One of the main challenges in growing vegetables in space is the limited availability of energy resources, particularly light, which is essential for plant growth and proper development. Identifying microgreen varieties capable of thriving in extreme environmental conditions, such as space missions, represents an ideal solution, especially for supplying astronauts with fresh food during their journeys and stays in space.

A study published in the journal Plant Communications and led by researchers Raffaele Dello Ioio and Paola Vittorioso from the Department of Biology and Biotechnology at Sapienza University, in collaboration with the Institute of Experimental Botany, the Italian Space Agency, and the Department of Biology at the University of Pisa, has successfully isolated microgreens capable of germinating in the dark, identifying a molecular mechanism that promotes their growth independently of light.

The research focused on Cardamine hirsuta, a model plant with microgreen characteristics. The scientists demonstrated that this plant can germinate regardless of light availability due to its high levels of gibberellic acid— a hormone present in all plants and responsible for their growth— and the regulator DAG1, which plays a role in the process regardless of light conditions.

The findings of this study will enable the application of these insights to other microgreens through TEA (Targeted Evolutionary Adaptation) technology, expanding the range of plant-based foods available to astronauts and bringing the colonization of other planets a step closer. Additionally, thanks to the joint venture of Paola Vittorioso and Raffaele Dello Ioio’s research team, funded by the Lazio Region, further perspectives will be explored to develop more resilient crops capable of adapting to increasingly complex environmental conditions caused by climate change.