EUROPEAN HAZELNUT IN CHINA: PRESENT SITUATION AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

As early as the end of the 19th Century, the European hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) had been introduced into China and planted in gardens. In 1971 the Economic Forestry Research Institute of Liaoning Province began to study this kind of tree in China. In the period from 1972-1975 1,210 hazelnut seeds from Italy and other European countries were introduced, from which 203 seedlings were obtained. Field observation began in the 3^rd year after the seedlings were planted in the field. The seedlings showed great variation in growth and fruit characteristics. 22 fine strains were selected in 1983. From 1985-1996 hazelnut variety and advanced selection trials were carried out in different climatic zones. Firstly, from 1985-1996 in Taian (Shandong province, at a latitude of 36°10’N, in the temperate zone), then from 1990-1996 in Feixi (Anhui province, at a latitude of 31°45’N, in the subtropical zone), and Yichang (Hubei province, at a latitude of 30°39’N, in the subtropical zone). In Anhui and Hubei province these selections showed better vegetative growth, but gave poor yields due to differences in the dates of appearance of male and female flowers. In 1996 3 new varieties were released in the course of this study: ‘Lianfeng’ with a nut weight of 2.71 g, a percent kernel of 45%, and yield of 2.14 kg/tree (8 years old); ‘Yifeng’, with a nut weight of 3.21 g, a percent kernel of 46%, and a yield of 2.09 kg/ tree (8 years old); and ‘Taifeng’ with a nut weight of 3.21 g, a percent kernel of 43%, and a yield of 2.10 kg/tree (8 years old). The hazelnut showed good growth and field in the southern temperate zone in China. From 1996-1997 nearly 40 varieties of European hazelnut such as ‘TDGL’, ‘Negret’, ‘Barcelona’ and ‘Butler’ were introduced to China from Italy (Universita’ di Torino) and the USA (Oregon). Plants were planted in Shandong and Hebei provinces. The advanced research work is currently under way. At present the hazelnut is mainly imported into China from European countries and the USA. However, bearing in mind that China has quite large temperate areas suitable for hazelnut cultivation, and that there is a big market demand in the country there is certainly very good scope for hazelnut cultivation in China.