Piriformospora indica and Arabidopsis thaliana Mutualism in Modeled Microgravity Conditions: A Model for Plant-Fungal Interactions in Spaceflight

Gary W. Stutte; Michael S. Roberts

doi:10.2478/gsr-2026-0001

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Piriformospora indica and Arabidopsis thaliana Mutualism in Modeled Microgravity Conditions: A Model for Plant-Fungal Interactions in Spaceflight

Gravitational and Space Research

Volume 14 (2026): Issue 1 (January 2026)

By: Gary W. Stutte and Michael S. Roberts

Open Access

|Jun 2026

Abstract

Understanding how plant–microbe interactions function in spaceflight is critical for developing sustainable bioregenerative life support systems. As a model system, investigating plant-microbe interactions in microgravity also provides insight into human-microbiome interactions and infectious disease by exploring the ecological balance between mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, and competition in stressful environments. We investigated the mutualism between Piriformospora indica and Arabidopsis thaliana in modeled microgravity using ground-based analogs. P. indica enhances A. thaliana root branching, biomass accumulation, and leaf pigmentation. The fungus was cultured axenically, sporulated without a plant host, and retained infectivity in clinostat conditions. These findings establish the feasibility of this model system for spaceflight and provide a foundation for assessing plant-fungal symbioses in altered gravity environments.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2026-0001 | Journal eISSN: 2332-7774

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Language: English

Page range: 20 - 27

Published on: Jun 12, 2026

Published by: American Society for Gravitational and Space Research

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: Volume open

Keywords:

Piriformospora indica,

Arabidopsis thaliana,

mutualism,

modeled microgravity,

symbiosis,

spaceflight biology

Related subjects:

Life sciences,

Life sciences, other,

Materials sciences,

Materials sciences, other,

Physics,

Physics, other

© 2026 Gary W. Stutte, Michael S. Roberts, published by American Society for Gravitational and Space Research
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Volume 14 (2026): Issue 1 (January 2026)