[Influence of root module design on growth and development of plants].

Wheat crop was grown in various root modules (RM) in which nutritional solution was injected through porous membrane (2-6 microns). Seeds were laid on the surface of membrane or in pearlite covering the membrane. Root modules 1 and 3 contained ceramic porous tubes 10 mm and 22 mm in diameter, respectively. RM 2 was outfitted with a porous titanium plate, RM 4--with a porous ceramic tube (Ø 10 mm) buried in pearlite, and RM 5--with a porous titanium plate under the 2.5 cm thick layer of pearlite. The area of membrane surface per one plant was equal to 3 cm2 in RM 1 and about 17 cm2 RM 2 and 3. Pearlite volume per a plant made up about 40 cm2 in RM 4.5. The object of study was Triticum aestivum L., sp. Super Dwarf. The plants grew for 49 days under the white light of luminescent lamps at water potential (WP) = -0.4, -3.0 and -5.0 kPa. WP of pearlite equal, dry mass and anticipated productivity of the crop were much higher as compared to RM without pearlite. Significant reduction of these parameters was reflective of WP drop no matter the RM type. However, it was more expressed at -5 kPa. In RM filled with pearlite the mass and productivity of crop reduced at -5.0 kPa. Design of RM essentially altered the volumetric spread of roots. Thus, root math was formed immediately on flat porous plates, commonly below the bare tubes and both on top and on the bottom of RM with pearlite. These data can help development of RM for space greenhouses.