Fu's team has developed five new rapeseed flower colors this year. [Photos provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A Chinese research team has cultivated 80 colors of rapeseed flowers, creating new varieties aimed at boosting the integration of rapeseed tourism with rural development.

Fu Donghui, a researcher at Jiangxi Agricultural University's School of Agricultural Sciences, said his team developed five new flower colors this year, expanding the palette of ornamental rapeseed varieties from 75 in 2025 to 80.

Rapeseed fields are widely known for their bright yellow blossoms, which have become a major spring attraction across many rural areas. However, the dominance of a single color has posed challenges for the tourism industry.

"Most rapeseed flowers are yellow, and the lack of color diversity can easily lead to aesthetic fatigue for tourists," Fu said. Developing new flower colors helps extend the appeal of rapeseed tourism and supports sustainable industry growth, he added.

Using pollen provided by a collaborator in Shifang, Sichuan province, the researchers employed hybridization, backcrossing and self-pollination techniques to recombine flower color genes from different rapeseed materials. Through years of targeted selection, the team gradually developed new color combinations.       

Colorful rapeseed flower fields are seen in Chengdu, Sichuan province, in March 2025.

Last month, a vivid reddish-pink flower that bloomed unexpectedly during field trials drew particular attention. After 12 years of screening nearly 1.8 million rapeseed plants, researchers identified the unusual color in a small number of newly flowering plants at the university's agricultural science park in early March.

After confirming the shade did not match any in their existing database, Fu and his students compared it with standard color charts and named it "deep rose red".

The other four newly bred colors include "tiger-stripe orange", "metallic purple", "lavender purple" and "blood glutinous rice red", the team said.

Featuring deeper hues, richer saturation and improved ornamental traits, the new varieties enhance visual appeal, Fu said.

Colorful rapeseed flower fields are seen in Chengdu, Sichuan province, in March 2025.

Ornamental rapeseed has gained increasing attention in recent years for its economic and social value. In several regions across China, including Wuyuan in Jiangxi province, Hanzhong in Shaanxi province, Luoping in Yunnan province and Jingzhou in Hubei province, rapeseed tourism has become an important driver of local economic growth.

Field demonstrations of the colorful varieties have been conducted at more than 10 rural tourism sites, where the plants have shown strong performance and visual impact, Fu said.

The team has also partnered with more than 300 scenic areas across 233 counties countrywide to promote cultivation and scientific management of the new varieties.

Breeding new flower colors can be unpredictable, as genetic combinations do not always produce expected results.

"My students often say breeding new colors is like opening a blind box. It requires both scientific methods and a bit of luck," Fu said.

The team sometimes screens up to 150,000 plants in a month, identifying about 800 promising individuals each day and recording traits such as flower color and resistance to environmental stress.

Fu Donghui (right), a researcher at Jiangxi Agricultural University's School of Agricultural Sciences, and his student observe rapeseed flower pollen at the university's agricultural science park on March 13.

Beyond flower color, the team has developed a variety with oversized blossoms and a strong jasmine fragrance, as well as dwarf varieties suitable for container planting on balconies and in offices.

Researchers have also bred lines with colorful leaves and stems, further expanding ornamental possibilities.

"We plan to further stabilize the newly developed flower colors while improving yield, oil content and stress resistance," Fu said, adding that the goal is to transform rapeseed into one of the most colorful horticultural plants while maintaining agricultural productivity.

New shades such as blue and black are also part of future research to expand rapeseed's role in tourism agriculture and home gardening, he added.

Zhao Ruinan contributed to this story.