The plants were able to grow in nutrient-poor samples from the moon.
As part of NASA’s “Artemis” mission, astronauts are not expected to set foot on the Moon until 2025 at the earliest. In view of upcoming manned space explorations like this one, research is being carried out on what supply options are available at the site.
As NASA reports in a broadcast, the researchers were able to collect samples of material from the lunar surface. regolith used for growing plants. so they have Thale watercress (Arabidopsis thaliana) and watercress were grown in the Earth’s nutrient-poor soil, which were collected during the Apollo 11, 12, and 17 missions.
One gram of regolith was allocated to each plant. Water, then seeds and a nutrient solution were added to the samples daily.
Rob Ferl (left) and Anna-Lisa Paul (right) view samples placed under LED grow lights.
©UF/IFAS/Tyler Jones
“For 2 days began to sprout”, then Ana Lisa Paulo, Professor of Horticultural Science at the University of Florida and first author of the study. “Everything germinated. I can’t tell you how amazed we were! Every plant – whether in a lunar sample or a control sample – looked the same until day 6.”
This research is according to the NASA Administrator Bill Nelson vital for the space agency in terms of human exploration of space. It needs to “use existing resources to develop food sources for future astronauts living and working in space”.
Differences according to soil
Arabidopsis thaliana is one of the most studied plants in the world due to its small size and ease of growth. Plants grown in the regolith were for the long term not so resilient as plants that grew on land or like those of the control group that grew from volcanic ash. Is it over there grown up Slower and had stunted roots. Some also had stunted leaves and reddish pigmentation.
Photo of day 16: Visual differences between plants growing in volcanic ash (left) and plants growing in regolith (right).
©UF/IFAS/Tyler Jones
For 20 days, just before the plants began to flower, the team harvested, cut and analyzed the plants. RNA sequencing showed that plants under stress remained. They reacted as in other harsh environments, where the soil contains a lot of salt or heavy metals.