2023-11-19 19:18:09
Bacteria to develop agriculture on the Moon
Sunday November 19, 2023, written by: The editorial staff
Chinese scientists recently made a promising discovery while exploring the possibility of agriculture on the Moon. As many nations consider the return of humans to our natural satellite, a major challenge is finding sustainable ways to feed the astronauts who will work on the Moon for extended periods. A multidisciplinary team, made up of agricultural engineers and biologists from China Agricultural University, recently demonstrated that adding bacteria to a lunar soil simulator could significantly improve its fertility.
The previous year, a team in the United States had succeeded in growing plants on the Moon by cultivating samples of real lunar soil with a variety of weeds called dyer’s red grass. However, this attempt highlighted that although lunar soil may have been functional, it did not provide the nutrients necessary for the full growth and development of plants.
In a study published in the journal Communications Biology, the Chinese team adopted an innovative approach by introducing three types of bacteria into samples of volcanic materials imitating lunar soil. These bacteria, namely the phosphorescent bacteria, the filamentous bacteria and mucilaginous bacteria, were added to test pots containing these materials. By cultivating these bacteria in the soil samples, the researchers saw a significant improvement in the soil’s ability to support plant growth.
Using samples of volcanic material taken from a mountain in China, scientists demonstrated that the addition of these microorganisms made the soil more acidic, which promoted the dissolution of insoluble phosphorus-containing minerals in the soil. This reaction released phosphorus, making this vital element available to plants.
The research team also carried out direct cultivation tests with a plant called Nicotiana benthamiana. The results showed that the soil improved by the addition of bacteria promoted the growth of plants with sturdier roots, taller stems and more. longer and larger leaves compared to untreated samples. This discovery offers a promising prospect for using microorganisms, such as bacteria, to make lunar soil more conducive to plant life, a crucial step in the prospect of future exploration and colonization of the Moon.
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