Researchers Identified Fungi to Improve Space Regolith
Soil-improving fungi may help enable long-term human settlements on the Moon and Mars by fostering nutrient uptake.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Botany
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Researchers in the United States and Brazil have identified specific fungi that can modify lunar and Martian regolith to better support agriculture. This research-stage finding details how microbial partnerships might address critical nutrient deficiencies in off-world soil.
Why it matters
Lunar and Martian regolith lack the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium necessary for plant growth. This discovery suggests a pathway to reduce the reliance on Earth-shipped food by transforming extraterrestrial soil into a viable growing medium.
The study demonstrates that Trichoderma and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can alter the physical and chemical structure of regolith. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi specifically act as microscopic root extensions that improve water and nutrient absorption for plants.
The players
Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
An open-access peer-reviewed journal that publishes research on the exploration of space and celestial bodies.
The details
The research focuses on the deployment of Trichoderma—a genus of fungi often used to promote plant growth—and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which are symbiotic microorganisms that colonize plant roots. These organisms mobilize nutrients and improve the physical consistency of the regolith, effectively acting as a bridge to overcome the absence of key elements like nitrogen and phosphorus. This approach attempts to replicate the biological processes that facilitate plant life in terrestrial soil within the sterile, nutrient-poor lunar and Martian environments.
Timeline
September 26, 2026: The study was published in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences.
The Tech Race
This research aligns with the broader objective of NASA's In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) program to decrease mission mass by using local resources. It contributes a new biological dimension to the race for sustainable extraterrestrial farming, complementing traditional chemical and physical soil-processing methods.
This development remains in the research stage and will not immediately affect space missions or logistics. Future studies will determine if these fungal treatments remain effective when tested against actual lunar and Martian regolith samples.
The takeaway
These findings provide a biological strategy for overcoming the lack of essential nutrients in space soil. Future research will need to confirm these results using actual samples returned from the Moon and Mars to validate the feasibility of permanent off-world settlements.
Further reading
For more developments in plant science for extreme environments, visit the Botany research archive.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The News International.
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