A tree grown from a cherry pit that traveled in space five
years ago with astronaut Koichi Wakata, now commander of the
International Space Station, has bloomed far ahead of what is normal, to
the astonishment of botanists.
Cherry trees typically take about a decade from the time they sprout from seeds to bloom.
The cherry pit was one of around 265 produced from the fruit
of the famous 1,250-year-old “Chujohimeseigan-zakura” cherry tree grown
in the compound of the Ganjoji temple here, which traces its roots to
the seventh century.
In the "space cherry" project organized by Tokyo-based Japan
Manned Space Systems Corp., the space-going pits were rocketed to the
International Space Station in 2008, and returned to Earth in July 2009
with Wakata, now 50.
The original Chujohimeseigan-zakura tree is a variant of the
“yamazakura” wild cherry species, and until now, attempts to grow young
trees from its fruit have been unsuccessful.
Botanist Takao Yoshimura, 78, successfully sprouted one of the pits that
traveled to the ISS using a method in which he covered the soil with
sphagnum moss.
In four years, the young plant has grown to a height of about 4 meters.
This spring, it produced about 10 buds, which all were in bloom by April
4.
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