A moss-microbe complex evaluated as a bio-based biofertilizer for improving crop growth on lunar and Martian soil simulants. The complex comprises the moss Hypnum plumaeforme together with plant growth-promoting bacteria isolated from it — Pseudomonas monteilii and Bacillus cereus — selected for phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, and siderophore synthesis. Using barley (Hordeum vulgare) as a model crop, the study compared moss alone, microbes alone, and their combined application under extreme edaphic conditions represented by lunar (LHS) and Martian (MGS) soil simulants. The moss-microbe co-treatment significantly enhanced shoot biomass, dry weight, organic matter, available phosphate, and cation exchange capacity; in the dense, low-porosity Martian simulant the moss functioned as a biological buffer that facilitated microbial colonization and restored plant growth. 16S rRNA profiling confirmed the stable presence of the genera Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Devosia in moss-treated soils, and metabolite profiling revealed accumulation of growth-related compounds (D-ribose, D-gluconate), suggesting the complex reprograms rhizosphere metabolism. The system is an In-Situ Resource Utilization model for extraterrestrial farming and land restoration.
Taxonomy
| Taxon | Ontology ID | Functional Roles | Abundance |
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| Pseudomonas monteilii | NCBITaxon:76759 · TaxonMech · TraitMech | N/A | |
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| Bacillus cereus | NCBITaxon:1396 · TaxonMech · TraitMech | N/A | |
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| Devosia sp. — ontology label: Devosia | NCBITaxon:46913 · TaxonMech · TraitMech | N/A | |
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Ecological Interactions
The graph shows only explicitly linked interaction participants. Community members without an asserted participant link are omitted; membership alone does not imply an interaction.
Moss-facilitated microbial colonization on Martian simulant
COLONIZATION_FACILITATIONThe primary abstract reports that Hypnum plumaeforme acts as a biological buffer facilitating microbial colonization in the dense, low-porosity Martian simulant, where microbial effectiveness is otherwise impeded. PARTIAL - This is the reported facilitation interpretation; abstract-only access does not resolve selective colonization mediation versus other moss-associated changes.
Biological Processes:
- biological process involved in interspecies interaction between organisms (GO:0044419 · PathwayMech)
PARTIAL - Moss-associated buffering and microbial colonization are reported to restore plant growth responses on the Martian simulant. This is a supported mechanistic interpretation of the combined treatment, but the available abstract does not isolate colonization from organic inputs, soil changes or other growth-promoting activities.
Evidence
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doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.114023 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)"moss functioned as a biological buffer that facilitated microbial colonization"
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doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.114023 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)"moss acts not merely as an organic input but as a key facilitator of plant–microbe interactions under harsh conditions"
Moss-microbe co-treatment enhances barley growth and soil quality
The study compared moss alone, microbes alone and combined application on lunar and Martian simulants. The primary abstract reports significant combined-treatment improvements in barley shoot biomass, dry weight, organic matter, available phosphate and cation exchange capacity. It does not specify every endpoint comparator or demonstrate reciprocal moss-microbial fitness; these positive treatment outcomes are not classified as mutualism.
Biological Processes:
- biological process involved in interspecies interaction between organisms (GO:0044419 · PathwayMech)
Evidence
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doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.114023 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)"moss–microbe co-treatment significantly enhanced shoot biomass, dry weight, organic matter content, available phosphate, and cation exchange capacity"
Moss-Microbe Rhizosphere Metabolite Accumulation
Metabolite profiling reports accumulation of D-ribose and D-gluconate with moss-microbe treatment. Reprogrammed rhizosphere metabolism is HYPOTHESIZED from altered pools; producer identity, interspecies transfer and the causal contribution to barley growth are not resolved by the available abstract. Growth/soil improvement and metabolite changes are parallel reported treatment outcomes, not an established causal sequence.
Metabolites: D-ribose (CHEBI:16988 · MediaIngredientMech · CMMMech), D-gluconic acid (CHEBI:33198 · MediaIngredientMech · CMMMech)
Biological Processes:
- biological process involved in interspecies interaction between organisms (GO:0044419 · PathwayMech)
Evidence
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doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.114023 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)"Metabolite profiling further revealed the significant accumulation of growth-related compounds such as D-ribose and D-gluconate, suggesting that the moss–microbe complex may reprogram rhizosphere metabolism."
Knowledge gaps & discussions (1)
KNOWLEDGE_GAP OPEN Which selective mechanisms explain the measured community responses?
The primary publisher abstract supports positive treatment effects and a colonization interpretation. Full publisher access returned403; this does not show that selective controls were absent. Obtain authorized full Methods to resolve colonization versus other moss effects, endpoint comparators and metabolite mediation. Devosia is detected rather than a selected inoculant; do not assign all measured outcomes to each bacterial member.
Attaches to: ecological_interactions#Moss-facilitated microbial colonization on Martian simulant, ecological_interactions#Moss-microbe co-treatment enhances barley growth and soil quality, ecological_interactions#Moss-Microbe Rhizosphere Metabolite Accumulation
Environmental Factors
| Factor | Value | Unit |
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| Lunar (LHS) and Martian (MGS) soil simulants | LHS and MGS soil simulants | N/A |
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