Moon-Exposed Grass Seeds to Be Cultivated on Earth

Moon-Exposed Grass Seeds to Be Cultivated on Earth
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Feb 21, 2025

Herders in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region may soon have access to a unique variety of forage, as researchers are set to cultivate grass seeds that have undergone a journey to the moon. These seeds, having endured deep-space exposure, are expected to undergo genetic mutations that could yield superior plant varieties.

Carried aboard China's Chang'e 6 lunar probe, which embarked on its mission to the moon's far side in May last year, four packages of grass seed samples, totaling 200 grams, returned to Earth in late June. The trial cultivation of these seeds is scheduled to commence in early March, according to Xinjiang's Academy of Animal Science.

Researchers believe that exposure to space radiation and microgravity can induce beneficial genetic variations, potentially leading to improved traits in plant species. The seeds taken on this mission include hardy varieties such as camel thorn and alfalfa-both commonly found in Xinjiang. These species are known for their resilience to harsh conditions, including saline-alkaline soil, extreme cold, and drought, explained Zheng Wenxin, vice-president of Xinjiang Agricultural University and the lead scientist on the project.

Such plants serve a vital role in combating grassland degradation and preventing the spread of desertification in arid regions. Zheng noted that space-induced mutations have the potential to enhance plant productivity, shorten growth cycles, and bolster resistance to environmental stressors.

Space breeding, a method of exposing plant seeds to the conditions of spaceflight to encourage genetic mutations, has been widely used in China's agricultural research. Following their return to Earth, these altered seeds undergo rigorous examination to identify favorable mutations.

This is not the first time China has experimented with space-bred grass seeds. In June 2022, Xinjiang scientists sent four species of grass seeds aboard the Shenzhou-14 manned spaceship to China's Tiangong space station. Those seeds, upon their return, exhibited significant genetic changes, including a yield increase of approximately one-third and enhanced resilience, Zheng reported.

Encouraged by these promising results, Zheng and his team seized the opportunity to test grass seeds in a lunar environment for the first time. "The far side of the moon presents an unknown factor, and we anticipate unexpected discoveries in plant breeding," Zheng told Xinhua. "It is like opening a blind box-there may be surprising rewards and breakthroughs."

In the coming years, scientists will conduct detailed studies of the returned grass seeds, identifying the most promising strains by integrating space breeding techniques with biological and artificial intelligence-assisted breeding. However, Zheng acknowledged that AI applications in this research remain at an early stage.

China has conducted more than 3,000 space breeding experiments, spanning crops such as rice, wheat, mushrooms, and tea plants. According to available data, over 240 new varieties of staple grains and numerous fruits, vegetables, and flowers have emerged from space-based breeding programs, contributing to an estimated 2 billion additional kilograms of grain production annually. These advancements have generated direct economic benefits surpassing 100 billion yuan ($13.9 billion).

Given that Xinjiang contains China's largest expanse of desertified land, with saline-alkali terrain comprising roughly one-third of the nation's total, the development of robust, space-enhanced grass varieties is expected to play a crucial role in bolstering the region's animal husbandry and ecological sustainability, Zheng concluded.