Earth benefits from NASA research and technology. Life sciences applications

This document provides a representative sampling of examples of Earth benefits in life-sciences-related applications, primarily in the area of medicine and health care, but also in agricultural productivity, environmental monitoring and safety, and the environment. This brochure is not intended as an exhaustive listing, but as an overview to acquaint the reader with the breadth of areas in which the space life sciences have, in one way or another, contributed a unique perspective to the solution of problems on Earth. Most of the examples cited were derived directly from space life sciences research and technology. Some examples resulted from other space technologies, but have found important life sciences applications on Earth. And, finally, we have included several areas in which Earth benefits are anticipated from biomedical and biological research conducted in support of future human exploration missions

The C23A system, an exmaple of quantitative control of plant growth associated with a data base

The architecture of the C23A (Chambers de Culture Automatique en Atmosphere Artificielles) system for the controlled study of plant physiology is described. A modular plant growth chambers and associated instruments (I.R. CO2 analyser, Mass spectrometer and Chemical analyser); network of frontal processors controlling this apparatus; a central computer for the periodic control and the multiplex work of processors; and a network of terminal computers able to ask the data base for data processing and modeling are discussed. Examples of present results are given. A growth curve analysis study of CO2 and O2 gas exchanges of shoots and roots, and daily evolution of algal photosynthesis and of the pools of dissolved CO2 in sea water are discussed

Plant health sensing

If plants are to be used as a food source for long term space missions, they must be grown in a stable environment where the health of the crops is continuously monitored. The sensor(s) to be used should detect any diseases or health problems before irreversible damage occurs. The method of analysis must be nondestructive and provide instantaneous information on the condition of the crop. In addition, the sensor(s) must be able to function in microgravity. This first semester, the plant health and disease sensing group concentrated on researching and consulting experts in many fields in attempts to find reliable plant health indicators. Once several indicators were found, technologies that could detect them were investigated. Eventually the three methods chosen to be implemented next semester were stimulus response monitoring, video image processing and chlorophyll level detection. Most of the other technologies investigated this semester are discussed here. They were rejected for various reasons but are included in the report because NASA may wish to consider pursuing them in the future

Centers for the commercial development of space

In 1985, NASA initiated an innovative effort called Centers for the Commercial Development of Space (CCDS). The CCDS program was designed to increase private-sector interest and investment in space-related activities, while encouraging U.S. economic leadership and stimulating advances in promising areas of research and development. Research conducted in the Centers handling the following areas is summarized: materials processing; life sciences; remote sensing; automation and robotics; space propulsion; space structures and materials; and space power

Multispectral imaging for presymptomatic analysis of light leaf spot in oilseed rape

Background: The use of spectral imaging within the plant phenotyping and breeding community has been increasing due its utility as a non-invasive diagnostic tool. However, there is a lack of imaging systems targeted specifically at plant science duties, resulting in low precision for canopy-scale measurements. This study trials a prototype multispectral system designed specifically for plant studies and looks at its use as an early detection system for visually asymptomatic disease phases, in this case Pyrenopeziza brassicae in Brassica napus. The analysis takes advantage of machine learning in the form of feature selection and novelty detection to facilitate the classification. An initial study into recording the morphology of the samples is also included to allow for further improvement to the system performance. Results: The proposed method was able to detect light leaf spot infection with 92% accuracy when imaging entire oilseed rape plants from above, 12 days after inoculation and 13 days before the appearance of visible symptoms. False colour mapping of spectral vegetation indices was used to quantify disease severity and its distribution within the plant canopy. In addition, the structure of the plant was recorded using photometric stereo, with the output influencing regions used for diagnosis. The shape of the plants was also recorded using photometric stereo, which allowed for reconstruction of the leaf angle and surface texture, although further work is needed to improve the fidelity due to uneven lighting distributions, to allow for reflectance compensation. Conclusions: The ability of active multispectral imaging has been demonstrated along with the improvement in time taken to detect light leaf spot at a high accuracy. The importance of capturing structural information is outlined, with its effect on reflectance and thus classification illustrated. The system could be used in plant breeding to enhance the selection of resistant cultivars, with its early and quantitative capability

Chlorophyll fluorescence induction method in assessing the efficiency of pre-sowing agro-technological construction of the oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. oleiformis Pers.) agrocenosis

Received: June 6th, 2022 ; Accepted: September 4th, 2022 ; Published: September 13th, 2022 ; Correspondence: [email protected], [email protected] fluorescence induction (CFI) is a measure of photosynthetic performance and is widely used by plant physiologists and ecophysiologists. The basic principle of CFI analysis is relatively straightforward. The specified method of analysis during 2015–2020 was applied to assess the optimality of selection of technological sowing parameters such as sowing rate (estimated interval 0.5–4.0 million germinable seeds ha-1 ), row width (15–30 cm), presowing fertilizer (N0–90P0–90K0–90) for three varieties of oilseed radish. The widely tested basic indicators of the CFI curve (F0, Fpl, Fm, Fst) were used, as well as possible indices and ratios calculated on their basis in accordance with the CFI analysis methodology. For the first time, the species characteristics of oilseed radish were investigated by the nature of the CFI curve in relation to spring rape, white mustard, and spring mustard on the 1.5 germinable seeds ha-1 (30 cm row width, N0P0K0) variant. It was established by the stress sensitivity category of the PSII photosystem that a reliable possibility of using the CFI method for identification studied technological options for sowing. The share of the influence of the technological factor of the sowing method (in %) on the formation of indicators F0, Fpl, Fm, Fst in the dispersion scheme of the experiment was consistently 19.3, 8.4, 19.5, 6.3. The influence of the seeding rate factor on the results of F0, Fpl, Fm, Fst was (in %) 26.6, 9.5, 42.3, 9.3 and the influence of the fertilizer factor was 13.5, 16.4, 5.7, 12.7, respectively. The formation of the specified basic indicators of the CFI curve in the resulting interaction of the technological parameters of sowing depended on the hydrothermal conditions of the vegetation of oilseed radish with the share of influence of 20.1, 40.2, 28.1, 30.0, respectively. It was determined that the decrease in the indicator of the hydrothermal coefficient (in the ratio of the increase in the sum of average daily temperatures to the decrease in the amount of precipitation) ensures the following dynamics of changes in the main and derivative indicators of CFI: a decrease Fpl 1.3%, Fm 11.8%, ER 8.7%, Lwp 15.9%, RFd 25.3%, Kprp 21.9%, Kfd 17.7% and growth F0 5.1%, Fst 7.3%, Que 40.4%, Kef 24.0%, Vt 71.3%. The comparison during the study period of options 4.0 and 0.5 million germinable seeds ha-1 determined an averaged decrease in F0 and Fst indicators by 29.5% and 29.1% while increasing Fpl and Fm by 2.2% and 38.5%. According to the determined level of CFI indicators for various technological schemes of sowing, an expedient option was recommended, which ensures the highest efficiency of the PSII photosystem of oilseed radish in the range of 1.0–2.0 germinable seeds ha-1 with a fertilization rate of N30–60P30–60K30–60 for row sowing and 1.5 germinable seeds ha-1 with a fertilization rate of N60–90P60–90K60–90 for wide-row sowing

Pesticides and the Environment

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