In June 2022, Li Juan, who had just graduated from Shandong Agricultural University, chose not to take a comfortable office job. Instead, she resolutely joined the Crop Genetics and Germplasm Innovation Platform at the Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, immersing herself in fieldwork. From that point on, the breeding greenhouse became her second home, and winter squash (Cucurbita maxima and Cucurbita moschata) became her closest companions.

Breeding work is not as simple as it might seem. Every step—from seedling production, transplanting, and pollination to selecting desirable individuals/lines, harvesting fruits, and seed extraction/drying/cataloging - requires patience and meticulous attention. Rising with the sun and resting at sunset, Li Juan's days were filled with sweat and hard work. Even during the winter nursery in Sanya, Hainan, despite physical discomfort, she never missed a day, always staying close with her crop. Her passion and dedication to the breeding work are truly moving.

Faced with challenges such as powdery mildew in winter squash cultivation, Li Juan did not back down. Through hybrid breeding, she successfully developed butternut squash lines resistant to powdery mildew. These lines not only exhibit strong growth vigor and low disease incidence rates but also significantly reduce pesticide use, solving one of the most "headache" problems for farmers. Behind this achievement lies countless trials and failures, as well as her unwavering commitment to her breeding dreams.

Li Juan's breeding efforts have yielded fruitful results. The mini kabocha squash she bred are popular among consumers for their smooth, sweet, and buttery texture. Additionally, she has constructed a EMS mutant library for butternut squash, obtaining various mutant materials that provide valuable resources for the genetic improvement of pumpkins. These achievements have broad application prospects and will bring new development opportunities to China's winter-squash industry.

Li Juan's hard work has earned widespread recognition from her leaders and colleagues. Zhang Xingping, the deputy director of the institute, praised her highly: "Li Juan has a strong learning ability and high comprehension. She works very hard and has made significant progress in winter-squash breeding." Li Juan told reporters: "Good seeds are the key to a bountiful harvest, and the efforts of breeders are aimed at providing farmers with the best seeds to grow the best crops. This is also my goal and direction."

On March 3, Li Juan is set to leave for Pusan National University to pursue her doctoral degree. To ensure the completion of the Hainan off-season breeding work to the greatest extent possible, she returned from the Sanya breeding base in Hainan to the institute on March 1 and was still handling final tasks at the institute on March 2 before her departure. This dedication to achieving the best possible winter-squash is a spirit worth learning from by everyone.