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Space vegetables

"Space vegetables", bred by astronautical mutagenesis are now increasingly found on many of China’s dining tables, China Radio International reported. Astronautical mutagenesis is the science that mutate genes in the radiation of outer space,

Chinese scientists have been growing tomatoes the size of softballs, cucumbers as long as baseball bats and other outsize fruits and vegetables, using seeds that have been shot into space. The seeds are then exposed to seven types of extraterrestrial conditions, from zero gravity and cosmic radiation to subatomic particles. As these space veggies grow back on Earth, they are selected for desirable traits—bulk, appearance or certain nutrients—then bred through successive generations to ensure that the mutations are consistent.

Scientists at the Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences in northeast China bred the first "space vegetable" after seven satellite experiments since 1987. The space experiments have resulted in a space bred tomato species in 2000 and a space green pepper species in 2002. The space vegetables are being planted in large areas across China. "Space tomatoes" are already grown on more than 4,900 acres, and "space peppers" on 34,600 acres.

Chinese scientists explain that astronautical mutagenic breeding technology alters the germ plasma of crop seeds, but it’s not just size that changes. Named "Yufan I" (space tomato) and with a fruit weight ranging from 250g to 800g, the new species features large fruit, delicious taste, sweet flavor, and rich vitamin C and sugar content. The space pepper, named Yujiao I, produces a fruit weighing 200g- 400g, characterizing large fruit, sweet and crispy taste, diseases resistance, and high yield. So far the two species have been extensively grown in most provinces. Experiments have confirmed a 20-day storage duration for Yufan I, or a week longer than conventional species. The space pepper is of a vitamin C content 20% higher than conventional species. At the same time, the space-bred vegetables have a shorter maturity period and an increased yield, or 15%-20% higher under the same conditions compared with local prevailing species.

A dozen or so Chinese firms are paying up to $45,000 a gram to place various flora aboard satellites and manned spacecraft. The long-term goal: to feed more people and help endangered species escape extinction. To date, nearly 3,000 botanical species—including garden vegetables, medicinal herbs and flowers—have been sent into orbit and brought back to Earth.

The Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences is currently breeding "space cucumber" and "space eggplant," the report said.

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