Artificial Planting Techniques Of Cistanche Deserticola

The genus Cistanche is a parasitic plant, and its hosts are desert and desert sand-fixing plants such as Haloxylon and Tamarix. Due to its unique growth mode, the plants of this genus reproduce and renew slowly in their natural state. Due to the high economic value of Cistanche deserticola, people excessively and indiscriminately excavate it in pursuit of economic benefits, resulting in the extinction of wild Cistanche deserticola. This not only causes a sharp decline in wild resources but also seriously damages the ecological environment of deserts and desert areas. Among them, Cistanche deserticola has been listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). To protect the wild resources of Cistanche deserticola and meet the sustainable development of clinical medicine and the traditional Chinese medicine industry, the only way is to develop large-scale artificial cultivation. At present, China's Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Ningxia, and other regions have started large-scale artificial planting and have begun to take shape. Therefore, according to the requirements of GAP standards, establishing standardized planting bases and improving the yield and quality of artificially cultivated Cistanche deserticola are the urgent problems we need to solve at present. The artificial cultivation of Cistanche deserticola began in the 1980s, and scientific and technological personnel from Alxa League in Inner Mongolia began to study the technology of artificial cultivation of Cistanche deserticola, but the yield was not ideal. Starting in 2001, the Alxa League launched the enclosure and artificial planting project in the Suo Suo forest area. By 2002, all key Suo Suo shrub forest areas had been reduced to grazing, and large-scale enclosure had been implemented, with a promotion area of 33.33 million hectares. In conjunction with the Suo Suo Cistanche industry construction project, an annual plan for artificial planting of Suo Suo was 20 million hectares. Some banners (counties) in Bayannur City, Inner Mongolia are also undergoing large-scale cultivation. Such as Dengkou County, Hangjinhou Banner, Urad Hou Banner, etc. As for the cultivation technology of Salty Cistanche, as early as the early 1980s, the forestry department of Xinjiang and the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences began to study the artificial cultivation of Salty Cistanche, and now there is a relatively mature planting method. The local forestry department has utilized the abundant resources of salted Cistanche in northern Xinjiang to conduct inoculation experiments on Suaeda salsa and has developed more than 10 inoculation methods. After nearly 10 years of effort, the Forest Seed Experiment Station in Jimusaer County, Xinjiang has conducted over a hundred experiments and developed artificial inoculation techniques using inoculation paper. The seeds treated with this technology have a vaccination rate about 1000 times higher than natural seeds and can be harvested continuously for more than 10 years. At the same time, the natural vitality of the seeds is only reduced by 10% to 20%. By using inoculation paper technology, the natural inoculation rate of Cistanche deserticola can be increased from 5% to 9% to 10% to 35%. The fresh weight of Cistanche deserticola per mu can be stabilized at 50-80 kilograms, and the maximum unit yield can reach a fresh weight level of 150 kilograms. The technology of inoculating Salted Cistanche deserticola with Suaeda salsa has been successful and has been promoted and applied in the northern region of Xinjiang, which is highly welcomed by farmers and herdsmen.

Cistanche deserticola

In terms of artificial cultivation of Cistanche tubulosa, Liu Mingting, a researcher at the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has been engaged in wind prevention and sand control for a long time. To give full play to the multiple uses of Tamarix, he has explored the artificial cultivation technology of Cistanche tubulosa since 1986 in combination with scientific research. After more than 10 years of numerous artificial inoculation experiments on Cistanche deserticola, excellent host species of Tamarix have been selected, and the cultivation techniques of the host have been proficiently mastered. Comparative data on the effects of factors such as inoculation time, sowing amount, sowing depth, host planting specifications, soil structure, and soil temperature and humidity on the survival rate and yield of artificial Cistanche deserticola have been compared. Active exploration has been conducted on improving the inoculation rate and yield of Cistanche deserticola and extend the stable production period of Cistanche deserticola. The system summarized successful experiences in field management and pest control and obtained information on the optimal harvesting period, harvesting method, and initial processing technology of Cistanche deserticola. The research results indicate that artificial tamarisk can achieve a high yield within three years after being inoculated with Cistanche deserticola, and the stable yield period of over 200 kilograms per mu of Cistanche deserticola can be maintained for 15-30 years. Most species of Chinese tamarisk grow on flowing deserts or semi-fixed dunes, with harsh habitats. The tube flower Cistanche, which parasitizes on it, is also a plant that can adapt to drought. Professor Chen Jun's research group has done a lot of work in the prevention and control of diseases and pests. The investigation found 17 types of diseases and pests in the genus Cistanche and its host plants, among which the most serious harm to Cistanche is pests and stem rot and proposed prevention and control measures.

