Institute of Changli Fruit Research,Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, mainly focus on the applied research, such as the research on germplasm resources, genetic breeding, biotechnology, cultivation physiology and pest control of fruit tree species including apple, pear, grape, peach, chestnut and sweet cherry. The institute has a strong expertise in fruit tree research. Senior experts include Prof. Zhao Shengjian in grape research, Prof. Fu You in apple research, Prof. Le Wenquan in pear research, Prof. Chen Hu in peach research, Prof. Zhao Yanhua in sweet cherry and Prof. Yu Lichen in plant protection. There are eight research departments, eg. Apple research department, pear research department, peach research department, grape research department, biotechnology research department, chestnut research department, plant protection research department and ornamental fruit tree research department.
The Hebei Central Laboratory of National Center for Apple Improvement was completed in 2005 with financial support of 10,350,000 RMB. There are more than 109 largly precison instruments valued at 6,000,000 RMB, like cell flow cytometry, microscope operation system, capillary electrophoresis apparatus，high efficiency liquid chromatography and GC-MS and so on. With these, researches like fruit and crop hybrids valuation and identification, inheritance pattern analysis, germplasm innovation and breeding research, molecular marker assistant breeding, genetic transformation, embryo rescue, chimera identification, tissue culture and proliferation of excellent clones, and data treatment can be carried out easily. The central loboratory has become one of the top national research stations on apple study in China. In addition, the institute also has a fruit technology innvoation bases of 320 mu at Kongzhuang, and of 780 mu at Shegezhuang.
Up to now, 22 new cultivars with excellent quality, stress resistant and high yield characteristics have been developed. Since 2000, 16 research achievements have been obtained, including 8 third provincial prizes for scientific and technological progress, one provincial third prize for mountain entrepreneurship, one provincial third prize of technology invention, 3 provincial second prizes for scientific and technological progress, one third prizes by the Ministry of Agriculture, 2 second prizes for scientific and technological progress by the Ministry of Education, one second prize for scientific and technological progress by China Institute of Plant Protection.
The institute has frequent national and international academic exchanges. More than 15 experts from Hebei Agriculture University, China Agriculture University, China Academy of Agriculture Science visited the institute to make scientific or technology reports in 2014. Two reserchers from the institute attended international horticultural congress and international grape breeding congress, and 30 researchers attended national scientific congress. With these, the vision of researchers was expanded and their innovative idea was motivated. In 2015, accompanied by Professor Lujing from China Agriculture University, Dr. Peter Hemstad from the University of Minnesota visited the institute.
Research fields of the institute include Collection, preservation, valuation and utilization of main fruit tree germplasm resources; New cultivars breeding of apple, grape, chestnut, pear and sweetcherry; Critical technology study of fruit tree breeding; Standardized planting technology of fruit tree; Protected cultivation of fruit tree; Planting technology of ornamental fruits. Pest and disease development patterns and prevention system of fruit tree; Characteristics and release of natural enemy of main fruit pest; Ecological control system of fruit pest and disease.
Department of Apple Research (DAR) of Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences is affiliated to the Institute. DAR has contributed substantially to the growth, stability of apple industry in Hebei. The primary mission of this department is to develop new knowledge and technology through innovative research programs and to transfer this information and technology to strengthen Hebei apple industry, to promote international competitiveness, to provide a safe and high quality supply of fresh fruit, and enhance the quality of the environment. DAR is mainly engaged in agricultural applied research and applied basic research of apple tree, including germplasm resources, genetics and breeding, production, physiology and molecular biology.
Since 1950. 25 new apple cultivars were released. Among these cultivars, ‘Shengli’, ‘Kuihua’, and ‘Changhong’ has been widely grown in Hebei and other province in China. The inheritances and molecular markers of the key characteristic of apple, such as the fruit shape, resistance to apple fruit rot, spur-type and so on, have been studied in recent year. About 12 accessions of apple dwarf stock were collected and studied. The results indicated that SH6 and SH38 were adapted to the regions of Yanshan mountain in China. Propagation techniques of these apple dwarf stock have been developed, which were used for orchard establishment in Qinhuangdao, Tangshan, Chengde and other areas of apple productions. The new technologies of apple tree, such as high-density planting, nutritent diagnosis, have also been investigated and applied.
In order to provide new models for the growers in local and other areas in Hebei province, DAR has built Technology Demonstration Bases, of probably 700 hectares, and focusing on breeding, cultivation and other advanced experimental research and production.
DAR has developed many scientific and technical achievements, including 2 provincial level prizes and 3 innovative scientific patents. The department has published more than 20 papers in the top academic journals including 5 papers SCI papers.
Address: Institute of Changli Fruit Research, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, No.39,Jieyang Dajie Dongduan, Changli, Hebei.