Key Techniques for Understory Cultivation of Camellia nitidissima in the Zhaoqing Region and Pest and Disease Control
In recent years, the price of Camellia nitidissima has remained high, with freeze-dried, gift-boxed Camellia nitidissima tea reaching over ten thousand yuan per jin, indicating a very broad market prospect. However, cultivation of Camellia nitidissima in the Zhaoqing region is extremely limited, and the cultivation techniques are relatively extensive, far from meeting market demand. Therefore
In recent years, the price of Camellia nitidissima has remained high, with freeze-dried, gift-boxed Camellia nitidissima tea reaching over ten thousand yuan per jin, indicating a very broad market prospect. However, cultivation of Camellia nitidissima in the Zhaoqing region is extremely limited, and the cultivation techniques are relatively extensive, far from meeting market demand. Therefore, expanding the scale of Camellia nitidissima cultivation and further standardizing understory cultivation techniques for Camellia nitidissima are essential. The following is a set of understory cultivation techniques for Camellia nitidissima adapted to the Zhaoqing region, summarized by an expert based on the geographical environment and climatic characteristics of Zhaoqing, supported by a science and technology project, and drawn from 5 years of understory planting trials of Camellia nitidissima.
1 Geographical Environment and Climatic Characteristics of Zhaoqing City
Zhaoqing City is located in the central-western part of Guangdong Province, in the middle reaches of the Xijiang River. The average annual rainfall is about 1650 mm, mainly concentrated from April to September; the annual evaporation is over 1300 mm; the frost-free period is 310-345 d, which is very suitable for the growth of Camellia nitidissima, making it one of the most optimal cultivation areas for Camellia nitidissima.
2 Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits of Camellia nitidissima
The upper surface of Camellia nitidissima leaves is dark green and glossy, while the underside is light green with black glandular dots. The midrib and lateral veins total 7 pairs, sunken above and raised below, with fine serrations along the margins.
During the seedling stage, it prefers shade and should not be exposed to strong light. After entering the flowering stage, it rather enjoys transmitted sunlight. It has low soil requirements and can grow in both slightly acidic and neutral soils, preferring acidic soil that is well-drained and loose in texture. Camellia nitidissima has average cold tolerance and will suffer cold damage when freezing occurs.
3 Understory Cultivation Techniques for Camellia nitidissima
3.1 Selection of Afforestation Site
Camellia nitidissima has relatively high requirements for the original forest land. Broadleaf tree stands or mixed coniferous-broadleaf forests are more suitable, preferably with fewer shrubs and ground cover. Areas with deep, fertile soil, good drainage, loose texture, high organic matter or humus content, and abundant, evenly distributed rainfall should be selected as planting sites.
According to research, the Southern Precious Tree Species Base in Jiaotang Town, Gaoyao District, Zhaoqing City was selected as the site for developing understory planting of Camellia nitidissima, planted beneath stands of precious tree species such as sandalwood (Santalum album) and Dalbergia odorifera. This forest stand has a reasonable canopy density and good ventilation, and the area is relatively contiguous and concentrated, which is conducive to manual management and tending.
3.2 Site Preparation
Clear the forest land by strip slashing of weeds, with the planting strip width being about 1-2 m. The cleared weeds are piled in strips for composting to increase soil humus and improve soil fertility. The row spacing should preferably be 2.5 m x 2.5 m. If Camellia nitidissima is grown for bud tea production, density can be relatively increased for close planting. Site preparation uses open-hole preparation, and the planting hole specifications depend on the size of the soil ball in the seedling nutrition bag; generally, the width and depth should be 15-20 cm larger than the soil ball. Site preparation is carried out in winter, allowing the hole soil a period of weathering and maturation, which helps improve soil fertility and eliminate pests and diseases in the soil. During site preparation, if a planting hole position happens to coincide with a tree or a shrub that needs to be retained, the position should be moved forward or backward, but the density per unit area should be ensured.
3.3 Planting
One month before afforestation, backfill the holes with soil, break up the clods inside the holes, and remove grass roots and stones, backfilling topsoil first and then subsoil. After backfilling topsoil to 1/3 of the hole depth, apply base fertilizer. The base fertilizer should preferably be a mixture of 4 kg of organic fertilizer and 0.25 kg of compound fertilizer, thoroughly turned and mixed with the topsoil. The backfilled soil should be 10 cm higher than the original ground surface.
Planting should preferably be completed before the end of March, and planting operations should be carried out on cloudy and rainy days after sufficient rain. When planting seedlings, the plastic film bag must be removed, the seedling straightened, and matured soil backfilled around the seedling. Press the backfilled matured soil firmly from outside inward by hand so that the seedling is in close contact with the original soil. The planting depth should generally be such that the root collar of the seedling is buried 7-10 cm into the soil. Ensure the seedling is upright, the root system is spread out, and the soil ball does not break apart. Be sure not to damage the roots. The soil surface of the backfilled hole should form a reverse slope with the hillside to reduce soil erosion.
3.4 Seedling Tending and Management
3.4.1 Brush Cutting and Weeding
Brush cutting and weeding can effectively reduce adverse competition from shrubs and weeds on Camellia nitidissima seedlings, and can also improve the ventilation environment of the forest land, significantly improving seedling survival rate and growth and development. The frequency of brush cutting and weeding depends on actual conditions, generally 4-6 times per year. Herbicides are prohibited; manual whole-hill brush cutting is required, cutting down shrubs and weeds in the forest land other than the target tree species, while also removing vines climbing on the seedlings, so as to prevent weakened photosynthesis or plant death caused by vines covering the tree body.
3.4.2 Fertilizer and Water Management
Camellia nitidissima is a fertilizer-loving plant, but does not like raw or concentrated fertilizer. Apply topdressing at least 2 times per year; if conditions permit, 3-5 topdressings are preferable. Use the furrow application method, with the fertilizer furrow located on the uphill side along the outer edge of the plant canopy projection. The furrow should be no less than 20 cm deep, 20-25 cm wide, and 30-40 cm long. Scatter the fertilizer in, cover with soil, and then irrigate thoroughly. Topdressing requires applying 0.3 kg/plant of compound fertilizer with a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium content of 45% or more. If the seedlings are relatively small, the application rate can be appropriately reduced.
Under normal conditions, water once daily at noon. During summer high temperatures and relatively dry periods, this can be increased to 2-3 times. In winter, watering once every few days is sufficient. Each watering should not merely wet the surface; it should soak through from top to bottom, but not excessively, so as to avoid root waterlogging that could cause seedling death.
3.4.3 Pruning
Excessive direct sunlight can cause leaf scorch in Camellia nitidissima, while too little light can affect growth and delay the flowering period. Therefore, prune the overstory tree species above Camellia nitidissima by removing leggy lateral branches, dominant branches, and diseased or weak branches. In principle, retain a clear main trunk of more than 1/2 of the tree height, keeping the canopy density at 0.5-0.7 to achieve the optimal light transmittance for understory planting of Camellia nitidissima. Camellia nitidissima branches evenly and has weak sprouting ability, so heavy pruning is generally unnecessary. Only remove diseased and dead branches, or appropriately carry out dwarfing pruning of Camellia nitidissima to facilitate harvesting operations during the picking season.
4 Pest and Disease Control
4.1 Common Pests
The common pests of Camellia nitidissima mainly include tea aphids (Toxoptera aurantii), red spider mites, citrus whiteflies, and scale insects, all of which primarily damage young seedling leaves. Pest management should adhere to the approach of "prevention first, integrated management." Pest and disease quarantine should be carried out before planting, and pest conditions should also be checked before overwintering. Promptly prune and centrally burn pest-infested branches to prevent large-scale pest outbreaks in spring and summer.
