The world's famous flower garlic orchid has achieved large-scale artificial breeding and cultivation in Yunnan
China Flower and Tree Garden News Reporter Bai Bin Li Yunxi reported that the reporter learned from the Kunming Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences that the research team of Zhang Shibao of the Institute has overcome a series of technical problems such as seed germination, flowering period regulation and cultivation technology of the world's famous flower and national second-level protected plant Mono garlic orchid through more than 10 years of unremitting efforts, and has now achieved large-scale artificial breeding and cultivation.
Potted garlic orchid products of different flower color varieties
It is a perennial herb named after its false bulbs, which resemble garlic heads and have solitary flowers. There are about 20 species of plants in the genus Garlic orchid in the world, of which there are nearly 20 species in Yunnan, which is the most concentrated area of this genus in the world. Although there are many species of wild garlic orchids in the mainland, driven by interests, they have suffered a large number of artificial digging and medicine, resulting in the gradual depletion of wild resources. In 2021, the List of Wild Plants under National Key Protection was promulgated, and all genera (all species) of the orchid were listed as national second-level protected plants. According to the IUCN Red List of Species, all species of the genus Garlic Orchid are under threat, of which four species, namely White-flowered Orchid, Southern Tibetan Orchid, Halo-flowered Orchid and Crowned Orchid, have reached critical danger levels. "The protection and rational use of germplasm resources of garlic orchid is of great practical significance." Zhang Wei, an assistant researcher on the team, told reporters.
A new variety of 'Ashima' flowers
It prefers to grow in humus-rich understory soils, and some can attach to tree trunks or even on moss-covered rocky surfaces. Garlic orchid prefers a semi-shaded and ventilated environment and cannot tolerate strong and continuous light. Garlic orchid not only has the effect of clearing heat, detoxifying, dissolving phlegm and dispersing knots, but also has broad prospects for medicinal development. And because of its unique and elegant flower shape, rich color system, bright color and great ornamental value, it is a world-famous ornamental orchid.
A new variety of garlic orchid 'Maggie Ami' flowers
According to Zhang Wei, although the garlic orchid has high ornamental and medicinal value, and most of the species are native to the mainland, it is rarely successfully cultivated in China. The key is that the seeds of the plants of the genus Monophyllum are finely dusted and lack the endosperm that serves as a nutrient supply when the seeds germinate, so the germination rate under natural conditions is extremely low and can only germinate normally if it is symbiotic with fungi.
The team has long been committed to the research of orchids such as Orchid and Garlic Orchid. At present, on the basis of collecting and preserving more than 90% of the species in the genus, the team has successfully selected and bred 17 new varieties of monocosmic orchid through cross-breeding, of which the new varieties 'Haiyan' and 'Rainbow' registered in Yunnan and successfully registered in the Royal Horticultural Society for the first time in 2018 are known as "the first new variety registration from the hometown of Du Garlic Orchid". At present, the team has successfully registered 17 new varieties such as 'Maggie Ami', 'Swagger Mountain', 'Mountain Ghost' and so on.
Large-scale cultivation of garlic orchid
Through the research on the application basis and industrialization key technologies of the orchid plant, the team has overcome a series of problems such as flowering period regulation, seed germination, artificial breeding of seedlings and cultivation technology. Among them, through the regulation of the cultivation environment, some species have achieved winter flowering. Zhang Wei said: "The natural flowering period of the garlic orchid is mainly concentrated in the spring and autumn seasons. The new varieties we have cultivated, such as 'Haiyan', 'Rainbow' and 'Zhaoyaoshan', can bloom from November to January of the following year, thus meeting the market demand for winter festivals such as Christmas and New Year's Day. ”
It is understood that at present, through the establishment of the key technical system of factory seedling breeding technology and industrial planting of Du Garlic Orchid, the team has cooperated with Enterprises such as Zhaotong Yunsheng Agricultural Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd. to establish an 800-mu Single Garlic Orchid Planting Base, which not only realizes the large-scale reproduction and cultivation of Du Garlic Orchid, but also realizes the benign development goal of utilization in protection and protection in utilization, and has made important contributions to the revitalization of Yunnan countryside and the construction of ecological civilization.
In Zhang Wei's view, although from the perspective of the whole world, the mainland has the absolute resource advantage of the garlic orchid. However, at present, the hybrid breeding of domestic garlic orchid is still in a very preliminary stage. With the development of the mainland economy and the continuous improvement of people's living standards, people's demand for novel ornamental plants will also increase. Distinguished from other orchids, it has no roots and no leaves in winter, only a dormant pseudo-bulb, and is a small bulbous plant. This feature makes it very convenient for transportation, especially suitable for internet sales that have emerged in recent years. Therefore, whether it is as an ornamental plant or a traditional medicinal plant, the garlic orchid has a lot of room for development and utilization. "In the future, we should strengthen the collection of germplasm resources of garlic orchid, establish a complete breeding system, continuously select and breed new varieties with excellent traits and independent intellectual property rights, protect and make good use of wild resources, and promote the development of the mainland flower and Chinese herbal medicine industry." Zhang Wei said.