| Summary: | This paper reports data on the structure and performances of an automated growth chamber prototype for plantlet vegetable production (Box Nursery), developed in relation to the research activity carried on in the Italian basis “Baia Terra Nova”, in Antarctica. The prototype was built to produce young plants for supporting the Plant-based Unit for Life Support (PULSA) installed at Terra Nova Bay, in the frame of an ongoing research activity of the PNRA (Italian Program Research in Antarctica). The Box Nursery is composed by: a growth chamber (89x69 cm, height 203 cm); a second body (satellite cube, 76x70 cm, height 91 cm) containing the control unit system and the irrigation tanks. Three germination module units were installed in the growth chamber, each composed by a steel tray equipped with a subirrigation system and a lighting panel. Cooling, heating and de-humidification systems were included in the growth chamber for maintaining optimal growth condition for plantlets. However, a system of ventilation was installed for preventing CO2 and ethylene accumulation as well as oxygen depletion in the growth chamber. A specific software (Box Nursery management Software) was developed to allow the control of all systems and to record internal climatic condition. The prototype of Box Nursery was tested for 1 year with different vegetable plants (such as lettuce, tomato, radish, rocket etc.). The results showed that the prototype maintains the pre-set parameter independently from external climate, with average power consumption about 0.6 kW. No differences on uniformity coefficient, average time and percentage of germination were recorded in comparison with seeds germinated in a growth chamber with same growing conditions.
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