Thèse Étude et Optimisation des Légumes Maraîchers en Environnements Spatiaux Analogues pour l'Alimentation des Astronautes. H/F Doctorat.Gouv.Fr

Établissement : Université de Toulouse École doctorale : BSB - Biologie, Santé, Biotechnologies Laboratoire de recherche : EvolSan - Evolution et Santé Orale Direction de la thèse : Véronica PEREDA CAMPOS ORCID 0000000273656217 Début de la thèse : 2027-09-01 Date limite de candidature : 2026-11-23T23:59:59 L'exploration spatiale de longue durée (missions lunaires et martiennes) nécessite le développement de systèmes de support-vie biorégénératifs (BLSS) pour assurer l'autonomie alimentaire et le recyclage des ressources. Si la capacité des plantes à croître en environnement spatial a été démontrée, l'impact des stress combinés (microgravité, rayonnements ionisants, confinement) sur le métabolisme secondaire végétal et la sécurité sanitaire des produits comestibles reste mal caractérisé.
Ce projet de thèse propose d'étudier les réponses physiologiques et métaboliques de plantes maraîchères (Solanum lycopersicum var. Micro-Tom) soumises à des conditions analogues aux environnements spatiaux via le dispositif ARES (Analogue Radiation & Environment Simulator). Au-delà de l'analyse agronomique, ce projet intègre une dimension toxicologique innovante : l'évaluation de l'innocuité sur un modèle d'organoïdes intestinaux humains elle-même en condition spatiales. L'objectif est de valider une méthodologie de qualification des cultures spatiales garantissant la santé des équipages. Looking ahead, we plan to further leverage the GSBMS-University of Toulouse platform to develop plant cultivation systems adapted to extreme environments. In particular, the ARES system will enable us to establish protocols aimed at securing the supply of vital resources while improving astronauts' quality of life.
Beyond its direct applications to space exploration, this research is part of a broader effort to optimize the production of high-quality food under conditions of climate change and increasing pressure on natural resources, while minimizing CO emissions. A better understanding of the biological processes involved, combined with technological advances, could pave the way for terrestrial applications, including agriculture in inhospitable environments and the development of autonomous agricultural systems.
Ultimately, this research represents an important step towards self-sufficiency in future space exploration, while also making a significant contribution to the development of sustainable and innovative agricultural systems on Earth. Study of Plant Development under Spaceflight Conditions:
Analyze the effects of reduced gravity (microgravity, lunar gravity, and Martian gravity) on the germination, growth, and development of crops cultivated in the ARES analogue system, in comparison with control plants, in order to identify and characterize physiological differences. The project will also aim to identify and quantify the effects of low-dose-rate radiation on plants cultivated in the ARES analogue system by assessing radiation-induced cellular damage and its consequences for plant physiology. Particular attention will be given to the combined effects of radiation, reduced gravity, and UV radiation, as well as the associated physiological and epigenetic responses, in order to unravel the complex and interconnected regulatory mechanisms linking light, microgravity, and cosmic radiation under simulated lunar and Martian base conditions.
Study of the Impact of Vegetables Cultivated under Analogue Space Conditions on the Human Body:
Analyze the effects of consuming vegetables cultivated in the ARES system on human intestinal organoids, with particular emphasis on the production of secondary metabolites induced by cumulative environmental stresses and their potential implications for human health. The project will also investigate the epigenetic mechanisms and regulatory pathways involved in plant acclimation and responses to simulated space conditions.
Long-Term Impacts and Food Safety:
This project will investigate the effects of multi-generational, seed-to-seed cultivation in order to anticipate the long-term impacts of space missions on plant health and their ability to produce viable and sustainable food. It will aim to ensure the safety of plants cultivated under spaceflight conditions for human consumption, particularly through monitoring and controlling the production of potentially toxic secondary metabolites. Strategies will be identified to ensure food safety and optimize the efficiency of plant-based biological waste recycling systems. To this end, an innovative human intestinal organoid model will be used to assess the effects of secondary metabolites produced by plants cultivated under simulated lunar conditions.