University of Florida researchers sent the MVP-Plant-02 investigation to the International Space Station on October 13, 2026, using a device to test whether powdery mildew fungus attacks crops more aggressively in microgravity.
Only two outbreaks of plant diseases have occurred on crops grown in microgravity since human spaceflight began in the early 1960s. A University of Florida team composed of researchers Dr. Andrew Schuerger, Dr. Robert J. Ferl, and Dr. Anna-Lisa Paul launched MVP-Plant-02 to the International Space Station to examine how spaceflight alters plant immune defenses and pathogen vulnerability, as reported by FOX 35 Orlando. The investigation examines whether the orbital environment weakens plant defenses, potentially making fungal infections far more severe than they appear on the ground. To help cultivate resilient crops for deep-space Artemis missions while uncovering clues to breed hardier plants on Earth, UF Assistant Professor and study co-lead researcher Andrew Schuerger explained these crucial findings.
Data on how diseases progress in orbit remains sparse. According to the Space Station Research Explorer cited by space botany records, Since the inception of human spaceflight in the early 1960s, only two out breaks of plant diseases have occurred on crops being grown in microgravity.
That thin historical record leaves scientists with a major knowledge gap as plans for crewed lunar and Martian habitats advance.
Plant Pathogen Inoculation Device Changes Space Plant Pathology
Researchers had to inoculate plant seedlings with pathogens on Earth before launching them into orbit. The MVP-Plant-02 team bypassed that obstacle by designing custom hardware with Redwire Space Technologies Inc., utilizing the Multi-Use Variable-g Platform to manage different gravity conditions, as noted by UF News.
Since we get to grow plants in microgravity from seed, all plant defense mechanisms have been suppressed or turned on by microgravity before the spores land on plant tissues.
Dr. Andrew Schuerger, UF Assistant Professor and lead researcher
Introducing the pathogen after the plants experience microgravity lets scientists examine how orbital conditions shape plant biology prior to any infection. By applying the pathogen after the plants have already experienced microgravity, investigators can observe how plant biology responds to infection without pre-launch interference. Kylee Soltez, a University of Florida master’s degree graduate who assisted the science team, highlighted the innovation during mission preparations.
The Plant-02 team developed the first plant pathogen inoculation device for use in spaceflight.
Kylee Soltez, science team member and UF graduate
The newly deployed hardware allows astronauts to perform ejections of powdery mildew spores directly onto Arabidopsis canopies.
Arabidopsis and Powdery Mildew Under Observation
The experiment pairs Arabidopsis thaliana, a small flowering model plant related to mustard, with Golovinomyces cichoracearum, the fungus responsible for powdery mildew. Researchers are testing two distinct plant lines: one susceptible to the fungus and another partially resistant. During the mission, half of each group is exposed to the spores while growing in microgravity, while control groups are maintained at 1g aboard the station.
This control structure enables the team to isolate the specific effects of microgravity from other variables associated with orbital plant cultivation. Monitoring includes tracking how plant gene activities shift as the disease progresses.
Implications for Deep-Space Artemis Missions
Establishing whether plant diseases develop more aggressively in orbit carries direct consequences for long-duration crewed missions. Establishing bioregenerative life support systems capable of producing fresh food will provide dietary nutrition, variety, and psychological benefits for crews traveling beyond low Earth orbit, as NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences Division outlines.
If the findings confirm that powdery mildew accelerates in microgravity, scientists will need to adapt agricultural management strategies before establishing permanent habitats on the Moon and Mars. While subset image data flows back during the flight, determining the final impact on disease severity and gene expression requires returning the experimental material to Earth for detailed molecular analysis in university laboratories.
JAXA Conducts Life Science Experiments in Kibo Facility
Modern molecular biology techniques have been utilized over recent years to conduct space experiments examining cellular reactions alongside the traits and impacts of space radiation. In the Japanese ‘Kibo’ facility in the International Space Station, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has performed five life science experiments since 2009, with additional experiments following.