cious species, individual seeds from
different plants in a population or com-
munity, and seeds collected from the
same plant are expected to be geneti-
cally diverse, and therefore, heteroge-
neous for desirable oil composition.
This variation can be utilized commer-
cially by single seed selection, followed
by regeneration of plants from individual
seeds that possess superior oil quality
and quantity. For this purpose it is nec-
essary to evaluate single seeds in a
non-destructive manner. Promising
plants are vegetatively propagated to
establish orchards of superior plants.
The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
(NMR) technology allows non-
destructive analysis of single seeds in a
fraction of the time and cost of tradi-
tional gas chromatography (GC) and
High Pressure Liquid Chromatography
(HPLC).
4. Orchard Management
The project concentrates on devel-
opment and demonstration of pruning
techniques that will facilitate mechanical
harvest using tree and branch shakers
and control of suckering by mechanical
and chemical methods. Other projects
under way are development of mecha-
nized harvesting methods, irrigation and
fertility requirements, and weed control
methods.
5. Propagation
Vegetative propagation methods are
being developed, specifically hardwood
and softwood cuttings. Factors being
investigated are timing of cutting collec-
tion, propagation media, pretreatment of
cuttings and propagation facilities.
Future Research Needs
1. Development of mechanized har-
vesting systems.
2. Development of fruit handling meth-
ods and equipment to ensure opti-
mum fruit quality.
3. Development of industry quality
control standards (worldwide) to en-
sure safe and effective seabuckthorn
products.
4. Clinical studies to validate medicinal
benefits that can be attributed to se-
abuckthorn.
5. Potential use of Hippophae for phy-
toremediation of environmental pol-
lution.
6. Development of in-vitro propagation
techniques.
7. Molecular biology including gene
transfer and DNA fingerprinting.
8. In-vitro screening and selection for
insect and disease resistance.
Perspectives for Research Co-operation
1. Assembly of germplasm from the
native range of seabuckthorn.
2. International registry of seabuck-
thorn germplasm.
3. Development of standardized tests
for quality control of seabuckthorn
products.
4. Worldwide testing and evaluation of
seabuckthorn cultivars and germ-
plasm.
[Submitted by Bill Schroeder and Vesna Nikolic,
PFRA Shelterbelt Centre, Agriculture and Agri-
Food Canada, Box 940, Indian Head, Sas-
katchewan S0G 2K0, Canada.
Tel.: +1 306 6952284, Fax: 6952568
E-mail:
schroederb@em.agr.ca
nikolicv@em.agr.ca
]
China
China
For the last ten years, the Chinese
government has been paying much at-
tention to seabuckthorn scientific re-
search and development on a national
scale. Areas of research include basic
studies on seabuckthorn biological and
ecological features, physical and chemi-
