Crop improvement refers to the genetic alteration of plants to satisfy human needs. Space mutation breeding: A brief introduction of screening new floricultural, vegetable & medicinal varieties from earth-grown plants returned from space mutation.

1. Dr. Pavan J Kundur,
M.Sc., Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor
Department of Biotechnology
P C Jabin Science College, Hubballi, Karnataka,
India

2. Space Breeding….
It is a cutting edge science that combines
astronautics with
agriculturalandforestry sciences.
It refers to the technique of sending seeds or
microorganisms into space (200-400km) on a
recoverable satellite or in other recoverable
spacecraft.
Returning to earth , mutant seeds will be selected
and planted to breed strains with high desirable
traits.

3. Main factors of space environment
affecting plant mutation
High-energy ion radiation
Microgravity
Space magnetic field
Ultra vacuum
 Other physical stresses

4. China – The Pioneers
Jiang Xingcun, a scientist with the Chinese Academy of
Sciences, discovered that spaceflight can increase mutation
rates by hundreds of times that experienced on Earth.
12% of seeds sent to space in satellites manifested
mutations of some kind in such experiments.
Since then, China has sent more than 400 plant seed
species to space.
"Breeding seeds in space is expected to become a strong
driving force behind Chinese agriculture in the 21st century
since it can bring about high-yield and high-quality crops
that are hard for ordinary breeding methods to obtain."

5. Goals of this space Expedition
Scientists intend to produce :-
Higher Yield
Disease Resistant Plant Varieties
 Abiotic Stress Resistant Plant Varieties
Biotic Stress Resistant Plant varieties
Several other desirable traits

6. Photo taken on August 27, 2015 shows ripe pumpkins growing from space breeding
seeds at a space breeding base in Tianshui, northwest China's Gansu Province. The
average weight of such a pumpkin is more than 100 kilograms, and the maximum
weight can reach 175 kilograms. Space breeding is a technology using the space to
have seeds mutated in order to have better yields. (Xinhua/Wang Heng)

8. China is using recoverable spacecraft such as the one shown here to
conduct various microgravity experiments - Incomplete statistics
indicate that China has nearly 405,000 hectares of rice fields planted
with space seeds and 8,100 hectares of space vegetable growing.

9. Biological effects of space induced
factors on plant seeds
seed germination potential, germination
index, seedling height and seedling vigor index
of wheat, barley and triticale were all
significantly higher
japonica rice carried by a high altitude
balloon, all the 11 investigated characters which
were plant height, growth period duration, spike
length, grain husk color and light sensitivity, etc.
segregated greatly.

10. Mechanism of Space mutagenesis
•Space radiation
•HZE particles
•Frequency rate more- root meristem and
hypotyle was hit.
• Higher duration- frequency rate increased.
•Both cosmic radiation and microgravity
combined.
•Strong vibration and blastforce at the time of
launch and landing- chromosomal aberrations.

11. Mutant Varieties developed by
space breeding
CROP VARIETIES
1) RICE Hangyu1, Huahang1,Eryouhang1, Teyouhang1,
Yuehang1, Zhe101, Yuyou1, Teyou175 and
Huaxiang7, etc.
2) WHEAT Taikong5,Taikong6, Longfumai15, Hangmai96,
Longfumai17 and Luyuan301
3)COTTON Zhongmiansuo42 and Zhongmiansuo52
4) SESAME Zhongzhi11 and Zhongzhi13
5) PEPPER Yujiao1, Yujiao2, Yujiao3, Yujiao4 and
Longjiao9
6) TOMATO Yufan1 and Yufan2
7) ALFALFA Longjing1

16. Screening of the mutant varieties
Numerous molecular markers, such as
AFLP and RAPD have been
used to mark plantmaterials, but simple sequence
(SSRs),as a highly reproducible
repeats
molecula
rmarker , has become one of the most effective
markers for population genetic analysis. Thus
SSRsareusedinthestudyofspacebred
mutantvarieties.

17. Presentlyothernationsinvolvedinspace-breeding
are primarilyinterestedininvestigatinghowplants
growinspace andproducingfoodfortheorbiting
astronauts.

18. CONCLUSION
Space-induced mutation technique is an effectively
new way not only to develop new crop variety, but
alsopossibletoobtainraremutantsthatmaymake a
great breakthrough in important economic
characters of crop, such as yield and quality, which
are difficult to get using the other breeding methods
onground.
The research on applied basis of space-induced
mutationtechniqueneedstobestrengthened.
Becauseofthebiginvestmentandgood technological
support, this method is limited but is important to
make ground simulation on space environment
factors