Chinese space potatoes returned to Earth for breeding

Chinese scientists have begun the process of selecting and growing more than 60,000 potato seeds that spent five months in space, hoping to discover unique qualities to improve the yield and sustainability of the important food crop. The AgroXXI.ru portal has read an article by authors Yuan Hui and Zhao Ruixue, published in the China Daily, about Chinese technologies for growing space potatoes: “Potato seeds delivered to the Shangdu Potato Technology Innovation Center in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were exposed to space conditions on aboard the Shenzhou XVI, which returned to Earth on October 31. “The process of growing this space potato will include testing stages in the laboratory, greenhouse and field,” said Zhang Linhai, director of Shangdu Potato Technology Innovation Center. The region boasts excellent conditions for growing potatoes: high altitude, cold climate, few pests and diseases, and vast available land, Zhang told China Daily. He explained that the seeds are ...