SCIENTISTS recently reaped a bountiful harvest of rice crops grown from seeds bred through a complete growing cycle in space, finding them to have higher sugar and protein contents, Xinhua reported. The seeds, a product of a 6-month breeding experiment conducted aboard China’s Tiangong space station, were sown upon their return to Earth and have now borne fruit after over 100 days of growth. In 2022, six rice seeds were transported to space onboard the Wentian spacecraft. During the mission, astronauts bred 59 seeds from the first six to be brought back to Earth. “Cultivating rice in the vacuum of space presents significant challenges,” explained Zheng Huiqiong, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) specializing in plant molecular biology. “To ensure their successful growth, the initial seeds underwent careful selection and modifications to adapt to an environment with artificial light,” Zheng elaborated. These 59 seeds were subsequently nurtured in a laboratory, yielding approximately 10,000 new seeds. Following a selection process, these seeds were planted in the field, resulting in the recent harvest. The seeds cultivated in space are capable of reproducing on Earth, indicating the viability of cultivating rice in space, Zheng said. During space missions, scientists exposed the seeds to cosmic radiation and microgravity to induce genetic mutations. Previously, only arugula, rapeseeds, peas, and wheat seeds have completed a full growth cycle in space. Scientists will examine and assess mutations in the space-bred samples upon their return to Earth. Positive mutations observed include increased yields, shortened growth periods, and enhanced disease resistance. Zhao Hui, an expert from the China Academy of Space Technology, said that food produced from space breeding, unlike genetically modified food, undergoes spontaneous mutations in their own genes and is therefore considered safe for consumption. Zheng’s team discovered that the space-bred rice seeds contained five to six times more glucose and fructose than conventional ones. They also exhibited slightly higher protein levels than ground-cultivated varieties. “Space-bred rice offers a sweeter taste and provides more energy,” Zheng concluded. China initiated its first space breeding experiment in 1987 by launching seed packets on a satellite and returning them to Earth after exposure to cosmic radiation. Since then, hundreds of plant species’ seeds have journeyed aboard the country’s retrievable satellites and Shenzhou spaceships. (Xinhua) | 