The objectives involving horticultural crops are to research and develop organic cultivation techniques and to breed crop species including cucurbitaceous, tomatoes, edible lilies, native vegetables, pomelos, orange daylilies, and moth orchids. Another goal was to actively promote the cultivation of organic vegetables and fruit trees among aboriginal tribes to facilitate agricultural transformation and increase revenue.

Regarding the cultivation of fruit trees, we improved the techniques for enhancing the quality of our staple product, pomelos, and developed related techniques especially in organic cultivation. These techniques consisted of pomelo tree pruning, fertilizer management, and pest control strategies. In addition, a pomelo promotion team was formed to advocate crop health management systems in local townships.

 Regarding vegetables, we developed and bred new bitter gourd cultivars (‘Hualien No. 1-5’) and obtained plant breeder’s rights for these gourd cultivars. Bitter gourd ‘Hualien No. 1-4’ and disease-resistant tomatoes were transferred to private sectors for mass production. To solve important disease problems in vegetable industry, we researched and developed virus-tolerant pumpkin and disease-resistant tomato lines. Five pumpkin lines have currently been bred and a plant breeder’s rights application has been filed for one of these lines. Three disease-resistant tomato lines have also been bred. New edible lily varieties were selected to increase the diversified use of lilies. We established organic cultivation techniques for chayote shoots, edible lilies, cherry tomatoes, and pumpkin to enhance the quality of organically cultivated products and to increase farmer revenue.

With respect to flowers, we created an essential-oil extraction technique and a production model for the organic cultivation of Australian tea trees. Related technologies have been transferred to private sectors for production. We bred and named new day lily varieties (‘Hualien No. 1-5’) and transferred the technologies to private sectors for mass production. These day lily varieties are used to improve the landscape of recreational farms. We bred 34 varieties of moth orchids (Phal. Hualien Sunflower) and registered them with the Royal Horticultural Society in England. Concurrently, we bred fragrance-filled moth orchids and transferred the technologies of 21 successful Hualien moth orchid varieties (called “Hualien Blue Waves”) to private sectors for mass production.