Shanxi helps space rice research thrive

Dong Qi, an agricultural expert, was thrilled to reap a batch of upland rice in a special experimental field in the Jinzhong National Agricultural High-Tech Industry Demonstration Zone in Shanxi province.

Different from other rice varieties, seeds in the high-tech zone are the descendants of upland rice seeds that were carried into space by the Shenzhou XVI crew in May 2023 and underwent a genetic mutation process called "space breeding "inside the Tiangong space station.

A total of nine crop seeds, including upland rice, sorghum, corn and wheat, from the high-tech zone were sent to space for mutagenesis experiments. They were exposed to cosmic radiation and microgravity during the mission, resulting in genetic mutations.