4.1.1 Tea Aphid (Toxoptera aurantii)
Adults and nymphs often gather on the undersides of young leaves and on tender shoots, and also damage tender buds and flower buds, causing buds, leaves, and flowers to shrivel and growth to stagnate. For the few tender shoots of Camellia nitidissima with high occurrence numbers and high pest population density, manual removal can be carried out to prevent pest spread. Commonly used agricultural pesticides include 2.5% rotenone 500-600 times dilution, 50% pirimicarb wettable powder 2000-3000 times dilution, 50% malathion emulsifiable concentrate 1500-2000 times dilution, 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate 1500-2000 times dilution, etc.
4.1.2 Red Spider Mite
Also known as leaf mite. After Camellia nitidissima leaves unfold, it damages the leaves, mainly on both sides of the main vein on the underside of the leaves, gradually spreading from several small colonies to the entire leaf. Manual control requires scraping the bark before overwintering eggs hatch and centrally burning it; after scraping, applying lime water to the trunk can kill most overwintering eggs. For chemical control, evenly spray 3000-5000 times dilution of fenazaquin, 20% clofentezine wettable powder 1500 times dilution, 40% dicofol emulsifiable concentrate 1000-1500 times dilution, etc.
4.1.3 Citrus Whitefly
Eggs are laid on the underside of leaves. Nymphs often gather on the underside of leaves to suck sap, inhibiting plant and fruit development and causing sooty mold. In severe cases, Camellia nitidissima cannot develop normally. For chemical control, spray 90% trichlorfon 800-1500 times dilution or 40% omethoate 1000 times dilution in the early morning or evening; during the peak nymph occurrence period, spray 40% methidathion 1500 times dilution or rosin soap 15-25 times dilution.
4.1.4 Scale Insects
Common species include red round scale, arrowhead scale, camphor scale, brown round scale, and cottony cushion scale. Scale insects insert their mouthparts into the body of Camellia nitidissima to suck sap, causing the plant to lose nutrients and suffer massive water loss, resulting in yellowing leaves, leaf drop, and withering of young buds and tender branches. The crawling period of first-instar nymphs and the peak hatching period of eggs are the key periods for control. Spray 40% omethoate 1000 times dilution, 50% malathion 1500 times dilution, 255 imidazole thiophosphorus 1000 times dilution, etc.
4.2 Common Diseases
The common diseases of Camellia nitidissima mainly include anthracnose, algal leaf spot, and red leaf blight. Among these, anthracnose has become the greatest obstacle to the current conservation of Camellia nitidissima resources and production development. In artificial cultivation and production, the conditions of Camellia nitidissima forest land must be closely monitored to strive to reduce the occurrence of various diseases.
4.2.1 Anthracnose
The most common disease of Camellia nitidissima, with an incidence rate as high as 80% in both wild and artificially cultivated Camellia nitidissima. It mainly occurs on leaves, with the peak incidence period from June to August each year. Continuous rainfall and rising temperatures both expand its range. Anthracnose prevention mainly lies in promptly discovering and removing diseased plants and maintaining a well-ventilated forest environment. For chemical control, spray 1% Bordeaux mixture and 75% thiophanate-methyl during the early spring new shoot period.
4.2.2 Algal Leaf Spot
Also known as white alga disease, it mainly harms old leaves of Camellia nitidissima. It is prone to occurring on Camellia nitidissima plants in overly shaded environments or with excessively high humidity, caused by parasitic rust algae, forming gray-green and yellow-brown lesions on the upper and lower surfaces of old leaves, affecting photosynthesis. The key points of algal leaf spot prevention lie in timely ditching and drainage after rain or when the groundwater level rises, to prevent moisture retention; timely pruning of leggy branches and diseased or dead branches to improve ventilation and light conditions in the forest land. For chemical control, begin spraying 0.6%-0.8% half-strength lime Bordeaux mixture or 0.5% copper sulfate solution at the early stage of onset in early spring or late autumn.
4.2.3 Red Leaf Blight
The causal agents are fungi of the genera Phyllosticta and related Deuteromycetes. It often occurs on tender leaves of artificially cultivated Camellia nitidissima, causing massive leaf scorch and defoliation. The disease generally begins in May, with the peak incidence from July to September. Red leaf blight prevention lies in increasing leaf misting during summer drought and high temperatures to maintain forest land humidity and suppress disease occurrence. For chemical control at the early stage of onset, spray 70% thiophanate-methyl 1000-1500 times dilution or 25% folpet 500 times dilution.
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Camellia nitidissima C. W. Chi Camellia nitidissima Illustrated Guide: How to Grow Camellia nitidissima / How to Propagate Camellia nitidissima
Camellia nitidissima ProfileCamellia nitidissima C. W. Chi
Cultivation Methods and Precautions for Camellia nitidissima Introduction to Camellia nitidissima
Golden Camellia is a traditional famous flower native to China and also a world-renowned precious ornamental plant. It is a rare flowering tree under first-class national protection. It is distributed in Guangxi and other places, generally growing in mountainous evergreen forests on non-calcareous soils. In addition to its high ornamental value, it can also be used for medicinal purposes.
Camellia nitidissima belongs to the family Theaceae and the genus Camellia, and is a twin sister to tea, camellia, Camellia nanyue, oil tea, and Camellia sasanqua. The flowers of Camellia nitidissima are golden yellow, dazzling and eye-catching, as if coated with a layer of wax, crystal clear and oily, with a sense of translucence. Camellia nitidissima flowers are solitary in leaf axils. When in bloom, they appear cup-shaped, pot-shaped, or bowl-shaped, charming and graceful, elegant and refined. Previously, people had never seen a species with golden yellow flowers. In 1960, Chinese scientists first discovered a golden yellow camellia in the Nanning area of Guangxi, which was named Camellia nitidissima. Abroad, it is called the magical Oriental tea, and is praised as the "giant panda of the plant kingdom" and the "queen of the tea family."
Morphological Characteristics of Camellia nitidissima
Shrub, 2-3 m tall, young branches glabrous. Leaves leathery, oblong or lanceolate, or oblanceolate, 11-16 cm long, 2.5-4.5 cm wide, apex caudate-acuminate, base cuneate, upper surface dark green, shiny, glabrous, lower surface light green, glabrous, with black glandular dots, midrib and lateral veins 7 pairs, sunken above, raised below, margins finely serrate, teeth 1-2 mm apart, petiole 7-11 mm long, glabrous.
Flowers yellow, axillary, solitary, pedicel 7-10 mm long; bracts 5, scattered, broadly ovate, 2-3 mm long, 3-5 mm wide, persistent; sepals 5, ovate to round, 4-8 mm long, 7-8 mm wide, slightly connate at base, apex rounded, slightly puberulent on the back; petals 8-12, suborbicular, 1.5-3 cm long, 1.2-2 cm wide, slightly connate at base, margins ciliate; stamens in 4 whorls, outer whorl slightly connate with petals, filaments nearly free or slightly united, glabrous, 1.2 cm long; ovary glabrous, 3-4 locular, styles 3-4, glabrous, 1.8 cm long.
Capsule oblate-triangular-globose, 3.5 cm long, 4.5 cm wide, dehiscing into 3 valves, valves 4-7 mm thick, axis 3-4-angled, apex 3-4-cleft; fruiting pedicel 1 cm long, with persistent bracts and sepals; seeds 6-8, about 2 cm long. Flowering period November-December.
