Plants and flowers can grow in Moon rocks

Researchers with the European Space Agency (ESA) has shown that plants and flowers can be grown on the Moon by demonstrating that Marigold can grow in crushed rock very much like the lunar surface, without the need for plant food.

According to a report by BBC News, the new research was presented at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) meeting in Vienna.

"We wanted to create a system of water circulation and recovery, which is also the type of system, which in any case, you want to develop when you are on track to produce a primitive form of life support system," said Bernard Foing, a senior researcher with the European Space Research and Technology Center (ESTEC) in the Netherlands.

"So it is also a kind of" technological breadboard 'to maintain a simple life form in an extreme environment, "he added.

The new steps are taken in the experiments reported in the EGU, is to eliminate the need to bring nutrients and soil from Earth.

A group led by Natasha Kozyrovska and Iryna Zaetz from the National Academy of Sciences in Kiev planted Marigold in crushed anorthosite, a type of rock found on Earth, which is very similar to a large part of the lunar surface.

In sirlige anorthosite, the plants have performed very poorly. But adding different types of bacteria made them thrive; the bacteria appeared to draw elements from the rock that the plants are needed, such as potassium.

Dr Foing, who presented the study at the EGU meeting, said there was no reason in principle why the same idea could not bear fruit on the Moon itself. Tools could crush the Lunar rock and add bacteria and seeds.

"However, scientists could see that go further, by selecting plants or bacteria, which are particularly well adapted to Lunar conditions, or even by genetically engineering new strains," he added.

According to Foing, growing plants on the Moon would be useful as a tool to learn how life adapts to the Lunar conditions, and as a practical aid to establishing manned bases. (www.topnews.com)