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Aims <p>Developing sustainable plant cultivation systems for space missions requires strategies to enhance stress resilience under extreme conditions such as water scarcity and nutrient-poor substrates. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of <i>Limnospira indica</i>–based biostimulants, derived from nitrogen-sufficient and nitrogen-deficient cultures, in improving tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>) performance under abiotic stress relevant to space agriculture. The nitrate-deficient culture of <i>limnospira indica</i> was examined because nitrogen limitation is known to promote the accumulation of bioactive metabolites, including exopolysaccharides, which can enhance biostimulant activity and improve plant stress resilience.</p> Methods <p>Two complementary experiments were conducted: (1) seed germination assays in Martian regolith simulant (MMS-1), Utah Desert Soil, and standard gardening soil; and (2) greenhouse trials assessing physiological and molecular responses to controlled drought stress. Proteomic analyses were performed to characterise molecular changes associated with biostimulant treatments under these abiotic stresses.</p> Results <p>In both experiments, <i>L. indica</i>–based biostimulants, and particularly the nitrate-deficient formulation (CM N⁻), significantly improved plant performance under stress. During germination, CM N⁻ enhanced seedling establishment in nutrient-poor MMS-1 and Utah soils, mitigating the global downregulation of photosynthesis- and energy-metabolism-related proteins observed in untreated plants. Under drought conditions, CM N⁻ maintained stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, and water-use efficiency near well-watered levels. Proteomic data further revealed targeted upregulation of antioxidant enzymes (peroxidases, SOD, catalase) and energy-conversion proteins, indicating efficient oxidative-stress control and metabolic stability due to an enhanced stress tolerance compared with CM N⁺ or control treatments.</p> Conclusions <p><i>L. indica</i> extracts acted not only as nutrient sources but also as priming agents, pre-activating stress-response pathways and enhancing plant resilience. These findings support their potential application in bioregenerative life-support systems for space habitats and in developing climate-resilient agricultural strategies on Earth.</p>

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Abiotic stress mitigation of Limnospira indica PCC 8005-based biostimulants for space and earth agriculture

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月20日

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  • Cécile Renaud,
  • Alice Delacuvellerie,
  • Tania Karasiewicz,
  • Julien Villa-Massone,
  • Estelle Lewillion,
  • Rafael Loureiro,
  • Ruddy Wattiez

摘要

Aims

Developing sustainable plant cultivation systems for space missions requires strategies to enhance stress resilience under extreme conditions such as water scarcity and nutrient-poor substrates. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Limnospira indica–based biostimulants, derived from nitrogen-sufficient and nitrogen-deficient cultures, in improving tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) performance under abiotic stress relevant to space agriculture. The nitrate-deficient culture of limnospira indica was examined because nitrogen limitation is known to promote the accumulation of bioactive metabolites, including exopolysaccharides, which can enhance biostimulant activity and improve plant stress resilience.

Methods

Two complementary experiments were conducted: (1) seed germination assays in Martian regolith simulant (MMS-1), Utah Desert Soil, and standard gardening soil; and (2) greenhouse trials assessing physiological and molecular responses to controlled drought stress. Proteomic analyses were performed to characterise molecular changes associated with biostimulant treatments under these abiotic stresses.

Results

In both experiments, L. indica–based biostimulants, and particularly the nitrate-deficient formulation (CM N⁻), significantly improved plant performance under stress. During germination, CM N⁻ enhanced seedling establishment in nutrient-poor MMS-1 and Utah soils, mitigating the global downregulation of photosynthesis- and energy-metabolism-related proteins observed in untreated plants. Under drought conditions, CM N⁻ maintained stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, and water-use efficiency near well-watered levels. Proteomic data further revealed targeted upregulation of antioxidant enzymes (peroxidases, SOD, catalase) and energy-conversion proteins, indicating efficient oxidative-stress control and metabolic stability due to an enhanced stress tolerance compared with CM N⁺ or control treatments.

Conclusions

L. indica extracts acted not only as nutrient sources but also as priming agents, pre-activating stress-response pathways and enhancing plant resilience. These findings support their potential application in bioregenerative life-support systems for space habitats and in developing climate-resilient agricultural strategies on Earth.