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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 17, 2002

'Shenzhou IV' to Carry Peony Seeds into Space

The "Shenzhou IV" spacecraft to be launched, on addition of a batch of sophisticated instrument, will also carry 100 peony seeds into the space, being China's first peony variation experiment under zero gravity condition, China Youth Daily reported Saturday.


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The "Shenzhou IV" spacecraft to be launched, on addition of a batch of sophisticated instrument, will also carry 100 peony seeds into the space, being China's first peony variation experiment under zero gravity condition, China Youth Daily reported Saturday.

Peony varieties are generally fostered in a natural and blind way, which will, only by a chance of 1/10000, yield a new, good variety, since the seeds crossed usually grow in similar environment and as a result turn out similar colors and flower shapes. If we put seeds into an environment without gravity but with various kinds of heavy particles, some seeds may undergo fundamental changes and further turn out good varieties, although not all changes lead to positive results, according to peony fostering staff with Luoyang, China's most famous city for growing peony.

Experience of space variation in the past told that, after carried into space, some seeds may eventually yield a corolla five or six times bigger than normal, and a plant three or four times higher. "No one could predict what changes will take place to these seeds after a round into the space".

As reported, Luoyang is expecting its second space variation experiment in September next year, which will be of much larger scale, with 10,000 to 15,000 seeds sent into the space.

By PD Online Staff Member Li Heng


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