Moss-Microbe Complex Regolith Biofertilizer

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.