Profile

First breeder of the male-flower variety 'Huazhong 22'; recipient of the National Science and Technology Progress Award (Second Prize).

Story

Liu Panfeng is a research professor at the Research Institute of Non-timber Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry (Eucommia Engineering Technology Research Center of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration). He has long worked on improved variety breeding and high-efficiency cultivation of Eucommia and is one of the principal breeders of the 'Huazhong' series. 'Huazhong 22', which he bred as first breeder, is a male-flower variety whose male flowers contain up to 20.4% amino acids and yield 240-380 kg of fresh flowers per mu at full bloom, providing a dedicated cultivar for the Eucommia male-flower tea industry.

As a major completer of the project 'Key technologies for improved variety breeding of important industrial raw-material tree species and industrial quality and efficiency enhancement', nominated by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, he received the 2025 National Science and Technology Progress Award (Second Prize). The achievement, completed jointly by the Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry of the Chinese Academy of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, the Research Institute of Non-timber Forestry and other institutions, advanced the whole-chain upgrading of industrial raw-material tree species such as Eucommia from variety breeding to industrialization.

Milestones

• In 2014, announced in Scientia Silvae Sinicae the fruit-and-medicine dual-use variety 'Huazhong 3' and the male-flower variety 'Huazhong 5'
• In 2022, 'Huazhong 22' passed certification by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration; suitable for establishing male-flower tea orchards in the Eucommia cultivation regions of Henan and Shandong
• In 2025, 'Huazhong 22' was promoted at the Zhangye (Gansu) nursery stock matchmaking conference as one of the Chinese Academy of Forestry's top 10 elite varieties adapted to the 'Three-North' region

Key Contributions

• As first breeder, developed the male-flower Eucommia variety 'Huazhong 22' (national registration S-SV-EU-015-2022), yielding 240-380 kg of fresh male flowers per mu at full bloom
• Participated in breeding multiple improved Eucommia varieties including 'Huazhong 3', 'Huazhong 5', 'Huazhong 10' and 'Huazhong 21'
• Major completer of 'Key technologies for improved variety breeding of important industrial raw-material tree species and industrial quality and efficiency enhancement', winner of the 2025 National Science and Technology Progress Award (Second Prize)
• Participated in drafting forestry industry standards including LY/T 3005.1-2018 'Eucommia ulmoides - Technical regulations for improved variety breeding'