Crop seeds sent to space with Shenzhou-10  

黑龙江27个品种果蔬良种搭载“神十”

Photo taken on June 13, 2013 shows the screen at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center showing a simulated picture of an automated docking between the Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft and the orbiting Tiangong-1 space module. China's Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft successfully completed an automated docking with the orbiting Tiangong-1 space module at 1:18 p.m. Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

Harbin (CNS) -- Plant and fruit seeds selected from the space breeding base at the Heilongjiang August First Land Reclamation University (HAFLRU) have been sent to space by the Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft, according to the university on Wednesday.

The university started its space breeding program in March, and 27 variations of seeds were selected for the program.

With a total weight of 103 grams, the seeds include four strains of eggplants, six strains of tomatoes, two strains of cucumbers, nine strains of watermelons and six strains of melons.

All the plants selected are major crops of Heilongjiang. The economic effectiveness of the vegetables and fruits are high, said Li Deze, a researcher at the space breeding base.

Founded in 2011, the base has also done a ground breeding test for seeds that were carried to space by the Shenzhou-8 spacecraft.