The Vegetable Research Institute of Hainan Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences (HNAAS) has 22 employees and is supported by various platforms, including the National Bulk Vegetable Industry Technology System Hainan Comprehensive Experiment Station, the National Watermelon Industry Technology System Sanya Experiment Station, the MARA Tropical Fruit and Vegetable Genetic Resource Evaluation and Utilization Key Laboratory, and the Hainan Provincial Melon and Vegetable Breeding Engineering Research Center.
The primary research tasks of the institute involve the collection, identification, evaluation, and utilization of domestic tropical vegetable germplasm resources. The institute also focuses on developing efficient cultivation techniques and providing scientific and technological support for Hainan’s winter melon and vegetable base as well as its perennial vegetable industry.
By the end of 2021, over 2,500 tropical vegetable germplasm resources were collected, including varieties of eggplant, fruit beans, melons, leafy vegetables, wild vegetables, and aquatic vegetables. Through precise identification, a number of excellent resources with high yield, disease resistance, and stress tolerance were selected. Notable new vegetable varieties developed include Haijia rootstock No. 1, Nangjia rootstock No. 2, Haixian No. 4 chili pepper, Haihao No. 1 chili pepper, Haiyi Cowpea, Haiyan series of cowpeas, Haiyan series of bitter gourd, Qiongyin No. 3 bitter gourd, Haiyan Summer Bitter Gourd, Haiyin Shenglv No. 1 bitter gourd, Haiyin Eggplant No. 1 and No. 2, and Flower Eggplant 47.
Over the past decade, the Vegetable Seedling Technology Team has focused on vegetable seedling technology, particularly the selection and screening of rootstock varieties, substrate formulation, seed disinfection and germination, seedling age control, grafting techniques, and cultivation of robust seedlings. The team has successfully developed grafting technologies for vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants, bitter melons, winter melons, cucumbers, and thin-skinned melons. Notable grafting varieties developed include Sea Eggplant Anvil No. 1, Sea Eggplant Anvil No. 2, Sea Eggplant Anvil No. 3, and Sea Anvil No. 1. Additionally, the team has developed grafting and nursery technologies, such as eggplant and vegetable varieties, seed dry heat disinfection, and melon double root-breaking technology. They have also authored technical standards like Grafting and Nursery Technology of Eggplant and Grafting and Nursery Technology of Bitter Melon. These technologies have been successfully demonstrated and promoted in more than ten cities and counties, supporting the healthy and sustainable development of Hainan’s melon and vegetable industry.
The team has also worked on integrating technologies such as humidity and heat-resistant vegetable varieties, cooling efficiency greenhouse facilities, vegetable rotation and set planting techniques, safe and efficient fertilizer technologies, soil salinization improvement, and integrated pest and disease management solutions for Hainan’s summer and autumn vegetables. These integrated technologies have resulted in over a 10% increase in yield per acre, a reduction of more than 16% in fertilizer input, a 15% decrease in pesticide use, more than 5% labor savings, and an economic benefit increase of over 350 RMB.
More information (in Chinese): https://www.hnaas.org.cn/hnaas/ysyjjg/201907/e7fc3e27fd3f47919bb8ffc1ca0c5f3e.shtml?ddtab=true.
