Seeds will be exposed to microgravity and ISS radiation to evaluate germination, development, and possible genetic alterations in space.
Two agricultural experiments will use the International Space Station to investigate how plant materials react to the conditions found outside Earth. Starting in October, rooibos and grape seeds will be subjected to microgravity and cosmic radiation for different periods.
The rooibos will remain for at least six weeks in a nanolaboratory, while the batch of grapes will stay about six months on the station. After returning, researchers will plant the samples and compare their development with seeds that did not participate in the missions.
Seeds in space will help measure invisible effects
The changes caused by the orbital environment may not be identified just by the appearance of the samples. Therefore, tests will continue on the ground, monitoring the germination and growth of the plants after exposure.
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In the case of the grapes, researchers will also look for possible genetic modifications. Comparison with groups kept on Earth will allow identifying differences associated with the stay on the ISS.
The results could expand the knowledge necessary to produce food on future missions. Before that, it will be necessary to determine if the exposure interferes with the seeds’ ability to generate healthy plants.
Rooibos will mark African debut on the ISS
The launch will have historical importance for South Africa and the continent. According to Dawie de Villiers, director of the South African Rooibos Council, it will be the first time seeds of a native South African species travel to space.
The samples will also be the first originating from the African continent to participate in such an experiment. The mission turns rooibos into a study object to understand the response of terrestrial species to the orbital environment.
After returning, the seeds will be cultivated alongside specimens that will remain on Earth. Scientists will observe possible differences in plant emergence and subsequent development stages.
Experiment will be conducted in a nanolaboratory
The South African seeds will be in an experimental structure installed on the International Space Station. The minimum planned exposure period is six weeks.
During this interval, the material will be subject to microgravity and cosmic radiation. These two factors are among the conditions that differentiate the space environment from that found in terrestrial agricultural areas.
The research aims to verify if the rooibos maintains its ability to germinate after the mission. It will also be analyzed if the growth shows changes when compared to the control group.
Grape seeds will face longer exposure
In parallel with the South African study, Texas A&M University will conduct an investigation with grapes. This batch is expected to remain approximately six months on the ISS, a period longer than that planned for the rooibos.
The work is part of the TAMU-SPIRIT mission, an acronym related to a space platform aimed at integrating innovative research and technologies. The initiative is carried out by the university in partnership with Aegis Aerospace.
The proposal includes the continued use of the station as an experimental environment. In this model, different projects will be able to take advantage of orbital conditions to test materials and technologies.
Protection should preserve germination capacity
Transport requires care to prevent radiation from rendering the seeds unviable even before planting. Justin Scheiner, associate professor of Horticultural Sciences and viticulture specialist at Texas A&M, highlighted the importance of the protection developed for the mission.
Without this structure, exposure could compromise the viability of the plant material. The challenge is to allow the seeds to face the conditions of scientific interest without being completely damaged.
The transport packaging, therefore, is part of the experimental design. It should preserve the samples until they can be planted and evaluated on Earth.
Grapes will be cultivated in a vineyard after return
When they return from the station, the grape seeds will be sent to a vineyard of Texas A&M AgriLife Research. In this location, researchers will monitor the growth of the vines.
The development will be compared to that of plants originating from seeds not sent to space. The team will record physical differences and possible changes identified in the genetic material.
This monitoring may require the observation of various phases of the plant cycle. The aim is not only to confirm germination but to understand if the exposure produces lasting effects.
Two studies adopt different strategies
Although they share the ISS environment, the projects do not have exactly the same design. The rooibos will remain in space for at least six weeks, while the grapes will be kept in orbit for approximately half a year.
The differences in duration and species may generate different responses. Each project will be analyzed according to its own comparison groups and scientific objectives.
Microgravity alters the development environment
On Earth, plants complete their cycle under the constant influence of gravity. On the space station, this condition is significantly different, creating a useful environment to investigate biological responses.
The seeds will not only be studied during the orbital stay. The main set of observations will occur later when they are placed in cultivation conditions.
This method allows verifying if the space experience leaves effects that continue to appear after the return. The absence of differences will also be a relevant result for the research.
Cosmic radiation will be another factor investigated
Besides microgravity, the samples will be exposed to the radiation found outside the protection offered on the Earth’s surface. Researchers want to understand how this contact interferes with plant viability and development.
In the grape study, the search for genetic alterations will be directly related to this concern. Meanwhile, the rooibos will be mainly observed for its germination capacity and behavior during growth.
The two projects may provide complementary data. While one analyzes a native African species, the other monitors seeds intended for vine formation.
Space agriculture depends on resilient plants
Future long-duration missions may require forms of agricultural production conducted far from Earth. For this, it will be necessary to discover which species withstand transport, exposure, and cultivation in conditions different from those on Earth.
The research with seeds in space does not currently demonstrate that rooibos or grapes can be regularly produced off-planet. They represent an initial step to measure the resistance of these materials.
Only after the return and planting will it be possible to identify how each species responded. Scientists will need to monitor both positive results and possible losses of viability.
Experiments can guide new strategies
If the seeds germinate normally, the studies may indicate that certain plant materials tolerate periods of orbital exposure. If changes arise, researchers will have new data on the effects of microgravity and radiation.
The differences between the group sent to the ISS and the samples kept on Earth will form the basis of the conclusions. In the grape project, genetic analysis will add another layer to the comparison.
The results may also help in planning future experiments. New missions may alter the exposure time, the protection used, or the species selected.
Seeds in space connect agriculture and orbital exploration
The rooibos will bring to the station a species linked to South African biodiversity, while the grapes will participate in a study conducted by a North American institution. Together, the projects bring agricultural research closer to the future needs of space exploration.
The stay in orbit will be just the first phase. The most important scientific response will come when the samples are planted and compared with those that never left the planet.
By studying seeds in space, researchers seek to discover if terrestrial plants can preserve their development capacity after facing microgravity and radiation. The answers may contribute to agricultural production strategies in missions conducted beyond Earth.
With information from the site Aventuras na História
