Recent discoveries comparing rice bred in space with those grown on the ground demonstrate the feasibility of space rice breeding and subsequent cultivation upon return to the Earth, marking a significant stride in advancing research on space food security, according to a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The researchers at the academy explained that 59 rice seeds bred in the space station represent the first generation, nearly 10,000 seeds bred in the artificial climate chamber constitute the second generation, and the seeds for the upcoming harvest in the farm fields are the third generation.
By conducting comparative studies between space-bred rice and ground-grown rice, researchers have made new discoveries.
Under microgravity conditions in space, rice seed embryos develop normally, capable of growing into vigorous offspring. Moreover, plants from the second-generation space-bred rice seeds exhibit significantly more tillers than their ground-grown counterparts. This experiment confirms the potential to cultivate robust rice seeds in space.
"We observed significant differences in growth between plants in space and on the ground, particularly in terms of plant structure. In space, the angle between the leaves becomes notably larger, unlike the more compact growth seen on the ground. The larger leaf angle has a significant impact on high-density plant cultivation, as it obstructs the leaves from effectively carrying out photosynthesis by shading each other, thereby greatly affecting their growth," said Zheng Huiqiong, a researcher with the Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Researchers conducted further analysis of leaf angle differences using molecular biology techniques and identified key genes. Consequently, it will be possible to genetically modify space-bred plants through molecular pathways to adjust their leaf angles to resemble those bred on the ground, facilitating high-density planting.
Besides, researchers have also observed changes in the morphology of space-grown rice.
"These are also photos taken by the space camera, showing that most of the rice husks cannot close. On the ground, once the seeds are pollinated, they immediately close. However, in space, even when they mature, the rice husks cannot close. This is mainly due to the elongation of the outer husk compared to the inner husk, preventing closure. We are currently researching the molecular biology mechanisms behind this phenomenon," Zheng said.
Researchers have also discovered that the nutrient composition of rice grown in space has undergone changes, with space-bred rice potentially having a sweeter taste.
"Upon the return of the seeds, we split the rice grains in half and scanned them to examine the starch morphology and sugar content, which were found to be different. The seeds from space had significantly higher levels of glucose and fructose compared to regular ground-grown seeds, with calculations showing an approximately five to six-fold increase. Additionally, although the starch content was similar, the starch composition differed, and there was also a slightly higher protein content. Due to the significantly higher levels of glucose and fructose in the space-bred seeds compared to those on the ground, they should taste very sweet if these space-bred seeds were cooked," Zheng said.
The 120-day rice experiment conducted in China's space station in 2022 marked the first instance globally where the entire life cycle of rice, from seed to seed, was successfully cultivated in orbit. Prior to this breakthrough, experiments on the space station had only achieved the cultivation of Arabidopsis, rapeseed, peas, and wheat from seed to seed.
So far, Chinese researchers have successfully grown rice in space, and experimental results have shown that these rice seeds also have reproductive capabilities after returning to the Earth. In the future, the research team will delve further into studies surrounding space food security.
"Light is particularly crucial because rice undergoes photosynthesis, necessitating a relatively high requirement for sunlight. As planting rice in space is conducted in an artificial environment, a specific selection process and modifications are required to help the rice adapt to artificial lighting conditions," Zheng said.
New discoveries in space-bred rice mark progress in space food security research
New discoveries in space-bred rice mark progress in space food security research
Doctoral students from the U.S. and China spent days together aboard a research vessel, collaborating on marine science projects and exchanges designed to foster deeper understanding and enduring friendships between the two countries' scientific communities.
In late March, 20 Chinese and U.S. students boarded a research vessel in Hong Kong, sailing via Ningbo to Shanghai as part of the "A Shared Voyage: China-U.S. Youth Friendship Program". Over 12 days, the students collaborated on marine science and cultural exchanges.
Since the launch of an initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs in a five-year span in November 2023, over 50,000 young Americans have visited China, achieving the target two-and-a-half years ahead of schedule.
Chinese and U.S. students who took part in the program wrote to Chinese President Xi Jinping in April, thanking him for the "50,000 in Five Years" initiative, which has provided valuable opportunities for young people of both countries to engage in learning and exchange.
To their surprise, Xi replied to the letter, encouraging the students to make new contributions to the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations.
