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Resilience of Xanthoria parietina under Mars-like conditions: photosynthesis and oxidative stress response

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Abstract

Main conclusion

Xanthoria parietina survivability in Mars-like conditions was supported by water-lysis efficiency recovery and antioxidant content balancing with ROS production after 30 days of exposure.

Abstract

Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr. is a widespread lichen showing tolerance against air pollutants and UV-radiation. It has been tested under space-like and Mars-like conditions resulting in high recovery performances. Hereby, we aim to assess the mechanisms at the basis of the thalli resilience against multiple space stress factors. Living thalli of X. parietina were exposed to simulated Martian atmospheric conditions (Dark Mars) and UV radiation (Full Mars). Then, we monitored as vitality indicator the photosynthetic efficiency, assessed by in vivo chlorophyll emission fluorescence measurements (FM; FV/F0). The physiological defense was evaluated by analyzing the thalli antioxidant capacity. The drop of FM and FV/F0 immediately after the exposure indicated a reduction of photosynthesis. After 24 h from exposure, photosynthetic efficiency began to recover suggesting the occurrence of protective mechanisms. Antioxidant concentrations were higher during the exposure, only decreasing after 30 days. The recovery of photosynthetic efficiency in both treatments suggested a strong resilience by the photosynthetic apparatus against combined space stress factors, likely due to the boosted antioxidants at the beginning and their depletion at the end of the exposure. The overall results indicated that the production of antioxidants, along with the occurrence of photoprotection mechanisms, guarantee X. parietina survivability in Mars-like environment.

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Fig. 1
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Data availability

Data is available under reasonable request to the corresponding author.

Abbreviations

DM:

Dark Mars condition

FM:

Full Mars condition

ECd/w:

Dried/wetted External Controls

FO/M :

Basal/maximum fluorescence of dark-adapted samples

FV/FO :

Maximum water-lysis efficiency

FV/FM :

Maximum quantum yield of dark-adapted samples

OEC:

Oxygen evolving complex

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Acknowledgements

C. L. and JR. B. acknowledge ASI/INAF 2023-3-HH.0 agreement. G. P. acknowledges support by Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES). M. B. acknowledges support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG—German Research Foundation), Grant 426601242, project RaBioFAM.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126, Naples, Italy

    Christian Lorenz, Carmen Arena & Ermenegilda Vitale

  2. INAF-Astrophysical Observatory of Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi, 5, 50125, Florence, Italy

    Christian Lorenz, Giovanni Poggiali & John Robert Brucato

  3. Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via La Pira 4, 50121, Florence, Italy

    Christian Lorenz, Elisabetta Bianchi, Renato Benesperi & Alessio Papini

  4. NBFC—National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133, Palermo, Italy

    Carmen Arena, Elisabetta Bianchi, Renato Benesperi, Stefano Loppi & Alessio Papini

  5. LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, 5 Place Jules Janssen, 92190, Meudon, France

    Giovanni Poggiali

  6. Planetary Laboratories Department, Institute of Planetary Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Ruthefordstraße 2, 12489, Berlin, Germany

    Giulia Alemanno, Stephen Garland, Jörn Helbert, Andreas Lorek, Alessandro Maturilli & Mickaël Baqué

  7. Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P. A. Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Stefano Loppi

  8. Space Operations and Astronaut Training, Microgravity User Support Center (MUSC), German Aerospace Center (DLR), Linder Höhe, 51147, Cologne, Germany

    Jean-Pierre de Vera

Authors
  1. Christian Lorenz
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  2. Carmen Arena
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  3. Ermenegilda Vitale
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  16. Mickaël Baqué
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Contributions

Contributions listed according to authorship credits. CL: conceptualization, experimental design, specimens retrieving, data retrieving (performing all the analyses/measurements), data analysis, investigation, data interpretation, writing (original draft, review and editing). CA: conceptualization, experimental design, investigation, data interpretation, writing (review and editing). EV: data retrieving, investigation, data interpretation, writing (review and editing). EB: data interpretation, investigation, writing (review and editing). GP: writing (review and editing). GA: contribution to IR spectroscopy measurements. RB: writing (review and editing). JRB: writing (review and editing). SG: responsible for Mars Simulation Facility-Laboratory. JH: responsible for IR spectroscopy laboratory. SL: writing (review and editing). AL: responsible for Mars Simulation Facility-Laboratory. AM: responsible for IR spectroscopy laboratory. AP: writing (review and editing). J-PV data interpretation, investigation, writing (review and editing). MB: data interpretation, investigation, writing (review and editing). All authors read, edited and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carmen Arena.

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Communicated by Dorothea Bartels.

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Lorenz, C., Arena, C., Vitale, E. et al. Resilience of Xanthoria parietina under Mars-like conditions: photosynthesis and oxidative stress response. Planta 259, 25 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-023-04290-1

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