ABSTRACT The decision of various countries to build permanent human bases on the Moon, Mars, or other celestial bodies has sparked growing interest in understanding how plants develop in extraterrestrial environments, particularly because of microgravity and cosmic radiation. This study aimed to describe the state of the art in research on the effects of microgravity and ionizing radiation on plant growth under space conditions. Initially, it highlights the fundamental role of plant cultivation in life support systems, including food production, oxygen recycling for long-duration missions, and more. Subsequently, the review covers studies conducted aboard space platforms such as the International Space Station (ISS), describing how the absence of gravity can alter plant developmental processes. Experimental results demonstrate that microgravity alters cell structure development, hormonal signaling, and nutrient absorption capacity, while space radiation, particularly ionizing radiation, can induce genetic mutations and cause DNA damage in plant cells, affecting plant growth and long-term viability. Reviewing this topic is essential for understanding current knowledge and advancing new research toward the use of plants in efficient and self-sustaining agricultural systems for future interplanetary missions.
Arantes et al. (Wed,) studied this question.