Four strains of bacteria which could help promote plant growth have been found in testing facilities onboard the ISS. One of the strains - Methylorubrum rhodesianum - was already known to scientists but three have been determined to be a \"novel species\".<\/p>\n
The three strains have been called IF7SW-B2T, IIF1SW-B5, and IIF4SW-B5 and are closely related to Methylobacterium indicum.<\/p>\n
Methylobacterium species help to promote plant growth and are commonly found in soils on Earth.<\/p>\n
Experts from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) believe the strains could help create the \"fuel\" needed for plant growth on Mars when humans eventually arrive.<\/p>\n
Mars' and Earth's soil obviously differ in many ways.<\/p>\n
One of the main differences is that Earth's soil has much more moisture, which is better suited for plant growth.<\/p>\n
But by creating a resilient fuel which can withstand the harsh Martian environment, it could help with colonisation of the Red Planet, according to the research published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology.<\/p>\n
Dr Kasthuri Venkateswaran and Dr Nitin Kumar Singh of JPL said that the strains might possess \"biotechnologically useful genetic determinants\" to help grow crops on Mars.<\/p>\n
The pair added: \"To grow plants in extreme places where resources are minimal, isolation of novel microbes that help to promote plant growth under stressful conditions is essential.\"<\/p>\n
READ MORE:Elon Musk's bold Mars plans dismissed as ''dangerous delusion'<\/p>\n
In their study, the researchers said the discovery could potentially lead to more novel bacteria findings which could benefit humanity's mission to Mars.<\/p>\n
They wrote: \"The whole genome sequence assembly of these three ISS strains reported here will enable the comparative genomic characterisation of ISS isolates with Earth counterparts in future studies.<\/p>\n
\"This will further aid in the identification of genetic determinants that might potentially be responsible for promoting plant growth under microgravity conditions and contribute to the development of self-sustainable plant crops for long-term space missions in future.\"<\/p>\n
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\nNASA: Unknown bacteria found on the ISS - and it could help with the move to Mars - Daily Express<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"