Salad is typically considered a healthy choice, so cultivating fresh greens in space seems like a great way for astronauts to maintain their health. However, new research suggests that while space salad may be nutritious, it could pose a potential risk to astronauts. The issue is that growing leafy plants like lettuce and spinach in space may make them more vulnerable to bacteria, according to a recent study from the University of Delaware.
In experiments conducted in simulated microgravity, the researchers found that these plants were actually more susceptible to the Salmonella enterica pathogen than under normal conditions. The International Space Station (ISS) is known to harbor aggressive bacteria and fungi, and if these space microbes were to cause illness among astronauts, it could put their lives in danger.
The researchers used a device called a clinostat to mimic microgravity in the lab and observe how lettuce plants interacted with bacteria. Surprisingly, they found that the tiny stomata pores in the lettuce opened up to allow the bacteria to invade, which is not typical behavior for healthy plants. This behavior suggests that microgravity may disable the chemical reactions that the lettuce would normally use to protect itself from infections.
Although previous studies have demonstrated that space-grown lettuce is safe and nutritious, this new research indicates that it may struggle to defend against infections in the same way as plants grown on Earth. This, combined with the known aggressiveness of space bacteria, presents a potential problem for astronauts. The researchers believe that more research is needed to ensure the safety of food in space, with genetic modifications being one possible solution.
The findings of the study have been published in Scientific Reports and NPJ Microgravity.
