밀폐공간 내 압력이 케일의 생육에 미치는 영향

초록

Growing interest in long-duration space missions and extraterrestrial colonization has driven the development of reliable space agriculture systems essential for sustaining life during these missions. However, the effects of environmental stressors such as low atmospheric pressure on plant growth have not yet been fully elucidated, which is crucial for the design of bioregenerative life support systems. This study investigated the growth responses of kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) under different pressure conditions (101.3, 67, and 33.0 kPa) in a closed environment, simulating potential extraterrestrial habitats. Two weeks after germination, kale plants were cultivated in custom-made acrylic pressure chambers for 19 days. Water (20 mL) was supplied on days 1 and 9. Leaf length, leaf width, and chlorophyll content were measured on days 1, 9, and 19. No significant differences were observed among the groups on day 1 (p > 0.05). However, by day 9, significant increases in leaf growth were observed in groups A (101.3 kPa) and B (67 kPa), with group B showing temporary enhancement of leaf growth (p < 0.05). By day 19, group A exhibited the highest growth rates for all parameters (leaf length 44.72 ± 2.74 mm, leaf width 39.19 ± 5.99 mm), while group B maintained relatively high growth, and group C (33 kPa) displayed the lowest growth rates, indicating a tendency for growth inhibition under prolonged hypobaric conditions. Chlorophyll content (SPAD values) increased during the early stages, with the highest values recorded in group C, suggesting that low pressure may temporarily stimulate chlorophyll preservation and accumulation. However, by day 19, chlorophyll content decreased across all groups, indicating challenges in maintaining photosynthetic capacity over the long term. These findings suggest that while low-pressure environments may initially promote physiological activity, they ultimately lead to growth inhibition. This study highlights the importance of maintaining appropriate pressure levels for space-based crop cultivation and provides foundational data for designing bioregenerative life support systems.

키워드