Advances in Crop Improvement by Space Mutagenesis in China

Aerospace provides a special environment with strong cosmic radiation, microgravity, weak geomagnetic field and supervacuum, etc., which might affect plant growth and development as well as induce genetic changes of crop seeds. Since 1987, China has been conducting experiments of space mutagenesis for crop improvement by using recoverable satellites and Shenzhou spacecrafts. Shijian-8, the first world satellite specially designed for the space breeding program, was also launched on 9 September 2006. More than 40 new mutant varieties of crops including rice, wheat, cotton, sesame, pepper, tomato and alfalfa developed by space breeding have been officially released in China by far. A novel technique for mutation induction by simulating the space environment factors has also been set up. It was concluded that crop space-induced mutation breading is an effective way to both breed new varieties and enhance genetic diversity.