First batch of ‘space rice’ promises a fruitful harvest in China

Scientists are now hoping it could help enrich China’s grain varieties and safeguard the country’s food security.

China harvests its first batch of “space rice” from seeds that traveled 23 days in space on the Chang’e-5 lunar probe in November 2020. Scientists are now hoping it could help enrich China’s grain varieties and safeguard the country’s food security.

After being exposed to cosmic radiation and zero gravity, these seeds weighing around 40 gm returned and were harvested at the space breeding research centre of the South China Agricultural University in Guangdong province. After over four months of growth, the “space rice plants” promise a fruitful harvest. The best seeds will be bred in laboratories and later planted in fields, said Guo Tao, deputy director at the research centre, according to the country’s media reports.

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However, more tests and plantings are needed to determine the best varieties that could be promoted nationwide to help improve China’s grain harvest, the country’s media noted.

What is space rice?

Rice seeds exposed to the environment in Space is said to mutate and produce higher yields once planted back on Earth. China has been taking not only seeds of rice but also other crops to space since 1987. Now, more than 200 space plant varieties including cotton and tomatoes have been approved for planting.

Chinese netizens were soon wondering when the “rice from heaven” will land on their dinner tables. In response, Guo said it would still take three to four years before the rice enters the market as further research has to be done on the subject, as per reports from ‘Global Times’.

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