Seeds from China's space station tested in agricultural experiments

by Simon Mansfield Sydney, Australia (SPX) May 06, 2024 SPX

Following the recent return of the Shenzhou-17 spacecraft, seeds that experienced space radiation for nearly a year aboard China's space station have arrived back on Earth. These seeds are now part of critical breeding experiments.

The seeds, including alfalfa and oats, were exposed to space radiation on the space station's biology exposure equipment for 11 months, provided by the Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

After initial assessments at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, these seeds were transferred to the Lanzhou Institute for further research.

Under the guidance of Chief Scientist Yang Hongshan, the institute's researchers have initiated germination tests and plan to perform extensive breeding experiments aimed at developing high-yield, high-quality, and more resilient forage varieties.

"The research results are expected to significantly enhance China's competitiveness in the field of agricultural science and technology, providing strong support for the sustainable development of agriculture in the country," said Yang.

Already, the team has developed three new alfalfa varieties and one new oat variety through space-mutation breeding, which are now being implemented in agricultural production.

Based on a Xinhua News Agency article