Key Laboratory of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA)

Key Laboratory of Wheat Biology and Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) focuses on the development of new wheat and related cereal varieties that are high-yielding, high-quality, multi-resistant, and resource-efficient. The laboratory investigates, at molecular, cellular, and whole-plant levels, the mechanisms underlying major agronomic traits; makes full use of domestic and international germplasm; and tightly integrates molecular and conventional breeding to pioneer and combine innovative breeding methods. It creates elite intermediate materials suitable for breeding, develops market-oriented varieties with strong application prospects, provides new materials, technologies, and methodologies to national genetics and breeding programs, and trains high-level professionals—thereby advancing the discipline and industry and supporting China’s food security and sustainable agriculture. Core research covers the genetic dissection of key traits, applied functional genomics, molecular breeding technologies, and the creation of breeding materials together with the development of new varieties.

Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Creation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) is organized into five research divisions—(1) Crop Germplasm Resources, (2) Crop Germplasm Conservation, (3) Crop Germplasm Survey and In Situ Conservation, (4) Crop Gene Resources, and (5) Crop Germplasm Innovation—and focuses on the genetic diversity and conservation biology of crop germplasm resources; theoretical and technological innovation for crop gene discovery; and the theories and technologies for creating novel germplasm. Its overarching objective is to develop an integrated theoretical and methodological system for the conservation and utilization of crop germplasm resources, ensure their protection and preservation, identify superior genes urgently needed for breeding, create new germplasm and breeding materials, and thereby support the sustainable development of China’s agriculture.