On October 24, the China News Service reported that China’s first reusable returnable experimental satellite—Shijian 19—successfully returned to Earth after more than ten days in orbit. This satellite carried a batch of new “space seeds,” which were delivered in Beijing on the 24th. These seeds encompass major crop types, including grains, cotton, oilseed, vegetables, and fruits.
What types of seeds were fortunate enough to undertake this “space journey”? How will these “spaceborne seeds” be utilized once they return? What research will scientists conduct, and what significance does this have in stabilizing China’s food supply and ensuring global food security? Liu Luxiang, Deputy Director of the Crop Science Research Institute at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Chief Scientist for the National Space Breeding Engineering, recently shared insights on these topics during an interview.
From “launch to land” and from field to table, “space seeds” undergo rigorous selection processes, ensuring only the best candidates are chosen. Liu explained that the seeds sent into space must represent either the current top varieties or those with potential to become significant in the future. Additionally, it’s crucial that these seeds exhibit purity, genetic stability, and high germination rates.
Employing space-induced mutation technology for crop breeding has become one of the key methods for rapidly developing superior crop varieties. As early as 1987, China began space breeding research using returnable satellites, with the Shijian 8 breeding satellite, launched in 2006, serving as a prominent example and earning its title as a “space train for seeds.” In the Crop Science Research Institute’s hall, jars contain various crops cultivated from “space seeds,” showcasing traits such as high yields, strong resilience, and good salt tolerance.
Despite their shared origin in space, the returning seeds display differing characteristics. Liu noted that genetic mutations in space occur randomly, meaning any trait could emerge. However, this randomness leads to diversity, which is vital for developing new genetic resources and breeding new crop varieties.
How can researchers identify useful traits from this “blind box” of genetic mutations? Liu emphasized that the key lies in targeted selection based on breeding goals. For instance, when selecting seeds resistant to drought, planting the “descendants” of space seeds in drought-prone soil can reveal which crops survive, potentially indicating enhanced drought resistance. The harvested seeds must continue to be cultivated, observing whether their drought resistance persists in subsequent generations, a process that may be repeated multiple times to stabilize desirable traits.
The richness of genetic resources provides breeders with more choices when developing new crop varieties. Liu commented, “By crossbreeding stable genetic resources with main varieties, we can add more beneficial traits, enhancing existing crops even further.”
Regarding the “space seeds” brought back by Shijian 19, Liu hopes to see more mutations that can better address the needs of modern agriculture. He pointed out that both in China and globally, there is a persistent and rigid increase in the demand for total food supply. Improving crop yields per unit area and developing new genetic sources are effective solutions. Furthermore, to counter climate change’s impact on crop growth—especially for staple crops—breeders require new mutations to cultivate varieties that adapt better to changing environments.
“While aiming for high yields, we also need to emphasize quality,” Liu stated. The goal is to select new genetic resources conducive to developing nutritious, health-focused foods, meeting people’s dietary needs. For instance, individuals with high blood sugar levels may benefit from foods rich in resistant starch, which can be identified and bred through space-induced mutation techniques that yield wheat and rice varieties with higher resistant starch content.
It’s noteworthy that Shijian 19 carried genetic resources from multiple countries, including Thailand and Pakistan, leveraging frameworks such as the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. Liu remarked that this represents significant collaborative achievements in the field of mutation breeding within the Asia-Pacific region, which enhances regional food security.
He also highlighted that China remains at the forefront of the global mutation breeding sector. Over the past several decades, China has developed numerous new crop varieties through space-induced mutation technology, yielding significant socio-economic benefits. As a reusable satellite, Shijian 19 will further lower launch costs, providing more opportunities for domestic breeders and a new platform for international colleagues in mutation breeding.
“We must ensure food stability for over 1.4 billion Chinese people and pay attention to global food security issues,” Liu concluded. “I hope that through Shijian 19, we can foster increased international collaboration to assist more developing countries, particularly in Africa, in addressing food security challenges. This also showcases China’s commitment and responsibility.”
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