The International Potato Centre (CIP) in Peru launched a series of experiments to discover if potatoes can grow under Mars atmospheric conditions and thereby prove they are also able to grow in extreme climates on Earth.
The Phase Two effort of CIP's proof of concept experiment to grow potatoes in simulated Martian conditions began in February last year when a tuber was planted in a specially constructed CubeSat by researchers from University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC) in Peru.
"Growing crops under Mars-like conditions is an important phase of this experiment," said Julio Valdivia-Silva, research associate at the SETI Institute, a US based research organisation.
"If the crops can tolerate the extreme conditions that we are exposing them to in our CubeSat, they have a good chance to grow on Mars," said Valdivia-Silva.
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The CubeSat houses a container holding soil and the tuber. Inside this hermetically sealed environment the CubeSat delivers nutrient rich water, controls the temperature for Mars day and night conditions and mimics Mars air pressure, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.
Sensors constantly monitor these conditions and live streaming cameras record the soil in anticipation of the potato sprouting.
One advantage potato great genetic capacity for adaptation to extreme environments, researchers said.
"This research could have a direct technological benefit on Earth and a direct biological benefit on Earth," said Chris McKay from NASA.
From the initial experiment, CIP scientists concluded that future Mars missions that hope to grow potatoes will have to prepare soil with a loose structure and nutrients to allow the tubers to obtain enough air and water to allow it to tuberize.
The experiments have already provided good news about potato's potential for helping people survive in extreme environments on Earth, he said.
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