Historical Evolution: Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Excavation and Utilization of Agricultural Microorganisms (January 2024) was established based on the construction of Nanchang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources Conservation and Utilization (November 2012), and then established the Institute of Biological Resources Conservation and Utilization of Jiangxi Agricultural University (December 2013), which had developed into Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Fungal Resources (June 2017). Then, it was formed after independent reorganization, relying on Jiangxi Agricultural University and affiliated to the College of Biological Science and Engineering.
Research Objectives: The laboratory’s objectives align with the national rural revitalization strategy, supply-side reform, the big grain concept, and the agricultural and socio-economic development needs of Jiangxi Province. It focuses on the diversity and preservation of agricultural microbial germplasm resources, the analysis of interactions between agricultural microorganisms, hosts, and the environment, as well as research on germplasm innovation and the development of functional microorganisms and their processing products. The aim is to establish a comprehensive agricultural microbial research and development platform, cultivate leaders in agricultural microbiology within the province, build a high-level research talent team, and develop a complete agricultural microbial research technology system. Ultimately, the goals include achieving variety cultivation, quality enhancement, brand development, and standardized production of agricultural microorganisms, thereby transforming the advantages of agricultural microbial resources into economic benefits for the province and providing robust scientific and technological support for rural revitalization.
Laboratory Organizational Structure and Personnel: The laboratory is governed by a management committee and an academic committee, with the director leading its operations. Various scientific and technological activities are conducted under an operational mechanism characterized by “openness, mobility, competitiveness, and collaboration”. The laboratory comprises 37 staff members, including 32 permanent personnel and 5 flexible introduction personnel. Among the permanent staff, there is 1 national-level talent, 7 provincial-level talents , 1 director of the Chinese Mycological Society, 2 vice presidents and 1 deputy secretary-general of the Jiangxi Mycological Society, and 1 editorial board member of "Biodisaster Science Journal". Among the flexible introduction personnel, there are 5 national-level talents. Among the permanent staff, there are 8 professors and 10 associate professors; There are 29 doctoral degree holders: mainly young and middle-aged people.
Science and Technology Projects Undertaken: The laboratory has led 26 projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (including 3 general projects, 20 regional projects, and 3 youth projects), 8 projects from the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province (including 1 general key project and 7 youth projects), and 8 major key research projects (including 1 general key project and 7 youth projects), 8 major key research projects (including special projects of modern agricultural industry technology system, scientific and technological innovation platform projects, and key scientific and technological projects). Additionally, it has undertaken 7 talent support projects and 13 municipal science and technology projects, which include 1 key laboratory and 1 advantageous innovation team in Nanchang City, as well as 11 projects from the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education.
Representative Scientific and Technological Achievements: A total of 6 scientific and technological awards have been obtained, including 1 second and 1 third prize of Jiangxi Provincial Natural Science Award, 1 first and 1 second prize of Jiangxi Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award, 1 East China Excellent Science and Technology Book Award and 1 second Jiangxi Provincial Excellent Works Award. 3 standards were formulated, and 4 new varieties were approved for registration. The first inventor has been authorized 13 invention patents, including 3 Australia innovation patents, 10 Chinese national invention patents, and 7 licensed transformation patents. One new genus and 30 new species of macrofungi were discovered, 1 genus and 13 new species were newly recorded in China, 193 new species were recorded in Jiangxi Province, and 6 new plant pathogens were discovered. The first or corresponding author has published 97 academic papers, including 26 papers in top international journals.
