Introducedin 1923, the pomology discipline is among the oldest subjects offered at theSouth China Agricultural University. The master’s and doctoral degree authorizationpoints were awarded to this subject in 1981 and 1996, respectively. In order todevelop a primary discipline, the Ministry of Agriculture together with theGuangdong Province organized the “211 Project” in 1998, which incorporated thissubject. The subject was assessed as “excellent” in the 2005 disciplineevaluation and was certified as a State Key Discipline in 2007.

Thereare 19 professors, 5 associate professors and 6 lecturers who make up the well-organizedand stable teaching staff associated with the pomology discipline and themajority possess PhD degrees. As it evolved over time, the discipline focusedon three particular lines of research areas, namely, the germplasm innovationand genetic improvement of south subtropical fruit trees, the growth andquality control of south subtropical fruit trees, and the postharvest scientificand technological aspects of south subtropical fruits.

Inthe context of the Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Agriculture, the pomologydiscipline possesses four provincial and ministerial research platforms (KeyLaboratory). It undertakes a wide range of scientific projects on behalf of theNational Natural Science Foundation, the National Industrial Technology System,the Ministry of Agriculture industry, as well as other research projects atprovincial or ministerial level. The discipline has been integrated withinprogressive pomology research not just at domestic local but also at aninternational level, since it has received the second-class award of thenational science and technology for several of its accomplishments.