Space Plant Pathology

jfenciso · 2018-10-28 10:13:30

What would you do if your crop planted inside the Martian greenhouse will be infected with plant pathogens? And, how would be affected in a closed system environment like a Martian colony?

IanM · 2018-10-28 12:12:40

I guess diversity of crops would be essential. If we grew only potatoes, for example, a potato blight's effect on the local diet would be compounded. While I believe that all of the affected stock would have to be destroyed I doubt that most plant pathogens can be transmitted to humans, fortunately enough.

jfenciso · 2018-10-28 12:17:06

Yeah, it couldn't be, but it would reduce the production of food. Tackling this kind of issue would help to know what are the possible way to prevent this kind of issue in the future.

jfenciso · 2018-10-28 12:19:56

In study on ISS using VEGGIE Hardware, there is a mold developed in the crop and flowering plant. So, it is possible that plant disease will happen in Mars.

Terraformer · 2018-10-28 12:59:07

The pathogen will always get through.

The ways we deal with such problems on Terra is by planting multiple types, so some survive and the pathogens in the soil can't infect the next crop (think - planting buckwheat in soil afflicted with potato blight); moving food from unblighted areas; or starving to death. The only one of those three that's viable for a colony is the first. Given that we'll be using greenhouses, there's no reason to have a fallow season. Potatoes, buckwheat, wheat can all be grown in succession, giving any diseases time to die off.

SpaceNut · 2018-10-28 16:02:11

Seperate greenhouse into segments for each crop type to limit the cross infecting, using filters for air flow from them to any common source, feed water source to each segment seperately with filters to prevent source sharing of a contaminant.

Do the contamination control for the astronaut farmer in that the suit used will only be used in that chamber or segment and not brought into the others keeping them controlled.

louis · 2018-10-28 16:17:52

A couple of points.

One is that I think it is wrong to refer to the Mars Colony as "closed". They won't be like the Biosphere project which was closed and suffered accordingly.

The Mars habs will be open system with inputs and outputs.

To what extent can you breed pathogenless plants? I don't know. But presumably in lab conditions on Earth, you could certainly minimise their presence. Horticultural workers are certainly vulnerable to lung infections from bacteria I believe.

It's certainly one of the arguments for saying "don't run before you can walk" ie build up agricultural production very gradually, in isolated facilities. Don't try and move straight to 100% food production. Build up experience and don't take risks.

jfenciso wrote:

What would you do if your crop planted inside the Martian greenhouse will be infected with plant pathogens? And, how would be affected in a closed system environment like a Martian colony?

SpaceNut · 2018-10-28 16:23:33

The enclosures that you will live in and do all your work within make it a closed system albiat not 100% by the virtue that you can not live once outside of them....

jfenciso · 2018-10-29 04:51:50

louis wrote:

Horticultural workers are certainly vulnerable to lung infections from bacteria I believe.

jfenciso wrote:
What would you do if your crop planted inside the Martian greenhouse will be infected with plant pathogens? And, how would be affected in a closed system environment like a Martian colony?

Most horticulturists experience health risks because of the exposure of chemicals like synthetic phytohormones or growth retardants.

SpaceNut · 2018-10-29 20:24:49

The selective plant grafting and breeding is what is getting lost in the discusion. Via taking the best for mars and making the best plants survive by selecting those that do best.

SpaceNut · 2021-04-22 17:00:31

bump buckwheat

jfenciso · 2023-01-22 07:37:21

Hello! Good day! My last activity was in October 2018. Now, I'm coming back for this forum!

Steve Stewart · 2023-01-22 08:16:22

Hello jfenciso and welcome back to the forum. I had a room-mate at Kansas State that received a degree in agronomy. Are you still in school? I see your background as being of great value on Mars. Nice to have you back.
-Steve

jfenciso · 2023-01-22 09:37:49

Steve Stewart wrote:

Hello jfenciso and welcome back to the forum. I had a room-mate at Kansas State that received a degree in agronomy. Are you still in school? I see your background as being of great value on Mars. Nice to have you back.
-Steve

Hi Steve! I am currently working as Instructor at Romblon State University in the Philippines teaching a Genetics course this semester. I am happy that I successfully access my account with the help of the administrator of this website. I can participate in the forum again and help the others sharing my expertise.

SpaceNut · 2023-01-22 15:24:55

Good to see that all things did work to get your account back and active.

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#1 2018-10-28 10:13:30

Space Plant Pathology

#2 2018-10-28 12:12:40

Re: Space Plant Pathology

#3 2018-10-28 12:17:06

Re: Space Plant Pathology

#4 2018-10-28 12:19:56

Re: Space Plant Pathology

#5 2018-10-28 12:59:07

Re: Space Plant Pathology

#6 2018-10-28 16:02:11

Re: Space Plant Pathology

#7 2018-10-28 16:17:52

Re: Space Plant Pathology

#8 2018-10-28 16:23:33

Re: Space Plant Pathology

#9 2018-10-29 04:51:50

Re: Space Plant Pathology

#10 2018-10-29 20:24:49

Re: Space Plant Pathology

#11 2021-04-22 17:00:31

Re: Space Plant Pathology

#12 2023-01-22 07:37:21

Re: Space Plant Pathology

#13 2023-01-22 08:16:22

Re: Space Plant Pathology

#14 2023-01-22 09:37:49

Re: Space Plant Pathology

#15 2023-01-22 15:24:55

Re: Space Plant Pathology

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