Researchers Robert Ferrel and Anna Lisa Ball.
Tyler Jones/UF/IFAS
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Tyler Jones/UF/IFAS
Researchers Robert Ferrel and Anna Lisa Ball.
Tyler Jones/UF/IFAS
In a NASA-funded study, scientists from the University of Florida grew plants on soil taken from the moon, according to a study published Thursday in the journal. Communication biology.
In a statement, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said the study is important to NASA’s long-term goals of human space exploration. press release. He added that the research could also have implications for plants that grow in harsh conditions on Earth.
“We will need to use the resources on the Moon and Mars to develop food sources for future astronauts living and working in deep space,” Nelson said.
In the study, researchers planted seeds Arabidopsis thaliana – A plant associated with mustard greens, as well as cruciferous vegetables, including cauliflower and broccoli – in lunar soil, taken directly from the moon during the Apollo 11, 12 and 17 missions.
For comparison, the researchers also planted the seeds in a lunar simulator, designed to closely mimic real lunar soil.
Anna Lisa Ball, a research professor in the University of Florida’s Department of Horticultural Sciences and first author of the study, described moon samples as “fine” and “dusty.” Paul added that he, too, “is bound by everything.”
The seeds began to germinate a few days after sowing.
“We planted it and left for a few days, and then when we first came back to take a look, it was amazing to see every batch of plants, every seedling sprout,” said Paul, who is also the university’s principal. From the Florida Center for Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Research.
Although all the seeds germinated, the seeds that grew in the lunar soil did not grow as “strong” as those in the control, according to the statement. According to the statement, some plants grown in the lunar soil samples “impaired their roots and leaves, in addition to some” reddish pigmentation.”
After the plants had grown for 20 days, the researchers harvested them and prepared them to study the plant’s RNA. The patterns of the expressed genes matched how the researchers saw Arabidopsis It reacts faster to stress in other harsh environments, such as when the soil contains excess salt or heavy metals, depending on what is released.
“Now that we have lunar soils that have been in contact with biology, we can begin to ask the question: How are you going to do that, and how hard is it to mitigate the harmful effects we’ve seen?” said Robert Ferrell, assistant vice president for research at the University of Florida and author of the study.