China is a major horticultural country in the world. The planting area and output of vegetables, fruit trees and flowers rank first in the world. In 2004, the cultivated area of ??horticultural crops accounted for approximately 15% of the country's cultivated land area, and the output value of horticultural products (including tea) was approximately 700 billion yuan, accounting for nearly 20% of the total output value of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery. In 2005, the export value of horticultural products was US$7.1 billion (including edible fungi), and the trade surplus was US$6.3 billion. The horticulture industry is a typical labor-intensive industry, with approximately 170 million farmers directly engaged in horticulture production. In 2004, the per capita income of farmers nationwide reached 376 yuan, accounting for 13% of the per capita net income of farmers. Therefore, the development of the horticulture industry plays a huge role in the construction of China's national economy and the adjustment of the agricultural industry structure. It not only ensures the needs of urban residents for non-staple food, but is also an effective way to develop the rural economy and increase farmers' income. It also improves and beautifies the environment and It also plays an indispensable role in protecting ecological balance. In export trade, the horticulture industry is one of China's most internationally competitive agricultural industries.

Among the major science and technology plans established in China, such as the "973" Plan, the "863" Plan, the Support Plan, the National Natural Science Foundation, the Spark Plan, the National New Technology Introduction Plan, and some provincial and ministerial key projects The research plans all include research topics related to horticultural crops. In terms of applied basic research and applied technology research, a large number of scientific research results have been obtained and used in production. The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has 4 professional research institutes related to horticultural crops. There are horticulture (fruit trees, vegetables, ornamental horticulture) research institutes (offices) in 32 provincial, municipal (district) academies of agricultural sciences across the country, and 32 universities have Majors related to horticulture. According to incomplete statistics, there are about 5,000 scientific and technological personnel engaged in horticulture research in China, including 6 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. The Chinese Horticultural Society is an academic group composed of Chinese horticultural science and technology workers, founded in 1930. The society has four professional committees: fruit trees, vegetables, ornamental gardening, watermelon and melon. There are more than 4,300 registered members and 39 group membership units. It edits and publishes the academic journal "Journal of Horticulture", and some local societies or member units also edit and publish related technical or popular science publications.