How to "transform" the "mysterious" seeds sent to space?
Our reporter Ma Aiping
June 28 was the 11th day when three astronauts boarded the Shenzhou 12 mission and entered the core module of the space station.
In addition to the astronauts, this expedition also has some "mysterious" seeds-orchids, rhizomes...
The Chinese who value farming have been exploring the mysteries of space cultivation.
Since 1987, scientists have brought many kinds of seeds into space, including rice, corn, wheat, Rhodiola, Dendrobium officinale, and Schisandra.
"It has been 34 years since my country first carried out the return of rice and other crop seeds into space by satellite in 1987. Research and practice have repeatedly proved that the space mutagenesis technology carried by space is effective for creating new crop germplasm, creating new genes and cultivating new varieties. Technical approach." Zhang Yunwei, a professor at the College of Grassland Science and Technology of China Agricultural University, said in an interview with a reporter from Science and Technology Daily.
Space mutation + breeding technology, creating new germplasm and breeding new varieties
Aerospace breeding is also called space mutation breeding or space mutation breeding. It is the use of spacecraft such as returnable satellites to bring animal and plant microbial germplasm to extraterrestrial space, induce mutations and mutations, and then select new varieties on the ground after returning. Breeding technology.
"my country is a major mutation breeding country. The traditional physical and chemical mutation research and application are relatively mature. It is a relatively safe and efficient breeding technology. Space mutation is the main mutation of cosmic heavy ion radiation. It is a modern mutation. Changing the source, combined with mature breeding technology, is conducive to creating new germplasm and breeding new varieties." Zhang Yunwei said.
my country is a big agricultural country, but the richness of varieties still lags far behind the demand for production. The revitalization of the national seed industry requires more and more efficient breeding techniques.
"Almost every spacecraft launch has carried seeds, and this time Shenzhou 12 was also carried. Most of the species carried by the spacecraft are of important significance to production and life, in order to create mutations through spacecraft, and screen beneficial mutations after returning to the ground. , Breeding new varieties.” Zhang Yunwei introduced that China has successively carried seeds of grain crops such as rice, corn, wheat, rhodiola, Dendrobium officinale, Schisandra, Parsnips, licorice, safflower and other Chinese herbal medicine seeds, alfalfa, new wheat grass, Forage seeds such as branches, red bean grass, switchgrass, hybrid pennisetum, white clover, vegetable seeds such as eggplant, pumpkin, pepper, cowpea, cabbage, etc. flower seeds such as string red, red lotus, morning glory, and tree seeds such as yew .
Nearly 200 new varieties of excellent germplasm approved at or above the provincial level have been bred
Since 2009, the National Plant Aerospace Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Aerospace Breeding Research Center established by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences have focused on the mechanism of space mutation, the creation, evaluation and utilization of new germplasm resources for space mutation, and new quality And supporting engineering technology and industrialization and other fields actively and orderly carry out work.
In 2018, 14 units including the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and China Agricultural University initiated the establishment of the Aerospace Breeding Industry Innovation Alliance, which aims to enhance the innovation of aerospace breeding germplasm, promote the transformation of aerospace breeding technology achievements, and promote its industrial development.
At present, at least 130 research units are involved in carrying and aerospace breeding, and it has established aerospace breeding and breeding bases in Gansu, Beijing, Hainan and other places.
"As of 2018, 42 provincial and national rice varieties have been bred using space mutation breeding technology. Among them, the Practice No. 8 breeding satellite in 2006 was the largest carrying, including grain, cotton, oil, vegetables, and forestry. More than 2,000 crop seeds and strains of about 215 kilograms in 9 categories including fruits and flowers. Aerospace breeding has bred nearly 200 new varieties of excellent germplasm approved at or above the provincial level, such as Shijian-8 and Chang'e-5. The launchers were all equipped with rice seeds, and a batch of high-quality three-line and short-stalk germplasm was created.” Zhang Yunwei said.
(Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, June 28)