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 | | PESTO (Photosynthesis Experiment and System Testing and Operation) | | |
The PESTO (Photosynthesis Experiment and System Testing and Operation) Experiment is designed to determine the effect of microgravity on gas exchange
and carbohydrate metabolism in wheat. It is scheduled to fly onboard the International Space Station (ISS). The PESTO objectives are to directly measure
and characterize whole canopy photosynthesis in microgravity and to determine the effects of the microgravity environment on the photosynthetic
apparatus and carbohydrate metabolism. The use of the ISS as an experimental platform presents both opportunities and challenges for plant research.
Flight Hardware
The PESTO experiment will use the Biomass Production System (BPS), a double mid-deck sized plant growth chamber which has four individual plant growth
chambers. Each chamber has independent control of light intensity, photoperiod, air temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide
concentration. Ethylene concentration is maintained at > 50 ppb. The nutrient delivery system consists of porous tubes embedded in a media which is
controlled to a known pressure setpoint. Video cameras allow remote viewing of the plants in the chambers.
9-day old wheat plants |
Root system at 24 DAP |
Experiment Outline
The PESTO experiment consists of a series wheat of plantings designed to evaluate the effects of microgravity on photosynthesis. The
treatments will result in plants grown in 1 and exposed to mg, developed entirely in mg, and those germinated and grown in mg and returned to 1g.
Schematic of PESTO experiment on the ISS. Each color line represents growth of one BPS plant chamber and each red dot represents a series of photosynthesis measurements. |
Additional PESTO Topics
- Gas exchange measurements, and wheat growth and development
- CO2 and light response curves, tissue analysis, and acknowlegdments
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