1．bast plants science

Collection and Evaluation of germplasm of bast fiber crops

China conserves the most germplasm of bast fiber crops in the world, including kenaf, jute, flax, hemp and china-jute, totally about 10,000 accessions. The main study content and specialty of this field: collection, conservation, identification, utilization, information sharing; molecular appraisal, exploitation of excellent genes, construction of core germplasm and analysis of excellent genes pool; origin and evolution, physiology and biochemistry, methods of classification, cytology etc.

The main work of our group is the collection, conservation and appraising of perennial bast fiber crops, and study on their botanical and biological characters and economical properties so as to screen out high quality resource for variety improvement.

Genetics and Breeding in Flax

Study on the flax of molecular markers, Construction of cDNA library, Gene Cloning, Identification of gene function, Gene transformation, Physiology and Biochemistry, cultivation techniques and the control of disease, insect pests, weeds. Variety improvement are performed by the methods of cross breeding, mutation, Space-flight mutation Breeding, haploid breeding, molecular marker-assisted breeding and other means.

Genetics and Breeding in Ramie

This subject studies the heredity and variation of main trait affecting yield and quality of ramie. By using modern breeding technique and gene project, the breeding practices are based on rich ramie germplasm of China. New varieties with good quality and yield are fit for machine harvest and meet different purpose.

Genetics and Breeding in Kenaf

The objectives of the kenaf breeding group mainly include evaluation and utilization of Kenaf/Jute; the breeding of kenaf new varieties and hybrids with high yield disease-resistance and wide adaptability for textile, pulp ,bio-energy and other uses；molecular appraisal and exploitation of excellent genes of kenaf/jute; suitable cultivation techniques.

The R&D projects executing now: International cooperation projects “The demonstration and cooperation of China Photo-insensitive hybrid kenaf in Malaysia”. Key Technologies R&D Program “Study on the variety improvement and Crucial Technology of Kenaf/Jute”.

Main Achivements(recent years): Kenaf New Varieties “China Kenaf No.10”(KB2), “China Kenaf No.11”(KB11), “China Kenaf No.12”. Hybrid kenaf H116 and H305 with high yield, disease-resistance and wide adaptability. Patent “A method for producing hybrid kenaf seeds”. Photo-insensitive hybrid kenaf HKB6, HK114

Genomic engineering of bast fiber crops

Study the hereditary basis of bast fiber crops, building the cloneing and transform technique for significance trait, to create transgenic new variety of bast fiber crops. We constructed the transgenic system in ramie, kenaf and flax and got some transgenic plants. Some molecular marker targeting on main characters were also found. Ramie cellulose and lignose synthesis genes were cloned and sequences were analyzed.

Processing Machinery of Bast Fiber Crops

In order to solve high laborious work and high harvesting cost, and develop a new machinery which can raise productivity of harvesting bast fiber crops and increase economic efficiency of farmers. We have engaged on the harvesters and decorticators which are used for Ramie, Kenaf and Jute.

2.Research on Bast Fiber Mulch Film

Directing at the more and more serious environmental pollution caused by long-term use of plastic mulch film, the study aims to produce a serious of new environmental friendly bast fiber material products made from natural fiber of ramie, jute, kenaf, flax and others.  The study work involves the following three aspects: ①Study on environmental friendly bast fiber mulch film including water proof type and water permeable type which are to be applied in field crops and protected horticulture; ②Development of a serious of new environmental friendly bast fiber material products including degradable culture pot, nutrition clothes for   sward cultivating, and other materials; ③Research and development of environmental friendly decorative materials, packing materials, wall clothes and other products made from bast fiber. The environmental friendly bast fiber material products can be applied widely in agriculture, food industry, architecture, decorative industry and other fields.

3．Technical Study of Producting fuel ethanol by Xylanolytic-Cellulolytic Enzyme System

Along with step down of petroleum resource, nowadays in order to insure demand of social development, exploitation and utilization of reproducible energy sources, especially Cellulose Fuel Ethanol, become a pressing task. Aim at problems in retting technology which braise with NaOH, such as unstable quality, low fiber intensity, low products rate, serious environment pollute, deep study have been developped by investigators in IBFC( institute of bast fiber crops, Chinese acdemy of agricultural sciences). Based on the successful bio-distill technique of bast cellulose, via breeding of ramie energy variety and energy microorganism, efficient yielding technique, lignocellulose degrade by enzyme and its diastatic technique and ethanol zymosis technique, a Chinese distinctive lignocellulose energy technique have been exploitted. It  provide technical underprop for large-scale production of lignocellulose energy, resolve the problems of energy lack and environment pollute effectively. Now there are 12 investigators and 4 technician, eight of them are senior researchers including a national specialist.

4．Microbiological engineering for bast plants

Our main research field is the science and engineering of bio-extraction from herbaceous fibers.The subjects of our researches are as follows:

1.         Collection, characterization, preservation, evaluation, using and sharing of the microorganism resources

2.         Heredity and breeding, molecular biology of microorganism；

3.         The mechanism of compound enzyme decomposing compound substance；

4.         The preparation of biological preparation for herbaceous fibers bio-extraction；

5.         Technics of herbaceous fibers bio-extraction and analysis and dealing with its pollutant.

Our aims:

1. Developing new genetic engineering strain, studying the new technology of producing biological preparation and its application to herbaceous fibers bio-extraction. Then, building original innovating base for herbaceous fibers bio-extraction and its product upgrading.

2. Building demonstrational engineering of the high-efficient, low-cost and environmental friendly technique for herbaceous fibers bio-extraction. Developing biological preparation and new herbaceous fibers products with great market foreground. We will do our best to build a road for the development of herbaceous fibers industry.

5．Bast plants quality standards and examination

“The bast fiber quality standards and examination” is a key subject of Institute of Bast fiber's key subjects in CAAS (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences), which mainly engaged in the field of bast fiber’s test and quality standards research. During the Tenth Five-year Period, We presided and participated 7 items of bast fiber quality standard’s establishment and revision projects, 2 items of MST (Ministry of Science and Technology) special subjects about scientific research condition technical management, 1 item of MST key standard’s establishment and revision project, 1 item of MOA (Ministry of Agriculture) quality general survey of bast fiber and so on. “The bast fiber fineness’s fast determination” is the main achievement in the recent years, which passed the appraisal of Ministry of Agriculture in 2004. By using the modern scientific instrument, this research can auto-test bast fibre fastly and accurately. Compared with the traditional center-section weight method, this technology can test more than 5-10 times samples, thus the efficiency was raised about 50 times. Furthermore, the accuracy was improved greatly. This research filled the blank in the field of domestic and foreign bast fibre’s examination, and reached the international advanced level.