The research group led by Prof. Zhang Changqin has been engaging in breeding of new varieties of alpine wild flowers, especially of introduction and domestication of rhododendron for many years. After 20 years’ efforts and on basis of the 126 domesticated varieties of Yunnan wild rhododendron and hybridized breeding, the research group has started bud and sprout breeding recently and successfully developed six rhododendron varieties, i.e. Rhododendron. 'Hongyun', R. 'Xuemeiren', R. 'Jinzhizhu', R. 'Ziyan', R. 'Jiaoyan' and R. 'Xilinmen'. All the six varieties passed substantial examination by experts of the same field organized by the New Variety Offce of State Forestry Administration.

These six new cultivars are innovative, special, constant and stable with scientific names, which accords to the conditions described by International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants and new horticultural cultivars. Technological propagation studies on cutting and sowing of the identified rhododendron cultivars have been already carried out and initial results been achieved. These new cultivars are the frst new rhododendron varieties evaluated by the State Forestry Administration.

At the same time, the research group led by Prof. Gong Xun has developed a new cultivar of Michelia figo, M. figo 'Wanchun' which passed the evaluation by experts sponsored by the New Variety Office of State Forestry Administration. Through five-year observations and studies on innovation, specificity, consistency and stability, the research group fnished studies on cutting propagation, tissue culture and cultivation technology. With distinguished horticultural characters and strong adaptation ability, the M. figo 'Wanchun' is very suitable for garden greening. It is the first M. figo cultivar and evergreen variety of Magnoliaceae that apply for state-level protection for new plant varieties.