South Subtropical Crops Research Institute

　　The organizations under the Institute are the Administration offices which consists of the General office, the Research Management office, the Financial office, the Construction Of Sci-Tech Infrastructure & Test Base office, the Sci-Tech Extension office and the Lands office, and the Research Organizations. The Research Organizations consists of the Tropical Fruits Research Centre, the Tropical Agricultural Resource & Environment Protection Research Centre, the Tropical Fiber, Sugar& Energy Crops Research Centre, and the Post-harvest Physiology and Preservation of Tropical Horticultural Products Research Centre. Sci-tech infrastructure(innovation) platforms at the national and provincial levels have been established, such as “National Major Tropical Crops Engineering Sub-center”, “National Breeding Farm of Elite Seedlings of South Subtropical Crops”, “Germplasm Repository of tropical fruits, MOA” and “Key Laboratory of Hainan Province for Post-harvest Physiology and Preservation of Tropical Horticultural Products ”

　　There are 185 staff, in which 110 members with professional title. Among them, 76 are research fellows including 5 researchers, 14 assistant researchers, one Outstanding Contribution Expert of MOA, 6 Master's Supervisors, one Post-doctor, 18 doctors and 30 masters.

　　SSCRI is equipped with more than 30 large-scale, high-precision and advanced instruments and equipments at the price of over RMB 100000. It has structures for experiments for near 10000 m2. There are 468 hectares of scientific research experimental base in the institute. Since its establishment, the institute has collected and conserved 2600 accessions belonging to 1437 species in 139 families of south tropical plants, and become one of the units that have collected and conserved the richest varieties of south subtropical crops in China. The institute has established the biggest mango, macadamia nut, pineapple and sisal germplasm resources garden in China.

　　SSCRI has undertaken 260 scientific research projects, including the projects of National Natural Science Foundation, national technology development project, 948 Project, National Key Technology R&D Program, the project for establishing the research center of National Major Tropical Crops Engineering Technology, major structure adjustment project of Ministry of Agriculture, the project of Ministry of Agriculture for the popularization and system construction of agricultural technology of tropical crops, international cooperation project, sci-tech development project at the provincial level, and natural science foundation at the provincial level, and has made 126 sci-tech achievements. Among the more than 50 awarded achievements, there are 30 awarded achievements at the provincial and ministerial level or above, including one first-class prize of national invention, one first-class prize of national sci-tech progress, one second-class prize of national sci-tech progress, two third-class prizes of national sci-tech progress. The institute has published 23 academic books and coauthored 10 academic books, and has published more than 600 research papers, among those, 15 research papers have been included by SCI and ISTP; published 15 the Standard of agriculture industry (NY); applied for 15 patents, 3 authorized patents; registered 2 new plant varieties; assessed 5 new plant varieties.

1. National Breeding Farm of Elite Seedlings of South Subtropical Crops
2. National Major Tropical Crops Engineering Sub-center
3. Germplasm Repository of tropical fruits, MOA
4. Key Laboratory of Hainan Province for Post-harvest Physiology and Preservation of Tropical Horticultural Products
5. National Agricultural Scientific Demonstration Base
6. Laboratory
7. National Agricultural Tourism Demonstration Base
8. Research & Experiments Base For Horticulture Postdoctor
9. Laboratories of South Subtropical Crops

Research Organization

1. Tropical Fruits Research Centre
   
2. Tropical Agricultural Resource & Environment Protection Research Centre
3. Tropical Fiber, Sugar& Energy Crops Research Centre
4. Research Centre For Post-harvest Physiology and Preservation of Tropical Horticultural Products.

Administration offices

1. Lands Management Office
2. Sci-Tech Extension Office
3. Financial Office
4. Construction Of Sci-Tech Infrastructure & Test Base Office
5. Research Management office
6. General Office

Research Fields

1. Genetic resources, genetics and breeding of south subtropical crops
2. Physiology and cultivation of south subtropical crops
3. Environment ecological system and utilization of resources of south subtropical crops
4. Storage and preservation technology of south subtropical crops

Main research orientations

1. Breeding of new variety for south subtropical crops.
2. Breeding of new stress tolerance, high-quality variety for sisal and cane crops.
3. The formation mechanism and controlling technology for quality of south subtropical fruit.
4. Mechanism of stress tolerance of south subtropical plants and its utilization
5. Nutrient comprehensive management of south subtropical plants
6. The key technology of dry and water-efficient farming for south subtropical plants
7. The technology of important pest and disease comprehensive control of south subtropical plants
8. The maturity and aging mechanism and regulation technology of tropical horticultural products
9. The mechanism and reasons of chilling injury and related regulation technology of tropical horticultural products
10. The cold chain and logistics technology of tropical horticultural products

National Major Tropical Crops Engineering Research Center, Highefficient Cultivation techniques R&D Department for Pineapple

　　The R&D department, one of the research laboratories under National Major Tropical Crops Engineering Research Center，aims to developing engineering techniques on pineapple production.
　　The R&D department is staffed with 15, including 6 senior technicians, 8 doctor degree holders and 4 guest researchers. Co-operating with more than 20 institutions, universities and large enterprises domestic and abroad, the sub-center focuses on variety improvement, cultivation techniques, post-harvest treatment and processing.
　　6 national or ministerial projects are carried out at present. More than 100 pineapple germplasms have been collected, and integrated crop management techniques developed. Bases for demonstration and extension have been established in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and Hainan province. 　
Main research orientations
　　This 20 ha repository is the one of the units that have collected and conserved the most and richest varieties of south subtropical crops in China, the institute has collected and conserved more than 1000 accessions belonging to 50 species in 30 families of south tropical plants.

