Ancient fern could aid green development

Azolla, also known as "Manjianghong," is a type of aquatic fern with a strong nitrogen-fixing ability, serving as excellent fertilizer and bait. Around 49 million years ago, it played a crucial role in cooling the Earth by absorbing carbon dioxide. The fern has even been taken into space.

This species is preserved in the National Azolla Germplasm Resource Center in Pudang village, Fuzhou, Fujian province. Since its establishment in 1979, the germplasm resources have increased from 40 to 50 samples to over 650, making it the most extensive collection in the world.

"The oldest ones have been cultivated here for nearly half a century," said Ying Chaoyang, the person in charge of the center. Researchers have faced numerous challenges, including natural disasters, pest infestations and financial difficulties.

During the summer, Azolla is prone to pest infestations, and when it becomes severe, an entire pot of Azolla can die overnight. Therefore, conducting daily inspections has become a habit for Ying and his team.

Regularly organizing field surveys to discover new species, optimizing identification methods to expedite the inclusion of new species in the center, and cultivating new varieties through methods such as hybridization breeding have led to an increasing abundance of germplasm resources.

Ying and the team members hope to promote Azolla's fertilizing and baiting functions, enabling it to play a significant role in green development and ecological agriculture.