Core Insights - The Shandong Provincial Gene Resource Center has announced the completion of the National Forest and Grassland Germplasm Resource Preservation Library in Shandong, which will officially open in November 2023, housing 69,700 preserved germplasm resources, the highest in the national forest and grassland system [1][3] Group 1: Infrastructure and Capacity - The Shandong preservation library is part of a national plan to establish a total of seven germplasm resource preservation facilities, with three already operational and others in various stages of construction [3] - The Shandong facility has a total investment of 64.54 million yuan and a building area of 4,141 square meters, designed to accommodate 700,000 resources [3][5] Group 2: Strategic Importance - Germplasm resources are described as the "chip" of seed industry development, highlighting their critical role in agricultural innovation and sustainability [3] - The Shandong library aims to serve not only the province but also the East China region and East Asia, integrating preservation, research, training, education, and information sharing [5] Group 3: Future Plans and Management - Future efforts will focus on strengthening the management of the Shandong library, enhancing talent development, and improving the "three-in-one" preservation system to maintain its leading position nationally [5] - The library will also address seed longevity issues by controlling environmental conditions to maximize seed viability [5]

Core Viewpoint - The Shandong Provincial Government is enhancing the protection and utilization of forest and grass germplasm resources to support the construction of a beautiful Shandong, emphasizing the importance of these resources for national food security, biological safety, and ecological safety [1] Group 1: Understanding Germplasm Resources - Shandong has a diverse range of forest and grass germplasm resources due to its climatic and geographical conditions, with a total of 2,736 species identified, including 1,784 herbaceous plants and 952 woody plants, marking an increase of 740 species since 1990 [3] - Recent surveys have recorded 71 new species of herbaceous plants in Shandong, including one new record for mainland China and one for the country overall, contributing to the biodiversity database [3] Group 2: Conservation Efforts - The province has established a national facility for the preservation of forest and grass germplasm resources, which has accumulated 69,700 samples, the largest and most diverse among similar facilities in the country, earning the title of China's first "seed ark" [4] Group 3: Economic Impact - Shandong has developed 146 approved high-quality tree species since the 14th Five-Year Plan, significantly boosting agricultural productivity, with specific examples showing increased yields and market prices for pomegranate and hawthorn varieties [6] Group 4: International Collaboration and Education - The province is collaborating with various domestic and international research institutions to enhance the scientific value of germplasm resources and is establishing a large-scale public education platform focused on plant conservation and biodiversity [7]

Core Insights - Shandong has completed two rounds of systematic surveys to clarify the types and distribution of forest and grass germplasm resources, significantly contributing to biodiversity data in China [2][3] Group 1: Germplasm Resource Survey - The recent survey identified 2,736 types of germplasm resources in Shandong, including 1,784 herbaceous plants and 952 woody plants, with an increase of 740 species since the 1990 publication of the "Flora of Shandong" [3] - The survey also recorded 71 new species for Shandong, including one new record for mainland China and one for the country overall [3] Group 2: Germplasm Resource Preservation - Germplasm resources are preserved through in-situ, ex-situ, and facility preservation methods, with facility preservation being the most stable and effective [4] - Shandong has established a national facility preservation library, which has preserved 69,700 samples, the largest and most diverse among similar facilities in China [4] Group 3: Economic Impact and Development - Since the 14th Five-Year Plan, Shandong has developed 146 approved superior tree species, enhancing economic forestry and supporting rural revitalization [4] - The newly bred "Qiu Yan" pomegranate variety has increased yield by 500 kg per mu, with market prices rising from approximately 5 yuan to 10 yuan per kg [4] - The early-maturing apple variety "Lu Li" fills a gap in early-ripening apple varieties in China, maturing 15-30 days earlier than traditional varieties and increasing yield by over 2,000 yuan per mu [4] Group 4: Research and Collaboration - Shandong collaborates with various domestic and international research institutions to enhance the scientific value of germplasm resources through wild plant introduction and genetic breeding [5] - The province is also establishing a plant garden system to promote public education and awareness about forest and plant conservation [5]