National Breeding Farm of Elite Seedlings of South Subtropical Crops
　　This 46.7 ha farm can apply 3,500,000 elite seedlings each year. Other main tasks are focusing on: 1) Collection and maintenance, appraisal and evaluation, innovation and full employment of genetic resources of south subtropical crops.2) Supplying health elite seedlings of south subtropical crops mother trees and nursery trees. 3) Supplying Technical Service for tropics regions, and spreading new varieties and related technology.

Tropical Fruits Research Centre

　　The major target of this center is to establish modern tropical fruit industry with the character of “high yield, top quality, high efficiency, ecology friendly and fruit safety”. The construction of relative independent and cooperative research team is supported by interweaving research crops and research fields. The center consists of longan, banana, mango, pineapple, macadamia and featured fruit research offices, forming threes research directions with distinguishing characteristics: south subtropical fruit germplasm resources, genetic improvement and biotechnology, eco-physiology and cultivation technique. The research centre has a staff of 36, of which 11 hold senior professional title, 10 hold Ph.D.degree and one enjoys the title of Young and Mid-aged Expert with outstanding contribution. Ever since “The Ninth 5-Year Plan”, it has accomplished more than 40 research projects funded by ministry or province governments; published over 100 research papers; received 8 ministrial/provincal scientific research achievement awards; set 10 agricultural industry standards and registered 4 crop varieties.

　　3 academic leaders：SUN Guangming （Senior Expert to the Ministry of Agriculture）, Lu Chaozhong, Xie Jianghui

Tropical fiber & sugar crops Research Centre

　　The tropical fiber & sugar crops research centre is based on the needs of technology for the developments of tropical fiber and sugar crops, facilitated scientific and technological innovation, promote conversion of scientific and technological achievements in the tropics, and mainly focused on the basic application research of genetic improvement system, high efficient production techniques, prevention and control of disease and pests for the sisal and sugarcane. The center includes 2 research teams (sisal and sugarcane) and has 13 members, among them, 5 associate professors or Ph.D, 6 middle titles or had master’s degree. Main research orientations of the centre: germplasms collection, conservation and innovation for tropical fiber and sugar crops; genetic improvement and new germplasms identification; principles and key techniques of cultivation and production; integrated control of diseases and pests.

　　The center has sisal scientific research bases 8 hm, sugarcane experimental demonstration bases 10hm, germplasms more than 230（sisal 80 and sugarcane 150）. The breeding technical of sisal and the number of sisal germplasms are at the forefront in China. The fertilizer and nutrient diagnosis guide of sisal reached the international advanced level. As the promotion and application of the fertilizer and nutrient diagnosis guide in sisal plantation in south china, the nutrient deficiency symptoms were completely eliminated and the production of sisal increased by 10%.The sisal breeding and cultivation techniques won the State Science and Technology Progress Award, and the provincial Science and Technology Progress Award. During the 11th Fiv-Year Plan period, the centre undertook research projects 12 (7 belong to provincial or ministry level project).

　　Techniques won the State Science and Technology Progress Award, and the provincial Science and Technology Progress Award. During the 11th Fiv-Year Plan period, the centre undertook research projects 12 (7 belong to provincial or ministry level project). The member of the centre participated in the preparation of 3 books, and established 2 agriculture and industry standards, published 30 scientific papers. In 2008, the sisal breeding team took part in the state research system of modern agro-industrial technology, which would offer the plat for scientific and technological cooperation and exchanges, sustainable and healthy development for sisal and sugarcane industry.

Center of Tropical Agriculture and Environment (CTAE)

　　Based on the science of plant nutrition, plant protection and ecology, for the dual objective of high yield crops and environment protection in tropical agriculture, the center focuses on the key issues that impact tropical agriculture and agro-ecosystems, the main research areas include: a) understanding the nutritional characteristics and the technique of nutritional diagnosis of main tropical crops, b) developing new fertilizer and technique of digital fertilization, c) evaluating the sustainable management technology of major pests and diseases, d) researching and developing high efficiency and low toxicity of pesticide and biological pesticide, e) collecting, identifying and utilizing the germplasm resources with diseases and insect resistance and soil microbiology resources, f) demonstrating and extending the standardization of production technology of main tropical crops, g) improving high-efficient utilizing technology of water resources.

