Recently, under the appointment of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), the USA-based International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society (IWGS) designated Dr. TIAN Daike from South China Botanical Garden (SCBG), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) the new registrar for Nelumbo (lotus). The lotus registrar is the third International Plant Cultivar Registrar in China after the International Cultivar Registration Authorities (ICRAs) for Chinese Mei flower (Prunus mume) and the genus Osmanthus. A dream of many years for Lotus Branch of Chinese Flower Association and Chinese horticultural community finally came true.

Lotus is one of Chinese traditional flowers and has a very long history. China not only has the richest lotus cultivars of the world but also has built on a world-leading position in research, cultivation, breeding, commercial use and industrial development. For the publications collected in CAB abstract database, nearly 50% of the first authors are Chinese. There are 608 cultivars of lotus collected in the book "Chinese Lotus Flower Cultivars" (2005). In addition, many new cultivars are being released in the recent years. Therefore, in order to more efficiently protect breeders’ rights, and benefit scientific research, commercial exchange and production of lotus, China should be in charge of international cultivar registration for Nelumbo. The influence of Chinese lotus research and industry in the world will be greatly enhanced.

Dr. Tian is currently a professor at SCBG. He received his master degree in Botany from Kunming Institute of Botany, CAS and his PhD in Horticulture from Auburn University, USA. He has previously worked for the Toyama Botanical Garden in Japan and several other institutions. Dr. Tian is a lifetime member of IWGS, a board member of Lotus Branch of Chinese Flower Association, and a member of International Society for Horticultural Science, American Society for Horticultural Science American Begonia Society, American Peony Society, and International Society for In Vitro Biology, etc. He is currently involved in studies on germplasm evaluation, breeding and product development of Nelumbo, Begonia and other ornamental plants. He is a co-author of two books, has published over 30 journal papers and 3 new species, holds 5 patents and created 16 new plant cultivars. Dr. Tian has bred 'Fen Chun' ('Pink Lips') and discovered 'Zhizun Qianban' ('Ultimate Thousand-petal'), which were internationally registered in 2008 and 2009, respectively.