Abstract: The studies on conservation and utilization of Lilium germplasm resourses, character improvement and the new technology in its breeding were reviewed. During the passed decades, great advances were made in new cultivar breeding and technique innovation. Several integrated systems relating to pollenless cultivar selection, overcoming of hybridization barriers and Agrobacterium mediated transformation have been developed, which will p rovide great help for lily breeding. However, more studies should be done on conservation of rare and endangered species in Lilium, mechanism of cross-sterility and utilization of molecular biology in breeding. Resistance breeding is one of the main directions in Lilium variety development in the future.

Key words: Lilium, Breeding, Character improvement