Evergreen shrub or small tree, 2-6 m tall, bark pale yellow, smooth. Leaves alternate, broadly lanceolate to long elliptic. Flowers solitary in leaf axils or nearly terminal, golden yellow, petals fleshy, with waxy luster, cup-shaped, pot-shaped, or bowl-shaped when open, 3-6 cm in diameter; petals 9-11, broadly ovate to obovate or oblong, fleshy, with waxy luster; flowering period November to March of the following year. Capsule triangular-oblate, containing 6-8 seeds, seed coat dark brown, yellow-green, or purplish-brown; fruiting period October-December.
Ecological Habits of Camellia nitidissima
Camellia nitidissima prefers a warm and humid climate and well-drained acidic soil, and can grow in slightly acidic to neutral soils. It mostly grows in loose, well-drained shaded slopes and stream gullies. During the seedling stage, it prefers shade, and after entering the flowering stage, it rather enjoys transmitted sunlight. It has low soil requirements and can grow in slightly acidic to neutral soils. It tolerates barren conditions and also likes fertilizer. It has strong waterlogging tolerance. It often grows together with plants such as Gnetum montanum, Acacia pennata, Byttneria aspera, Phoebe zhennan, and Liriodendron chinense.
Environmental Requirements
Camellia nitidissima is a warm-loving plant belonging to tropical tree species, with relatively high heat requirements, but there are certain differences among species and at different growth stages. When introduced to a mid-subtropical climate, it can still grow and develop normally. Camellia nitidissima has the characteristic of preferring moisture and humidity. Different species and different growth periods have different requirements for moisture conditions; the vegetative growth period requires relatively higher moisture, while excessive rain during the flowering period can easily cause flower drop. Camellia nitidissima cannot tolerate direct sunlight and is a shade-loving and shade-tolerant plant. The required light intensity is generally 320-600 Lux, but there are differences among species. Under different light conditions, plant growth, fruiting ability, and regeneration capacity are positively correlated with canopy density.
Distribution Area of Camellia nitidissima
Distributed in Vietnam and in Guangxi and other places in mainland China, generally growing in mountainous evergreen forests on non-calcareous soils. It has not yet been introduced and cultivated artificially.
Camellia nitidissima is an ancient plant, extremely rare, with an extremely narrow distribution. 90% of the world's wild Camellia nitidissima is distributed only in the Lanshan branch range of the Shiwan Dashan Mountains in Fangchenggang City, Guangxi, China, growing below 700 m elevation, with 200-500 m being the more common range. The lower limit of vertical distribution is about 20 m elevation. For example, Camellia nitidissima is still distributed on coastal hilly terraces near Dawangjiang in Fangcheng County. The upper limit of vertical distribution can reach 890 m elevation; for example, individual small-petaled Camellia nitidissima can still be seen in Natao Dashan in Ningming County, with extremely small numbers, making it a rare and precious plant in the world.
Medicinal or Dietary Therapeutic Value of Camellia nitidissima
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The medical content on Huahua Network is for reference only and cannot be regarded as professional advice. Any health issues should be consulted with professional medical staff. Medicinal Value
According to tests by authoritative institutions such as the Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Health Supervision and Inspection Center, the Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety of the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Analysis and Testing Research Center, Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medical University, and the Experimental Center of Guangxi Agricultural College: Camellia nitidissima is non-toxic, contains more than 400 nutrients, and has no toxic side effects. It is rich in various natural nutritional components such as tea polysaccharides, tea polyphenols, total saponins, total flavonoids, tea pigments, caffeine, protein, vitamin B1, B2, vitamin C, vitamin E, folic acid, fatty acids, and B-carotene. Camellia nitidissima contains dozens of amino acids such as theanine and threonine, as well as trace elements with important health benefits for the human body such as natural organic germanium (Ge), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), zinc (Zn), and vanadium (V), and macro elements such as potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). Its main functional components and effects are as follows:
Tea Polysaccharides: Camellia nitidissima is rich in polysaccharide substances. Polysaccharides can effectively control the rise in postprandial blood sugar and improve glucose tolerance, and can improve lipid metabolism disorders, with obvious blood sugar-lowering effects.
Tea Polyphenols: Camellia nitidissima is rich in tea polyphenols. Tea polyphenols can scavenge free radicals, reduce the rise in DM blood sugar, thereby improving glucose tolerance and stabilizing blood sugar.
Total Saponins: The saponin content of Camellia nitidissima is 6300 mg/kg. It strengthens the heart, dilates blood vessels and relieves fatigue, slows heart rate and has biphasic blood pressure effects, promotes the biosynthesis of DNA, protein, and lipids, quenches thirst and promotes salivation, discharges pus and reduces swelling, soothes the throat and relieves pain, and reduces fever and pain.
Total Flavonoids: The total flavonoid content of Camellia nitidissima is 4400 mg/kg. It dilates coronary vessels, lowers high blood pressure, enhances cardiac contraction, reduces heart rate, quenches thirst and resolves phlegm, has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, resists capillary fragility and abnormal permeability, has anti-tumor effects, protects the liver and promotes bile flow, has purgative and antispasmodic effects, has follicular hormone-like effects, reduces fever and pain, lowers cholesterol, and promotes diuresis.
Tea Pigments: Camellia nitidissima is rich in tea pigments, which lower blood sugar, urine sugar, blood lipids, and glycated hemoglobin, reduce insulin resistance, improve blood rheology, and alleviate microcirculation disorders. They lower cholesterol and triglycerides and increase high-density lipoprotein, with preventive and therapeutic effects on DM complications such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and atherosclerosis.
Selenium (Se): Camellia nitidissima contains selenium. Selenium is a component of glutathione peroxidase in human red blood cells and has antioxidant effects, protects cell membranes, and protects the cardiovascular system. Chinese scientists have also found that selenium is an effective drug for treating Keshan disease and Kashin-Beck disease. In addition, selenium also has detoxifying functions, reducing the toxicity of aflatoxin B1, has detoxifying effects on certain chemical carcinogens, and can also reduce toxin damage to liver cells.
Germanium (Ge): Camellia nitidissima contains germanium, which can lower the bioelectric potential of cancer cells, change their physiological state, inhibit the proliferation and growth of cancer cells, and also induce interferon, an anti-cancer substance in the human body, and can induce macrophages to transform into anti-cancer cells, so some people use germanium to treat cancer. In addition, germanium also has obvious therapeutic effects on vascular sclerosis, cerebral thrombosis, cerebral hemorrhage, kidney and liver diseases, stomach diseases, diabetes, arthritis, and chronic neuralgia.
Zinc (Zn): The zinc content of Camellia nitidissima is 283 mg/kg, which is a high zinc content. Zinc is related to active enzymes in the human body, such as carboxypeptidase, an important enzyme that promotes protein hydrolysis in the intestinal tract; this enzyme contains zinc. Zinc can increase appetite, promote growth and development, promote tissue regeneration, enhance sexual function, enhance immune function, enhance resistance, and also protect vision.
Vanadium (V): Related to the metabolism of lipids and cholesterol. It can promote hematopoietic function and significantly reduce plasma cholesterol. Vanadium-deficient animals show increased serum triglycerides and increased cholesterol content. Research shows that the serum total cholesterol and beta-lipoprotein of animals in the Camellia nitidissima group are significantly lower than those in the high-fat control group; serum total cholesterol: the Camellia nitidissima group decreased by 35% compared with the high-fat group; the clofibrate group decreased by 33.2% compared with the high-fat group; beta-lipoprotein: the Camellia nitidissima group decreased by 36.6% compared with the high-fat group; the clofibrate group decreased by 23% compared with the high-fat group (clofibrate is a globally recognized cholesterol- and blood lipid-lowering drug).