Cistanche deserticola flower

In recent years, to promote the standardization and promotion of cultivation techniques for Cistanche deserticola and its host plants, the Forestry and Desertification Control Research Institute of Alxa League in Inner Mongolia has established a 300-acre Haloxylon ammo dendron seedling base and an 18000-acre desert Cistanche deserticola cultivation demonstration base in Alxa League; Xinjiang Hotan region and its county governments, as well as Hotan Tianli Sha Sheng Pharmaceutical Development Co., Ltd. and other units, have established a 1220 acre Tamarix seedling base and a more than 2500 acre Tubular Cistanche cultivation demonstration base in the Hotan region. Liu Tongning and others successfully introduced desert deserticola to Yongning County, Ningxia, and established a high-yield planting base of over 4000 acres. Professor Guo Yuhai and others successfully introduced Cistanche tubulosa to the saline areas of the North China Plain, providing new ideas for the ecological management of the saline regions. It is worth mentioning that the only natural distribution area of Cistanche deserticola in China is the Taklamakan Desert in southern Xinjiang and its surrounding areas. Due to the easy reproduction, fast growth, and wide adaptability of the host plant of Cistanche deserticola, as well as the easy inoculation of Cistanche deserticola with high content of phenylethanolamine glycosides, in recent years, northern Xinjiang, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, and other regions have introduced Cistanche deserticola to various regions. However, due to the low temperature in winter, all inoculated Cistanche deserticola has suffered from freezing damage, wasting a lot of manpower and material resources. Therefore, it is recommended not to conduct introduction experiments of Cistanche deserticola in northern Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, and other regions.

Professor Cistanche Research on the Growth of Cistanche deserticola

In recent years, with the deepening of research on the biological characteristics of Cistanche deserticola and the success of artificial inoculation of Cistanche deserticola, a certain foundation has been laid for the vigorous development of Cistanche deserticola medicinal material production in China, opening up new sources of medicine and alleviating the supply-demand contradiction to a certain extent. Developing the production of Cistanche deserticola medicinal materials through a combination of market regulation and government guidance, encouraging residents to plant the host plant of Cistanche deserticola and inoculate it, has not only increased the economic income of residents and adjusted the industrial structure of desert areas, but also promoted vegetation construction and improved the fragile ecological environment of desert areas. Long-term experimental research has shown that based on the growth pattern of Haloxylon ammodendron and the parasitic characteristics of Cistanche deserticola roots, the suitable inoculation time is April and September, and the location should be selected as a flat sandy land with a shallow dry sand layer and high water content. Usually, the host plant is chosen as the Haloxylon ammodendron, which has been growing for more than 3 years has a height of more than 1 meter, and is thriving. To improve the survival rate and quality of Cistanche deserticola inoculation, seed treatment should be carried out before inoculation. Seeds within 3 years should be selected, soaked in 30 to 60ppm naphthoic acid for 4 hours before inoculation, and then naturally air dried before inoculation. Or expose the seeds to sunlight in the outdoor sandy area for 1-2 weeks to facilitate germination. Generally, a planting pit with a length of 70-100cm and a width of 40cm is dug at a distance of 50-80cm (or 30-40cm) from the main root of the selected Haloxylon ammodendron plant. A strong and growing root in the distribution area of the Haloxylon ammodendron root is found as the parasitic root for inoculation. Water and growth nutrients or water-retaining agents are placed around the root system, and seeds are placed after they have completely infiltrated into the soil. In areas with conditions, 1-2 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer can be applied at an interval of 10cm in the sandy soil layer below the root. A cushion tray (10-20cm square) with a piece of glue or plastic film is placed to prevent water and fertilizer infiltration and loss. Then, 5-10 treated seeds are placed, and covered with wet sand. Properly compact 2/3 of the planting pit, then cover it with soil until the pit is full. The optimal depth for inoculation is 80-100cm and water it promptly after inoculation. The management of Cistanche deserticola is achieved through the management of its host, Haloxylon ammodendron. During drought, Haloxylon ammodendron should be irrigated 1-2 times and fully decomposed organic fertilizer should be applied. In addition, fence measures should be implemented to protect and prohibit livestock from gnawing or damaging. The main disease is Fusarium oxysporum powdery mildew, which can lead to the death of the entire plant in severe cases. The prevention and control method is to use a sulfur mixture, 3% Bordeaux solution, and saltwater spray. In addition, Haloxylon ammodendron is susceptible to the harm of rats and gerbils. After years of testing, more than ten types of drugs have been selected to prevent and control it with type B botulinum toxin, which has shown good results. It can also be controlled by setting traps and introducing natural enemies. Generally, excavation begins in the third year after vaccination and can be divided into two parts throughout the year, from April to May in spring and from August to September in autumn. In general, when the Cistanche deserticola grows to the point of breaking through the soil and cracks appear on the hole surface, it should be excavated promptly. When excavating, dig along the stem of the Cistanche deserticola to a distance of 10cm above the suction cup, cut it off and take it out, then backfill it with soil. The root system should not be cut off, and the suction cup should not be completely excavated.

