China harvests ‘space rice’

According to the research team, this difference is due to the rice seeds being bred in space. This process uses high-energy radiation including microgravity, alternating magnetic fields, high vacuum and other space environmental conditions to cause mutations in plant seeds. Under these conditions, the gene mutation frequency of the seeds is relatively high, up to 10%. Because no foreign genes are introduced, rice bred in space is not classified as a genetically modified crop. Based on the above results, the research team plans to grow and harvest rice from these seeds in an intensive manner to create new endemic rice varieties with high resistance, resistance to pests and diseases, increased productivity and better flavor.

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