Study reveals lunar soil can support plant growth

Despite having a similar mineral composition, the lunar soil and volcanic ash samples supported the plant growth differently. Many lunar soil plants grew up with the same shape and color, but others were found to contain reddish-black pigments. These pigments depicts stress. Moreover, the plants grown in lunar soil experienced slow and stunted growth and expressed more stress genes than the plants grown in volcanic ash.

Dark color plants that grew in lunar soil samples expressed more than 1,000 stress genes. The Apollo 11 plant expressed 465 genes, and the Apollo 17 and Apollo 12 samples expressed 113 and 265 stress genes, respectively. The stress in 71 percent of these genes was linked to the presence of metals, highly reactive Ocompounds, and salts. Interestingly, only the plants planted in the Apollo 12 and Apollo 17 samples managed to show growth. The Apollo 11 sample plant did not grow at all.

At the end of their study, the researchers conclude that plants can be grown in lunar soil, but as compared to volcanic ash, thedo not support much plant growth, especially if they have been exposed to Moon’s surface. Since the lunar surface is often hit by solar wind and many types of cosmic rays which harm the soil, plant growth is better suited in lunar soil that has been less exposed to Moon’s external environment.

Emphasizing the importance of this result co-author and geologist Stephen Elardo said, “from a geology standpoint, I look at this soil as being very very different from any soil you will find here on Earth. I think it’s amazing the plant still grows, right. It’s stressed, but it doesn’t die. It doesn’t fail to grow at all, it adapts.

The researchers also highlight that further research can enable us to know the ways plants can be efficiently grown on the Moon. Therefore, through related studies, we need to better understand how Earth plants interact with lunar soil. Stay ahead with the latest science, technology and innovation news, for free:

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