De Francesco, Sara (2024) Effects of ionizing radiation on plants to define crop shielding requirements for future space habitats. [Tesi di dottorato]

	Documento PDF Sara_DeFrancesco_37_PARZIALE.pdf Download (2MB)
	Documento PDF Sara_DeFrancesco_37_COMPLETO.pdf Visibile a [TBR] Amministratori dell'archivio Download (8MB) | Richiedi una copia

Abstract

Long-term space exploration introduces significant scientific and technological hurdles, particularly for extended missions beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to destinations such as the Moon and Mars. As mission durations grow, dependence on Earth for essential resources like water, oxygen, and food becomes impractical. Bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS) have been identified as a pivotal solution, utilizing biological processes to recycle critical resources. Plants play a central role in these systems by producing oxygen, recycling water, capturing carbon dioxide, and supplying fresh, nutritious food. Moreover, they offer bioactive compounds with potential health benefits for mitigating space-induced conditions in astronauts. The harsh space environment, particularly the presence of ionizing radiation (IR), presents substantial challenges to the integration of plants into BLSS. Plants exposed to galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) and solar particle events (SPEs) experience both low-linear energy transfer (LET) and high-LET radiation. High-LET radiation, composed of densely ionizing particles, causes complex DNA damage and disrupts growth, development, and stress responses in plants. Despite extensive research efforts, the effects of IR on plants remain inadequately explored, particularly for scenarios involving chronic low-dose and high-LET exposure characteristic of prolonged space missions. Current experiments often simulate space radiation using Earth-based analogs that do not fully replicate the unique radiation spectrum encountered in space. This research focuses on examining the responses of various plant species to different radiation types and doses, spanning multiple stages of their development. It evaluates parameters such as biomass production, photosynthetic capacity, and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds and antioxidants, which are crucial for mitigating oxidative stress and enhancing nutritional quality. By elucidating critical damage thresholds and the underlying biological mechanisms, this work aims to advance strategies for improving plant resilience and functionality within BLSS, ensuring their effectiveness as a vital component of sustainable space missions.

Downloads

Actions (login required)

Modifica documento