Manganese (Mn): Relatively high content; it is an essential trace element for the human body and participates in various enzymatic reactions. It can improve lipid metabolism in patients with atherosclerosis. It prevents atherosclerosis. The incidence of arteriosclerosis in the American population is relatively high, and the concentrations of Mn, Cr, and Cu in their aorta are lower than those in Asian and African populations with lower incidence of arteriosclerosis and coronary heart disease.
Potassium (K): Can maintain intracellular osmotic pressure and maintain normal cardiac contraction.
Vitamin B1: Camellia nitidissima is rich in vitamin B1, which has therapeutic effects on preventing glucose metabolism disorders and maintains the normal functions of the nervous system, digestive system, and heart.
Vitamin B2: Participates in the body's redox reactions and maintains the normal mechanism of the retina.
Vitamin C: Camellia nitidissima is rich in vitamin C, which can maintain the normal toughness and permeability of capillaries, thereby enabling DM patients with originally fragile capillaries to restore normal function through drinking tea.
Vitamin A: Has the effects of preventing night blindness and cataracts and fighting cancer.
Effects of Camellia nitidissima:
1. Camellia nitidissima has obvious effects in lowering blood sugar and urine sugar, and can effectively improve the "three highs" symptoms of diabetes. While effectively lowering blood sugar and blood pressure, Camellia nitidissima can effectively lower blood lipids, improve various uncomfortable symptoms caused by high blood pressure, lower serum cholesterol and B-lipoprotein, promote insulin secretion, enhance immunity, regulate blood flow, prevent atherosclerosis, have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, clear heat and detoxify, relieve constipation and promote urination and remove dampness, enhance liver metabolism, prevent cancer and inhibit tumor growth, etc.
2. Camellia nitidissima has unique and remarkable effects on lowering blood sugar, blood pressure, blood lipids, and cholesterol, and on diabetes and its complications, playing a synergistic and balancing regulatory role.
Health Benefits
1. Anti-cancer effects:
Selenium (Se): It can prevent the formation of free radicals. It can destroy epoxides formed by carcinogens in the body. Na2SeO3 can inhibit DNA synthesis in rat liver cancer cells and reduce DNA synthesis in the human rectal adenocarcinoma cell line HR8348. Se can also selectively act on many biochemical metabolic processes of tumor cells to achieve anti-cancer effects.
Germanium (Ge): It is known that all human organs have their fixed electrical potential. The electrical potential of cancer cells is both high and changes dramatically. Ge may control and lower the electrical potential of cancer cells through dehydrogenation.
Molybdenum (Mo): It has anti-chemical carcinogenic effects against benzo(alpha)pyrene.
Tea Polyphenols: Experts from the Japanese Cancer Association believe they can control the proliferation of cancer cells.
2. Effects of lowering cholesterol and ?lipoprotein:
Mo: It can improve lipid metabolism in patients with atherosclerosis. It prevents experimental atherosclerosis.
Since Camellia nitidissima was discovered, according to determinations by authoritative departments of modern medicine and related scientific research institutions: Camellia nitidissima is non-toxic and rich in trace elements such as germanium (Ge), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), molybdenum (Mo), and vanadium (V), which have important health benefits for the human body. Camellia nitidissima leaves also contain various amino acids, tea polyphenols, saponins, flavonoids, and other beneficial components needed by the human body. In addition to being ornamental, its flowers can also be used as medicine, can treat bloody stool and excessive menstruation in women, and can also be used as edible dye. In addition to being brewed as a beverage, the leaves also have medicinal value.
Camellia nitidissima has obvious effects on regulating human blood lipids, blood sugar, and cholesterol and enhancing body immunity. It can improve various uncomfortable symptoms caused by high blood pressure, and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, clears heat and detoxifies, promotes urination and reduces swelling, enhances liver and kidney vitality, prevents blood artery sclerosis, prevents cancer and inhibits tumor growth, etc. According to surveys, Camellia nitidissima has long been used among the people to refresh the mind, clear liver fire, relieve heat toxin, and nourish vitality. There are pharmacological records of Camellia nitidissima in "A Brief Compendium of Guangxi Ethnic Medicines," "Guangxi Standards for Chinese Medicinal Materials," "Proceedings of the China Fangcheng International Academic Conference on Camellia nitidissima," "Proceedings of the China Guangxi International Symposium on Camellia nitidissima," "Chinese Zhuang Medicine," and "Dictionary of Medicinal Plants."
Uses and Ornamental Value of Camellia nitidissima
The discovery of Camellia nitidissima filled the gap in the tea family that had no golden yellow flowers. Its waxy green leaves are crystal clear and glossy, the petals are translucent, firm, bright, and smooth, and spotless; the flower buds are round and full, overflowing with golden color; the petals overlap densely, fresh and beautiful, adorning the jade-like leaves and branches, with graceful charm, golden petals and jade stamens, beautiful and delightful, pleasing to the eye, with incomparable ornamental value.
Scientific Research Value
Camellia nitidissima has a special color genetic gene DNA, and its reproduction is difficult to replicate. Using high-tech methods to solve the survival genes of multiple excellent seedlings for rapid propagation of Camellia nitidissima and overcome the difficult problem of its low survival rate; breaking through the key technologies of slow growth and low yield of Camellia nitidissima to greatly increase the yield of large-scale Camellia nitidissima planting; and deeply developing a new generation of world-class medicinal and health products from Camellia nitidissima for the benefit of human health, all have extremely important scientific research value.
Economic Value
The economic value of Camellia nitidissima is extremely high. First, flower appreciation carries a high price. A Camellia nitidissima bonsai 1-1.5 m tall with a relatively good shape is priced at 8000 yuan; one about 2 m tall is priced from 26,000 yuan to tens of thousands of yuan. Japan once offered 25,000 USD per plant to buy Chinese Camellia nitidissima. Second, the added value of Camellia nitidissima is extremely high. Products produced through industrialized deep processing have gained recognition and favor from a broad range of consumers, with prices rising steadily, especially flower tea, whose price is considerable and trending toward supply falling short of demand.
Propagation Methods of Camellia nitidissima
It can be propagated by sowing, grafting, and cutting. Seeds have a short lifespan and should be collected promptly and sown immediately after collection; they can germinate in the same year, and 2-year-old seedlings can be transplanted in spring; collect and insert immediately, and they can germinate in the same year, with 2-year-old seedlings able to be transplanted in spring; seedlings generally can flower after 7-8 years.
For cuttings, current-year branches can be used. Spring is the better time. Cuttings can be treated with naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) at 50 ppm or 100 ppm for 20 hours.
Grafting is preferably done in autumn. Air layering uses moss as the substrate and should be kept moist. For tissue culture, cotyledons, hypocotyls, stem tips, and other materials are used as explants, and modified ER medium can be used to obtain complete plants, with a high survival rate after transplanting. Transplanting wild seedlings has a low survival rate and is not suitable.
Cultivation soil should be breathable and not water-accumulating. During the seedling stage, a shade shed must be set up. North of the Yangtze River basin, pot cultivation is preferable, and in winter it must be moved into a greenhouse.
