After the journey into space, how will the “chosen seed” transform?

On the afternoon of April 26, the return capsule of the Shenzhou 13 manned spacecraft was opened in Beijing, and crop seeds carried by China Agricultural University and other units were successfully unloaded from the capsule.

(Photo source: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation official Weibo)

The seed "passengers" aboard the Shenzhou 13 manned spacecraft include not only alfalfa and oats, but also rice, edible fungi, lettuce and other plant seeds.

Layer upon layer of selection to screen out the "chosen ones"

Yang Hongshan, chief expert of the stress-resistant forage breeding and utilization team of the Lanzhou Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Drug Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said that the seeds and purposes carried by each unit are different. Some focus on basic research, while others focus more on variety breeding.

"After selecting forage grasses such as alfalfa and oats, we will determine the varieties or new strains to be carried according to the breeding goals, and carefully select each seed to make sure that each seed is full and not damaged, to ensure that it can germinate normally after returning to Earth from space. In other words, these seeds are determined after layers of screening and are truly 'chosen seeds'."

(Photo source: Science Popularization China)

How do the “mysterious” seeds sent into space “transform”?

Space breeding, also known as space technology breeding or space breeding, refers to a new crop breeding technology that uses the space environment that can be reached by returning spacecraft and high-altitude balloons to induce mutations in plants to produce beneficial mutations, select new germplasm and new materials on the ground, and cultivate new varieties.

The Chinese people, who value farming, have been exploring the secrets of space farming. In 1987, my country sent rice, peppers and other crops into space for the first time, starting the exploration of space breeding.

Over the past 30 years, my country has carried out more than 30 space launch tests of plant seeds, fungi, and test-tube seedlings, and has cultivated nearly a thousand new strains and varieties of space breeding. The results of space breeding have long been part of our lives.

The selected "Zhongtian 1 Alfalfa" was carried on the Shenzhou III

Image source: Xinhua News Agency

What changes will occur to a seed after a "space journey"?

Assessment 1

Not all seeds can

A chance to travel in space

Only when the fruit is full and full of vitality

Seeds with high genetic stability

To get a ticket into space

Assessment 2

During space flight

Only hit by cosmic rays

Genetically altered seeds

After returning to the ground

To enter the next round of assessment

Assessment Three

In the ability test

It's still survival of the fittest

Only those with good yield, strong momentum or resistance

If you are not afraid of insect bites or drought

Only the strong can stay

But that’s not enough!

Assessment Four

Selected seeds

It needs to be propagated in multiple ecological zones across the country.

Finally, only through

Testing in multiple ecological locations over many years

Variety Approval Committee

The "regularization" certificate will be issued

The real "space seed"

Now it can finally shine

(Image source: CCTV.com)

From traveling in space to cultivating on the ground, from variety screening to quality verification, **the entire process takes 4 to 6 years,** just to obtain the "most extraordinary" space seeds.

These seeds have many excellent characteristics, such as many beneficial variations, high yield, high quality, early maturity, strong disease resistance, etc. Take space vegetables as an example. The taste and texture of vegetables bred in space are better than ordinary vegetables. For example, "space bell peppers" are sweeter, crisper and more refreshing, and can be eaten raw directly; "space purple potatoes" taste like fruits, refreshing and sweet when eaten raw, and sweet and soft when cooked; "space potatoes" are rich in anthocyanins and have a high yield per mu.

On September 18, 2020, the results of space breeding were displayed at the "Space Flying the Chinese Dream" Space Science Exhibition and China Space Achievements Exhibition (Fuzhou Station). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lin Shanchuan

So far, space breeding has cultivated more than 200 new varieties of excellent germplasm approved at the provincial level and above, and has created a number of high-quality three-line rice and dwarf rice germplasms. Through space breeding, Yang Hongshan's team has cultivated three new nationally approved varieties, "Zhongtian No. 1, No. 2 Purple Alfalfa" and "Zhongtian No. 3 Hybrid Alfalfa".

The picture shows that some alfalfa and oat seeds carried by the Chang'e 5 probe have germinated in the laboratory. Image source: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences official website

Behind the encounter between aerospace technology and agricultural production,

It embodies the wisdom and sweat of countless scientists.

Our table is enriched.

The country's food security is also guaranteed.

As space exploration activities continue to develop,

I believe there will be more in the future

More abundant seeds go into space,

There will also be more excellent new varieties!

Comprehensive sources: Xinhua News Agency, Science and Technology Daily, CCTV News, China News Network, CCTV.com, Farmers Daily, Sichuan Daily, etc.