Ground Based Study on Culturing Garlic as a Source of Vegetable Food and Medicine in Space<br/>- Growth and Ajoene Accumulation in Garlic Plants Cultured with Different CO₂ Regimes

• Naznin Most Tahera

  Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University Bioresource Engineering department, Macdonald Stewart Building, MS1-096, McGill University

• Kitaya Yoshiaki

  Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University

• Shibuya Toshio

  Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University

• Endo Ryosuke

  Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University

• Hirai Hiroaki

  Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University

• Lefsrud Mark G.

  Bioresource Engineering department, Macdonald Stewart Building, MS1-096, McGill University

Abstract

Life support and effective countermeasures against damaging space radiation for humans on long-duration space missions will be highly dependent on the amount of food and efficient conversion of CO₂/O₂. The cultivation of fresh vegetables enriched in phytomedicine is an alternative option for keeping crews' health and recycling of CO₂ in a closed environment.<br/>A whole garlic plant cultured hydroponically is edible and a rich source of medicinal compound, carbohydrates, proteins and vitamins. Garlic plants were cultured for 60 days at 400 (control), 450, 800 and 900 µmol mol^-1 carbon dioxide in controlled environment chambers to study growth and ajoene accumulation. Lighting was provided with fluorescent lamps as a 12 h photoperiod with 450 µmol m^-2 s^-1 PPFD. Fresh and dry mass accumulation of each parts of garlic plants were significantly increased by increasing the CO₂ levels from 400 to 900 µmol mol^-1. Fresh mass in bulbs, leaves and roots were 28.6, 66.3 and 92.2 g per plant, respectively, and 1.9, 1.8 and 2.0 times, respectively, greater at 900 µmol mol^-1 CO₂ than at 400 µmol mol^-1 CO₂. Transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were decreased by increasing the CO₂ levels while water use efficiency and relative chlorophyll contents were increased. The concentrations of ajoene accumulation were significantly increased with increasing of CO₂ levels from 400 to 800 µmol mol^-1 but no significant increase of ajoene accumulation was observed with increasing CO₂ level from 800 to 900 µmol mol^-1. Total ajoene accumulation in bulbs, leaves and roots were 2.3, 2.6 and 2.6 times, respectively, greater at 900 µmol mol^-1 CO₂ than at 400 µmol mol^-1 CO₂. The results indicate that elevated CO₂ can increase ajoene accumulation as well as biomass production and water-use efficiency in garlic plants.

Journal

• Biological Sciences in Space

  Biological Sciences in Space 29 (0), 1-7, 2015

  Japanese Society for Biological Sciences in Space

Keywords

• Ajoene
• CO₂
• Garlic
• Hydroponic culture
• Phytomedicine
• Space farming

Details

• CRID: 1390282679410299648
• NII Article ID: 130004845133
• DOI: 10.2187/bss.29.1
• ISSN: 1349967X
• ISSN: 09149201
• Text Lang: ja
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed