The Horticultural Research Institute of Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SAAS), founded in April 1960, is the only professional research institution in Shanghai dedicated to the selection and breeding of new vegetable and watermelon varieties, as well as the research on cultivation technology. Over the years, the institute has developed more than 90 approved varieties and patented more than ten categories of new vegetable varieties. These include brussels sprouts, kale, cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, bell peppers, watermelons, melons, pumpkins, beans, and specialty vegetables. The institute employs hybrid dominance breeding and other selection methods to achieve these developments.
In addition to breeding, the institute has carried out research and promoted cultivation technologies for high-yield, high-efficiency, and year-round vegetable and fruit production in various types of infrastructures and protected facilities. This research has played a key role in the development of the vegetable industry in Shanghai and its surrounding areas over different periods.
The institute currently employs 80 staff members and is equipped with several specialized research laboratories, including those for facility horticulture, watermelon breeding and cultivation, cruciferous leafy vegetables, and special vegetable breeding and seedling technology. It is also the technical support unit for several key agricultural platforms, such as the Key Laboratory of Facility Horticulture Technology of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission, the Shanghai National Vegetable Improvement Sub-Center, the Shanghai Green Leafy Vegetable Industry Technology System, the Shanghai Experiment Station of National Bulk Vegetable Industry Technology System, and the Shanghai Green Leafy Vegetable Seed Breeding Center.
More information: https://www.saas.sh.cn/yy.