Due to the long growth cycle of Cistanche deserticola and its susceptibility to natural environmental limitations, in recent years, people in China have begun to study the tissue culture technology of Cistanche deserticola. Different explants have been used to induce callus tissue, providing a basis for further obtaining and improving its active ingredients. Therefore, utilizing tissue and cell culture techniques to achieve industrial production of Cistanche deserticola and allowing it to undergo large-scale division and reproduction under industrial conditions is also a relatively effective approach.

Aerospace breeding, also known as space technology breeding, is the process of sending plant seeds that have undergone strict screening on the ground into space using a return spacecraft, and then using the unique environmental conditions of space, such as cosmic rays, microgravity, high vacuum, weak geomagnetic field, to mutate plant genes. After the seeds return to the ground, new plant varieties are selected, and this mutation is to some extent unpredictable. Seed loading is only the first step of the entire breeding project, and the more arduous follow-up work needs to be carried out continuously on the ground for many years to complete. As one of the only three countries in the world (the United States, Russia, and China) that have mastered the technology of return satellites, China has achieved a series of pioneering research results in the field of aerospace breeding. Since 1987, China has been researching space breeding. Up to now, 13 space-carrying experiments have been conducted on more than 70 types of crops using return satellites, including high-value crops such as grain crops, economic crops, vegetables, traditional Chinese medicine, flowers, etc. A series of high-yield, high-quality, and multi-resistant new crop varieties have been cultivated. Space breeding technology has become one of the important ways to quickly cultivate excellent crop varieties.

Cistanche deserticola slice

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On December 30, 2002, China successfully launched the "Shenzhou-4" spacecraft, carrying 98g of Cistanche deserticola seeds from Alxa League, Inner Mongolia. The spacecraft orbited the Earth for 6 days and 18 hours before returning to the ground on January 5, 2003. In May 2003, Cistanche deserticola seeds that were traveling in space were planted and experimented with in the field at one designated planting base in Alxa Left Banner, Alxa Right Banner, and Ejina Banner of Alxa League. In 2005, Cistanche deserticola seeds began to bloom and bear fruit. It is reported that genetic research on spatial mutagenesis of Cistanche deserticola carried by Shenzhou-4 is mainly aimed at understanding the morphological, genetic, and biological changes between Cistanche deserticola seeds and ordinary seeds, obtaining molecular markers for excellent mutated traits, and cloning genes related to important quality, providing scientific basis for the selection of excellent Cistanche deserticola varieties. The cultivation of Cistanche deserticola seeds carried by Shenzhou-4 will provide strong support for the active development of the sand industry and the protection and improvement of the local fragile ecological environment in Alxa League.

On November 1, 2011, the Shenzhou-8 spacecraft carried 33 samples, including Cistanche deserticola seeds, and successfully took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The mission lasted for 16 days and 13 hours, covering a distance of 11 million kilometers. After circling the Earth 263 times, it was recovered and landed in the central region of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on November 17. On the afternoon of May 5, 2012, high-quality Cistanche deserticola seeds were transported to space aboard the Shenzhou-8 spacecraft. Under the guidance of experts, a space Cistanche deserticola seed inoculation experiment was conducted at the Suo Suo Cistanche base, and the Cistanche deserticola seeds officially settled in the Ulanbuhe Desert in Bayannur City. This event has opened a new era in China's aerospace industry. The Shenzhou-8 spacecraft carrying Cistanche deserticola seeds is a huge support for China's aerospace industry to the sand industry. 

Harvest of Cistanche deserticola 

The samples of Cistanche deserticola seeds carried by the Shenzhou-8 spacecraft were collected from the Mongolian Wild Donkey National Nature Reserve in Urad Solo Forest, Bayannur City. The Cistanche deserticola seeds collected from the Urad natural Solo Forest were bred in space and returned to the "mother's home" of Bayannur City, where they will be "cultivated into true fruits" in a climate and desert suitable for their growth. The purpose of using spacecraft to carry Cistanche seeds is to hope that Cistanche can grow larger and have higher medicinal value.