On August 7, 2024, Dr. Chen Jiayue, Co-founder of VEMINSYN, Dr. Zhou Yu, Director of Plant Research at VEMINSYN, and representatives from Hangzhou Lanjiang were invited to visit the National Orchid Germplasm Resources Conservation Center (hereinafter referred to as the "National Orchid Center") to attend a public welfare exchange meeting focused on the conservation of Bletilla sinensis, an endangered orchid species.
First, accompanied by Director Chen Jianbing, Director Wang Meina and other representatives of the National Orchid Center, the participants watched the center’s promotional video and gained a general understanding of its work in plant protection and germplasm resource conservation. Shortly afterward, the person-in-charge of the center introduced the current status and research progress of orchid germplasm resource preservation, giving the attendees a deeper insight into the center’s operations.
Subsequently, the three parties confirmed the cooperation details regarding the cultivation and breeding techniques of Bletilla sinensis, agreed on the specific division of labor for both basic and applied research on the species, and discussed the development direction and cooperation opportunities for new cosmetic raw materials derived from orchids, as well as the prospects for endangered plant conservation.
These discussions laid out a detailed plan for future collaborative projects.
Notably, wild Bletilla sinensis vanished from public sight after its first discovery in 1898. It was not until 2021 that wild populations of this rare and endangered species were rediscovered in the natural habitat after more than 120 years – a breakthrough that aroused intense interest among the research team at VEMINSYN.
Committed to the vision of “Protecting endangered plants and building a shared community of life on Earth”, the Plant Innovation Laboratory at VEMINSYN carried out in-depth research on wild Bletilla sinensis, which had been considered extinct in the wild for over 120 years.
*Above: Tissue culture seedlings of Bletilla striata cultivated in the VEMINSYN's Plant Innovation Laboratory.
*Above: VEMINSYN presented Bletilla sinensis tissue-cultured plantlets to the National Orchid Conservation Center
*Above: Representatives from VEMINSYN visiting the tissue culture laboratory and germplasm repository of the National Orchid Conservation Center
This exchange has greatly advanced the trilateral cooperation. VEMINSYN looks forward to achieving more breakthroughs and progress in its collaboration with the National Orchid Conservation Center, and contributing its part to plant conservation.
Hangzhou Lanjiang will also continue to provide funding support for research on orchid species.
