On October 24th, reporters learned from Kaizhou District in Chongqing that four species of the Juniperus (cypress) genus, which are distributed discontinuously around the globe, have recently been established at the Juniperus National Germplasm Resource Bank in Kaizhou. With this development, all five species of Juniperus are now represented in Kaizhou, Chongqing.
These Juniperus species, including North American Western Red Cedar, North American Arborvitae, Japanese Ceder, Korean Juniper, and Chinese Juniper, are evergreen trees with a rich ancient lineage, representing a typical East Asia-North America disjunct distribution. Known for their striking forms and strong ecological adaptability, these plants hold significant potential for afforestation in challenging temperate and subtropical environments, as well as for landscaping purposes. Kaizhou is considered the main production area for wild Juniperus, boasting over 7,000 wild individuals—more than 70% of the national total—making it the highest concentration in the country.
The recent addition of over 1,000 specimens of North American Western Red Cedar, North American Arborvitae, Japanese Cedar, and Korean Juniper to the Juniperus National Germplasm Resource Bank includes genetic material sourced from Montana and Maine in the U.S., Honshu Island in Japan, and the Changbai Mountain region in Jilin, China.
It’s noteworthy that the Juniperus National Germplasm Resource Bank in Kaizhou is the only facility in the country dedicated specifically to preserving Juniperus genetic materials. Collecting all known species of the Juniperus genus in this resource bank not only facilitates deeper research into the biology of these plants but also offers invaluable genetic resources for improving Juniperus varieties to cultivate higher quality and more resilient new strains.
