Space-Grown Lettuce More Susceptible to Salmonella, Study Finds

The research raises concerns about the safety of consuming space-grown vegetables, potentially impacting future space missions.

New research indicates that lettuce and other leafy green vegetables grown in space are more susceptible to bacterial infections, such as Salmonella, than those grown on Earth.
The research was conducted by the University of Delaware, where plants were exposed to conditions simulating the weightless environment aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The plants grown under these conditions were found to be more prone to Salmonella infections, with their stomata (tiny pores in leaves and stems) remaining open under stress, contrary to their usual behavior of closing.
The researchers also found that a helper bacteria, B. subtilis UD1022, which usually aids in plant growth and defense against pathogens, failed to protect the plants under these simulated microgravity conditions.
This discovery raises concerns about the safety of consuming space-grown vegetables, particularly for astronauts aboard the ISS, and could have implications for future space missions.