Forest and Fruit Tree Research Institute (FFTRI) was founded in 2002. The Institute is mainly engaged in the collection, preservation, identification, evaluation and utilization of peach, pear, strawberry, grape and other fruit tree germplasm resources. It also conducts research on new varieties breeding, namely innovative molecular approaches construction and application for new varieties’ breeding; high efficiency techniques and new models of fruit cultivation; high-end potted plants and colored leaf ornamental seedlings; and postharvest technology study for both fruit and flower.

For better serving Shanghai and the whole country, the institute constantly adjust its research contents and explore new research fields according to the latest requirements raised by citizens and industries. The institute's major research strengths are in the fields listed as follows:

1. Fruit tree:

1) Germplasm collection, evaluation and utilization;

2) Breeding of elite varieties with high fruit quality (strong aroma, sweetness, long shelf-life, various maturity time) and high resistance to disease and pest, especially for peach, pear, grape, strawberry, loquat and citrus;

3) Molecular breeding technologies; genetic and genomics mechanism for different traits.

4)Research and extension on ecological and high-efficient fruit cultivation techniques;

5) Postharvest technology and their effect on fruit quality and shelf-life.  

2.Ornamental plant species:

1) Germplasm collection, evaluation and utilization.

2) Breeding of elite varieties with high resistance to disease and pest, vivid and double/multi petal, edible bulb and various blossom phase, especially for calla lily, barbadoslily, croci, lycoris and lily.

3) Construction of genetic transformation and molecular breeding system, genetics and genomics mechanism for different economic characteristic traits, such as the identification of functional genes for secondary metabolism product.

4) Research and application of high-efficient propagation and vitro culture.

The research teams of the institute are listed as follows:

• Peach Innovative Group

Interested Areas: Germplasm collection, evaluation and utilization; elite varieties breeding with high fruit quality (strong aroma, sweetness, long shelf-life, various maturity time) and high resistance to disease and pest, especially to fruit rot and shoot cancer disease; development of diagnostic DNA markers and application in marker-assisted breeding selection; research and extension on ecological and high-efficient fruit cultivation techniques; postharvest technology and their effect on fruit quality and shelf-life.

The team consists of six faculty members, five doctoral degrees, and one master degree. The group leader, Prof. Zhengwen Ye, is not only the post-scientist of China Agriculture Research System (Peach), but also the chair-scientist of Fruit Tree Agriculture Research System of Shanghai. The group has successively set up the bilateral-cooperation with CRAG (Spain) and CREA-FRU (Italy) in the field of peach genetic breeding.

Contact：Prof. Ye Zhengwen; E-mail: yezhengwen1300@163.com

•  Grape Group

Interested Areas：Germplasm resources collection and evaluation, Grapevine genetic improvement and breeding, Viticulture

Contact：Prof. Jiang Aili; E-mail: putaojal@163.com

•  Strawberry Group

Interested Areas: SAAS Strawberry Team is a multidisciplinary research group interested in genetics, genomics and breeding of strawberry.

We integrate principles of traditional and modern strawberry breeding, comparative genomics, quantitative genetics and apply genomics and bioinformatics science to identify molecular bases underlying complex traits in cultivated and wild strawberries. We are using the latest sequencing technologies to sequence genome and transcriptome sequences of various fungus species. The research objectiveness is covered from strawberry microbe interaction(mainly with fungus), insect and virus resistance, fruit quality, fruit development / ripening processes, and factors involved in fruit firmness for long live shelf after harvesting.

Contact：Prof. Gao Qing-Hua;  E-mail: qhgao20338@sina.com

•  Pear Research Group

Pear research group has four members, and the group leader is Prof. Jun Luo. The group aims to carry out research work related to the breeding of early-maturing pears with high-quality in the Yangtze River Delta. The demonstration and promotion of new cultivars were studied. Recently, our group promoted new technologies for urban-based labor-saving cultivation due to the lack of labor force in Shanghai city. 

Interested Areas：Genetic breeding, molecular biology and cultivation in pear. 

Contact：Prof. Luo Jun;  E-mail: luojun@saas.sh.cn

• Characteristic Fruit Tree Team

This research team has four members, including three doctors and one master. 

Interested Areas：Breeding and pomology of loquat, blueberry, and citrus. Molecular mechanism of floral bud differentiation, parthenocarpy, and root development in fruit science. 

Contact：Prof. Zhang Xueying;  E-mail: zhangxueying@saas.sh.cn

• Green Intelligent Cultivation Technology for Fruit Trees Team

The team was established in 2019. The four team members all have Ph. D degrees.

Interested Areas：Green intelligent cultivation technology for blueberry, loquat and strawberry; etiology of major fruit tree fungal disease; the research and application of green prevention and control methods for fruit tree disease; the formula research of culture substrate, nutrient solution and lighting for blueberry and strawberry cultivation in plant factory.

Contact：Prof. Zhang Xueying;  E-mail: zhangxueying@saas.sh.cn

• Flower Group

The team is mainly engaged in the exploration and innovation of bulbous flower germplasm resources including Hippeastrum rutilum, Zantedeschia aethiopica, Lycoris radiata, Lilium spp., Crocus sativus et al. 

Interested Areas：Key techniques for efficient breeding of bulbous flowers and creation of new germplasm, flowering regulation and senescence physiology, key techniques of tissue culture and large-scale breeding, bulb development and degeneration mechanism, functional gene  identification, and secondary metabolites synthesis and regulation.

Contact：Prof. Zhang Yongchun; E-mail: saasflower@163.com