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Published on 2024-03-04 10:54:51
In the early spring dawn, the white lotus distribution center in Guangchang county, located in east China’s Jiangxi province, comes alive with buyers and sellers bustling around mounds of white lotus seeds. With a rich history of lotus cultivation dating back to the Tang Dynasty and large-scale planting since the Qing Dynasty, Guangchang has become a hub for the white lotus trade in China.
Today, the county boasts a specialized white lotus market with thousands of agricultural brokers involved in the trade and transportation of white lotus seeds. The average daily trading volume of white lotus seeds in Guangchang reaches about 50,000 kilograms, making it a key distribution and pricing center for these seeds in the country.
Thanks to the efforts of the Guangchang White Lotus Research Institute, established in 1984, new varieties of lotus seeds have been developed. Initially, researchers faced challenges as the yield per mu of lotus seeds remained low at around 50 kilograms. In order to overcome this bottleneck, the institute decided to explore space breeding as a solution.
In 1994, researchers sent 442 lotus seeds from various varieties into space for mutation through the special mutagenesis environment. After 14 days of space mutation, the seeds were brought back to earth and carefully cultivated. Despite some initial setbacks, researchers managed to successfully breed a new variety named “No. 36 space lotus” after four years of rigorous breeding. This new variety exhibited higher yields, better quality, and other desirable traits compared to traditional varieties.
The experimental planting of the No. 36 space lotus in Guangchang started in 1999 and quickly gained traction among farmers. The space lotus surpassed expectations with its impressive yield per mu of farmland, sparking interest among local farmers. Soon, the planting area of the space lotus in Guangchang grew to over 100,000 mu, demonstrating its popularity and success.
The No. 36 space lotus has since been promoted nationwide, with a growing area exceeding 20 million mu and accounting for a significant portion of lotus seed cultivation in China. This success has not only boosted the white lotus industry but also driven the development of lotus tourism across the country.
In Guangchang, the annual output of dried white lotus seeds now reaches 9,000 tons, generating a substantial output value. The county also sees millions of tourist visits annually, with tourism revenue surpassing 700 million yuan. Several manufacturers of automatic lotus seed processing machinery, white lotus product processing enterprises, and white lotus cooperatives have been established in Guangchang, contributing to an annual comprehensive output value of over three billion yuan in the white lotus industry.
To further expand production and enhance brand reputation, Guangchang continues to attract talents and promote innovation. One such talent is Zheng Xingwen, a genetics PhD student, who has joined the efforts to advance lotus seed breeding. At the repository for the preservation of lotus species in Guangchang, research is ongoing to collect germplasm resources for future breeding and development of new space lotus varieties.
With a strong foundation in lotus cultivation and continuous innovation, Guangchang’s white lotus industry continues to flourish, driving economic growth and promoting tourism in the region. The success story of the No. 36 space lotus serves as a testament to the power of research, technology, and dedication in transforming traditional industries and creating new opportunities for development.
Read the original article on The Standard
