Space Vegetables Due In March

DRAGON SPACE

"Under the physical conditions of outer space such as radiation, low gravity and vacuum, the seeds can take on astronautical mutagenesis, which alters the germ plasma of crop seeds," said SNGC's associate researcher Jin Xing.

Beijing (XNA) Jan 07, 2005
The first space vegetables cultivated by Shenzhen Nongke Group Corporation (SNGC) are expected to become common dishes on city dining tables by March.

On September 27 last year, 17 species of vegetable, fruit and flora seeds, chosen by SNGC, were sent into space with the country's 20th recoverable science satellite, which returned to Earth 18 days later.

"Under the physical conditions of outer space, such as radiation, low gravity and vacuum, the seeds can take on astronautical mutagenesis, which alters the germ plasma of crop seeds," said SNGC's associate researcher Jin Xing.

"After the satellite returned to Earth, the most high yielding and immunized seeds were selected," Jin said.

"Different from genetically modified crops, which have evoked much controversy among scientists, no new genes are introduced to the space vegetables, so they are safe for consumption," Jin said.

Space vegetables are now being planted in Shenzhen Outer Space Crops Park, on the western side of Honey Lake Road in Futian District, with a total area of 40,000 square meters.

Established Oct. 29 last year as the breeding base of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the park now has more than 50 species of space crops, including the 17 species from the city.

"We're considering holding a tomato festival this March, by which time city residents will be able to enjoy about 30 varieties of space tomatoes on their dining tables," said the park's manager Li Sha'ai.

Following the tomato festival, the other species of space vegetables in the park, such as cucumber, pepper, eggplant, tomato, bean, potato and pumpkin, would also go to market, with prices 30 to 50 percent higher than their common counterparts, Li said.

So far, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has set up three space vegetable breeding bases, one of which is in Shenzhen, while the others are in Beijing and Jiangsu Province.

Since 1987, the country has sent about 1,000 species of crop seeds into space on more than 10 recoverable science satellites.

China, Russia and the United States are the only three countries with recoverable satellites trying out astronautical mutagenetic breeding technology.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

DRAGON SPACE

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