SBIR 95-1 SOLICITATION
PROJECT SUMMARY
Proposal Number:
Project Title:
SPACE-BASED PLANT PHOTOSYNTHESIS ANALYZER
Technical Abstract:
A novel sensor capable of simultaneously measuring cholorophyll fluorescence lifetimes from
plants in situ will be developed. The sensor, based on a
miniaturized phase fluorometer employing a light emitting diode
(LED) or a laser diode as a light source, will have resolution of
20 ps. This system will permit real-time assessment of plant
physiological status in space by directly measuring the
chlorophyll fluorescence lifetimes of photosystems I (PS I) and
II (PS II) in vivo. This will allow for sensitive, accurate,
sophisticated, and rapid assessment of the response of plants to
environmental factors such as microgravity, nutrient
availability, lighting, radiation, launch effects, etc. The
sensor will be highly miniaturized with low mass and low power
consumption. The application of real-time in situ phase
fluorometry offers a new approach to the investigation of plant
physiological status. No instrumentation exists with the
capabilities of the proposed sensor. The research proposed here
is an entirely original effort combining a number of innovations
to develop a sensitive, miniaturized, rugged, cost-effective,
high-information content, phase fluorometry instrument for in
situ plant analysis. To our knowledge this would be the first
field plant analyzer to exploit fluorescence lifetime sensing.
Potential Commercial Applications:
Instrumentation for field plant
research, environmental monitoring for the preservation and
management of natural resources, laboratory research. Potential
commercial products will be targeted to diverse markets including
nursery, plant breeding and tissue culture, plant genetic
engineering, horticulture, agriculture, forestry, and herbicide
research.
Name and Address of Offeror:
Ciencia, Inc.
111 Roberts Street, Suite C
East Hartford, CT 06108
Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) &
Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) Programs
Electronic Management System (EMS)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
The SBIR/STTR EMS site is maintained by Steve
Hu, Hughes STX.
For comments and questions, contact
webmaster@sbir.hq.nasa.gov.
Updated: Feb. 7, 1996