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Japanese Oblate Film as a Novel Method for Seed Handling and Activation in Microgravity Cover

Japanese Oblate Film as a Novel Method for Seed Handling and Activation in Microgravity

Gravitational and Space Research
Volume 13 (2025): Issue 1 (January 2025)
By: Gilbert Cauthorn,  Keith Crisman,  Haley O. Boles,  Christina M. Johnson,  Aswati Subramanian,  Richard Barker,  Emma Cuthbert,  Mao Yamada,  Yui Sato,  Hachi Chisuga,  Sakura Fukuoka,  Serika Kagami,  Chihiro Tada,  Seohee Park,  Kurumi Kunihiro,  Kosei Mitsukawa,  Asako Ueki,  Sana Nozawa and  Gokce Delioglu  
Open Access
|Apr 2025

Figures & Tables

Figure 1.

Examples of successful Japanese cherry red radish microgreen germination at Day After Planting (DAP) 7. (A) Post-experiment specimens grown using the oblate film method, showing successful germination and early development. (B) Close-up of healthy microgreens cultivated using the oblate film method.
Examples of successful Japanese cherry red radish microgreen germination at Day After Planting (DAP) 7. (A) Post-experiment specimens grown using the oblate film method, showing successful germination and early development. (B) Close-up of healthy microgreens cultivated using the oblate film method.

Figure 2.

Oblate Film Seed Arrangement. (A) Oblate film arranged with 25 seeds in a uniform grid formation, showcasing its lightweight and flexible properties before placement on agar media. (B) Seeds adhered to the oblate film after placement, demonstrating secure adhesion
Oblate Film Seed Arrangement. (A) Oblate film arranged with 25 seeds in a uniform grid formation, showcasing its lightweight and flexible properties before placement on agar media. (B) Seeds adhered to the oblate film after placement, demonstrating secure adhesion

Figure 3.

Seed Arrangement and Film Interaction with Agar Media. (A) Seeds arranged in a grid formation directly placed on the surface of the agar media. (B) Oblate film with adhered seeds upon contact with the agar media; the film adheres fully to the agar due to moisture, beginning to dissolve and ensuring the seeds establish direct contact with the moisture for germination.
Seed Arrangement and Film Interaction with Agar Media. (A) Seeds arranged in a grid formation directly placed on the surface of the agar media. (B) Oblate film with adhered seeds upon contact with the agar media; the film adheres fully to the agar due to moisture, beginning to dissolve and ensuring the seeds establish direct contact with the moisture for germination.

Figure 4.

(A) Oblate film with seeds positioned on the agar media, shown prior to sealing the plates and placing them in the growth chamber. (B) View of multiple plates arranged within the growth chamber under controlled environmental conditions for the germination study.
(A) Oblate film with seeds positioned on the agar media, shown prior to sealing the plates and placing them in the growth chamber. (B) View of multiple plates arranged within the growth chamber under controlled environmental conditions for the germination study.

Figure 5.

Average Germination Percentage Comparison Between Control and Oblate Film. Bar chart illustrating the average germination percentages for Days After Planting (DAP) 1 and DAP 7. Data compare germination rates between seeds in the control group and seeds adhered to the oblate film. Error bars indicate standard deviation.
Average Germination Percentage Comparison Between Control and Oblate Film. Bar chart illustrating the average germination percentages for Days After Planting (DAP) 1 and DAP 7. Data compare germination rates between seeds in the control group and seeds adhered to the oblate film. Error bars indicate standard deviation.

Figure 6.

(A) Example of a control plate on Day After Planting (DAP) 7, showing seed germination without the use of oblate film. (B) Example of a plate with oblate film on DAP 7, illustrating germination outcomes with seeds adhered to the dissolvable film.
(A) Example of a control plate on Day After Planting (DAP) 7, showing seed germination without the use of oblate film. (B) Example of a plate with oblate film on DAP 7, illustrating germination outcomes with seeds adhered to the dissolvable film.

Figure 7.

Seed encapsulated within oblate film, forming a seed pocket for optimized handling and germination. In the background, a mature cherry red radish plant grown from these seed pockets during preliminary testing is displayed, demonstrating the effectiveness of the encapsulation method.
Seed encapsulated within oblate film, forming a seed pocket for optimized handling and germination. In the background, a mature cherry red radish plant grown from these seed pockets during preliminary testing is displayed, demonstrating the effectiveness of the encapsulation method.

Results of statistical comparisons for germination rates between control and experimental (oblate film) groups on Day After Planting DAP 1 and DAP 7_

Time PointDegrees of Freedom (df)t-Test Statistic (t)p-value (p)
DAP 17210.78p < 0.001
DAP 7726.33p < 0.001

Summary of germination percentages and variability for control and experimental (oblate film) groups on Day After Planting (DAP) 1 and DAP 7_

DAPNSeed TotalMean Germination % ControlMean Germination % Oblate FilmControl St. DevOblate Film St. Dev
DAP 1379256.5 ± 2.0168.8 ± 3.2012.219.5
DAP 73792568.6 ± 2.2487.3 ± 1.8913.611.5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2025-0002 | Journal eISSN: 2332-7774
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Language: English
Page range: 30 - 38
Published on: Apr 16, 2025
Published by: American Society for Gravitational and Space Research
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 2 issues per year
Keywords:
In-situ Food Production,
Microgravity Seed Handling,
Space Crop Production,
Japanese Oblate,
Space Agriculture
Related subjects:
Life sciences,
Life sciences, other,
Materials sciences,
Materials sciences, other,
Physics,
Physics, other

© 2025 Gilbert Cauthorn, Keith Crisman, Haley O. Boles, Christina M. Johnson, Aswati Subramanian, Richard Barker, Emma Cuthbert, Mao Yamada, Yui Sato, Hachi Chisuga, Sakura Fukuoka, Serika Kagami, Chihiro Tada, Seohee Park, Kurumi Kunihiro, Kosei Mitsukawa, Asako Ueki, Sana Nozawa, Gokce Delioglu, published by American Society for Gravitational and Space Research
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

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