The State Key Laboratory of Seed Innovation was approved by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in June 2023. In January 2025, it was approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology to be included in the construction and operation sequence of the National Key Laboratories.

The mission of the laboratory is to face the major needs of China's food security, reshape the mode of scientific and technological researches, systematically carry out research on the original theory and core key technologies of precise seed design and intelligent manufacturing, seize the scientific commanding heights of seed innovation, build the original innovation source of seed science and technology, build a world-class talent cultivation base, and become an internationally leading seed innovation research organization, so as to ensure national food security and scientific and technological security from the source. The major research directions of the laboratory include precision control theory of crop traits, crop intelligent design breeding system, de novo domestication and future crop design, etc.

Director: Xiangdong Fu

Executive Deputy Director：Cao Xu

Deputy Directors: Yan He, Youjun Zhang

Group leaders: Huabang Chen, Jinfang Chu, Jian Feng, Xiangdong Fu, Fangpu Han, Yan He, Danhua Jiang, Hong-Ju Li, Hui Li, Lei Li, Yunhai Li, Chengzhi Liang, Cuimin Liu, Zhiyong Liu, Wenfeng Qian, Yiping Tong, Guodong Wang, Lei Wang, Yuan Wang, Cao Xu, Shanguo Yao, Bao-Cai Zhang, Jin-Song Zhang, Youjun Zhang, Jianru Zuo

Scientific Steering Committee

Chair: Bin Han

Vice Chairs: Kang Chong and Xiangdong Fu

Members: Xiaofeng Cao, Sanwen Huang, Zhensheng Kang, Jiayang Li, Qian Qian, Qixin Sun, Jianmin Wan, Cao Xu, Wei-Cai Yang, Jian-Min Zhou, Jianru Zuo

Research Directions:

Research on the Theory of Precise Control of Crop Traits

Aiming at the unclear mechanism of the coordinated regulation of plant growth and development by genetic variation, epigenetic variation, and environmental variation, we carry out original innovations in crop breeding theories. We explore the mutual determination between the 3D genome and DNA information to analyze the three-dimensional precise control mechanism of the genome; investigate the plasticity regulation of cell totipotency and environmental effects on crop growth to clarify the laws of developmental shaping and trait precise regulation; and explore the mechanism of breaking reproductive isolation to elucidate the universal laws of genome evolution-driven speciation and the establishment of environmental adaptability. By resolving a series of major scientific issues, such as subgenomic interactions in polyploids, cell totipotency and growth plasticity, coordination between development and metabolism, plant-microbe interactions, epigenetic memory, reproductive isolation and distant hybridization, and genome evolution-driven speciation, we aim to establish a new theory of coordinated regulation of plant growth and development by genetic, epigenetic, and environmental variations, seize the commanding heights of original innovation in seed science and technology.

Research on Intelligent Design Breeding Systems for Crops

In response to the new requirement of overcoming the generational gap in breeding technologies between China and foreign countries and the urgent need for paradigm innovation, we focus on the precise design needs of future staple crop varieties, develop precise prediction models for complex traits, and achieve deep integration of crop breeding big data and artificial intelligence. Aiming at the problems of excessive reliance on water, fertilizer, and pesticide inputs for high crop yields and crop yield reduction caused by frequent extreme weather, we make full use of germplasm resources such as wild species, landraces, and modern cultivated varieties to excavate key hub genes and deeply analyze the response mechanisms of crops to environmental factors. We propose breeding technology schemes that balance climate resilience, efficient water and fertilizer utilization, and multi-dimensional disease resistance, drive paradigm innovation in breeding technologies, and provide germplasm bases and scientific and technological support for creating widely adapted, high-yielding, high-quality, green, and healthy new staple crop varieties.

Research on De Novo Domestication and Future Crop Design

Aiming at the problem of narrow genetic diversity caused by crop homogenization and the bottleneck in genetic improvement, we excavate excellent wild or semi-wild germplasm resources; analyze the genetic laws of trait evolution in plant genomes; and establish rapid domestication systems for wild plants to quickly create new germplasms meeting specific needs. For the challenge of creating intelligent crops adapted to extreme environments and multiple scenarios in the future, we design future intelligent crops adapted to extreme environments and diverse scenarios. By integrating artificial intelligence and synthetic biology, we establish intelligent breeding systems and design/synthesize prototype products of new future crops. We explore new future crop planting formats such as smart molecular farms that can expand the temporal and spatial boundaries of food security and human activities, providing basic theories and core technological drivers for domesticating new crops that meet national strategic needs.