Seedling raising method for Lanping apricot seeds

Abstract

The invention discloses a seedling raising method for Hong Ping apricot seeds, and belongs to the technical field of seedling raising of agricultural and forestry seeds. In order to solve the problems of low germination rate, poor radicle development and poor stress resistance in the existing Lengping apricot seed seedling culture, the key points of the technical scheme provided by the invention are as follows: selecting mature fruits, immersing the selected fruits in a lime aqueous solution, carrying out stack retting to clean fruit kernels, carrying out ultrasonic treatment to enable the crack depth of the fruit kernels to be 1 / 3-1 / 2 of the thickness of seed shells, soaking the shell-broken fruit kernels in a 500mg / L gibberellin aqueous solution, draining, and carrying out seedling culture; the method comprises the following steps of: digging a humus soil soaking solution, mixing the humus soil soaking solution with wet sand, spraying a coating solution containing the humus soil soaking solution to form a honeycomb porous coating layer, placing the honeycomb porous coating layer in a woven bag, digging a sand pit at a higher terrain, placing the woven bag into the sand pit, covering the sand pit with a thermal insulation matrix formed by mixing humus soil and fir sawdust in the Hong Ping apricot native land, and sowing after more than 70% of kernel radicles form a Y-shaped forked structure. The method is mainly used for efficient seedling raising of the Hong Ping apricot seeds, and the germination rate, radicle quality and seedling survival rate are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of plant seedling technology. More specifically, this invention relates to a method for cultivating seedlings from Hongping apricot seeds. Background Technology

[0002] Hong Pingxing ( Prunus hongpingensis It is a deciduous tree belonging to the genus Prunus of the Rosaceae family. It is a unique species in the karst landform region of southwestern my country, mainly distributed in limestone mountains at an altitude of 800-1500 meters. Its kernel contains amygdalin, flavonoids and polyphenols and other active substances, which have pharmacological effects such as antitussive and antiasthmatic, antitumor and antioxidant. It is one of the important original plants of the traditional Chinese medicine "bitter almond".

[0003] In recent years, with the surge in demand for natural medicines, wild Hongping apricot resources have been depleted due to over-harvesting and have been listed as a near-threatened species in the China Biodiversity Red List. Artificial breeding has become the core approach to the protection and utilization of this species, but its seed and seedling cultivation technology has long faced multiple technical bottlenecks.

[0004] Firstly, the physical barrier of the Hongping apricot seed coat is stubborn. The kernel of the Hongping apricot is highly lignified, with a seed coat thickness of 1.2–1.8 mm and dense calcium deposits. Traditional methods such as soaking in warm water (40–50℃) or mechanically breaking the shell easily damage the endosperm (damage rate >18%), resulting in a germination rate of less than 35%. Secondly, the deep dormancy characteristics of Hongping apricot seeds are complex, exhibiting both morphological and physiological dormancy mechanisms. Studies have shown that its radicle differentiation requires at least 90 days of low-temperature stratification to break dormancy. However, conventional sand storage treatment, due to temperature and humidity fluctuations (diurnal temperature difference >8℃), easily induces seed kernel mold (contamination rate 22%–30%), and the radicle tip rarely forms the "Y-shaped forking" structure that marks survival (natural occurrence rate <10%). Thirdly, Hongping apricot seeds are highly sensitive to the germination environment, exhibiting a symbiotic dependence on the native rhizosphere microbial community (such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi). Existing technologies using general seedling substrates (such as vermiculite and peat moss) can shorten germination time, but seedlings suffer from "root breakage syndrome" (root browning rate > 65%) after transplanting due to microbial imbalance, resulting in a survival rate of only 40% to 50% for transplanting in mountainous areas.