In the letter, Xi said that the story of China-U.S. friendship is written by the people, and the future of China-U.S. relations is shaped by the youth.
"Hearing back from him was really crazy. I'd love for people to have more buy into what the project was all about, which was, shared friendship, shared science," said Benjamin Acosta, a Columbia University PhD student.
"He actually took the time to read our letter and even respond to it because I know he's very busy. I feel very honored," said Lesley Figueroa, a PhD student at UC Santa Barbara.
Chinese students also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to meet their U.S. counterparts and exchange ideas.
"We are truly grateful for the '50,000 in Five Years' initiative proposed by President Xi, which has offered young people from both China and the U.S. valuable opportunities for certainty in an otherwise turbulent international landscape. It's remarkable that we could come together aboard an American research vessel and carry out such meaningful scientific and cultural exploration in Chinese waters," said Niu Lishan, a PhD student at Tsinghua University.
Noting that young people, full of vitality and dreams, represent the future and hope of China-U.S. relations and of the world, Xi called on more Chinese and U.S. youth to take up the baton of friendship, learn from each other, progress together, and become "envoys of friendship" bridging the Pacific.
The voyage experience went beyond laboratories, allowing the future scientists to explore underwater robotics and water quality monitoring.
"I have never seen this many krill. It's really crazy. They've got a lot of larger species here, and that means that they probably have a lot of fish and other kinds of higher life forms that feed off this stuff. So it's probably the most productive waters I've seen," said Acosta.
"We learned to operate underwater robots for water quality sampling in shallow-water marine zones. We also collected samples firsthand and conducted related water quality monitoring and analysis," said Niu.
"I've never been on a ship before. I normally do, like I said, on smaller ships and in my lab by myself. With the greater community in this very high-tech environment and using a lot of instruments that I don't normally have access to, which is really incredible," said Meredith Kamm, another Columbia University PhD student.
"This kind of program plants a seed for future cooperation and exchange between China and the U.S., especially in areas such as marine science and climate change. It can help us work together to build a maritime community with a shared future," said Huang Wei, chief scientist of the voyage and researcher at the Second Institute of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
In the letter, Xi noted that through these interactions, young people from both countries have reached out to each other, deepened mutual understanding, forged profound friendships, and opened a new chapter in friendly exchanges between the two peoples.
"I think the United States and China have some of the best researchers in the world. I hope to gain a different perspective in something I've never considered before by talking to these students and understanding how their research works," said Natalie Lafont, a PhD student at Harvard University.
The program also gave the students the chance to meet industry leaders and innovators in the field of ocean exploration. Vincent Pieribone, OceanX co-CEO and chief science officer, said he encouraged the students to always keep their determiniation steady even in the face of failure.
"Science is a tough business and failure is all over, and both sides see that happens. And it's great to bring people together over a common goal, which is ocean stewardship and ocean science and ocean exploration," said Pieribone.
In addition to personal connections, the U.S. students said they were highly impressed with the investments that Chinese universities have made toward ensuring their students and scholars can make an impact.
"I feel like most all the labs at these universities were very well equipped with, not just marine equipment, but research equipment. Students who are there can do multiple, like a variety of projects. My favorite one was the School of Marine Science at Ningbo University. Because we got to see the aquaculture tanks. So there was a lot of tanks and they had a variety of fish. It seems that they really take aquaculture and fisheries as a priority," said Figueroa.
Yet, the focus of the voyage always returned to building lasting ties with their fellow students. Ray Dalio, founder of U.S. Bridgewater Associates and one of the program's initiators, encouraged the participants to take a long-term view of the voyage's impact.
"What I'd love to see is that you develop those relationships and that you stay in touch as a foundation for our future collaborations and friendships because you have a shared passion. Wouldn't that be great? Not just this mission, but the future of your relationships would be great, and think about how that could expand," Dalio said.
"In the face of profound changes unseen in a century and a turbulent world, and confronted with emerging issues such as climate change and artificial intelligence, young people in China and the United States shoulder a special mission. They should strengthen exchanges and cooperation, carry forward China-U.S. friendship, and continue to advance the development of China-U.S. relations," said Geng Shuang, vice president of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, at the April closing ceremony.
China, U.S. marine science students strengthen ties through ocean voyage
