Cultivation methods of low altitude substitute for Gastrodia elata, a valuable traditional Chinese medicine

Gastrodia elata is a kind of rare and precious traditional Chinese medicine, which used to rely on the wild and grow in the mountains above 500 meters above sea level. it is very rare and difficult to dig, and now it is facing extinction. The development of artificial cultivation of Gastrodia elata has saved this precious species, but technically it can not get rid of the cultivation at high altitude, and the raw materials can not be separated from the tree (oak), which makes the cultivation of Gastrodia elata has great regional limitations. Second, limited by the felling of forest resources, these two disadvantages have been perplexing the development of Gastrodia elata, which has always been unable to form the modernization and standardized cultivation of Gastrodia elata.

In view of the shortcomings of the existing techniques mentioned above, we have explored a new cultivation method of Gastrodia elata which is not limited by regional altitude and raw materials through long-term research and experiment. Armillaria mellea can be cultivated with straw and corncob in areas below 300 meters above sea level to cultivate high yield and high quality Gastrodia elata. Through the improvement of improved variety selection, cultivation environment, cultivation raw materials, medium formula, cultivation method and so on, the low altitude substitute cultivation of Gastrodia elata was realized.

1. Raw material selection and treatment: first of all, Armillaria mellea should be cultivated in Gastrodia elata. In the past, Armillaria mellea was mainly cultivated by segment trees (oaks). With the protection of ecological balance, the state forbids cutting down forests, and the raw materials for Armillaria mellea cultivation are affected. In order to find a way out, we experimented with straw. After many explorations and practices, we proved that the whole corncob was the ideal material for Armillaria mellea cultivation.

There are some special requirements for using substitute materials to cultivate Armillaria mellea. Both dry and fresh corncobs can be used, but whole kernels without mildew and decay are required. If fresh corncobs cannot be used in time, they must be exposed to the sun and fully dried before they can be preserved. Otherwise, there is humidity in the storage process will be moldy. In particular, green mold and yellow mold are easy to occur, which will affect the growth of Armillaria mellea in the future. if individual molds are found, they must be selected, or sprayed with raw lime water, or soaked to eliminate mold. However, it must be rinsed with clean water when in use, so as not to affect the growth of Armillaria mellea.

2. Selection of Gastrodia elata species: the quality of Gastrodia elata species is closely related to its yield. There are two sources of Gastrodia elata species: one is sexual reproduction. That is, after the completion of the physiology of Gastrodia elata, the pollen seeds of bolting, flowering, seed setting or pollination through artificial hybridization can dig up the first generation of peanut-sized species after 3-5 months of cultivation of germinating bacteria and Armillaria mellea, which is called "zero generation species" or sexual reproduction hybrids. This variety is conducive to the high and stable yield of Gastrodia elata, especially after distant hybridization from wild Polygonum multiflorum and Gastrodia elata. The selected variety "TC828" has become the first choice for high yield of cultivated Gastrodia elata.

The other is asexual reproduction of Gastrodia elata, which occurs every time Gastrodia elata is dug. This kind of small Gastrodia elata is cultivated again, and a year later it becomes a commercial Gastrodia elata. The continuous cyclic cultivation of small Gastrodia elata is called asexual reproduction variety, but after 3-4 years of asexual reproduction, it is easy to degenerate, and the degradation is fast and slow related to environmental conditions and techniques. In order to achieve high quality and high yield, it is best to choose sexual hybrid Gastrodia elata.

Third, the choice of cultivation site: in the past, Gastrodia elata generally grew in mountain forests at an altitude of 1500-1200 meters, and it was more suitable in the area of 800-1200 meters above sea level. later, artificial cultivation has been selected in these high-altitude mountain forests, the main reason is that Gastrodia elata belongs to medium and low temperature varieties. Afraid of high temperature. In order to solve this problem, in addition to domesticating varieties adapted to higher temperature in the breeding of Gastrodia elata, the key is to take corresponding measures in the selection of cultivation sites and artificial cooling in order to fully realize the cultivation of Gastrodia elata in low altitude areas.

Low altitude refers to the plain area below 300 meters, can be cultivated in cool indoor, outdoor forest, artificial shade shed and other environment, should choose not only to avoid sun exposure, but also to prevent flood erosion, it is better to be dark, wet and dry drainage slope, the environment has a large area of natural shade forest or artificial shade forest is the best, the soil quality requirement is relatively loose and breathable, not easy to consolidate the soil is appropriate. Can also use sandy soil or humus, soil water content between 50% Mel 60%, with hand-pinched soil into a mass, a scattered soil moisture is appropriate, clay or consolidated soil is generally not suitable.

Fourth, the cultivation of Armillaria mellea: there are many kinds of Armillaria mellea, not all of them are suitable for the growth of Gastrodia elata, and not all of them are good varieties of Armillaria mellea. Armillaria mellea can grow together with Gastrodia elata with complementary nutrition. In this paper, a good Armillaria mellea variety "XB-9" was selected from several Armillaria mellea varieties, which is the most suitable to Gastrodia elata variety "TC828" and is the basis of high yield cultivation at low altitude.

The cultivation of Armillaria mellea with corncob has the advantages of abundant raw materials, low cost, fast growth and good effect. The deficiency is that it can only be used for one year and needs to be replaced every year, unlike Armillaria mellea, which can be used for 2-3 years. The method of cultivating Armillaria mellea is as follows: soak the corncob in water for 12-24 hours (which must be soaked), remove and drain the remaining water, spread a layer of corncob on the ground, about 10cm thick, sprinkle the original species of Armillaria mellea per square meter with 750g / bottle, then spread the second layer of corncob, sprinkle with Armillaria mellea, and then carry on the third or fourth layer according to the same method, then cover the soil with 10-15cm to let it grow. Another method is to spread each layer of corncob, sprinkle with Armillaria mellea, fill the gap between the corncob with fine soil, then spread the second layer of corncob, and then fill the gap between the corncob with fine soil, generally no more than four layers.

After 18 ℃-22 ℃ culture, the fungal cord of Armillaria mellea for 2-3 months covered the whole corncob, which could be used for Gastrodia elata cultivation. If the material of Armillaria mellea is not enough, the expanded cultivation of Armillaria mellea can be carried out. In this method, the corncob cultivated by Armillaria mellea is added to the uncultivated corncob, the proportion is 50% each, and the operation method is the same as above, and finally cover the soil development bacteria. This method is simple and easy, and does not need the original seed. This method can be recycled for a long time as long as it is not affected by the high temperature of environmental conditions and diseases and insect pests.

Fifth, cultivation methods of Gastrodia elata: low-altitude cultivation of Gastrodia elata can choose indoor or outdoor, the cultivation methods are basically the same, first put a layer of loose soil with 10cm thickness and 1 meter wide on the ground, put corncob fungus material on the soil, and lay it on the soil, requiring that each layer of corncob be separated by 10-12cm, and then put a small Gastrodia elata on each corncob, and the distance between small Gastrodia elata should be 10cm, not too thin or too dense. Immediately after sowing Gastrodia elata, cover the soil 10cm thick, then sow the second layer according to the same method, finally cover the 15cm thick soil, and then compact the soil surface and all around, with 1 meter wide as a box, leaving sidewalks in the middle, unlimited length, which can be determined according to the place. After planting, the height is generally between 30-35cm, and the surrounding of the box can be bricked to protect the soil, or it can be exposed. In short, it can not be too wide. First, it is easy to manage. Second, it is beneficial to the growth and ventilation of Gastrodia elata.