Lately, three technology development agreements have been signed to revolutionize rose breeding, potted Rhododendron, and Chinese Orchid Development Projects. The parties who formed a partnership and signed the agreements are Jinning State-owned Capital Operation Co., Ltd.(Jinning Company) and Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (YAAS), a multidisciplinary, comprehensive, and non-profit agricultural research institution, which is directly under the provincial government, responsible for conducting research and innovation tasks related to agricultural technology. It comprises 17 specialized research institutes focusing on grain crops, economic crops, flowers, biotechnology, and germplasm resources.
In this article, Jinning Company gives an update on the status of their Chinese Orchid, Rhododendron, and rose breeding projects.
Chinese Orchid Breeding
According to Jinning Company, Yunnan orchid resources play an important role in the world's orchid breeding. "For example, the parents of the world's first Cymbidium hybridium are all from Yunnan. As the representative resources in Yunnan, Cymbidium tortisepalum, Cymbidium goeringii, Cymbidium kanban, et al., which are called Chinese orchids in China, are good resources with market development potential because of their rich colors, rich fragrances, and elegant plant morphologies."
However, the special physiological structure of Chinese orchids makes it difficult to rely on their own seeds to reproduce under natural conditions, they continue. "And the traditional propagation method is mainly based on division with low reproduction rate, which is the reason why these excellent varieties have not been commercialized. Of course, for a long time, the price of Chinese orchids has been very high."
"Relying on human intervention, the orchid seedlings also need at least 3 years, and the breeding time is even longer, generally will take 12 years. Through nearly 20 years of efforts, the orchid research group of the YAAS has constructed the breeding system of characteristic Chinese orchids through the screening of dominant parents and obtained a number of new varieties suitable for market application through aseptic germination technology and budding cutting technology, the research group has established high-quality seedling propagation technology system in multi-species; by the determination of the key habitat elements, large-scale greenhouse cultivation technology has been established. Up to now, the research group has selected more than 50 excellent direct utilization species and hybrids, the flower colors of which include red, white, yellow, and green. The team has extended the production period of orchids from February to November."
Rhododendron Breeding
The team is based on the rich Rhododendron plant resources in Yunnan and, through 12 years of hybrid breeding, has obtained a batch of horticultural varieties with excellent traits such as rich color, fragrance, early and late flowers, vigorous growth, and good adaptability.
After research, the team has developed two bud stripping and disinfection methods for tissue culture breeding of Rhododendron, along with winter environment exogenous rooting technology. "This has increased the seedling survival rate from 65% to over 90%, surpassing the bottleneck of seed shortage in China."
In addition, to ensure flowering throughout the year, the team has invented an annual flowering cultivation technology with hormone-induced flowering and light temperature flowering period regulation as the core, forming a yearly production mode of "New Year's Eve flowers" from December to February of the following year, "Summer flowers" from June to August, and "National Day flowers" from September to November, meeting diversified market demands.
Rose breeding
For the rose breeding, an efficient hybridization and breeding system has been established. Many field hybridizations have been conducted to explore the cross-compatibility of different rose varieties. " Dozens of highly compatible parents have been screened out, with only two of which have obtained more than 300 hybrid individuals."
By optimizing the seed pretreatment process, a breakthrough has been made in seed germination technology, they mention. "Up to now, the seed germination rate of the hybrid offspring of Chinese rose has increased from the original 10% to more than 70%, which ensures the smooth progress of cross-breeding."
Under the guarantee of advanced cultivation facilities and technical means, roses can be cross-breeding all year round. "According to the current breeding process, about 10 combinations can be completed per day, and more than 2,000 combinations are expected to be completed throughout the year. The seeds can be harvested about 4-5 months after the completion of hybridization. Then, the seeds can germinate after 40-50 days, and it takes about 2 months for the seedlings to flower. After flowering, character evaluation and selection can be carried out. Following, the pre-selection plants will be propagated by cuttings in order to conduct the DUS test (Distinctness, Uniformity, Stability), and the new variety right can be declared after passing the test. It is estimated that more than 50 new varieties can be declared every year."
Working Together
Jinning company and YAAS are collaborating to establish a comprehensive innovation center for cut roses, potted Rhododendron, and potted orchids germplasm resources, a technical training center, and a service platform. They aim to build an open and shared research and development base to enhance flower production and competitiveness. Furthermore, the experts from YAAS are also collaborating with Jinning company to plan the World Horticultural Center.
For more information:
Jinning State-owned Capital Operation Co., Ltd.
Office Building, 6th Floor, 602, Yongle Street
Jinning District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China
Tel.: +86087167803192
Wechat: kk0202827183, wxtm06060707
Email: xvxin@jngyzb.com
Email: zhangrui@jngyzb.com
www.jngyzb.com