Olive seeds from China's space station germinate on Earth

Published 2024년 11월 19일

Tridge summary

In 2022, olive seeds that had been subjected to space mutation experiments on the Shenzhou XIV spaceship successfully germinated in Longnan, Gansu province. The objective of these experiments, which exposed the seeds to factors like microgravity and high radiation, is to develop superior olive germplasm with improved yield, quality, maturity, and disease resistance. These genetically altered seedlings will be acclimated outdoors starting in 2026. Longnan, a prominent area for olive cultivation, saw the cultivation of over 1.04 million mu (69,333 hectares) of olive trees by the end of 2023, leading to the production of 54,000 tonnes of fresh olives and an income of approximately $556 million.

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Original content

BEIJING -- Olive seeds that underwent space mutation experiments aboard the Shenzhou XIV crewed spaceship in 2022 recently germinated in the city of Longnan in Gansu province, Northwest China, according to the state broadcaster China Central Television.Researchers plan to transplant the olive seedlings from 315 grams of seeds outdoors in 2026 to help them gradually acclimatize to the natural environment.Space mutation experiments involve exposing plant seeds or tissues to extraterrestrial environment factors, such as microgravity, high radiation levels and extreme temperature variations, to induce genetic mutations.Through the experiments, researchers expect to develop high-quality olive germplasm with desirable traits, such as high yield, superior quality, early maturity and strong disease ...

Source: Chinadaily