Figure 1
Setup for APEx-07. (A) Plate components from left to right: agar plate, PES membrane, Arabidopsis seed with guar gum, micropore tape. (B) Plates growing vertically in rack.
Figure 2
12-day growth comparison between black and white PES membrane. The more cost-effective white membranes showed comparable growth to black membrane.
Figure 3
Harvest strategy to maintain intact seedlings. (A) Representative 12-day seedling growth in plate, (B) membrane collected with forceps, (C) membrane transferred to lid of Petri dish and wrapped in foil for freezing and shipping, and (D) a frozen plate returned from low Earth orbit.
Table 1
Success criteria of EVT samples as measured across 60 plates.
| Success Criteria | Goal | Observed | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germination | >90% | 99% | Excellent |
| radical emergence | |||
| Growth | 90% | >99% | Excellent |
| roots > 4cm | |||
| Contamination | <10% | 0% | Excellent |
| Bacterial or fungal growth | |||
| Seedling intactness | >90% | 100% | Excellent |
| Dissectible into roots/shoots | |||
| RNA quality | >75% | 100% | Excellent |
| RIN> 8, 260/280>2 |
Figure 4
Ground control Veggie unit at Kennedy Space Center (left) and both Veggie units at capacity aboard the ISS (right).