Research progress on germplasm resources of Cichorium intybus

Chicory (Cichorium intybus), a perennial plant, is an important forage from Compositae with satisfying palatability, high yield, high protein content, strong adaptability to cold, heat and drought. It could be intercropped with cereal crops to resolve the competition in farmland shortage problem. In recent years, chicory has been widely grown in alpine areas in China. The research progress on genetic diversity, morphology, cytology, molecular, transgenic breeding were reviewed. And the suggestions for further research work were provided as well.