Spring has sprung, and canola flowers across the country are blooming in succession, their golden hues painting a picturesque scene. Recently, the colorful canola flowers at Jiangxi Agricultural University burst into vibrant bloom, attracting countless visitors with their unique and diverse display. This year, Professor Fu Donghui from the College of Agriculture at Jiangxi Agricultural University has successfully bred seven new flower colors: carmine red, pale yellow with large blotches, pure white, blush pink, pure purple, pale plum with a rose red blotch, and maroon stripes. This brings the total number of varieties to over 70.
"Our team started with ornamental canola research, closely addressing the bottlenecks in the canola flower industry in areas like Wuyuan, Jiangxi. By cultivating new flower colors and developing new canola products, we aim to promote the sustained, healthy, and rapid development of the canola flower industry. This year's colorful canola flowers are characterized by their deep, rich colors and excellent overall traits, significantly enhancing their ornamental value," said Fu. Building on the 34 stable flower colors identified in 2023, rust red and blood red have been added, bringing the number of stable colors to 36.
Colorful Rapeseed Flowers
Since 2015, Fu Donghui has focused on research into colorful rapeseed flowers. Based on pollen provided by Li Xiaonan, a senior agronomist at Xiaonan Agricultural Science and Technology Co., Ltd. in Shifang City, Sichuan Province, Fu has employed various breeding methods such as hybridization, backcrossing, and self-pollination to recombine and selectively choose different flower color genes. By selecting the best among the best, he has continuously expanded the range of flower colors for rapeseed flowers.
Fu Donghui explained that in addition to their diverse flower colors, colorful rapeseed flowers also boast wide adaptability, long flowering periods, high yields, intense fragrance, and high added value. Besides their ornamental value for tourism, colorful rapeseed flowers can also be processed into various pastries. Additionally, the extraction of their essence can be used to manufacture a range of cosmetic products such as hand cream, face masks, and face cream, which is highly significant for extending the industry chain and increasing the income of growers.
In recent years, the rapeseed flower economy in places like Wuyuan in Jiangxi, Hanzhong in Shaanxi, Luoping in Yunnan, and Jingzhou in Hubei has been growing rapidly. The successful breeding of different flower color varieties, coupled with demonstration cooperation with scenic areas, can drive the latter to update their tourism offerings. To date, the team has established cooperative relationships with over 100 scenic areas in more than 20 provinces, conducting scientific demonstration planting of new varieties. In Wuyuan, Anyi, Ji'an Jizhou District, Suichuan, Dayu County, Yifeng, and Nanchang Qiaoshe Town in Jiangxi, among other beautiful countryside construction sites or scenic areas, the demonstration planting has yielded excellent results.
"The in-depth development and utilization of colorful rapeseed flowers, and their expansion into diversified applications, will become a favorable driving force for rural revitalization, promoting the sustainable development of the local economy," Fu Donghui said.