Seed Propagation:Camellia nitidissima fruits generally mature in early to mid-October and split open in late October. Seeds have no after-ripening dormancy period after maturity. For seed propagation, autumn sowing is preferable. In early to mid-October, place the harvested fruits in a ventilated indoor area to dry in the shade. After the capsules split and the seeds are removed, sow immediately. If autumn sowing cannot be carried out, store the seeds in moist sand and carry out spring sowing in February of the following year.
Cutting Propagation:The suitable period for cutting propagation of Camellia nitidissima is from April to early May, and it can also be done in mid-to-late September. Select current-year semi-mature branches from the outer canopy that are full in tissue, have complete leaves, plump leaf buds, and no pests or diseases. The cutting length is generally 15 cm, with 2 leaves retained at the tip and a heel at the base. After treating the branches with IBA 300 ppm for 5 hours, insert them into the seedbed at a spacing of 10-14 cm x 3-4 cm, with the cutting inserted about 3 cm deep into the soil. The key to successful tea seedling cuttings is maintaining sufficient humidity in the early nursery period, strictly avoiding direct sunlight, and controlling the temperature at around 25°C. Spray water frequently so that the seedlings are often covered with a thin film of water. After 1 month, once new roots have grown, gradually increase sunlight to accelerate lignification of the tea seedlings.
Grafting Propagation:Camellia nitidissima grafting propagation is divided into bud seedling rootstock grafting and semi-mature branch grafting. Bud seedling rootstock grafting. Common single-petaled camellia and oil tea camellia can be used as rootstocks. First sow the rootstock seeds in a sand bed. When the seedlings grow to 4-5 cm, they can be grafted. Before grafting, dig out the rootstock bud seedlings, clean off the sand grains, cut them short 1-1.5 cm above the cotyledons, and also cut off the root tip portion, so that the total length is 6-7 cm; select well-grown semi-lignified branches as scions, cut them into wedge shapes, and place them in a wet towel to keep moist. When grafting, split the stem lengthwise along the cotyledon suture line of the bud seedling with one cut, with the depth matching the cut surface of the scion. Quickly insert the prepared scion into the rootstock split, align the cambium on one side of the rootstock and scion, and tie tightly with plastic film tape. Then plant the grafted seedlings in a fertile, loose sandy soil seedbed at a spacing of 8 x 2 cm. After planting, build a shed over the seedbed and use plastic film for insulation. Generally, the graft union begins to heal in 10-15 days, and the film can be uncovered at night after about 20-25 days. Thereafter, gradually increase ventilation and light. After new buds sprout, remove all the film.
Semi-mature branch grafting. Usually, thick tea camellia or adult oil tea seedlings are used as rootstocks. For rootstock branches with a diameter of more than 1 cm, use the bark-peeling graft method, that is, at an appropriate part of the rootstock, make one cut each on the top, left, and right, deep to the xylem, and peel down the bark. Place the scion on the inner side of the peeled rootstock bark, then pull the bark up to wrap the scion, bind it with plastic tape, expose the bud tip, and cover with a plastic bag to keep moist. After 1 month, when the scion has produced new branches and gradually lignified, remove the binding. If the rootstock thickness is similar to the scion, the side graft method is preferable. The success of semi-mature branch grafting mainly depends on control of the seedbed temperature and selection of the grafting period. The suitable temperature for grafting is 25-30°C, and the suitable grafting period is from May to August. At this time, the rootstock bark is easy to peel open, the graft union heals quickly, and the survival rate is high.
Tissue Culture:Embryo culture, cotyledon in vitro culture, and stem tip and single bud culture of Camellia nitidissima have been successful. Research results show that the induction of bud formation and rooting in test-tube plantlets is related to factors such as the position of material collection, inorganic salt concentration, vitamins, sucrose, growth regulators, and light. Embryo culture. Take embryos during the immature stage of young fruits. Based on ER and MS media, add 0.5-1 mg/L 6-BA, 0.01 mg/L NAA, 6%-8% sucrose, 500 mg/L hydrolyzed lactalbumin, and other additional components for culture. Roots grow in about 1 week, and after 2 weeks the epicotyl germinates and new buds emerge. Cotyledon in vitro culture. Camellia nitidissima cotyledons are a good material for inducing embryoids, especially the part near the hypocotyl, with a relatively high induction frequency of 15%-25%. During induction, cut the cotyledons into 0.5 mm pieces. The induction medium is 1/2 MS with 0.2 mg/L 6-BA and 0.2 mg/L NAA added. During the induction process, adventitious buds and false bulbils appear simultaneously. False bulbils have strong meristematic ability, and using false bulbils can again induce embryoids, adventitious buds, and false bulbils. Stem tip and single bud culture. Stem tip and single bud culture is an important pathway for rapid propagation of Camellia nitidissima. It is convenient for material collection, has a high multiplication rate, and is genetically stable. Explants are current-year young tender stem tips and single buds. The medium is MS with 6-BA or KT added. Research shows that the multiplication number of stem tips and single buds increases with increasing 6-BA concentration, but when the 6-BA concentration reaches 5.0 mg/L, the rate of malformed seedlings is high and growth is poor. The combined use of 6-BA 2.0 mg/L and KT 0.5 mg/L results in robust test-tube plantlet growth, a low rate of malformed seedlings, and a high multiplication number, making it an ideal growth regulator ratio for inducing multiplication.
Cultivation Techniques of Camellia nitidissima Cultivation Overview
1. Create a suitable environment. Camellia nitidissima prefers semi-shaded, semi-cool, and humid environments, and requires regular ventilation, especially in the north. In the glass warm cellar, in addition to being equipped with a boiler and radiator for heating, self-made atomizers, exhaust fans, and other facilities were also installed.
2. Use pine needle soil mixed in proportion, gradually replacing the "yellow mud" brought from the south.
3. The water used for watering flowers must be mixed with 1% ferrous sulfate each time, so that the water always maintains a certain weak acidity.
4. In addition to good environmental ventilation, it should also be given regular "physical exercise": blow air over it once every 2 weeks, and the airflow must be even when blowing. The purpose is to promote balanced metabolism and normal development through this "exercise."
5. Control the temperature. The temperature difference should be between 7°C and 10°C. When the cellar temperature is 20°C, lower the shade cloth after four or five hours, then ventilate immediately.
6. Fertilization. One option is diluted sour milk, which can be used directly without fermentation. Another traditional method is fermented soybean cake water. Fertilizing once a month is enough.
Flowering Period Management
Golden Camellia generally flowers only after 3~5 years of planting. Yellow flower buds usually appear in July~August each year. At this time, some weak branches' buds, inward-facing buds, overly dense buds and deformed buds can be removed, which concentrates nutrients, makes the flowers more evenly distributed, larger, and extends the flowering period. Golden Camellia does not open fully until November, and continues flowering until March of the following year, with the peak flowering period lasting 1~2 months.
Golden Camellia Planting Techniques
Golden Camellia is a rare tree species. In its place of origin, Guangxi, due to forest logging and the large-scale digging of wild seedlings, wild germplasm resources have been severely damaged, and the population is decreasing year by year. Governments at all levels have also strengthened protection. In 1996, the Golden Camellia National Nature Reserve was established in Fangcheng, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, so that Golden Camellia has been effectively protected. The market price of Golden Camellia is high. This year, wild Golden Camellia has basically disappeared, and artificial cultivation of Golden Camellia has become an inevitable choice.
