Seeds Cultured in Space

Seeds bred in space have brought great harvests to farmers in Dajiang Town of Zibo in East China's Shandong Province, according to report of China Daily on February 12.

"An ordinary pimiento tree grows 10 pimientos at most, which are about 3 kilograms. While look at this one -- one, two, three, four ... 16 pimientos, and they weigh about 6 kilograms," said Zhang Xi, manager of the Dajiang Agricultural Technology Development Company.

What is more, a pimiento grown from the special seeds weighs more than 400 grams, much larger than those grown from the common seeds.

Industrial experts say the new type of pimiento tastes sweeter and contains more vitamin C. The new type also has a longer shelf-life and is more resistant to disease.

Breeding in space is a component of State Project 863. This component involves sending seeds by satellite to space, to locations 200 to 400 kilometers away from Earth.


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