[0005] In existing technologies, the low formation rate (<10%) of the "Y-shaped forking structure" at the tip of the radicle is a core challenge restricting the seedling cultivation of Hongping apricots. Studies have shown that this structure is a morphological marker indicating that the embryo has completed physiological after-ripening and possesses normal metabolic capabilities, directly affecting seedling root development and stress resistance. Traditional sand storage treatment, due to uneven temperature and humidity and insufficient substrate microbial activity, leads to disordered radicle differentiation, making it difficult to directionally induce the formation of the Y-shaped structure. This results in fragile seedling roots after transplanting (taproot breakage rate >55%) and low survival rates. Although some technologies attempt to improve radicle development through hormone regulation, side effects such as abnormal forking and inhibition of meristematic tissue activity still exist. Therefore, how to precisely induce the formation of the Y-shaped forking structure of the radicle while breaking dormancy through seed coat treatment and synergistic regulation of environmental factors has become a key technical bottleneck in the efficient seedling cultivation of Hongping apricots.

[0006] The aforementioned problems severely restrict the large-scale seedling cultivation and ecological restoration applications of Hongping apricot. Current technologies lack systematic solutions for key aspects such as seed coat treatment, dormancy breaking, and microbial synergy. There is an urgent need to develop a highly efficient seedling cultivation method that balances seed coat breaking precision, radicle orientation induction, and maintenance of the native microecology. Summary of the Invention

[0007] One object of the present invention is to solve at least the above-mentioned problems and to provide at least the advantages that will be described later.

[0008] Another objective of this invention is to provide a method for cultivating seedlings of Hongping apricot seeds. This method uses ultrasound to precisely control the depth of seed coat cracks, which greatly reduces the endosperm damage rate. Combined with gibberellin soaking, honeycomb porous coating layer, and native humus substrate, it rebuilds the root symbiotic microbial community, thereby increasing the formation rate of Y-shaped branching structure of radicle to over 70%, increasing the survival rate to over 85%, and shortening the seedling cycle to 90-100 days.

[0009] To achieve these objectives and other advantages according to the present invention, a method for cultivating seedlings of Hongping apricot is provided, comprising: S1. Select mature Hongping apricot fruits and soak them in a lime water solution with a mass concentration of 4.8-5.2% for 12-15 hours. Take them out and pile them up for 18-24 hours to remove the pulp and obtain the Hongping apricot kernels, then wash them. S2. Treat the Hongping apricot kernels obtained in step S1 with ultrasound at a frequency of 35~38kHz for 8~10 minutes, with the ultrasonic power density controlled at 0.15~0.18W / cm³. 3 This allows the depth of the crack in the kernel to be controlled to 1 / 3 to 1 / 2 of the thickness of the seed coat, resulting in a broken kernel. S3. Soak the broken fruit kernels obtained in step S2 in a gibberellin aqueous solution with a concentration of 500 mg / L for 24-28 hours, and then drain. S4. Take the dried and cracked fruit kernels from step S3 and mix them with wet sand at a weight ratio of 1:2~4. After spraying the mixture with a coating liquid to form a honeycomb porous coating layer, place it in a woven bag. The coating liquid includes the root soil soaking liquid from the native Hongping apricot area. S5. Select a high-lying area to dig a sand storage pit, and place the woven bag containing the mixed seeds after step S4 in the sand storage pit. Fill it with a covering layer. Every 15 days, rotate the woven bag counterclockwise by 90° until more than 70% of the fruit kernels have formed the Y-shaped branching structure unique to Hongping apricot at the tip of the radicle. Take out the fruit kernels with the Y-shaped branching structure and sow them on the seedbed. The covering layer is a heat-insulating matrix made by mixing humus from the original apricot growing area of ​​Hongping with fir wood chips in a weight ratio of 2 to 3:1.

[0010] In the above technical solution, the pulp is first softened and disinfected by soaking in lime water, and then ultrasonic precision shell-breaking technology is used to create controllable cracks in the seed coat with a thickness of 1 / 3 to 1 / 2. Next, gibberellin solution is used to break seed dormancy, and then a honeycomb coating layer containing native root soil components is used to construct the seed micro-ecological environment. Finally, during dynamic sand storage, the physiological maturity of the seed is accurately determined through periodic displacement stimulation and Y-shaped radicle morphology recognition. The entire process achieves the organic combination of seed coat permeability regulation, endogenous hormone balance, and root adaptive cultivation through the synergistic action of four mechanisms: physical shell breaking, hormone activation, microenvironment simulation, and mechanical stimulation, thus achieving targeted regulation of Hongping apricot seedling cultivation.

[0011] According to the above technical solution, a specific workflow of the Hongping apricot seed propagation method is as follows: Pretreatment stage: Take mature Hongping apricot fruits, soak them in 5% lime water for 15 hours, pile them up for 24 hours to remove the peel and pulp, and rinse them several times with clean water to obtain the kernels. Place the kernels in an ultrasonic tank (frequency 37kHz, power density 0.16W / cm³). 3 The seeds were treated for 8 minutes, and microscopic examination was used to ensure that the crack depth reached 40%~50% of the seed coat thickness. Hormone treatment stage: After treatment, 2000 cracked seeds were selected and soaked in a 500mg / L gibberellin solution for 26 hours. After draining, they were mixed with moist sand and sprayed with a coating solution containing root extract from the native soil of Hongping apricot, forming a 2~5mm thick porous coating layer. Sand storage management stage: Sand storage pits 1.2m deep were dug at an altitude of 100~300m. The seeds mixed with moist sand were placed in woven bags and buried, then covered with a mixture of humus and fir sawdust (2.5:1). Every 15 days, the woven bags were rotated 90° counterclockwise. After 3 months, the bags were opened for inspection. More than 70% of the seeds showed Y-shaped branching of the radicle. Approximately 1200 superior seeds (with larger Y-shaped branches) were further selected and transplanted to a seedbed.

[0012] Preferably, during step S1, the Hongping apricot fruits are wrapped in a three-layer composite covering layer. The three-layer composite covering layer includes a first wet burlap layer, a bamboo charcoal fiber cloth layer, and a second wet burlap layer arranged from the outside to the inside. During the composting process, the Hongping apricot fruits wrapped in the three-layer composite covering layer are turned over every 7 to 8 hours and sprayed with slightly acidic water with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. The slightly acidic water is prepared by mixing citric acid solution and deionized water.

[0013] In the above technical solution, efficient pulp decomposition and seed protection are achieved by optimizing the covering structure and microenvironment control during the composting stage. Specifically, a three-layer composite covering (first wet burlap layer - bamboo charcoal fiber cloth layer - second wet burlap layer) is used to wrap the fruit. The outer first wet burlap layer is moisture-retaining and breathable, the middle bamboo charcoal fiber cloth layer adsorbs harmful gases (such as hydrogen sulfide) produced during fermentation, and the inner second wet burlap layer maintains uniform humidity on the pulp contact surface. Combined with turning the covering material every 7-8 hours and spraying slightly acidic citric acid water (pH 6.0-6.5, prepared from 0.05% citric acid solution and deionized water), the pH is controlled to inhibit the proliferation of putrefactive bacteria while promoting pectinase activity and accelerating pulp softening and separation. This application, through the triple action of physical barrier, gas adsorption, and humidity gradient control, forms an optimized microenvironment for pulp decomposition, avoiding the seed hypoxia or rancidity problems common in traditional composting. The fruit pit integrity rate can reach 98%, and there is no browning on the surface.

[0014] Preferably, after obtaining the cracked kernels in step S2, the cracked kernels should be placed in a vibrating sieve with an amplitude of 0.8~1.0mm to screen kernels with a particle size of 7~7.5mm and intact hilum.

[0015] Preferably, during step S3, the soaking process is performed in a dynamic temperature-controlled soaking system, using a periodic temperature-changing mode. The first stage involves heating the solution at a rate of 1.2–1.5°C per hour to 22–24°C and maintaining the temperature for 2–3 hours. The second stage involves cooling the solution at a rate of 1.0–1.2°C per hour to 12–13°C and maintaining the temperature for 4–5 hours. This process is repeated for three cycles, with the total soaking time controlled at 24–28 hours. During each cycle interval, the gibberellin aqueous solution is aerated to maintain the dissolved oxygen concentration at 5.5–6.5 mg / L.

[0016] In the above technical solution, seed metabolism is regulated through the synergistic effect of dynamic temperature control and aeration. A periodic temperature-changing mode is adopted: the first stage involves raising the temperature at 1.2~1.5℃ / h to 22~24℃ (activating gibberellin response gene expression) and maintaining this temperature for 2~3h to promote increased cell membrane permeability; the second stage involves lowering the temperature at 1.0~1.2℃ / h to 12~13℃ (inhibiting respiration consumption) and maintaining this temperature for 4~5h to extend the hormone absorption window. Aeration treatment (0.5~1.0L / min) at the interval of each cycle ensures that the dissolved oxygen concentration in the gibberellin aqueous solution is maintained at 5.5~6.5mg / L, which removes metabolic waste and prevents seed hypoxia. Through multiple temperature-changing cycles (total duration 24~28h), a dynamic balance between metabolic activation and nutrient accumulation is achieved, overcoming the problem of uneven hormone absorption caused by traditional constant-temperature seed soaking. The temperature-changing cycle improves the gibberellin absorption rate, thereby increasing the endogenous GA3 concentration; periodic low-temperature stimulation induces the production of low-temperature response proteins in seeds, improving seedling survival rate.

[0017] Preferably, the coating solution in step S4 comprises the following components by mass percentage: The composition consists of 0.08-0.12% ZnO nanoparticles with a particle size of 30-50 nm, 2.5-3.5% chitosan-polylactic acid complex, 1.0-1.5% trehalose, 10-16% soaking solution of root soil from the native Hongping apricot orchard, 0.05-0.08% sodium dodecyl sulfate, and the balance being a citric acid buffer solution with a pH of 6.2-6.4. The chitosan and polylactic acid complex has a mass ratio of chitosan to polylactic acid of 1:1.8~2.2. The soaking solution of the root soil from the native site of Hongping apricot is obtained by soaking the root soil from the native site of Hongping apricot in deionized water at a material-to-liquid ratio of 1:20~30g / mL and then taking the filtered soaking solution. After draining the shelled fruit kernels in step S3, mix them with wet sand, spray with coating liquid, and then instantly cool down to 4~6℃ and maintain for 10~12 hours. After returning to room temperature, a honeycomb porous coating layer will be formed on the surface of the mixture.

[0018] In the above technical solution, precise regulation of the seed microenvironment is achieved through gradient construction of composite functional materials and phase change control technology. The coating solution uses a chitosan-polylactic acid composite (mass ratio 1:2) as the film-forming matrix, embedding 30-50nm ZnO nanoparticles (0.1% loading) to provide broad-spectrum antibacterial function. Trehalose (1.2%) serves as an antifreeze protectant, and a root soil soaking solution (12%) introduces native microbial communities. After spraying, a low-temperature phase change at 4-6℃ induces rapid cross-linking of the chitosan molecular chains, while sodium dodecyl sulfate (0.06%) regulates the surface tension of the solution, forming a honeycomb structure with a porosity of 38%-42% (SEM shows that the ZnO nanoparticles in the coating layer are uniformly distributed on the pore walls). This technical solution is the first to achieve integrated functions of water retention and air permeability, antibacterial and bacteriostatic properties, and root induction through the synergy of nano-reinforcement, biocompatible matrix, and temperature-responsive film formation.

[0019] Preferably, in step S5, the bottom of the sand storage pit is provided with wavy ceramsite protrusions with a spacing of 16-18cm and a height of 6-10cm. Woven bags containing mixed seeds are placed on the troughs of the wavy ceramsite protrusions and arranged along the trough direction. The space between the woven bag containing mixed seeds and the sand storage pit wall is filled with volcanic rock particles with a particle size of 3-5mm.

[0020] Preferably, the operation of sowing to the seedbed in step S5 is as follows: a dovetail-shaped sowing trough with a depth of 10-12cm is opened on the surface of the seedbed, the bifurcation end of the radicle is placed facing the bottom sloping wall of the sowing trough, and then a rejuvenating substrate is layered and compacted to cover the sowing trough, so that the porosity of the rejuvenating substrate is 28-32%. The rejuvenating substrate includes Hongping apricot native soil, vermiculite and Hongping apricot leaf extract in a weight ratio of 4:1:0.3-0.5. The Hongping apricot leaf extract was obtained by the following method: Healthy leaves of Hongping apricot were collected, flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and ground into leaf powder with a particle size ≤0.1mm. The leaf powder was added to a citrate buffer solution with a pH of 5.8-6.2 at a material-to-liquid ratio of 1:15-20 g / mL. After ultrasonic extraction for 25-30 min, the supernatant was collected by centrifugation. The supernatant was concentrated to 1 / 5-1 / 3 of its original volume to obtain the Hongping apricot leaf extract. The Hongping apricot leaf extract contained flavonoids ≥12mg / mL, achieving targeted extraction of secondary metabolites of Hongping apricot leaves, such as flavonoids and alkaloids. Among them, the flavonoid active substances can directly enhance the antioxidant capacity of seedlings and significantly improve disease resistance.

[0021] The above technical solution achieves directional root development through the synergistic effect of biomimetic sowing structure design and functional matrix. Specifically, an asymmetric inclined support system is constructed using a dovetail-shaped sowing trough. The angle of the inclined wall constrains the contact stress distribution between the branching ends of the radicle and the matrix. Combined with the layered compaction technology of the rejuvenation matrix (soil from the native habitat of Hongping apricot: vermiculite: leaf extract = 4:1:0.4, total layer height 5-6cm), the porosity is precisely controlled at 28-32%. Among them, the leaf extract (containing flavonoids) induces lateral root differentiation, vermiculite regulates ion exchange capacity, and the dovetail trough shape forces the radicle to extend directionally along the inclined wall through mechanical guidance, forming a three-dimensional root network with enhanced shear resistance. After 30 days, the test showed that the length of the taproot increased by 5-6cm compared with conventional sowing, and the number of lateral roots was significantly greater than that of conventional sowing.

[0022] Preferably, an insect-repellent substrate layer is provided 2-4 cm below the planting hole on the seedbed, the insect-repellent substrate layer is 2-5 cm thick, and the insect-repellent substrate layer is made of Hongping apricot shell powder and sulfur in a ratio of 5-8:1.

[0023] The above technical solution constructs an underground pest control system through a synergistic physical-chemical process. A pest-repelling substrate layer composed of Hongping apricot shell powder and sulfur (mixed ratio 6:1) is laid 2-4 cm below the planting holes in the seedbed. The porous structure of the shell powder (pore size 20-50 μm) forms a physical barrier, blocking the upward path of underground pests. Simultaneously, the slow-release sulfur produces SO2 gas (concentration ≤0.15 ppm; harmful gases formed by the combination of SO2 and seeds after fermentation are adsorbed by the middle layer of bamboo charcoal fiber cloth), interfering with the pests' chemoreceptors. When the substrate layer is 3 cm thick, it can maintain an effective sulfur release period of 45-60 days. Furthermore, the residual apricot flavonoids in the shell powder synergistically enhance the repellent effect with sulfur, achieving the dual functions of pest control and root microenvironment improvement.

[0024] Preferably, the method for preparing and laying the insect-repellent base layer includes: Soak the shells of Hongping apricots in a 2-3% sodium bicarbonate solution for 3-4 hours, then wash and dry them until the moisture content is ≤8%. Grind the dried Hongping apricot shells using a high-energy ductile iron method at a ball-to-material ratio of 10:1 at a speed of 300-350 r / min for 2-3 hours to obtain Hongping apricot shell powder with a particle size of 50-80 μm. After passing the sulfur powder through a 200-mesh sieve, dry it in an environment of 45-50℃ for 1-2 hours for later use. Weigh out Hongping apricot shell powder and dried sulfur powder at a weight ratio of 5-8:1, add sodium carboxymethyl cellulose as a binder, mix, add deionized water, and stir to form a plastic paste-like mixture. The weight ratio of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose to Hongping apricot shell powder is 1:100-150; the weight ratio of deionized water to Hongping apricot shell powder is 1:5-8. Two to four locations below the planting holes in the seedbed, a custom mold is used to press the paste mixture into an insect-repellent base layer with a thickness of 2 to 5 cm. The custom mold has raised cylinders spaced 3 to 5 cm apart and with a diameter of 2 to 3 mm, which drives the base layer to form uniformly distributed breathable micropores. After pressing, a chitosan solution with a mass concentration of 0.2-0.3% is evenly sprayed on the surface of the insect-repellent base layer to form an antibacterial film. Then, a layer of rice husk charcoal with a mass concentration of 1-2 cm is placed on the antibacterial film. The rice husk charcoal is pre-soaked in a microbial agent with a mass concentration of 0.1-0.2% for 2-3 hours and then dried. The microbial agent includes Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis in a mass ratio of 1:1.

[0025] The present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: Firstly, the Hongping apricot seedling cultivation method provided by this invention reduces the rate of mechanical damage to the fruit pit by using lime water soaking combined with ultrasonic precise shell breaking; the synergistic effect of gibberellin soaking and periodic rotation of sand storage pit significantly activates the activity of radicle meristem, increasing the formation rate of Y-shaped branching structure to over 70%; the covering layer uses a mixture of native humus and fir sawdust substrate to maintain the stability of root symbiotic flora, increasing the transplant survival rate to 85% and shortening the seedling cultivation cycle to 90-100 days; Secondly, the Hongping apricot seedling cultivation method provided by the present invention adopts a three-layer composite covering layer of wet burlap-bamboo charcoal fiber cloth-wet burlap for composting, combined with spraying of slightly acidic water with pH 6.0~6.5, which can precisely control the humidity of the composting environment, inhibit the growth of mold on the surface of the fruit pit, and at the same time accelerate the enzymatic peeling of the pulp, improve the cleanliness of the fruit pit and the efficiency of subsequent processing. Thirdly, the Hongping apricot seedling cultivation method provided by this invention implements a dynamic temperature-controlled soaking system that cycles through heating at 22~24℃ and cooling at 12~13℃, and controls dissolved oxygen at 5.5~6.5mg / L, thereby increasing the gibberellin penetration rate, enhancing the activity of radicle meristem, effectively inhibiting the occurrence of malformed radicles, and shortening the dormancy breaking time of stratification to 24~28 days. Fourth, the seedling cultivation method of Hongping apricot provided by the present invention uses a coating solution containing ZnO nanoparticles and chitosan-polylactic acid complex. After film formation at a low temperature of 4-6℃, a honeycomb porous structure is formed, which improves the antibacterial rate and water retention rate. At the same time, the root soil soaking solution carries native flora, which improves the colonization rate of symbiotic bacteria in the seedling roots. Fifth, in the Hongping apricot seed propagation method provided by this invention, the bottom of the sand storage pit is filled with wavy ceramic granules (the trough spacing is 16~18cm) and volcanic rock particles, which optimizes the drainage path (the water seepage rate reaches 15mm / min), avoids water accumulation and seed rot, and induces the radicle to extend in a directional manner along the trough direction by periodically rotating the woven bag, thereby increasing the thickness of the main root. Sixth, in the seedling cultivation method of Hongping apricot provided by the present invention, an insect-repelling substrate layer of Hongping apricot shell powder and sulfur in a ratio of 5 to 8:1 is set under the seedbed to release volatile sulfur compounds, repelling underground pests such as grubs. In addition, the shell powder slowly degrades to replenish soil calcium and promote lignification of seedling roots.

[0026] Other advantages, objectives and features of the present invention will become apparent in part from the following description, and in part from those skilled in the art through study and practice of the invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to specific embodiments, so that those skilled in the art can implement it based on the description.

[0028] It should be understood that terms such as “having,” “comprising,” and “including” as used herein do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements or combinations thereof.

[0029] Example 1 S1, Pretreatment of fruit pits Mature Hongping apricots (from the same place of origin) were selected and soaked in a 5.0% lime solution for 14 hours to soften and sterilize the pulp. After being removed, they were piled up for 20 hours. The peel and pulp were removed to obtain the pits, which were then rinsed with clean water until no residue remained on the surface.

[0030] S2, Ultrasonic shell breaking process Place the washed fruit pits in an ultrasonic treatment tank, and set the ultrasonic frequency to 36kHz and the power density to 0.16W / cm³. 3 The seeds were processed continuously for 9 minutes. Microscopic examination confirmed that the crack depth of the kernel was 40% to 50% of the seed coat thickness (average seed coat thickness 0.6 mm, crack depth 0.24 to 0.30 mm), resulting in uniformly cracked kernels.

[0031] S3, Gibberellin activation treatment Cracking seeds with a diameter of 7-7.5 mm and an intact hilum were immersed in a 500 mg / L gibberellin aqueous solution at room temperature (25℃) for 26 hours, with gentle stirring every 6 hours. After draining, the seed moisture content was measured to be 18%-20%.

[0032] S4. Coating and Packaging Mix drained fruit kernels with wet sand (30% moisture content) at a weight ratio of 1:3. Evenly spray a coating solution containing root soil soaking liquid from the native habitat of Hongping apricots onto the mixture, controlling the coating thickness to 2-5 mm. After spraying, instantly cool the mixture to 4°C and maintain this temperature for 12 hours, then allow it to return to room temperature to form a honeycomb-like porous coating layer on the surface of the mixture. Pack the mixture into polyethylene woven bags and allow it to solidify to form the honeycomb-like porous coating layer. The coating solution comprises the following components by weight percentage: The composition consisted of 0.12% ZnO nanoparticles with a particle size of 30-50 nm, 3.5% chitosan-polylactic acid complex (chitosan and polylactic acid in a mass ratio of 1:2), 1.5% trehalose, 15% soaking solution of root soil from the native Hongping apricot orchard, 0.08% sodium dodecyl sulfate, and the balance being a citrate buffer solution with a pH of 6.2-6.4. The soaking solution of root soil from the native Hongping apricot orchard was obtained by soaking root soil from the native Hongping apricot orchard in deionized water at a material-to-liquid ratio of 1:30 g / mL and then filtering the resulting solution. S5, Dynamic Sand Storage and Sowing Dig sand storage pits 1.0m deep on well-drained slopes at an altitude of 200m. Place woven bags horizontally in the pits and cover them with a 25cm thick insulating substrate made of humus and fir sawdust in a 2.5:1 ratio. Rotate the woven bags counterclockwise 90° every 15 days. After 90 days, open the bags and inspect; more than 70% of the radicles of the fruit kernels should have formed a Y-shaped forked structure at the tip. Select qualified seeds and sow them in the seedbed.

[0033] Example 2 Based on Example 1, the S1 fruit pit pretreatment process involves wrapping the Hongping apricot fruit with a three-layer composite covering during composting. The three-layer composite covering includes a first wet burlap layer, a bamboo charcoal fiber cloth layer, and a second wet burlap layer arranged from the outside in. During the composting process, the Hongping apricot fruit wrapped with the three-layer composite covering is turned over every 8 hours and sprayed with slightly acidic water with a pH of 6.5. The slightly acidic water is prepared by mixing citric acid solution and deionized water.

[0034] S2~S5 are the same as in Example 1.

[0035] Example 3 Steps S1-S2 are the same as in Example 2; Step S3, based on Example 2, involves placing the seed soaking process in a dynamic temperature-controlled soaking system, executing a periodic temperature-changing mode: The first stage involves heating the solution to 24°C at a rate of 1.5°C per hour and maintaining the temperature for 3 hours. The second stage involves cooling the solution to 13°C at a rate of 1.2°C per hour and maintaining the temperature for 4 hours. This process is repeated for three cycles, with the total soaking time controlled between 24 and 28 hours. During each cycle interval, the gibberellin aqueous solution is aerated to maintain the dissolved oxygen concentration in the solution at 5.5–6.5 mg / L.

[0036] Steps S4-S5 are the same as in Example 2.

[0037] Example 4 Steps S1 to S4 are the same as in Example 3; Step S5, based on Example 3, involves setting wavy ceramsite protrusions with a spacing of 18cm and a height of 6-10cm at the bottom of the storage pit. Woven bags containing mixed seeds are placed on the troughs of the wavy ceramsite protrusions and arranged along the trough direction. The space between the woven bag containing mixed seeds and the pit wall is filled with volcanic rock particles with a particle size of 3-5mm.

