Cyanobacteria as Candidates to Support Mars Colonization: Growth and Biofertilization Potential Using Mars Regolith as a Resource.

ABSTRACT: Cyanobacteria are indicated as organisms that can possibly support Mars colonization, contributing to the production of oxygen and other commodities therein. In this general context, the aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of three species of cyanobacteria (Anabaena cylindrica, Nostoc muscorum, and Arthrospira platensis) and a green microalga (Chlorella vulgaris) to grow using only the resources existing in Mars, i.e., water and Martian regolith stimulant (MGS-1), under an Earth-like atmosphere. A Martian regolith extract was produced and used as a culture medium to grow these species. Their growth was assessed during a period of 25 days, using optical density and fluorometric parameters. After this period, the possible contribution of end-of-life cyanobacteri

SUBMITTER: Macario IPE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9295076 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature