A rationally assembled microbial community for growing Tagetes patula L. in a lunar greenhouse.

Well-defined plant-associated bacteria were used for growing French marigolds (Tagetes patula L.) in anorthosite, a substrate of low bioavailability, analogous to a lunar rock. The consortium was composed mainly of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and biocontrol agents that were used for seed inoculation. Simultaneously, the sterile substrate was inoculated with the siliceous bacterium Paenibacillus sp. IMBG156. The plant benefited from bacterial activity which resulted in stimulation of seed germination, better plant development, and finally in flowering of inoculated tagetes. In contrast, control plants grew poorly in sterile anorthosite and never flowered. Analysis of bacterial community composition showed that both species colonized plant roots, and there were no shifts in the consortium structure in the rhizosphere of French marigolds within 6 weeks. Paenibacillus sp. IMBG156 was able to release some elements (Ca, Fe, Si) from substrate anorthosite. It was assumed that a rationally assembled consortium of bacterial strains supported growth and development of the model plant under growth-limiting conditions, at least by means of bioleaching and delivering of essential nutritional elements to the plants, and by promoting plant growth.