Golden Camellia is mainly distributed in low mountain or hilly areas at an altitude of 100~700 m. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree, and prefers a warm, humid, semi-shaded climate. It is not tolerant of direct strong light and is relatively shade-tolerant. It requires slightly acidic, well-drained, fertile soil.
Golden Camellia can be propagated by grafting, cuttings, layering and tissue culture. Seeds can be sown once mature; seedlings grown from seed take about 7~8 years to flower. Cuttings mostly use one-year-old branches and are carried out in spring, grafting is best in autumn, and layering can be done at any time during its growing period. The flowering period of Golden Camellia is from November each year to March of the following year. A single flower can last up to 10 days, and a single tree can bear more than two hundred flowers. When in bloom, the branches are full of flowers, brilliant as gold, making it a rare tree species in winter. It is suitable for group planting or mass planting in gardens, and can also be grown as a potted ornamental.
Section 1 Distribution
Golden Camellia is the collective name for plants of the Golden Camellia section of the genus Camellia in the family Theaceae. It was first discovered in 1993 by Chinese botanist Zuo Jinglie in Fangcheng, Guangxi. At present, 40 species and 5 varieties of the Golden Camellia section are known in the world. Apart from 10 in Vietnam and 1 each in Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou, the remaining 28 species and 4 varieties are all distributed in the subtropical southern margin and tropical northern margin areas within Guangxi, China, including Fangcheng, Ningming, Pingxiang, Longzhou, Chongzuo, Fusui, Daxin, Tiandeng, Long'an, Wuming, Pingguo, Tiandong and Bobai counties (cities). Vertical distribution is mostly in low mountains and hills at an altitude of 50~650 m, on both sides of mountain gullies and streams on platforms, and in limestone peak-cluster valleys, and it is especially common under evergreen broad-leaved forests at an altitude of 120~350 m. Guangxi has become the modern geographical distribution center of Golden Camellia and is known as the hometown of Golden Camellia.
Golden Camellia is an ancient plant, extremely rare, with a very narrow distribution. 90% of the world's wild Golden Camellia is distributed only in the area of the Lanshan branch of the Shiwan Dashan in Fangchenggang City, Guangxi, China, growing below an altitude of 700 m, and is more commonly found between 200-500 m in altitude. The lower limit of its vertical distribution is about 20 m in altitude.
Among the plants of the Golden Camellia section, besides Golden Camellia, species with high ornamental value also include Camellia impressinervis, Camellia nitidissima var. phaeopubisperma, Camellia pubipetala, and Camellia chrysanthoides.
Camellia impressinervis is produced in the evergreen broad-leaved forests of the limestone areas of Longzhou and Daxin, Guangxi. The tree form is relatively short and small, the flowers and leaves are both relatively large, the flowers are pale yellow, and the flowering period is long. The main vein, lateral veins and reticulate veins are all obviously sunken, and the leaf surface is uneven, with a peculiar form and high value for both foliage and flowers.
Camellia nitidissima var. phaeopubisperma is found in valley rainforests by earthen valleys and streams in Fangcheng, Guangxi. The tree form is relatively good, the yellow petals are deep yellow, and the leaves are broad and large. Old leaves reach 19 cm in length and 1.5 cm in width; young leaves reach 27 cm in length and 10.5 cm in width. The leaf veins are sunken on the underside of the leaf and raised on the back, making the leaf surface appear uneven, so it is valuable for both foliage and flowers. The flowering period is from November to January of the following year, and the fruit ripening period is November~December.
Camellia pubipetala is found in evergreen broad-leaved forests on the slopes of limestone hills in Long'an and Daxin, Guangxi. The flowers are pale yellow; the bracts, sepals, the outside of the petals and the filaments are all covered with short soft hairs, and the ovary and style also have short soft hairs, with the base of the yellow style connate. The flowering period is from November to April of the following year, and the fruit ripening period is October~November. Camellia multipetala is produced in limestone hills and mixed shrub forests in Fusui, Guangxi. The flowers are deep yellow, without waxiness; the bracts, sepals and the inner side of the petals are covered with gray-white short soft hairs; there are relatively many yellow petals, 11~17, up to 19 at most. The flowering period is February~March.
Section 2 Suitable Growing Environment
Golden Camellia prefers a warm and humid climate and likes well-drained acidic soil. It prefers shade at the seedling stage, and after entering the flowering stage it quite likes transmitted sunlight. It has no strict requirements for soil and can grow in slightly acidic to neutral soil. It is tolerant of poor soil but also likes fertilizer. It has strong waterlogging tolerance. It is not tolerant of direct strong light and is relatively shade-tolerant; under strong light the leaves die. It grows below an altitude of 700 m, is more commonly found between 200-500 m in altitude, and the lower limit of its vertical distribution is about 20 m in altitude.
The main distribution area has an average temperature of 21~23°C, an average January temperature of 12.1~14.4°C, an extreme minimum temperature of about 0°C, an average July temperature of 27~23°C, and an extreme maximum temperature of 40°C. Annual precipitation is 1130~1700 mm, the dry and wet seasons are relatively distinct, the dry season lasts as long as half a year, the air in the forest area is humid, and the average annual relative humidity is about 80%. It is shade-tolerant and is a lower-layer component tree species of northern tropical monsoon forests and valley rainforests. The main associated tree species include Excentrodendron hsienmu, Garcinia paucinervis, Cephalomappa sinensis, Cephalomappa sinensis, Dracontomelon duperreanum, Deutzianthus tonkinensis, Saraca dives, Garcinia multiflora, Mytilaria laosensis, Hopea chinensis, Antiaris toxicaria, etc. Young trees need to grow under shaded conditions, while mature trees grow better under sparse shade. It prefers environments with high humidity and little light under the shade of trees or in shrubs in gullies, and grows poorly on sunny slopes. It is tolerant of damp heat and avoids dryness and direct sunlight. The suitable soils for Golden Camellia are acidic soils of lateritic red earth and latosol, and calcareous limestone soil, requiring a pH value of 4.5~6.5, deep soil layers, texture from clayey to loose, high soil organic matter and water content, and good structure. It is a deep-rooted tree species, with well-developed main roots, very few lateral roots and fibrous roots, strong sprouting ability, and can regenerate by sprouting. During the seedling stage it sprouts and grows leaves in all three seasons of spring, summer and autumn. Mature trees produce new shoots twice a year, and the young leaves are purplish red. It buds in July~August, the flowering period is from November to April of the following year, the peak flowering period is in January~February, each flower opens for about 10 d, and the fruit ripens in October~December. Under natural conditions, as long as temperature and humidity are suitable, the seeds germinate relatively easily after falling to the ground.
Section 3 Propagation and Cultivation
Propagation by sowing, grafting and cuttings. The cultivation soil should be breathable and not water-retentive. A shade shed must be set up during the seedling stage. North of the Yangtze River basin, pot cultivation is preferable, and in winter it must be moved into a greenhouse. Golden Camellia plants are warmth-loving plants and belong to tropical tree species, with relatively high heat requirements, but there are certain differences among species and at different growth stages. When introduced to a mid-subtropical climate, they can still grow and develop normally. Golden Camellia has the characteristic of liking moisture and humidity. There are differences among species and at different growth stages in their requirements for water and moisture conditions; the vegetative growth period requires relatively more, while excessive rain during the flowering period easily causes flower drop. Golden Camellia cannot endure direct sunlight and is a shade-loving and shade-tolerant plant. The required light intensity is generally 320-600 Lax, but there are differences among species. Under different light conditions, plant growth, fruiting ability and regeneration capacity are positively correlated with the degree of shading. Golden Camellia plants are divided into two major categories: acid-loving and acid-tolerant Golden Camellia, and calcium-loving and calcium-tolerant Golden Camellia. Under natural conditions, Golden Camellia has not been seen appearing on the two different types of soil, but under artificial introduction and cultivation, limestone mountain types can grow on acidic soil. Golden Camellia growing on the two different types of soil have different requirements for ash and elements.
