Chinese researchers are about to harvest the third-generation rice from seeds that returned from a space voyage in 2022 after a growth period of more than 100 days at a crop breeding and cultivation base in Shanghai.
They are born of 59 seeds which experienced 120 days of space cultivation, and completed the entire growth process from seed to seed during the 2022 Shenzhou-14 manned mission, and growing at an enclosed research greenhouse of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences and in a farm field.
"Six seeds were sent onboard the Wentian module to space, and then we received 59 seeds in total. These 59 seeds were quite precious, so we took some of them for breeding in the artificial climate chamber. After multiplication, we obtained more seeds, nearly 10,000. Then we took some of them and grow them in the field. This is the rice ears we reaped in the field," said Zheng Huiqiong, a researcher with the center.
The researcher explained that 59 rice seeds bred in space represent the first generation, nearly 10,000 seeds bred in a phytotron constitute the second generation, and the seeds for the upcoming harvest in the farm field are the third generation.
Preliminary research results found that under microgravity conditions in space, rice seed embryos develop normally, capable of growing into vigorous offspring. This experiment confirms the potential to cultivate robust rice seeds in space. "First, we harvested viable seeds in space. Then, through experiments in the phytotron, we proved that these viable seeds can create offspring and the space-bred seeds still have the ability to reproduce. They can continue to reproduce stably in the fields. It means it is a feasible way to produce rice in a space environment," said Zheng.
Researchers will also conduct a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the yield and agronomic traits of space rice grown in the field.
China to harvest third-generation space-bred rice
Colombians are heading to the polls on Sunday to elect their next president. The country's constitution prevents the current President, Gustavo Petro, from running for a second term.
Yet, many see this election as a referendum on the policies of Gustavo Petro, Colombia's first leftist president.
There are 14 candidates on Sunday's ballot, but the polls show it will likely be a tight three-way race.
The frontrunner is Ivan Cepeda, a 63-year-old three-term senator, representing President Gustavo Petro's party, the Historic Pact coalition. Cepeda has vowed to defend and deepen Petro's progressive reforms and social justice policies to reduce inequality. He also promises to continue the government's controversial "Total Peace" strategy to negotiate the disarmament of remaining guerrilla groups and criminal gangs.
"True prosperity comes from equality, from access to rights, and from transforming the peripheral and excluded territories of the rural world," Cepeda said at a campaign rally.
Running as a political outsider and independent is Abelardo de la Espriella, a 47-year-old lawyer, nicknamed "The Tiger." He has presented himself as the "authority and order" candidate who will reduce state spending by up to 40 percent in the next four years.
"(First,) we must fight insecurity. Colombia is suffering today from a pandemic of insecurity. Crime is out of control: extortion, cattle theft, smuggling, drug trafficking," he said to his supporters at an election event.
According to polls, the third candidate with strong support is Paloma Valencia. The 48-year-old senator represents the Democratic Center party led by popular former President Alvaro Uribe Velez. Her candidacy is backed by politicians and economists who are concerned with growing levels of public debt. They want to see a return to more conservative fiscal policies.
"I don't want to be a president who governs alone, locked away in glass offices. I want to be a president who stands with citizens, who embraces them, who reaches out to them, who has a team, and who governs to transform Colombia," the candidate said at the campaign event
According to polls earlier in the year, many voters are expressing concerns about unemployment, rising living costs, corruption, and, above all, public security.
The election comes after a turbulent year that the International Committee of the Red Cross has called "the worst humanitarian consequences of armed conflict over the past decade."
"(We arrive at this election in a tense atmosphere - tense) because of the economic situation, because of the security situation, and because of the narratives that have been built around the country's main problems. On top of that, emotions, ideas and social media have all helped raise (the tone,)" said Eduardo Velosa, associate professor from International Studies Javeriana University.
If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be held between the top two finishers on June 21st.
Colombians prepare to choose their next president
