Wang Qinnan: The sweet promise of the "watchman" of the sugarcane field when the sugarcane flowers bloom

In the vast fields of Guilin, Guangxi, the sugarcane forests are rolling and green. However, for many breeding experts, there is a huge challenge hidden behind this sugarcane forest - the difficulty of sugarcane flowering. As an important economic crop, the flowering of sugarcane is a key link in the breeding process, but sugarcane itself is extremely difficult to bloom, which has become a major problem in the breeding field.

"In the 1950s, scientific researchers carried dry food, took a car to a ferry, and then took another car to Yazhou to carry out sugarcane breeding and scientific research work. This has been going on for nearly 70 years." Wang Qinnan, director of the South China Seed Research Institute of the Guangdong Academy of Sciences, told reporters that the Hainan Sugarcane Breeding Farm of the Guangdong Academy of Sciences was built in 1953 and is located in Yazhou District. It is an important scientific research base for the innovative utilization of sugarcane germplasm resources, parent creation and hybrid seed production in my country. It is responsible for providing hybrid seed production and excellent parents and other services to sugarcane breeding research institutions across the country.

But if you want to crossbreed, making sugarcane bloom is the first step. After graduating in 2007, Wang Qinnan came to Yazhou and tried every means to crack the secret of sugarcane flowering. In August and September, sugarcane is in full bloom, and the leaves are as sharp as knives. He can't stop drilling in the sugarcane field, counting sugarcane stems, checking resistance, measuring sugar content... From time to time, he would be cut by sugarcane leaves, and it would be itchy if he got touched by sugarcane grass.

"Before, the flowering rate of sugarcane may be only 40% to 50%, but now through our efforts, the flowering rate can reach 70% to 80%." Wang Qinnan said proudly. This means that breeders have more opportunities to carry out hybridization and select better sugarcane varieties.

This effort is reaping the rewards. More than 90% of the country's high-quality sugarcane hybrid seeds (flower spikes) are provided by the Nanfan Seed Research Institute of the Guangdong Academy of Sciences, and 95% of the new sugarcane varieties that have passed provincial-level or higher review (identification, certification) or registered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs are also bred from sugarcane hybrid seeds provided by Nanfan Seed.

In addition to increasing the flowering ratio, Wang Qinnan and his team are also committed to the innovation of sugarcane germplasm resources. "Excellent sugarcane varieties can contribute more than 60% to the sugarcane industry. Parents are the material basis of hybrid breeding. To create a good parent, the cycle is long and the effect is slow. It requires original innovation of germplasm resources and perseverance." Wang Qinnan said. It has been 17 years since he started studying the "sugar jar". Although "innovating sugarcane germplasm is a very boring thing, and the results are very slow. It is possible that you will not be able to produce a good parent in your lifetime", Wang Qinnan has worked harder. "Gemplasm innovation requires generations to do it. Sugarcane breeding is related to the safety of my country's sugar industry. For the people of Nanfan, seeing our own varieties planted and promoted on a large scale will make us feel that all the hard work is worth it."

Audit Expert | Wang Qinnan

Producer | Xu Qinzhanzhao

Overall planning | Senior high school

Reporter | Song Yajuan, Xiao Chunfang, Wu Yuetong