China-New Zealand joint laboratory on fruit science 2014 annual meeting was held in New Zealand between Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute(ZFRI) of CAAS and Plant & Food Research of New Zealand (PFR) in New Zealand on March2-8, 2014. Themeeting aimed at carry out collaboration and exchanges technology on fruit quality breeding, disease resistance breeding, modern breeding technology, regulation of fruit development control, fruit quality and safety, among other fields of both countries.
The first joint meeting was held in August 2013 at ZFRI-CAAS in China, which was attended by six scientists from PFR. The follow up meeting was held in New Zealandattended byDr Wang Lirong, the Deputy Director General of ZFRI along with a delegation of four experts from CAAS.
While in New Zealand, the delegation had opportunity to visit Havelock North, Palmerston North, Nelson and Auckland, which are four researchcenters of PFR ofSlip Stream Automation biological company dealing with apple and pear commercial orchards.Researchers from both sides had in-depth and detailed communication on the fruit breeding, genomics research and application, fruit safety, post-harvest and functional components of research as well as germplasm resources in vitro preservation.
At the end of the meeting, both sides agreed to conduct red skin pear and apple root-stock breeding program at Zhengzhou (Capital of Henan Province) starting this year. Meanwhile, the project “Safe Fresh Food from Good Agricultural Practice-integrated Fruit Production for Low Residue Fruit and Fruit Products in China” is underway to applycollaboration project between two countries.
In this project kiwi (fruit) breeding and exchange of training of graduate student and talent students, among other thingsare expected to be tabled for discussion.