Dynamics of germination of bulbs of cultivated representatives of the genus Allium L.

The publication considers the possibilities of growing cultivated representatives of the genus Allium on lunar regolith from the surface of lunar seas. The study used a simulation of lunar regolith ETL-1, garlic of the “Gulyaipilsky” variety and onion of the “Stryhunivska” variety. Clean washed quartz sand was used for the control experiment. The cultivation was accompanied by irrigation with distilled water without the addition of mineral nutrients. The aim of the work is to study the possibility of using lunar regolith from the surface of lunar seas as a hydroponic substrate for agroecosystems of stationary bases on the Moon. Within the framework of the aim, it was necessary to: investigate the potential of using imitation lunar regolith ETL-1 for growing cultivated varieties of the genus Allium, model the potential of carbon dioxide absorption and biomass growth on simulation lunar regolith ETL-1 without the addition of nutrients; to determine the potential for growing cultivated plants of the genus Allium on a hydroponic substrate in the form of lunar regolith from the surface of the lunar seas. The lunar regolith simulator of the lunar seas ETL-1 does not show an aggressive or suppressive effect on seedlings. The first sprouts appear on the 16th day for garlic of the "Gulyaipilsky" variety and onions on the 11th day for onions of the "Strihunivska" variety. The growth of Allium cepa shoots continues for 43 days from the moment and 45 days for Allium sativu shoots. The average height of shoots at the end of the experiment for onions on the regolith simulator is 27.3 cm and 10.21 for garlic. Observations allow us to hypothesize that the presence of some mineral nutrition elements in the regolith leads to their entry into the aqueous solution, which partially compensates for the loss of chemical substances of the bulb spent on growth.