Chinese fig successfully cultivated by "Dalian Ge" of Xinyi

In Zhuwei Village, Shaodian Town, Xinyi, our city, there is a fig breeding experimental base covering an area of 50 mu. Here, more than 70 varieties of figs from all over the world are planted, making it practically a "United Kingdom of Figs." The reporter learned yesterday that the experimental base has now selected and bred 2 fig bud sport types and submitted them to the authoritative department for examination and approval. If approved, they will become the first new fig varieties whose place of origin is China. These are all the treasures of "Dalian Ge."

"Dalian Ge," whose original name is Ruan Shu'an, is from Dalian, Liaoning. He is a professor-level senior engineer and has long been engaged in economic forest and fruit research. He became famous for calling himself "Dalian Ge" online. In November 2003, in order to find an environment suitable for chestnut trees to grow, "Dalian Ge" came to Shaodian Town for an on-site investigation and demonstration. He believed that the local area was suitable for cultivating chestnut and other fruit trees and has since been engaged in fruit tree variety planting research in Xinyi.

In 2011, after being invited to visit a Japanese research institution, Ruan Shu'an came into contact with fig varieties. From then on, he devoted himself to the selection, introduction, breeding, and cultivation technology research of fig varieties. From 2011 to now, he has directly introduced more than 30 excellent fig varieties from Japan, and later introduced more than 40 fig varieties from abroad through other channels.

At present, the fig cultivation area of the experimental base has reached 50 mu. In order to do a good job in fig research and popularization, Ruan Shu'an also set up a QQ communication group about the breeding of new fig varieties. Because of his professional knowledge and his willingness to teach fig planting techniques without reservation, this QQ group, with a cap of 1,000 people, became full in a very short time. In 2014, Ruan Shu'an registered a Taobao store and began trying Internet entrepreneurship. Now, Ruan Shu'an's fig seedlings are basically all sold online, and more than 70% are sold overseas. The store level has also reached four diamonds.

After years of planting and breeding, Ruan Shu'an's experimental base has now selected and bred 2 fig bud sport types. "There are hundreds of fig varieties in the world, and not one is a fig variety native to China. All of our country's fig varieties have been introduced from abroad. I just want to strive, through continuous research and innovation, to breed a new fig variety that belongs to China," said Ruan Shu'an. The two new varieties they selected and bred have already been submitted to the authoritative department for examination and approval. If approved, they will become the first new fig varieties whose place of origin is China.

"Figs are not easy to preserve, and their freshness period is especially short. For the market route, they need to be picked when they are 70% ripe. The economic benefits cannot be improved, and these good fruits are also wasted," said Ruan Shu'an. In addition to breeding new varieties, he has also thought about the issue of fig sales and plans to build next year a fig planting base that truly integrates picking, processing, and sales.