AWARDEE OF AGRONOMY PRIZE

WANG JINLING

Abstract

Professor Wang Jinling (Jinling Wang), Soybean Scientist, was born in 1917 in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province. He began his career on agricultural education and crop genetics and breeding in 1941. He is not only active on agricultural science and education, but also a social activist. He has served as a representive of the National Peoples Congress for about 30 years, he was a member of the standing committee of the Sixth and Seventh National Peoples Congress. He was the vice governor of Heilongjiang Province in early 1980s.
Professor Wang has his own unique theories on soybean origin, taxonomy, evolution, photoperiodism, ecology, regionalization, genetics, breeding, wild soybean research and utilization, etc. His numerous views are cited by soybean scientists at home and abroad. He started soybean photoperiodism research in 1940s, and ascertained soybean responses to light; his later research indicated that photoperiodism exists from emergence to maturity in soybeans, this is a breakthrough in photoperiodism research. He is the first scientist to regionalize soybeans in China, the theory has been guiding soybean breeding and production in the last 50 years. His study on soybean ecological characteristics and types established soybean ecotype theory, which is very instructive and important for soybean production and breeding. He investigated Glycine max and G. soja, pointed out that G. soja is the ancester of G. max. soybean originated from China, the origin site might be southern China or multiple places in China. He noticed the inportance of wild germplasm and imvestigated wild and semiwild soybeems systematically, the results are very helpful for the utilization of wild and semiwild soybeans. He did researches on the inheritance and selection effects of yield characters, maturity characters, resistances to diseases, heterosis, etc, established the foundation for soybean breeding. By comparing different breeding methods, two new progeny handling methods were proposed, and they are widely used in soybean breeding now. His work on early maturity soybean germplasm resulted in the release of two super-early cultivars-Dongnong 36 and Dongnong 41, which expanded soybean growing area. He recognized the vulnerability of soybean varieties, organized a national program to broaden soybean genetic background. He is not only interested at theoretical studies, but also pays great attention to soybean breeding and production. He released the first soybean cultivar developed by hybridization breeding in China. Dongnong 4 released by professor Wang was the most widely grown cultivar in 1960s. Dongnong 36 and Dongnong 41 are the earlist soybean cultivars. Dongnong 42 combines large seed, high yield, high protein content, good resistance and attractive seed coat color together, this is a breakthrough in soybean breeding. He developed more than 20 soybean cultivars, and made great contribution to agriculture.
Professor Wang published more than 140 papers and several books. He is also the chief editor of Soybean Science, Journal of Northeast Agricultural University and  Soybean Newsletter. Many of his students are very famous soybean scietists in China now. No doubt, he is the authority on soybean science. He served as the chairman of the Chinese Soybean Association from the establishment of the organization. For his dedicated service and significant contributions to science and education, Professor Wang recieved numerous awards and honors. He is still active in soybean science now.