In a significant stride towards revolutionizing floral breeding projects, Jinning State-owned Capital Operation Co., Ltd. (Jinning Company) and the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (YAAS) have recently inked three technology development agreements. These collaborative efforts aim to bring about groundbreaking advancements in Chinese Orchid, Rhododendron, and rose breeding projects. Jinning Company provides an update on the current status of these ventures, highlighting notable achievements and future prospects.
Chinese Orchid Breeding: Navigating Challenges for Market Development
Jinning Company emphasizes the crucial role that Yunnan orchid resources play in global orchid breeding. While Chinese orchids boast rich colors, fragrances, and elegant plant morphologies, their unique physiological structure poses challenges for natural reproduction. Traditional propagation methods, primarily division-based, result in low reproduction rates, hindering commercialization. Through nearly two decades of dedicated efforts, the orchid research group at YAAS has overcome these challenges, constructing a robust breeding system for characteristic Chinese orchids. This has led to the development of new varieties suitable for market applications, extending the production period from February to November.
Rhododendron Breeding: Twelve Years of Horticultural Advancements
Leveraging Yunnan’s abundant Rhododendron plant resources, the research team at YAAS has spent 12 years on hybrid breeding, yielding horticultural varieties with exceptional traits. The development of bud stripping and disinfection methods, coupled with winter environment exogenous rooting technology, has significantly increased seedling survival rates. To meet diverse market demands, the team has introduced an annual flowering cultivation technology, ensuring a continuous supply of Rhododendron flowers throughout the year.
Rose Breeding: Efficient Hybridization and Breakthrough in Germination Technology
In the realm of rose breeding, an efficient hybridization and breeding system has been established through meticulous field hybridizations. By optimizing seed pretreatment processes, the team achieved a remarkable increase in the seed germination rate of hybrid offspring, ensuring the smooth progress of cross-breeding. With advanced cultivation facilities and technical means, roses can now be cross-bred year-round, enabling the completion of over 2,000 combinations annually. The collaboration anticipates the declaration of more than 50 new rose varieties each year.
Collaborative Initiatives and Future Prospects
Jinning Company and YAAS are jointly working towards establishing a comprehensive innovation center for cut roses, potted Rhododendron, and potted orchids germplasm resources. The initiative encompasses a technical training center and a service platform, fostering an open and shared research and development base. The collaborative efforts extend beyond floral breeding, with experts from YAAS joining forces with Jinning Company to plan the World Horticultural Center, further enhancing flower production and global competitiveness. As these projects unfold, they signify a collective commitment to advancing floral innovation and propelling the horticultural industry into a new era.