1. Propagation Techniques
1. Cuttings
In the rainy season from May to June, select young mother trees and cut one-year-old tender branches from the top, about 10 cm long, remove the lower leaves, cut flat below the node with a blade, keep one terminal bud and one lateral bud at the top, and 2~3 leaves, then insert into a medium of river sand or gravel, with the insertion depth 1/3~2/3. After insertion, cover with grass curtains for shade, strengthen foliar misting, maintain air humidity in the cutting bed, and promote rooting. To improve the survival rate of cuttings, soak the cuttings in a 50~100 ppm ABT rooting powder solution for 8~12 hours.
2. Grafting
Select vigorous seedlings or camellia varieties that root easily from cuttings as rootstock, cut off at 4~5 cm from the ground diameter, split through the pith about 1.5 cm deep, use 1~2-year-old branches as scions, keep 1~2 leaves on the upper part of the scion, cut the lower part into a wedge shape, insert it into the split opening of the rootstock, make sure the cambium layers of both sides are closely joined, and then bind tightly with plastic tape.
Post-grafting management: after grafting, cover the scion with a plastic bag and tie it below with a strap, but not too tightly, so that water droplets form inside the bag and continuously drip onto the rootstock. Then add a paper bag outside the plastic bag to shade it from direct sunlight.
3. Bud Cuttings
Use each bud node as a section, keep one leaf, about 1.5 cm long, cut diagonally at the lower part, then insert into the medium, with the depth just covering the branch. This method can make full use of branches and is suitable for large-scale propagation needs.
2. Transplanting
1. Open-field planting of Golden Camellia
1) Choose fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic loam soil, with a pH value between 5.5~6.
2) Planting time: spring planting in February~March, mainly with small seedlings; autumn planting after November has better results.
3) Fertilization: Camellias do not like heavy fertilizer. Generally, before flowering in October~November and after flowering in April~May, fertilize 2~4 times. Fertilizers mainly use compound fertilizer and compost, combined with an appropriate amount of phosphate fertilizer; (the fertilization principle is to apply lightly and frequently. Apply more to strong seedlings, and less or none to weak seedlings).
4) Camellias grow slowly and should not be heavily pruned; the crown develops evenly, so no special pruning is needed either. It is only necessary to cut off diseased and pest-damaged branches, overly dense branches, weak branches and leggy branches. For newly planted seedlings, moderate pruning may also be done to ensure survival. Bud thinning is an important part of cultivation management. Generally, keep at most 3 flower buds per branch and maintain a certain spacing, which can reduce excessive nutrient consumption by the plant and affect flowering. The flowering period of camellias lasts as long as half a year. Removing withered flowers in time is greatly beneficial for reducing nutrient consumption and strengthening tree vigor.
5) Pest and disease control and intertillage weeding. The main diseases of camellias include brown spot disease, chlorosis, and moss parasitism on branches. Pests include red spider mites, various scale insects, stinging moths, rose sawflies, etc. The occurrence of pests and diseases greatly affects tree vigor and ornamental value. The control methods are respectively: for brown spot disease, spray Bordeaux mixture before spring sprouting, then continue spraying every half month for prevention, and pay attention to drainage and fertilization, remove damaged leaves and burn them. Chlorosis is mainly caused by a lack of trace elements in the soil, and can often be prevented and controlled by applying ferrous sulfate or magnesium sulfate solution. For red spider mites and various scale insects, spray rosin mixture and strengthen ventilation. For various stinging moths, rose sawflies, etc., use 40% omethoate 400~155 times solution or 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate 1000~1200 times solution for spraying control. Intertillage and weeding and cleaning the garden can also effectively prevent and control pests and diseases, strengthen tree vigor, and make flowers larger. Intertillage and weeding are required 6~7 times throughout the year.
2. Pot Cultivation of Golden Camellia
1) Pot soil selection: choose slightly acidic, loose, fertile mixed soil as pot soil. The ratio of the mixed soil is 6 parts garden soil, 3 parts pine leaf humus soil, and 1~2 parts sandy soil.
2) Pot selection: clay pots are better for cultivation. The ratio of pot size to seedling is: for camellias with a seedling height of 40~50 cm and a crown width of 20~25 cm, the pot diameter is about 20 cm. Other sizes follow the same pattern. For commercial seedlings, purple clay pots are better and can improve the ornamental effect.
3) Pot seedling selection: choose plants that are vigorous, have a main trunk, are single-stemmed without branches, have a beautiful crown, tender green leaves, and no pests or diseases.
4) Watering management: for newly planted seedlings, water thoroughly the first time, then water frequently within 2 months to keep the pot soil moist. After that, water in the same way as other potted flowering plants. The frequency depends on climatic conditions, following the principle of keeping the soil moist. Water more in spring to meet the needs of sprouting and shoot growth; in summer it is best to water in the morning and evening; in the rainy season prevent water accumulation; in autumn drought, water in time; in winter, to prevent freezing, water at noon.
5) Shading and cold protection: camellias should be given sufficient sunlight in spring and the rainy season, and shaded and cooled in summer and autumn; when the winter temperature drops to zero, they need to be moved indoors for cold protection.
6) Flowering control is mainly achieved through variety selection, temperature control and hormone treatment to advance or delay flowering. For example, to delay flowering, choose late-flowering varieties and subject them to low-temperature control (a cold storage above 2~3 degrees, storing plants that have been wrapped for cold protection), which can delay flowering by one month. To make them flower earlier, choose early-flowering varieties such as Xiaotaohong, Xueta, Simianjing, etc., and then apply heavy fertilizer and hormone treatment. The method is to apply heavy fertilizer after spring growth stops and flower buds form, so that the young branches after flowering become plump and mature early and stop growing early; in mid-July or early August, use a brush to apply 500~1000 PPm gibberellin to the flower buds, once every three days, accompanied by reasonable water and fertilizer; in September, depending on the plumpness of the flower buds, apply gibberellin again. If the requirement is not met, appropriately increase the number of applications, continue to accompany with water spraying and topdressing, and the flower buds will grow rapidly, allowing earlier flowering from late September to November.
Section 4 Fertilization
Golden Camellia likes fertilizer, but is afraid of raw fertilizer and concentrated fertilizer, and even more so should not be given too much at one time. It is best to "apply frequently and lightly" so that it will have abundant flowers and lush leaves. From March to April, when Golden Camellia is growing branches and leaves, apply fermented cake fertilizer water mainly based on nitrogen 3~4 times to promote new bud germination and shoot growth; from May to June, during the bud differentiation period of Golden Camellia, apply liquid fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus and potassium 3~4 times in succession, such as superphosphate, bone meal, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, and fully decomposed liquid fertilizers such as chicken, duck and pigeon manure water and fishy water, to promote flower bud formation and enhance drought resistance; from September to November, apply mixed liquid fertilizer 2~3 times to promote flower bud plumpness and enhance cold resistance. However, in the hot summer (July~August) and the severe cold season (December~February), fertilization is generally not needed.
Disease Control of Golden Camellia
Common diseases of adult Golden Camellia include anthracnose, sooty mold, leaf blight, bud blight, etc. Anthracnose is a common disease of Golden Camellia, and the main pests include aphids, scale insects, etc.