　　The center includes three research groups, which are plant nutrition, high-efficient utilizing of water resources and plant protection. There are over 20 scientists in the team, which includes 9 professors / associate professors / Ph.D and 8 assistant professors / masters. The center has committed over 20 national, ministerial and provincial projects, got the third prize of national science and technology progress award and six provincial or ministerial science and technology progress award, and over 100 papers has been published.

Tropical Horticulture Products Post-harvest Physiology and Preservation

　　Research Center is composed of 4 research branches, and 8 research members in the center, including 1 guest-professor, 2 associate researchers and 4 research associates. The center mainly engages in such tropical horticulture products as mango, pineapple, hot pepper and brassica etc. relying on the platform of Key Laboratory of Hainan Province for Post-harvest Physiology and Preservation of Tropical Horticultural Products. The research domain include: the maturity and aging mechanism and regulation technology of tropical horticultural products, the inhibition effect of pre-harvest induced resistance of tropical horticultural products on the post-harvest disease occurrence, the molecular mechanism and regulation of quality deterioration of tropical horticultural products, the cold chain and logistics technology of tropical horticultural products.

　　The center has undertaken 20 research projects since 2006 and 5 projects at the provincial level or above, constituting 2 items of Industry Standard in agriculture of the Agriculture Ministry, inventing 1 item of patent. The center has published about 20 research papers in various academic journals at home and abroad, among those, 8 research papers have been included by SCI, and 2 research papers has been included by EI, and compiles 1 research monograph. The center has obtained some achievements on tropical preservation after harvest recent years. After the achievements popularized the fruits and vegetables rot rate will decline, industry chain extend and preservation industry upgrading be promoted.

Laboratory Center

　　There are 4 management staff members, among them, 1 person with high-level professional title, 3 persons with middle-level professional title; 1 person with doctor’s degree, and 2 persons with master’s degree.

　　Laboratory Center possesses more than 20 advanced and large-scale instruments and equipments from both home and abroad, such as gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer（GC-MS）, atomic absorption spectrophotometer, high performance liquid chromatograph,(HPLC), OLYMPUS biological microscope, photosynthesis assay system, automatic microbial appraisal system, electric fusion and electric perforator, Hitachi super centrifuge, botanical physiology and ecology measurement system, vacuum cooling machine, and a lot of high-precision and advanced instruments, such as polarimeter, Electronic Nose, Continuous Flow Injection Analyzer, and nitrogen auto analyzer, real-time quantitative PCR, gel imaging system, Soxhlet extractor,? nucleic acid and protein analyzer, flame photometer and color measurement system. Based on excellent research environment and laboratory conditions, the institute attracts technicians at home and abroad to come to the Laboratory to engage in research and academic exchange by means of cooperative research and sharing achievements, so as to become an academic activity center that can meet the requirements for basic research of south subtropical crops and the application of basic research and a base for training high-level talents.

South Subtropical Botanical Garden

　　South Subtropical Botanical Garden has experienced a long period of development. Now, this garden has more than 800 species of rare flowers and precious grass, fruit trees, palm trees and other cash crops, including ornamental, edible, medicinal and wood plants from more than 30 tropical and subtropical countries and regions. This garden has become a large base for research and education of tropical and subtropical crops. "The unique garden", the most important part of the garden, is the national AAA class travel spot and one of the famous eight tourist destinations of Zhangjiang city.

　　The name "South Subtropical Botanical Garden" which carries the award National AAAA Class Travel Spot has become a good brand for tourism. This garden is planned to improve and expand by building more necessary parks or areas around it, catering for better need of tourism and education.

Nursery base

　　There are 468 hectares of scientific research experimental base in the institute. Since its establishment, the institute has collected and conserved 2000 accessions belonging to 1437 species in 139 families of south tropical plants, and become one of the units that have collected and conserved the richest varieties of south subtropical crops in China. The institute has established the biggest mango, macadamia nut, pineapple and sisal germplasm resource garden in China, and the germplasm resource garden of national tropical fruits is under construction.

　　Main Awarded Achievements during 1979 to 2009

Cooperation and Exchange of Science and Technology

　　South Subtropical Crops Research Institute always pays attention to the development of relevant fields at home and abroad, attaches importance to the cooperation and exchange with relevant units at home and abroad, implements the strategy of “going out” and “bringing in”, closely cooperates with many relevant research institutions and colleges at home and abroad in terms of scientific research and teaching: jointly apply for and undertake scientific research projects, jointly train talents, jointly develop technical integration and achievement transformation to build agricultural innovation center of China’s south subtropical crops. In recent years, the institute has invited Lu Yonggen, member of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Deng Xiuxin, a famous citrus specialist, other experts and specialists in the research field of fruit trees in China’s famous universities and research institutions, and the experts and specialists from relevant research institutions and famous universities of the United States, Germany, Brazil, Thailand, France and Sri Lanka to visit the institute for making academic reports, conducting academic exchanges, technical training and guidance; the institute has for many times sent researchers to Australia, Brazil, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and the United States for making academic visits and cooperative research to promote the influence of the Institute in the research field of south subtropical crops, and at the same time to introduce advanced intellect and technology for the promotion of knowledge innovation and technical innovation of South Subtropical Crops Research Institute.