In a study published in The Innovation, a research team led by Prof. ZHANG Daoyuan and Prof. ZHANG Yuanming from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), along with academician KUANG Tingyun from the Institute of Botany of CAS, evaluated the extraordinary resilience of an extreme stress-resistant desert moss—Syntrichia caninervis.
The extraordinary resilience of Syntrichia caninervis was tested under extreme desiccation, ultra-low temperatures, and intense radiation, as well as in a simulated Martian environment combining several of these stress factors.
The results showed that Syntrichia caninervis can withstand losing of more than 98% of its cellular water, deep freezing at ultra-low temperatures of -196°C for months, and super gamma radiation exceed 5000 Gy. Moreover, it can still survive and maintain vitality under simulated Martian conditions (650±30 Pa, -60°C to 20°C, 95% CO2, ultraviolet radiation). Therefore, it was shown that Syntrichia caninervis is one of the toughest plants on Earth.
"These findings have set new records of the tolerance of organisms to extreme environments, and offer new possibilities for future Mars colonization and the reconstruction of ecosystems,” said Prof. LI Xiaoshuang, first author of this study.
This study provides insights into the survival limits and adaptation strategies of Syntrichia caninervis, and lays a foundation for human exploration of outer space and the creation of habitable planets.
Syntrichia caninervis can survive under extreme environments. (Image by XIEG)
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