Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31603: Studying Parasitic Plants in Orbit: The Case of Cuscuta on the ISS

Parasitic plants are one of the most intriguing organisms on Earth. They challenge the usual definitions of plant behavior by relying on host plants for nutrients. One such plant, Cuscuta, commonly known as dodder, offers unique biological puzzles. The experiment NanoRacks-Midreshet Ben-Gurion-Cuscuta Parasitic Plant Growth investigated this species aboard the International Space Station (ISS), led by Midreshet Ben-Gurion from Israel in collaboration with U.S. institutions.

Cuscuta lacks chlorophyll, meaning it cannot photosynthesize. Instead, it attaches to other plants and siphons off nutrients. On Earth, gravity helps the parasite find its host, but what happens in microgravity where up and down don’t exist in the usual sense?

This experiment aimed to see how Cuscuta responds to microgravity. Would it still find and attach to a host plant? Would the lack of gravity alter its growth patterns, chemical signaling, or lifecycle? These questions are important for understanding how space might change plant biology.

Students and scientists used growth chambers to observe how dodder grew and behaved on the ISS. The main focus was to document attachment behavior, direction of growth, and overall plant health. High-resolution cameras captured the plant’s attempts to reach its host. This offered direct insights into plant tropisms—how plants sense and respond to their environment—without gravity.

Understanding Cuscuta's behavior in microgravity can help space biologists design better agricultural systems for long-term missions. If parasitic behavior is suppressed or altered, it may also reveal potential methods of controlling Cuscuta on Earth, where it is an agricultural pest.

This project emphasized how student-led research can make meaningful contributions to space science while inspiring the next generation of biologists.

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