Chinese astronauts of the present and more likely those of the future they will be able to enjoy a delicious rice cultivated in the Tiangong Space Stationexactly in China Station Wentian Laboratory.
According to the report of Xinhua, the Arabidopsis and rice seeds in the module have germinated and are in good conditionreferring to a report on the progress of plant-growing experiments on the Chinese space station.
These two plants were installed in the laboratory module’s ecology of life experiment cabinet, which was launched into space in July. The orbital growth experiments were launched on the 29th of that month with instructions from Earth.
The report adds that the Arabidopsis plants, which are used for stress, have sprouted several leaves, while the rice plants have grown to a height of about 30 centimeters. Subsequently, their life cycle experiments will be carried out to obtain space seeds.
Rice, the food of the future in space
Zheng Huiqiong, a researcher at the Center of Excellence in Plant Molecular Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, quoted in the report, said that the Asian giant successfully obtained space seeds of Arabidopsis through its previous life cycle experiment in space. .
The debate published on his YouTube channel a short report about the cultivation process on the Tiangong Space Station.
Zheng added that it is expected that rice life cycle experiment in Wentian laboratory module is successful and provide theoretical guidance for grain production in space. This could make rice the food of the future in space.
In addition, the expert recalled that few crops such as canola, wheat and peas have completed experiments in space to obtain seeds. Plant growth outside of the Earth faces problems such as delayed flowering time, low seed implantation rate, and decreased seed quality.