars are needed to optimize the food production. So, dwarf is an important criterion for the selection of cultivars. In addition, the cultivars with early mature traits were selected, because high productivity is required in the life support system. Therefore, the short plant life cycle was used as a criterion. Chinese Crop Germplasm Resources Information System is a national database on the agronomic characteristics of cultivars for a number of crop species. Numerous data of cultivars were stored in it, which provide rich resources for the selection of possible cultivars. Selection of cultivars was performed by searching in this database. The results for the selection of cultivars were shown in Table 3. To wheat, four cultivars have been selected. Plant heights of them are lower than 45 cm. The protein contents of them are more than 15%. During the selection of rice cultivars, five cultivars with plant height lower than 60 cm and early mature traits were selected. All the selected soybean cultivars have higher levels of protein (> 40%) and fat (> 15%). The protein levels of the selected peanut cultivars are more than 30%. Fat levels of them are above 50%. The selected cultivars of vegetables have higher productivity. The edible parts of Chinese cabbage and lettuce are leaves, so the cultivars with more rapid growth of leaf and higher harvest index were selected. The cultivars of radish and carrot with more rapid growth of root were selected. To tomato, squash and pepper, the edible parts are fruits. So the cultivars of them with higher productivity of fruits were selected.

5 1080 X. Chunxiao, L. Hong / Acta Astronautica 63 (2008) The three crops coriander, welsh onion and garlic are used as condiments, quantitative consumption of them is not as many as other crops. Flavor of them were considered as an important factor for the selection of cultivars. Several cultivars with higher productivity and strong flavor were selected. 4. Conclusions and discussion Introducing crops into the life support system to provide food and O 2 is appealing for long-term space mission. To date, dozens of crop species have been tested for the application in the bioregenerative life support systems. Each of them has its own advantages. Selection of possible crop species for the life support system is important for the success of further planting experiments. In this study, all the 14 selected crops are favored by Chinese. They can be used to provide a great part of nutrition requirement and dietary variety for the space crew. Moreover, the 14 crops selected by us are mostly consistent with previous publications, implying that they are widely taken into account by the researchers. We took full use of the rich cultivar resources in China to choose cultivars for the research on the life support systems, which will be helpful for the further analysis of crops grown in the controlled environment and identification of feasible crops to grow in the life support systems. In addition, selecting of the possible cultivars by the available data can greatly reduce the spending on the planting tests. Though the 14 crops selected by us are mostly consistent with previous publications, the cultivars selected by us are specific. Therefore, it is possible to find cultivars that are more suitable for the bioregenerative life support systems. Even so, the data that were used for the selection derived from the field tests. Therefore, the performances of the selected cultivars in the controlled environment will be different from those obtained in the field. So, a further selection of genotypes in the selected cultivars for controlled environment performance is necessary. The cultivars with better performance in the controlled environment will be used for further analysis. In addition, through the selection of specific cultivars, we hope to identify some cultivars that are easier to adapt to the controlled environment conditions and can keep higher productivity. Acknowledgment This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Grant: 2006DFB81140). References [1] A.W. Galston, Photosynthesis as a basis for life support on Earth and in space, BioScience 42 (1992) [2] C.A. Loader, J.L. Garland, L.H. Levine, K.L. Cook, C.L. Mackowiak, H.R. Vivenzio, Direct recycling of human hygiene water into hydroponic plant growth system, Life Support Biosphere Science 6 (1999) [3] J.E. Hoff, J.M. Howe, C.A. Mitchell, Nutritional and cultural aspects of plant species selection for a regenerative life support system, NASA Cont Rep166324, Moffett Field, CA, [4] F.B. Salisbury, M.Z.A. Clark, Choosing plants to be grown in a controlled environment life support system (CELSS) based upon attractive vegetarian diets, Life Support Biosphere Science 2 (1996) [5] G.C.R. Water, A. Olabi, J.B. Hunter, M.A. Dixon, C. Lasseur, Bioregenerative food system cost based on optimized menus for advanced life support, Life Support Biosphere Science 8 (2002) [6] R.M. Wheeler, J.C. Sager, R.P. Prince, W.M. Knott, Crop production for advanced life support systems observation from the Kennedy Space Center Breadboard Project, NASA TM , NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida, [7] S.E. Silverstone, M. Nelson, Food production and nutrition in Biosphere 2: results from the first mission September 1991 to September 1993, Advances in Space Research 18 (1996) [8] B. Bugbee, G. Koerner, Yield comparison and unique characteristics of the dwarf wheat cultivar USU-Apogee, Advances in Space Research 20 (1997) [9] R.M. Wheeler, Potato and human exploration of space: some observations from NASA-sponsored controlled environment studies, Potato Research 49 (2006) [10] T.W. Tibbitts, D.K. Alford, Controlled life support system, Use of higher plants, NASA Conference Publication 2231, [11] E.F. Wheeler, J. Kossowski, E. Goto, R.W. Langhans, G. White, L.D. Albright, D. Wilcox, Consideration in selecting crops for the human-rated life support system: a linear programming model, Advances in Space Research 18 (1996)

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