• Question: can plants perform photosynthesis in space, with the sufficient gases and minerals

    Asked by The Legit Administrator to Anne on 7 Oct 2015.
    • Photo: Anne Visscher

      Anne Visscher answered on 7 Oct 2015:

      Hi The Legit Administrator,

      Plants can’t perform photosynthesis in the vacuum of outer space, but inside a space station or life support system with an atmosphere that should not be a problem, even if the pressure is lower than in the atmosphere on Earth. For example, plants can still grow in pressures of 10 kPa. See also this paper:
      http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/134/1/215.full

      Anne

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