Seed Priming - A Novel Approach to Combat Microgravity Associated Stress Management in Plants

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Chapter

Perspective Chapter: Seed Priming - A Novel Approach to Combat Microgravity Associated Stress Management in Plants

Abstract

The colonization of space presents a significant challenge due to the difficulty of cultivating crops in microgravity environments. For long-term space exploration and extraterrestrial settlements to become viable, establishing reliable methods of food production beyond Earth is critical. However, the effects of spatial factors on plant physiology-and their subsequent impact on crop yield-remain incompletely understood. Gravity is a fundamental regulator of plant development, influencing essential cellular processes such as cell division and growth. Alterations in gravitational conditions can profoundly affect both developmental pathways and physiological behaviors in plants. Notably, plant hormones exhibit differential responses to microgravity. For instance, cytokinin displays a distinct distribution pattern in microgravity, contrasting with auxin, which orchestrates directional root growth through a gravity-dependent signaling network. Emerging research has identified significant changes in gene expression under microgravity conditions, particularly in genes associated with the tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative stress, carbohydrate metabolism, plant defense mechanisms, and DNA methylation (especially at the five-position of cytosine). Short-term spaceflight experiments in low-Earth orbit have demonstrated disruptions in plant redox balance, stress-related protein expression, energy and amino acid metabolism, hormonal activity, and transcriptional regulation. Intriguingly, seeds primed prior to microgravity exposure exhibit enhanced resilience to space-induced stress, suggesting a promising strategy to improve plant adaptability in extraterrestrial environments. These findings underscore the need for further research to optimize agricultural systems for space colonization.

One. Introduction

One point one. Microgravity and plants

One point two. Effect of microgravity on seed germination

One point three. Microgravity stress and breeding approaches

One point four. Jasmonic acid signaling and microgravity stress

One point five. Effect of microgravity on the citric acid cycle

One point six. Genes related to oxidative stress-related genes

One point seven. Differential gene expression in plants in microgravity

Two. Roots development in spaceflights and auxins

Two point one. Engineering the future of cosmic cultivation: Advanced breeding paradigms for space agriculture

Three. Conclusion

Overview

The chapter explores how microgravity affects plant development and survival, highlighting the promising approach of seed priming to improve plants’ resilience to space-induced stress. The text provides insights into the physiological and biotechnological strategies needed for sustainable space agriculture.

Key Points

1Microgravity significantly impacts plant physiological processes, affecting growth and yield
2Seed priming shows potential to enhance plant resilience in extraterrestrial environments
3Overcoming challenges in nutrient uptake and hormonal signaling is crucial for space farming
4Biotechnological approaches, like CRISPR, can aid in developing stress-resilient plant varieties
5Integrating various strategies can improve plant performance in microgravity conditions

Details

Authors: Kiran R. Kharat, Raveendran Pottathil
Category: Biology and Natural Sciences

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