What are the latest propagation methods for Pinellia ternata? A detailed explanation

Pinellia ternata is an important medicinal herb in China's treasury of traditional Chinese medicine, grown only in China and Japan in Asia. For the propagation and cultivation of Pinellia ternata, three methods are generally used: underground corm propagation, bulbil propagation and seed propagation.

Corm propagation

When digging up the corms around Cold Dew, select the smaller ones as seed, bury them in moist soil in a cool, ventilated place, and around Qingming the following year, transplant them into the field at a row spacing of 10 × 6 cm, not too deep, about one inch is enough; at a soil temperature of 15--20 °C, they will sprout in half a month, using 40 to 50 kg of seed per mu.

Bulbil propagation

In summer and autumn, after the above-ground parts wither, the bulbils under the leaf stalks are just forming and can be picked off as seed; open holes at 6 to 8 cm, sow 2 per hole, cover with 3 cm of soil, press down lightly, apply an appropriate amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, keep the moisture balanced, and strengthen management after sprouting. Bulbil propagation is currently the main method of propagating Pinellia ternata, with reliable germination and an early maturity period.

Seed propagation

Select two-year-old Pinellia ternata seeds, prepare the land and make beds around Qingming, and at a row spacing of 8 to 10 cm, sow them on a trial basis in the bed; cover the seeds with about 2 cm of soil, press firm and then water so the seeds settle evenly on the ground, cover with wheat straw or rice straw, keep moist, remove the straw after sprouting, thin the seedlings at 6 cm, weed, strengthen management, using about 3 jin of seed per mu. Whichever method of propagation is used, field management must be strengthened, sufficient base fertilizer applied, and if seed is not to be kept, the flower scapes removed to increase yield.