A diver part of the Ocean Reef Team emerge from the Nemo's Garden holding a torch after having harvested the tobacco plants inside the biosphere number 2.
Before to proceed with the underwater cultivation, different type of plants (such as for example the Artemisia Absinthium) are tested in laboratory in order to see if they can be compatible with the biosphere environment. The red and blue group of LED shown in the picture recreates the same light spectrum present within the biosphere.
Portrait of Sergio Gamberini, creator of the Nemo's Garden project.
The experimental room inside the Ocean Reef headquarters. Here Luca Gamberini, project manager and co-inventor of the Nemo's Garden controls the arrangment of the several component in the biosphere.
In the mounting preliminary stages, Gabriele Cucchia, senior engineer of the Nemo’s Garden project, floats on the sea surface holding in his hands the biosphere structure that is about to be carried underwater.
Emilio Mancuso, biologist in charge of the seeding and the growing process of the plants, is placing the coconut fiber cones for the hydroponic cultivation within the biospheres. Each biosphere can host approximately 120 per cycle, which depending on the plants type can last from one to three months.
The Nemo's Garden seen from the water surface. The biospheres are located between 6 and 12 meters depth to enable the plants to draw on the necessary source of light for their development. The distance from the shore lies between 40 and 50 meters in order to make the biospheres more accessible for the operations which requires human intervention.
Basil was chosen as model plant (due to its importance in the Ligurian cuisine) to study its phytochemical, physiological, and micro-morphological characteristics in comparison with plants of the same variety grown in a terrestrial environment. The aim of the study was the evaluation of the plant responses to this environment where the terrestrial greenhouse is substituted by an underwater biosphere.
Two different samples of basil (terrestrial and underwater) are enclosed inside test tubes with fixator liquid. These samples are needed for the plant structural analysis through electronic microscope CEM.
Laura Pistelli, researcher of the Agricultural Science, Alimentary and Agro-Environmental Department of the Pisa University works on vegetal physiology. Her work is analyzing the nutraceutical of the various vegetal materials with the characterization of the primary and secondary metabolites (carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and antioxidants) essential for the human diet.
The electronic components situated inside every biosphere. The fan permits to the internal air to circulate. The connecting box provides information about the O2, CO2, humidity and temperature datas present within each biosphere.
A group of divers admire the Nemo's Garden during their immersion. Since the Nemo's Garden has been created the fish population of the area increased. In fact the Nemo's Garden structure act as a shelter for many animals, supporting the repopulation of the surrounding area. Noli
Bubbles of air coming from the divers scuba tanks are going towards the surface. These bubbles recall the biospheres structure. In fact with its 2000L of air capability, it's possible to consider the biosphere as a giant bubble of air anchored underwater.
Luisa Pistelli, professor of the Pharmaceutical Biology at Pisa University analyzes the phytochemistry of the plants grown inside the biospheres. Her field of work is the study of the secondary volatiles metabolites of the aromatic, alimentary and medicinal plants from their essential oils.
According to the studies of the Pharmaceutical Biology of the Pisa University, analyzing the essential oils of the plants grown inside the biospheres through hydro distiller Clavenger, is proven that the plants develop 31,5% more antioxidant and the 13,3% more of polyphenols compared to the ones grown on the surface.
Luca Gamberini committed in the basil harvesting inside the biosphere number 1. Once the plants have been gently removed from the hydroponic box, they will be placed inside an hermetic box and carried out to the surface.
The tree of life stands out among the biospheres in the middle of the Nemo's Garden. Under its platform the cables used for connecting the electronic devices are separated and distributed to each biosphere. Figuratively it also represent the core of the experiment: the possibility to grow terrestrial plants underwater.
