cal analysis, and applied research on
seabuckthorn plantation, effects on soil
and water conservation, seabuckthorn
breeding, processing, health food and
medicinal product development. But
problems such as low scientific stan-
dards and lack of market orientation
have continued to persist.
Current Research Activities
At present, there are two key areas
of seabuckthorn research activities:
1. Seabuckthorn germplasm re-
search and collection, breeding on the
basis of germplasm research, in order to
establish basic conditions for seabuck-
thorn germplasm exchange and co-
operative research on product develop-
ment on an international scale (together
with Chengdu Biology Institute, Chinese
Academy of Sciences).
2. Research and development of
high-quality health food and medicinal
products. The purpose is to obtain clini-
cal experimental reports through high-
tech and medicinal research, so as to
increase seabuckthorn's significance in
health care and for medicinal applica-
tions (together with Heilongjiang Medical
University and Institute of Biophysics,
Chinese Academy of Science and other
medicinal institutes).
Future Research Needs
Future objectives of seabuckthorn
research should include, inter alia, the
establishment of better links between
and integration of environmental im-
provement and seabuckthorn industry
development by problem solving. Such
research should promote seabuckthorn
products marketing through scientific
research, and the acceleration of se-
abuckthorn plantation establishment by
way of market development. Future re-
search activities should include:
1. Seabuckthorn products market re-
search both in China and overseas.
2. Determination of optimum harvesting
times of Chinese seabuckthorn re-
sources in different regions and de-
velopment of harvesting and storage
equipment for berries.
3. Seabuckthorn breeding both for
ecological and economic purposes.
4. Studies of seabuckthorn nitrogen
fixation effects and application.
5. Development of vegetative propaga-
tion techniques for superior Chinese
seabuckthorn varieties.
6. Management of artificial plantations
for commercial utilization.
7. Management of seabuckthorn artifi-
cial and natural resources for graz-
ing.
Perspectives for Research Co-operation
There are significant perspectives
for co-operation on seabuckthorn re-
sources development, plantation and
breeding in the national context and in-
ternationally. It is well known that se-
abuckthorn in China is widely used in
soil and water conservation, desertifica-
tion control and for other environmental
purposes. Seabuckthorn is resistant to
various stress factors, has a strong abil-
ity to fix atmospheric nitrogen, and a
strong suckering capacity, all of which
are important for soil improvement. This
suggests that there is much scope to co-
operate with the Himalayan countries in
seabuckthorn plantation, to enlarge the
resource base, and to strengthen se-
abuckthorn's role in environmental im-
provement on a global scale.
Seabuckthorn breeding is another
area for international co-operation. Su-
perior ecological and economic varieties
must be developed through seabuck-
thorn germplasm exchange and breed-
ing co-operation.
[Submitted by Lu Shunguang and Wen Xiufeng,
ICRTS, Yuetan Beixiaojie 11, Beijing 100037,
China.
Tel.: +86 10 63204167, Fax: 63204032