The lesions begin from the leaf tip or leaf margin. The lesions are irregular and often have small black dots on them, with a clear boundary between diseased and healthy parts. Usually, a 70% thiophanate-methyl 800 times dilution is used for foliar spraying at the early stage of disease onset, once every 5~7 days, for 3 consecutive sprays. The spraying amount is 60 kg per mu.
The symptoms of sooty mold are a soot-like substance on the leaves. The pathogen also harms branches and tender shoots. In severe cases, the branches and leaves are covered with a black sooty layer, hindering the plant's normal photosynthesis.
The main pest causing the disease is aphids. Control can start with aphid control, using 50% dimethoate emulsion 1000 times solution for spraying.
Tea aphids, leaf rollers, tea tussock moths, etc. are common pests of Golden Camellia. Tea aphids and leaf rollers can cause the leaves of Golden Camellia to curl and shrink and unable to extend. Tea tussock moths bite the leaves into missing pieces or eat them completely, seriously affecting plant growth. Control should be carried out early, and a high-efficiency, low-toxicity, low-residue pyrethroid emulsifiable concentrate 800 times solution can be selected for spraying.
Golden Camellia anthracnose mainly harms leaves, fruits, tender shoots and tender buds. The control method is to strictly carry out seedling quarantine, and immediately destroy diseased seedlings when found. Before sowing, soak seeds with 0.2 of ceresan or 50% thiram 1000 times solution for 24 h. Spray 1% Bordeaux mixture in early spring, and from June to August spray 1% Bordeaux mixture plus 1%~2% tea seed cake water monthly.
Golden Camellia red leaf blight is a common leaf disease in nurseries. A shade shed can be built in the nursery for shading, and in drought, increase foliar water spraying, or at the early stage of disease onset spray 70% thiophanate 1000~1500 times solution or 20% folpet 400 times solution for control.
Tea aphids begin to cause damage in mid-March and are severe in May~June. When aphids occur in large numbers, they gather in groups to damage tender branches, tender leaves and flower buds, causing leaf shrinkage and inducing sooty mold, affecting plant growth. The control method is, at the early stage of aphid occurrence, spray 50% dimethoate emulsion 1000 times solution on the trees where aphids are concentrated.
Cultural Background and Protection of Golden Camellia
Golden Camellia is an ancient primitive plant, with a low fruit-setting rate, difficult to propagate, and a narrow distribution. The vast majority is distributed in southern Guangxi, China, and it is a rare and precious plant in the world. Four taxa in the Golden Camellia section are listed as national first- and second-class key protected plants, and are plant species in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Species Protection
It is equally famous with precious "plant living fossils" such as Cathaya argyrophylla, Alsophila spinulosa and Davidia involucrata. It is one of China's eight national first-class protected plants (State Council document, 1984.7), a plant species in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is called the magical Oriental magic tea abroad, and is honored as the "giant panda of the plant kingdom" and the "queen of the tea family."
In order to allow this national treasure to reproduce and flourish, Chinese scientific researchers are working together on hybridization and selective breeding experiments to cultivate even better varieties. Kunming, Hangzhou, Shanghai and other places in China have already introduced and cultivated it.
Golden Camellia is the only golden one among the more than one hundred species of camellias in the world. It is a subtropical evergreen shrub or small tree of the genus Camellia in the family Theaceae. The bark is grayish green, the leaves are oblong-elliptic, and the leaf margins have shallow serrations. It flowers from November to February each year, with a flowering period as long as 4 months.
In 1960, Chinese scientific researchers first discovered a golden-yellow camellia in the Nanning area of Guangxi, and it was named Golden Camellia. The discovery of Golden Camellia caused a sensation in the global horticultural and news circles, and received great attention from horticulturists at home and abroad. It is considered the best original material for breeding golden-yellow camellia varieties.
Golden Camellia has golden flowers, and most species have a waxy luster, crystal-clear and lovely. The flower shapes include cup-shaped, pot-shaped, bowl-shaped and plate-shaped, etc., with diverse forms, beautiful and elegant. Among the camellia group, it is honored as the "queen of the tea family." Golden Camellia is equally famous with precious "plant living fossils" such as Cathaya argyrophylla, Alsophila spinulosa and Davidia involucrata. It is one of China's eight national first-class protected plants, a plant species in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is called the magical Oriental magic tea abroad, and is honored as the "giant panda of the plant kingdom."
Legend of Golden Camellia
According to legend, a very, very long time ago, one day, the Queen Mother of the West in ancient mythology sent the tea immortal Lu Yu to grow tea at Baishiya in the Shiwan Dashan of Guangxi, but again and again the tea seeds planted disappeared without a trace. For this reason, after many investigations, Lu Yu learned that it was a golden flower snake, green all over with gold, that was doing mischief. It dug out the tea seeds planted by Lu Yu one by one and swallowed them into its belly as food. Seeing this, Lu Yu was very angry and swung the cloud-driving whip bestowed on him by the Queen Mother of the West at the golden flower snake. The golden flower snake, caught off guard, was struck by the divine whip at the vital spot seven inches from its head, and the pain made it roll in midair. It struggled violently and crawled with difficulty toward the southwest. As the pain worsened, it fell at the border of Ningming, Longzhou and Shangsi in Guangxi, in the dense forest at the southern foot of Shiwan Dashan, and died. After the golden flower snake died, the tea seeds had been gestating in its belly for a period and then sprouted, bursting through the rotting snake body. With a wave of the rain-calling whip, a heavy rain washed the tea sprouts from the golden flower snake's belly onto the land, where they took root and grew. After several springs and autumns, the unusual tea trees multiplied into patches of verdant tea forest. Perhaps due to the influence of the golden flower snake's brilliant color genetic genes, the tea planted personally by the tea immortal Lu Yu, irrigated by the spring water attached to the mountains and valleys, produced tea flowers that were very peculiar, unprecedentedly large and dazzlingly golden. The Queen Mother of the West named it - Golden Camellia.
Plant Culture: City Flower
Fangcheng District is the first discovery site and distribution center of Golden Camellia in China, bringing together 23 species and 5 varieties of the 32 species and 7 varieties of Golden Camellia existing in nature. China's only Golden Camellia national nature reserve named after a protected plant is located in Fangcheng District. The Golden Camellia species gene bank with the most complete species and the largest number of Golden Camellia in the world was built in this reserve (the reserve was approved for establishment by the State Council in 1994, with a total area of 9195.1 hectares, including a core area of 729.4 hectares and a buffer zone of 4139.5 hectares). In 2002, Golden Camellia was designated as the city flower of Fangchenggang City. In December 2009, Fangcheng District was named "Hometown of Chinese Golden Camellia" by the China Economic Forestry Association. In November 2011, Golden Camellia obtained national geographical indication protected product status.
Golden Camellia Festival
Since the first Golden Camellia Festival was successfully held in 2009, the Golden Camellia Festival has become one of the four major cultural festival brands promoted by Fangchenggang City. The Golden Camellia industry has also developed rapidly, with a number of leading enterprises emerging, such as Guirentang Golden Camellia, Zhonggang Gaoke Guobao Golden Camellia, and Baixi Golden Camellia. A series of Golden Camellia products have respectively won Guangxi Famous Brand Products and Guangxi Famous Trademarks. The products sell well in domestic and foreign markets, with an annual output value exceeding 1.2 billion yuan.
Golden Camellia Pictures