Introduction to Glossy Privet Fruit Propagation Methods, and How Much It Cost per Jin in 2019

Glossy privet fruit is a Chinese medicinal herb; it is the fruit of the glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum) of the Oleaceae family, and has effects such as tonifying the liver and kidneys, strengthening the lower back and knees, nourishing the liver and kidneys, and improving eyesight and darkening the hair. So, how is glossy privet fruit propagated? Below we introduce the propagation methods of glossy privet fruit.

1. Introduction to glossy privet fruit

1. What does the glossy privet tree look like?

The glossy privet tree is an evergreen shrub or tree of the Oleaceae family, reaching a height of up to 25 m, with grayish-brown bark and yellowish-brown, gray or purplish-red branches; the leaves are ovate, long-ovate or elliptic to broadly elliptic, the flowers are white, and the fruit is kidney-shaped or nearly kidney-shaped, dark blue-black in color and turning red-black when ripe.

2. Where does the glossy privet tree come from?

The glossy privet tree is a subtropical tree species native to China, mainly distributed in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Anhui, Shandong, Sichuan and Guizhou, Hubei and Hunan, Guangdong and Guangxi, Fujian and other places. It is a commonly used ornamental tree species and can be planted alone or in clusters in courtyards, used as street trees, hedges, etc. Its ripe fruit is sun-dried to make a Chinese medicinal herb.

2. How is glossy privet fruit propagated?

1. Cultivation soil

Glossy privet fruit is a deep-rooted tree species with well-developed fibrous roots, fast growth and strong sprouting ability. It is not strict about soil requirements and is best cultivated in sandy loam or clay loam; it can also grow in red and yellow soils, and grows especially well in deep, fertile soil with high humus content. You can choose loam, sandy loam or light clay with fertile soil, convenient drainage and irrigation, and a deep plow layer, then apply base fertilizer, plow and harrow thoroughly, and level the land.

2. Propagation methods

Glossy privet fruit can be propagated by 4 methods: sowing, cuttings, layering and division.

(1) Sowing propagation: The seeds generally mature in November-December. Select trees with strong vigor, good form and strong resistance as mother trees for seed collection, choose healthy seeds, and air-dry them after harvest. They can be sown before the winter freeze or after the spring thaw. Winter sowing generally does not require pregermination and is mainly done by broadcasting; after sowing, cover with fine soil, water thoroughly, and wait for germination. For spring sowing, soak the seeds in hot water for 2 days, remove them and keep them moist for 4-5 days, then soak them in water at 25-30 degrees C to pregerminate, then drill-sow with a row spacing of 20 cm; after sowing, cover with fine soil, and seedlings emerge in about 1 month.

(2) Cutting propagation: At the end of the year, cut branches that sprouted and grew in the spring of that year; after cutting, store them in a cool place such as a cellar, and take cuttings in the spring of the next year. When taking cuttings, first make sure the top wound is smooth, cut the insertion part at a slant, keep 2-3 leaves on the aboveground part, and maintain a plant spacing of about 25 cm; roots will form in about 50-60 days.

(3) Layering propagation: In spring, choose thick, pest-free branches from robust trees, girdle the bark at the base, wrap the girdled part with moist soil in a plastic bag, then tie both ends of the plastic bag tightly. Roots generally form in the summer of that year; after rooting, cut it off from the base of the branch and transplant it into the soil for seedling management.

(4) Division propagation: In spring, choose trees with strong growth, lush branches and leaves, and many root suckers, cut the root suckers off from the base of the tree, and transplant them into a seedbed. Pay attention to planting density and carry out daily management; they will root and become independent plants in the same year.

3. How much did glossy privet fruit cost per jin in 2019?

1. Glossy privet fruit is a Chinese medicine, neutral in nature and sweet and bitter in taste, with effects such as nourishing the liver and kidneys, strengthening the lower back and knees, and darkening the beard and improving eyesight. It is generally picked in winter when the fruit is ripe, with the branches and leaves removed and then sun-dried, or the fruit is slightly smoked and then sun-dried, or blanched in hot water and then sun-dried. The dried fruit is ovate to ellipsoid, with a blue-black outer skin and wrinkles; when broken open crosswise, most are single kernels, the kernel is elliptic, purple-black outside and grayish-white inside.

2. Glossy privet fruit is considered best when the grains are large, plump, blue-black in color and solid in texture. According to the 8u58 medicinal materials website, the price of glossy privet fruit is about 3 yuan/jin; according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine World website, in the past month the price of glossy privet fruit was between 3-3.5 yuan/jin, and the specific price is subject to the local market price.

The above is an introduction to the propagation methods and price of glossy privet fruit; we hope it is useful to everyone.