News Plants

Chickpeas can grow in moon dirt and make seeds

Fungi and compost helped the legumes thrive in harsh conditions

A flower-shaped chickpea seed sits nestled in a tangle of roots.

Chickpea roots took hold in simulated lunar soil in the lab, with help from fungi and compost.

Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife

By Lisa Grossman

This is a human-written story voiced by AI. Got feedback? Take our survey . (See our AI policy here .)

Homegrown chickpeas could be on the menu for future astronauts.