Recently, the “China - Spain Joint Laboratory on Fruit Science and Technology” was established between ZFRI, CAAS(Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)and IRTA(Institute of Agriculture and Food Research and Technology). The parties signed the MOU for the Laboratory.
According the MOU, ZFRI and IRTA will focus on the breeding of characteristic and disease-resistantvarietiesin fruit, fruit quality and safety, efficient use of water in fruit production and so on. This will be achieved throughjoint development of projects of mutual interest, training of PhD students and exchange of plant materials in the Fruit, Grape and Cucurbit.
IRTA is the most important agricultural research institution, and it hosted the EU programme “Integrated approach for increasing breeding efficiency in Fruit crops（2010－2014）”.IRTA has made outstanding achievements in the collection and evaluation of fruit germplasm resources, fruit breeding, technology of fruit cultivation etc. Especially IRTA has led the world in studying on molecular markers in fruit trees and genetic linkage mapping.
The establishment of the joint laboratory will promote the research collaboration between China and Spain. It will improve the breedingtechnique on the fruit and cucurbit in our country, and promote achievementtransformation and industrydevelopment.
