The seeds that went to the moon with "Chang'e" germinated and compared with "predecessors", they experienced a big difference
After 23 days of traveling on the moon with the Chang'e-5 probe, a batch of 40 grams of "aviation fragrant silk seedlings" rice seeds landed smoothly along with the returner, marking the first deep-space mutagenesis experiment in rice breeding in my country. A landmark meaning.
At the end of 2020, the National Lunar Exploration and Aerospace Engineering Center held a seed transfer ceremony for the Chang'e-5 in Beijing.
It is understood that these "flying to the moon" rice seeds came from the National Aerospace Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center of South China Agricultural University (hereinafter referred to as the Aerospace Breeding Center).
On December 28, the reporter saw at the Aerospace Breeding Center that some "moon" rice seeds had germinated, and researchers were preparing for follow-up research.
The reporter learned that my country is the first country in the world to use aerospace technology for crop mutation breeding.
The principle of aerospace breeding is actually not complicated—the space environment has the characteristics of high vacuum, microgravity, weak magnetic field, and complex radiation. The complex high-energy heavy ions in the space rays impact biological cells and induce genetic mutations to obtain new ones. Traits.
"Variation is the basis of species evolution and an important way for the selection and breeding of new varieties." Guo Tao, deputy director of the Aerospace Breeding Center, introduced, "The extreme deep space environment is a very unique factor inducing mutation, which is very important for the selection and breeding of new varieties."
Guo Tao further introduced: “Rice is a model organism for genetic research. Choosing rice to carry out deep-space piggyback studies on species evolution will not only help understand the genetic effects of the deep-space environment, but also apply the excellent variation obtained to rice varieties. Breeding will help improve the level of agricultural production."
So, how were the rice seeds participating in the space breeding selected this time?
"The characteristics of the selected seed should match the scientific research goals." Guo Tao said that the first choice for seeds should be excellent and stable performance.
After a rigorous and scientific "selection", the "Hangju Xiangsi Miao" rice seed from the Aerospace Breeding Center finally came to the fore.
Interestingly, this seed comes from a "space family", and its "father" and "mother" also come from space.
One of the parents, "Huahang 31", is a super rice bred by space mutagenesis and modern biological technology. Its rice quality reaches the national standard of high-quality level 2, high resistance to rice blast, fertilizer and lodging resistance, strong cold tolerance and adaptability. Guang; Another parent "Hanghui 1508" is also a product of space mutagenesis.
As an important national scientific research and innovation platform in the field of space breeding in my country, the Space Breeding Center has successively conducted 24 plant space mutation experiments since 1996.
However, compared with the returning satellite and Shenzhou spacecraft carried by my country's aerospace breeding, the carrying experiment is different this time.
"The rice seeds carried this time have gone through nearly 23 days of flight, and have been exposed to the unique extreme environment of deep space radiation in the near-moon orbit. They also encountered the Van Allen radiation belt and sunspot bursts. The long space travel distance and the space environment It’s complicated, and it’s impossible to meet them.” Guo Tao said that this piggyback experiment is expected to produce stronger genetic effects, which will help to find the effect difference between deep space and early low-Earth orbit, for in-depth research on space breeding. The law of variation provides important experimental samples and data.
Today, the seeds returning from the "Flying to the Moon" with Chang'e-5 are lying quietly in the laboratory.
"Picking is only the first step. Next, through a series of self-crossing or hybridization of these rice seeds, researchers will develop new varieties of rice that are suitable for future needs in terms of resistance to diseases and insect pests, stress tolerance, and adaptation to mechanized production. "Guo Tao said.
Guo Tao said that this deep-space mutagenesis experiment is expected to help humans have a deeper understanding of the molecular and genetic mechanisms of how rice responds to the deep-space environment; acquire a batch of valuable new genes and form a complete key gene utilization technology system , Serving the breeding of rice varieties; selecting and breeding a batch of high-yield, high-quality, multi-resistant and green rice varieties to meet the needs of diversified industries.
"This time the deep-space mutagenesis experiment carried on Chang'e-5 is 100% original in China, and it will produce 100% original and innovative results in the future." Chen Zhiqiang, director of the Aerospace Breeding Center, said that he would In-depth research on mutagenesis materials in deep space space, and hope to take this opportunity to carry out systematic research on mutagenesis in deep space space; create, discover, and excavate a batch of good genes and mutants, cultivate a batch of high-quality new varieties, and serve National food production.
Reporter Ye Qing