Comprehensive omics strategies for space agriculture development

Abstract

Space agriculture is pivotal for sustaining long-duration space missions by providing fresh food, oxygen, and waste recycling capabilities. This review evaluates advanced omics strategies that elucidate how plants adapt to the extreme conditions encountered in space, such as microgravity, cosmic radiation, and limited nutrient convection. An integrated examination of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics reveals that spaceflight induces profound changes in plant molecular networks. Genomic studies have documented space-induced mutations and epigenetic modifications, while transcriptomic analyses consistently show differential expression of genes involved in stress responses, cell wall remodeling, and hormone signaling. Proteomic investigations complement these findings by uncovering alterations in protein abundance that underscore the activation of defense mechanisms and reorganization of metabolic pathways. Metabolomic and lipidomic profiling further indicate that plants reprogram energy metabolism and modify membrane composition to cope with oxidative stress and other abiotic challenges. The synthesis of multi-omics data provides a systems-level understanding of plant adaptation, guiding the selection and engineering of crop varieties optimized for space environments. Additionally, insights gained from spaceflight experiments inform the design of controlled-environment agriculture systems for both extraterrestrial habitats and terrestrial applications. Collectively, the integrated omics approach offers a robust framework for addressing the limitations of traditional methodologies, paving the way for sustainable, resilient plant production essential for future human exploration beyond Earth.