Lettuce from the ISS is being studied to reveal how microgravity affects crop growth. Plants for Space researchers Dr Troy Miller and Prof Harvey Millar, University of Western Australia, are collaborating with NASA on the Plant Habitat‑07 project.
Global scientists launch a roadmap for using plants as a life-support system for Moon and Mars missions, pioneering space farms and technologies to revolutionise sustainable food production on Earth.
Extreme weather events, from heavy rainfall to heatwaves and droughts, are increasingly threatening crop yields globally, urging new solutions for agriculture.
3RRR Einstein A Go-Go Program
P4S researchers Dr. Marta Peirats-Llobet and Dr Declan Lafferty caught up with Dr Shane and Dr Ray on Einstein A Go-Go.
P4S Centre Director, Professor Matthew Gilliham, has been selected as a finalist for the 2025 South Australian Scientist of the Year.
R David, A Situmorang, N Nghiep Tran, T Maythwe, V Hessel, Philip B Brewer
Growing food crops for space missions requires significant improvements in technical competence. Many issues remain, including ensuring that roots grow vertically in low gravity. …
MG Lewsey, GW Bassel, J Whelan
This review summarises recent advances that illustrate the spatiotemporally dynamic nature of events during germination, which gives rise to the cell and tissue-specific activity that underpins germination.
Centre researchers are part of a world-first effort to build an artificial chromosome entirely from scratch in plants, which has been awarded over $12 million in funding from the UK’s ARIA.
CE Ofoedu, H Bozkurt, JC Mortimer
This review assesses the potential of duckweed as a sustainable resource for diversifying the food system and ensuring food security.
F Sena, C Couture, A BR, AH Millar, S Signorelli
In this study, we validate and characterize the use of Clark-type oxygen electrodes, specifically the Hansatech Oxytherm+P system, to quantify both photosynthetic and respiratory activity in intact arabidopsis seedlings.
SBS German
Professor Volker Hessel was recently interviewed on SBS German, discussing medicine in space.
JPB Lloyd, A Khan and R Lister
This review examines the core principles and components of plant synthetic gene circuits, including sensors, integrators, and actuators.
University of Adelaide Newsroom
Read about a recent study which identified a novel mechanism through which a protein in barley supports female fertility and could help safeguard yield security in the future.
University of Adelaide Newsroom
Read about a collaborative study investigating whether chitosan performs well in controlling medicine delivery when exposed to zero gravity.
P Schouveiler, LC Liew, M Corso, L Rajjou, J Zinsmeister, MG Lewsey
In this review, we discuss the current status of the application of single-cell technologies to seeds and present a workflow for conducting single-cell transcriptomics. Additionally, we discuss the integration of single-cell multi-omics.
A Khan and R Lister
In this review, we discuss recent advances and challenges for synthetic gene circuits in plants.
X Yang, G Li, J Shi, LG Wilkinson, MK Aubert, K Houston, NJ Shirley, H Gao, RA Lister, L Colombo and MR Tucker
This study reveals that a B-sister MADS-box transcription factor, MADS31, is expressed in the inner subdomain of the nucellus and sustains germline development by preventing expression of post-fertilization genes.
I Am Not A Rocket Scientist Podcast
P4S Research Fellow Dr James Lloyd caught up with high school student, Anay Ashwin, on the 'I Am Not A Rocket Scientist’ podcast.
AgTech Finder Podcast
P4S Centre Director Professor Matthew Gilliham caught up with Olivia Calver on the AgTech Finder Podcast to discuss vertical farming.
Plants for Space is inviting Years 5 to 8 teachers to free teacher professional learning events in Melbourne on the 27-28 March.
R Hedrich, M Gilliham
In this Tansley Insight, we provide an overview of the recent progress in the application of CHR optogenetics in higher plants and discuss their possible uses in the remote control of plant biology.
ABC News
Hear from Plants for Space researchers at the University of Western Australia in a recent article, published by ABC News.
R Hedrich and M Gilliham
In this Tansley Insight, we provide an overview of the recent progress in the application of CHR optogenetics in higher plants and discuss their possible uses in the remote control of plant biology.
Read more about our inaugural Annual Conference, held in late October 2024.
Read more about experiments sent into space as part of the MAPHEUS 15 mission.
Read about our official launch event, held at the University of Adelaide Waite Campus on the 30th October 2024.
S Garcia-Darga, SJ Roy, M Gilliham
This review discusses literature which shows that leaf Na+ accumulation can, in some circumstances, be tolerated without a detrimental effect on yield when HKT1 still functions to exclude Na+ from reproductive tissues.
CG Viejo, N Harris, E Tongson & S Fuentes
This study used univariate and multivariate analysis on data from pick-and-eat leafy greens to assess self-reported and biometric consumer sensory analysis in simulated microgravity using reclining chairs and space-immersive environments.
J Lloyd
Learn more about NASA's upcoming mission to Jupiter’s fourth-largest moon in an article published in The Conversation.
MV Hoyos, V Hessel, E Salas, J Culton, K Robertson, A Laybourn, M Escribà-Gelonch, N Cook & M de Zwart
This review describes learnings for human habitation in space from remote communities on Earth that have developed and survived over generations.
M Kamran, L Auroux, K Johnson & MG Lewsey
This review proposes several areas of research and development to produce plants suited to space settlements.
MF Morgan, M Gilliham & JC Mortimer
This review article explores how plant synthetic biology can enable space exploration and drive on Earth sustainability.
M de Zwart, S Henderson & M Neumann
This article examines the meaning of the concept of sustainability with respect to space activities, with specific emphasis on the extraction and utilisation of space resources.
MA Khan, G Herring, JY Zhu, M Oliva, E Fourie, B Johnston, Z Zhang, J Potter, L Pineda, J Pflueger, T Swain, C Pflueger, JPB Lloyd, D Secco, I Small, BN Kidd & R Lister
The construction of synthetic gene circuits in plants has been limited by a lack of orthogonal and modular parts. Here, we implement a CRISPRi-based reversible gene circuit platform in plants.
M Escribà-Gelonch, S Liang, P van Schalkwyk, I Fisk, N Van Duc Long & V Hessel
In this review, Digital Twin technology is critically reviewed and framed in the context of recent advances in precision agriculture and Agriculture 4.0.
CG Viejo, N Harris & S Fuentes
This study employed sensory trials and biometrics from video using simulated microgravity chairs to simulate alterations in sensory perception akin to those encountered in space conditions.
University of Adelaide Newsroom
Read about a collaborative project involving the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space and led by UK company Vertical Future.
C Gonzalez Viejo & S Fuentes
Learn why food and beverages taste different in space in an article published in Pursuit.
La Trobe University Newsroom
Read about the Lunar Effects on Agricultural Flora (LEAF) project, which involves a consortium of partners including the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space.
University of Adelaide Newsroom
Read about ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space 2024 National Science Week programming.
M Watt & H Miller
Learn about the features that make strawberry an ideal plant for space development in an article published in the Australian Berry Journal.