Potential role of fungi for long term manned space missions

An important aspect to consider when preparing long term manned space missions is the development of life support systems. One of this systems (MELISSA) recovers edible biomass, water and oxygen from waste (faeces, urea), carbon dioxide and minerals. It is composed of four compartments colonized by micro-organisms and higher plants and one compartment formed by the spaceship crew. The inputs of each compartment are the outputs of the previous one, forming a controlled and closed cycle. The addition of higher plants into the cycle involved extra addition of fibres. Liquefying bacteria may not be able to completely degrade them, so edible mushrooms were inserted as an extra compartment providing a double function: further degradation of the fibres (by production of extracellular oxidative enzymes) and nutrition for the crew.