Three Gorges Botanical Garden wins patent for endangered fern breakthrough
2026-06-25 22:06:50
By Chen Zai
The Three Gorges Botanical Garden has received a national patent for a suspension culture system that enables the mass propagation of Adiantum nelumboides, a critically endangered fern.
The Three Gorges Botanical Garden has received a national patent for a suspension culture system that enables the mass propagation of Adiantum nelumboides, a critically endangered fern.
Adiantum nelumboides
The fern is a Class I nationally protected wild plant in China. An ancient relict species, it is found only in the Three Gorges Reservoir region.
Adiantum nelumboidesThe new method replaces slow, inefficient traditional propagation techniques. Biomass increases fivefold within three weeks, seedling emergence exceeds 90 percent, and propagation can continue year-round.
The technology supports large-scale seedling production, helping restore wild populations in the reservoir region. It also provides new opportunities for scientific research, including the extraction of medicinal compounds.
The botanical garden plans to accelerate commercialization of the technology while continuing its efforts to protect biodiversity in the Yangtze River basin.
Reporter Mei Yuan, Correspondents Li Wei and Gao Han contributed to this story.
