Research Team on High Quality Apple Production Technology in Loess Plateau
1.Introduction
Principal Investigator: Professor Zhengyang Zhao
Professor of College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, member of “Three Five Talents of the Shaanxi Province”, Scientist of China Agriculture Research Systems for the Apple Industry, Director of Research Center for Apple, Northwest A&F University, Director of Shaanxi Engineering Research Center for Apple, Northwest A&F University Chief Scientist for Baishui Apple Experimental Station. The main research focuses on genetic breeding and germplasm creation for apples.
Concurrent Academic Appointment
Vice-director of the Specialized Committee of Apple, Chinese Horticultural Society
Deputy Secretary-general of the Shaanxi Horticultural Society
Member of Expert Consultation Committee for the Shanxi Province fruit industry
Head of Shanxi Province Agriculture Experts Service Society
Member of Fruit Variety Examination and Approving Committee
2. Main Research Fields & Contents
At present, main research fields of the scientific research innovation team include:
1)Genetic improvements, breeding and germplasm innovation in apple;
2)Collection, evaluation and utilization of good apple rootstock;
3)High yielding, excellent quality and high benefit cultivation theory and technique for apple orchard in dryland;
4)Mechanism of quality formation and scientific quality safety controlling system;
3. Major projects undertaken
Shaaxi Engineering Research Center for Apple, Shaanxi "13115" Engineering of Scientific Innovation, 2008-2010, the project number: 2008ZDGC－01
To Create Modern Breeding Systems for Breeding New Varieties of Apple, Shaanxi "13115" Major Projects, 2010-2013, the project number: 2010ZDKG-69
Breeding of Good Quality, High Yield and New Variety of Apple, Shaanxi Technological Innovation Plan, 2011-2014, the project number: 2011KTZB02-02-01
Study on Selecting and Breeding of Multi-rsistance Rootstock for Apple of Early Middle Mature, National Science and Technology Program for Rural Areas in the Twelfth Five Year Plan, 2013-2017, the project number: 2013BAD02B01-2
Research and Demonstration of High-efficiency of Utilizing Fertilizer and Water in Fruit Trees by Integration Technology, the National Science-technology Support Plan Projects, 2014-2018,the project number: 2014BAD16B06
The Mechanism of the Photo-induced Coloration of Apple Skin Regulated by DNA Methylation in MYB1 Promoter, National Natural Science Foundation of China, 2015-2018, the project number: 31471845
Key Technology Research and Integration Demonstration of Transformation and Upgrading in Apple Industry, Shaanxi Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation and Transformation Project, 2016-2018, the project number: NYKJ-2016-05
Integrated Research and Demonstration of Reducing Fertilizer Application and Increasing Efficiency in Weibei Apple, National Key R&D Program of China, 2016-2018, the project number: 2016YFD0201131
New Variety Breeding of Apple, Construction of the Modern Apple Industry Technology System Major Projects, 2016-2020, the project number: CARS-28
Integrated Technology of Transformation and Upgrading for Quality Improvement in Apple Industry, Shaanxi Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation and Transformation Project, 2020-2021, the project number: NYKJ-2020-YL-01
The Regulatory Mechanism of MdMYB1 Abnormal Transcription on Apple Coloration Mediated by Intronic Polyadenylation, National Natural Science Foundation of China, 2021-2024，the project number: 32072555
Technology of Virus free and Detection for New Apple Cultivars, Key R&D Projects in Shaanxi Province,2020-2022, the project number: 2020-ZYYD-NCC-14-1
4. Academic achievements
Prof. Zhao and his scientific research innovation group have committed to establishing sustainable development of the apple industry in the Northwest Loess Plateau by breeding, improving varieties, rootstock screening, improving quality, and extending highly efficient cultivation techniques. Collect apple cultivars from all over China and worldwide, and build more than ten mu of orchard of apple germplasm resource, which includes 200 cultivars. And on this basis, they have obtained 82 trees of good strains by multiple selection pluses from eight tens of thousands of crossed seedlings in a hundred mu of breeding nursery. There will be eight new varieties selected from among them.
They have published more than 200 academic papers in total, including more than 15 SCI papers. They got the “First prize of Shaanxi province scientific and technological progress in research and demonstration of the key technique for no-harmful apple production” in 2007, and the “First prize of Shaanxi province agriculture extension in the demonstration and expansion of key techniques for improving the quality and increasingthe economic benefit of apples" in 2012.First prize of Shaanxi province scientific and technological progress in Research and Demonstration of Efficient and Simplified Apple Cultivation Mode and Technology Systemin 2020. In addition, they have been awarded eightnational patents, eight standards and twelvepublications.
5. Team member
Team members from the College of Horticulture and the College of Resources and Environment. We conduct research supported by the Key National Discipline in Pomology, the State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, and the Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology and Germplasm Innovation in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Shaanxi Baishui Apple Experimental Station, and Gansu Qingcheng Apple Experimental Station. The research members include professors, associate professors, young lecturers, and graduate students.
Dr. Jun Liang, Research Fellow of the College of Horticulture and Scientist of Shaanxi Agriculture Research Systems for the Apple industry,
Research Description: Scientific quality and safety controlsystem for apple production.
Dr. LeiCun Wang, Research Fellow of the College of Horticulture, is in charge of Northwest A&F University's Baishui Apple Experimental Station. Scientist of Shaanxi Agriculture Research Systems for the Apple Industry,
Research Description: Apple breeding.
Dr. HuiKe Li, Research Fellow of the College of Resource and Environment and Scientist of Shaanxi Agriculture Research Systems for the Apple Industry,
Research Description: Mechanism of sown grass in apple orchard improve its fertility and highefficient use of fertilizer and water.
Dr. Hua Gao, Research Fellow of the College of Horticulture, is in charge of Northwest A&F University's Gansu Qingcheng Apple Experimental Station,
Research Description: Apple breeding, efficient cultivation technology research and demonstration promotion.
Dr. ZhenZhong Liu, Research Associate of the College of Horticulture,Charge of Northwest A&F University Gansu Qingcheng Apple Experimental Station.
Research Description: Apple breeding.
Dr. YaZhou Yang, Assistant Researcher atthe College of Horticulture,
Research Description: Apple breeding.
Dr. Lulong Sun, Assistant researcher at the College of Horticulture
Research Description: Physiological ecology and efficient cultivation of apple trees.
Dr. HuiJuan Yang, Lecturer at the College of Horticulture
Research Description: Apple breeding and formation mechanism of fruit quality.
Dr. YuanJiWang, Assistant researcher at the College of Horticulture
Research Description: Soil management and apple nutrition.
