Space station experiment to probe plant disease risks for future moon and Mars missions
As NASA and its partners prepare for longer human missions beyond Earth, University of Florida researchers are investigating a challenge that could affect astronauts' ability to grow fresh food in space: plant disease.
As NASA and its partners prepare for longer human missions beyond Earth, University of Florida researchers are investigating a challenge that could affect astronauts' ability to grow fresh food in space: plant disease.
The short version
- This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies .
- The university's MVP-Plant-02 investigation, launched to the International Space Station on Oct.
- 13, will examine how plants respond to a fungal plant pathogen in microgravity.
What happened
The research will help scientists determine whether the space environment changes a plant's defenses against disease and could make infections more severe. Led by UF/IFAS researchers Andrew C.
Why it matters
Schuerger, Ph.D., Robert Ferl, Ph.D., and Anna-Lisa Paul, Ph.D., the investigation brings together expertise in plant pathology and plant physiology from across UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Phys.org via the links above and below.