Boron （B） is an essential micronutrient for plants，and boron fertilizer is the most widely used trace element fertilizer in China.In 1975，Mr. WANG Yunhua found that the “budding but no flowering”symptom of cotton grown in large areas of farmland in Xinzhou County，Hubei Province was caused by boron deficiency，which initiated studies on crop boron nutrition at Huazhong Agricultural University.It has been nearly 50 years since then.It has gone through four stages with obvious characteristics and cross integration in the 50-year long history including the diagnosis of boron nutrition and application techniques of boron fertilizer in crops （1975-1985），which mainly established the diagnosis of boron nutrition and application technology of boron fertilizer for cotton in China； the absorption and utilization of boron in crops and their nutritional mechanisms （1985-1995），mainly focused on revealing the absorption，transport，distribution，and physiological functions of boron by cotton and rapeseed； the genetics and molecular mechanisms of boron nutrition in crops （1995-2015），mainly aimed at screening B efficient varieties and cloning B efficient genes of Brassica napus，and revealing the molecular regulatory mechanism of rapeseed response to B deficiency stress； the efficient regulation and utilization of boron in crops （2015-），mainly aimed at conducting in-depth study on boron efficient molecular regulation pathways in rapeseed，screening and cultivating boron efficient breeding materials and varieties，and carrying out integrated promotion and utilization of efficient varieties combined with specialized fertilizers and advanced cultivation techniques.The results of studying at different stages have made important contributions to the promotion and application of boron fertilizer in agricultural production in China，as well as to the increase of yield and economic benefits of crops.They also hold a place in the international application and basic research of boron nutrition in crops.On the occasion of commemorating the first anniversary of Mr.Wang Yunhua’s death，the author provides a review and summary of the main research in four stages mentioned above to enrich readers and express the author’s respect for Mr.Wang.