Parameters of Pepper Plants for Cultivation in Spaceflight Grown on Nutrient Medium with Nanoparticles

For successful work and life of astronauts, researchers, etc. in space flights, long stay at space stations and space settlements, optimal engineering systems for life support are needed, allowing to solve technical and psychological problems. In this respect, it is worth to consider plants in cosmos as one of the units in a life-support system. Modern development of biotechnologies makes it feasible to receive materials with new improved properties for plants growing. Formulation and components proportions changes in nutrient medium are capable to modify plant properties considerably. We have devised a nutrient medium in which essential metals such as iron, zinc and copper were added as electro neutral nanoparticles instead of metal salts. Such replacement is appropriate through unique nanoparticles properties: metal nanoparticles are less toxic than metal ionic forms; produce prolonged effects, serving as a depot of elements; nanoparticles introduced in biotic doses stimulate metabolic processes of the organism; nanoparticles action is multifunctional. LJ-king pepper was used for cultivation on a nutrient medium with iron, zinc and copper nanoparticles in different concentrations. Pepper plants grown on the nutrient medium with metal nanoparticles showed better morphometrical and physiological characteristics than controls: seedlings and plants were compact with the developed and active root system.