On Tuesday, the Shenzhou-17 manned spacecraft made a successful return to Earth, bringing back a new batch of scientific samples from China's space station. Among these samples are special seeds destined for groundbreaking breeding experiments.
The seeds, including alfalfa and oats, were provided by the Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. These seeds underwent 11 months of space radiation using the space radiation biology exposure equipment aboard the space station.
After passing initial evaluations at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization, the seeds were handed over to a dedicated research team from the Lanzhou Institute for further experimental studies.
Yang Hongshan, the team's chief scientist, announced that seed germination experiments have already commenced. The team is set to conduct ground-based breeding experiments aimed at producing excellent mutants. The goal is to cultivate superior new forage varieties that boast higher yields, better quality, and enhanced resistance.
Yang emphasized that the research outcomes are poised to significantly boost China's competitiveness in agricultural science and technology. These advancements are expected to provide robust support for the sustainable development of China's agricultural sector.
Through innovative space-mutation breeding techniques, the research team has successfully developed three new varieties of alfalfa and one new variety of oats. These new varieties are now being widely promoted and applied in agricultural production.
Reference(s):
Seeds from China's space station applied in breeding experiments
cgtn.com
