China Achieves New Breakthrough in Its First Cultivation of Two Generations of Rice in Space

The samples will return aboard Shenzhou-23, after which scientists will analyze their phenotypes and molecular mechanisms to study the effects of long-term microgravity on genetic stability.

This batch of experimental rice seeds entered the space station aboard the Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft in May this year. It includes ordinary seeds that had never been to space, as well as rice seeds bred on Earth from "space seeds" harvested from the space station in 2022. The experiment has four units, with six seeds sown in each. The four units are divided into two groups using sexual reproduction and two using vegetative reproduction, to compare differences in the adaptability of these two methods to the space environment. It is understood that the samples collected this time will subsequently return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-23 return capsule. Scientists will conduct comprehensive analyses at the phenotypic and molecular levels to determine the mechanisms by which long-term space microgravity affects rice's genetic stability. In the future, this is expected to make "in situ" extraterrestrial food production possible—that is, growing grain locally in space in a self-sustaining cycle—providing crucial support for human survival on journeys farther into deep space.

The experiment has four units, each sown with six seeds, using sexual and vegetative reproduction to compare adaptability to the space environment.

This batch of experimental rice seeds entered the space station aboard the Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft in May this year. It includes ordinary seeds that had never been to space, as well as rice seeds bred on Earth from "space seeds" harvested from the space station in 2022. The experiment has four units, with six seeds sown in each. The four units are divided into two groups using sexual reproduction and two using vegetative reproduction, to compare differences in the adaptability of these two methods to the space environment. It is understood that the samples collected this time will subsequently return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-23 return capsule. Scientists will conduct comprehensive analyses at the phenotypic and molecular levels to determine the mechanisms by which long-term space microgravity affects rice's genetic stability. In the future, this is expected to make "in situ" extraterrestrial food production possible—that is, growing grain locally in space in a self-sustaining cycle—providing crucial support for human survival on journeys farther into deep space.

In the future, it may become possible to grow grain in situ beyond Earth and sustain self-contained cycles, providing life-support resources for deep-space exploration.

This batch of experimental rice seeds entered the space station aboard the Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft in May this year. It includes ordinary seeds that had never been to space, as well as rice seeds bred on Earth from "space seeds" harvested from the space station in 2022. The experiment has four units, with six seeds sown in each. The four units are divided into two groups using sexual reproduction and two using vegetative reproduction, to compare differences in the adaptability of these two methods to the space environment. It is understood that the samples collected this time will subsequently return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-23 return capsule. Scientists will conduct comprehensive analyses at the phenotypic and molecular levels to determine the mechanisms by which long-term space microgravity affects rice's genetic stability. In the future, this is expected to make "in situ" extraterrestrial food production possible—that is, growing grain locally in space in a self-sustaining cycle—providing crucial support for human survival on journeys farther into deep space.

After cultivating rice in the Wentian module for four months, astronauts have completed the collection and storage of a new batch of samples and sown some of the harvested space-grown seeds.

In the Wentian laboratory module of the China Space Station, after four months of careful cultivation, the Shenzhou-23 astronauts have completed the collection and storage of a new batch of rice experiment samples and sown some of the "space seeds" they harvested. This is part of the experiment "Research on the Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Multigenerational Genetic Stability and Environmental Adaptability of Rice in Space," conducted aboard the China Space Station. Its aim is to allow rice to reproduce for two consecutive generations under microgravity conditions.

The space rice experiment studies genetic stability across multiple generations and environmental adaptability, with the goal of reproducing rice for two consecutive generations under microgravity.

In the Wentian laboratory module of the China Space Station, after four months of careful cultivation, the Shenzhou-23 astronauts have completed the collection and storage of a new batch of rice experiment samples and sown some of the "space seeds" they harvested. This is part of the experiment "Research on the Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Multigenerational Genetic Stability and Environmental Adaptability of Rice in Space," conducted aboard the China Space Station. Its aim is to allow rice to reproduce for two consecutive generations under microgravity conditions.

The experimental rice seeds reached the space station aboard Shenzhou-23 in May this year, including ordinary seeds and Earth-grown descendants of space-grown seeds harvested in 2022.

This batch of experimental rice seeds entered the space station aboard the Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft in May this year. It includes ordinary seeds that had never been to space, as well as rice seeds bred on Earth from "space seeds" harvested from the space station in 2022. The experiment has four units, with six seeds sown in each. The four units are divided into two groups using sexual reproduction and two using vegetative reproduction, to compare differences in the adaptability of these two methods to the space environment. It is understood that the samples collected this time will subsequently return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-23 return capsule. Scientists will conduct comprehensive analyses at the phenotypic and molecular levels to determine the mechanisms by which long-term space microgravity affects rice's genetic stability. In the future, this is expected to make "in situ" extraterrestrial food production possible—that is, growing grain locally in space in a self-sustaining cycle—providing crucial support for human survival on journeys farther into deep space.

The Shenzhou-23 crew has been in orbit for more than four months.

CCTV.com reports (Xinwen Lianbo): The Shenzhou-23 crew has now been in orbit for more than four months. They have completed work including the collection of a new batch of rice experiment samples aboard the China Space Station, marking a new breakthrough in China's first cultivation of two generations of rice in space.