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Brazilian Seeds Phaseolus vulgaris: Demonstration of gravitropis and Phototropism Effects on Germination of Seed in Microgravity (Sed)
03.22.12

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images

Experiment/Payload Overview

Information provided courtesy of the Energia website.
Brief Summary

SED (Brazilian Seeds) is an educational experiment testing the germination and growth of Brazilian plant seeds under different light conditions. The experiment also features a control group of similar seeds being grown on earth under similar conditions and for the same time period. This main objective of this experiment is to stimulate and engage students across Brazil in the vast possibilities of space research. Pictures of the growing seeds on ISS will be downlinked daily and posted on an internet site for Brazilian students to see and to compare with their own ground-based seeds.

Principal Investigator

Information Pending

Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

Information Pending

Payload Developer Information Pending

Sponsoring Space Agency

Roscosmos

Sponsoring Organization:

Information Pending

ISS Expedition Duration:

April 2006 - September 2006



Expeditions Assigned

13

Previous ISS Missions

Information Pending

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Experiment/Payload Description

Research Summary

Information Pending

Description

Demonstration of gravitropism effects (gravitation change response of plants) and phototropism effects (differences in illumination conditions) on germination of seeds in microgravity conditions.

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Applications

Space Applications

Information Pending

Earth Applications

Information Pending

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Operations

Operational Requirements

Information Pending

Operational Protocols

To demonstrate the gravitation effect on plants growth to Brazilian students (aged from 10 to 15). Four kits with seeds are used in the experiment. Each of the kits contains five seeds Phaseolus vulgaris. Two kits are exposed in the light, the rest kits are exposed in the dark. The seeds germinate at temperatures from +20 degrees to +30 degrees C and at a low oxygen concentration (up to 3%). Germination process activation is performed through seeds wetting with the use of the attached syringe with water. The process of seeds germination and evolution is accompanied by photography performed by the onboard camera. The Laptop is used for the following processing of digital photos and their preparation for downlink.

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Results/More Information

Photo information on the seeds germination process in microgravity conditions downlinked from the ISS RS. Log with information on the seeds growth, memory map, as well as the kits with germinated seeds, to be returned to the ground in the Soyuz TMA descent vehicle.

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Related Web Sites
  • Energia - Science Research on the ISS Russian Segment
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    Publications

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    Ground Based Results Publications

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    ISS Patent Publications

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    Related Publications

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    Images

    Information provided by the investigation team to the ISS Program Scientist's Office.
    If updates are needed to the summary please contact JSC-ISS-Program-Science-Group. For other general questions regarding space station research and technology, please feel free to call our help line at 281-244-6187 or e-mail at JSC-ISS-Payloads-Helpline.