[0038] Example 5 Steps S1 to S4 are the same as in Example 4; Step S5, based on Example 4, involves creating 12cm deep dovetail-shaped sowing troughs on the seedbed surface. The forked ends of the radicles are placed with the troughs facing the sloping bottom wall. A revitalizing substrate is then layered and compacted into the sowing troughs, resulting in a revitalizing substrate with a porosity of 28-32%. The revitalizing substrate comprises Hongping apricot native soil, vermiculite, and Hongping apricot leaf extract in a weight ratio of 4:1:0.5. The Hongping apricot leaf extract is obtained through the following method: Healthy leaves of Hongping apricot were collected, flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and ground into leaf powder with a particle size ≤0.1mm. The leaf powder was added to a citrate buffer solution with a pH of 5.8~6.2 at a material-to-liquid ratio of 1:20g / mL. After ultrasonic extraction for 30min, the supernatant was collected by centrifugation. The supernatant was concentrated to 1 / 3 of its original volume to obtain the Hongping apricot leaf extract. The flavonoid content in the Hongping apricot leaf extract was ≥12mg / mL.

[0039] Example 6 Steps S1 to S4 are the same as in Example 5; Step S5 adds, based on Example 5, an insect-repellent base layer 4cm below the planting hole on the seedbed. The insect-repellent base layer is 5cm thick and is made of Hongping apricot shell powder and sulfur in a 6:1 ratio.

[0040] Comparative example (natural sand stratification method) Seed treatment: After the Hongping apricot fruits were piled up for 48 hours to remove the pulp, the seed shells were mechanically cut, and the depth of the cut was random. Germination: Soak in 500 mg / L gibberellin at a constant temperature (room temperature) for 48 hours; Sand storage: The seeds were mixed with wet sand and buried in a sand pit without being coated or having an insulation layer. Every 15 days, the woven bag was rotated 90° counterclockwise. After 90 days, the bag was opened for testing and the Y-shaped embryonic root formation rate was less than 10%, and the root system had a single taproot structure.

[0041] Sowing: Direct sowing into an unimproved seedbed without a rejuvenation substrate resulted in soil compaction and a germination rate of less than 20%.

[0042] The seeds selected for Examples 1-6 and the Comparative Example were all from the same native region. Each treatment group contained 1000 seeds, and each group was replicated three times. The germination rate was calculated 30 days after sowing, as the percentage of germinating seeds to the total number of seeds sown. The successfully germinated seedlings from Examples 1-6 and Comparative Example 1 (with the same number of seedlings transplanted) were transplanted to the same field on the same day. The transplant survival rate was calculated 30 days after transplanting, as the percentage of surviving seedlings to the total number of transplanted seedlings. The overwintering survival rate was calculated the following spring after the initial greening period. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0043] Table 1 Results of seedling cultivation of Hongping apricot As shown in Table 1, compared to Example 1, Example 2, by adding a three-layer composite covering layer and spraying slightly acidic water during the composting stage, increased the Y-shaped radicle formation rate from 72% to 76%. Simultaneously, the germination rate, transplant survival rate, and overwintering survival rate also increased. This is because the adsorption properties of the bamboo charcoal fiber cloth reduce the accumulation of microbial metabolites during composting, the slightly acidic environment inhibits the reproduction of miscellaneous bacteria, promotes uniform softening of the fruit pulp, avoids mechanical damage to the seed pit, maintains moderate softening of the seed coat, and facilitates uniform shell breaking, laying the foundation for radicle development. Example 3, compared to Example 2, further introduced a dynamic temperature control system (periodic temperature variation and aeration) during the seed soaking stage, further increasing the Y-shaped radicle formation rate and achieving a germination rate of 95%. The temperature variation simulated the natural diurnal temperature range, breaking seed dormancy, while aeration maintained dissolved oxygen concentration, promoting aerobic respiration in the seeds, accelerating gibberellin absorption, and synergistically promoting radicle cell division, forming a Y-shaped branching structure (enhanced taproot differentiation). In Example 4, compared to Example 3, wavy ceramsite protrusions and volcanic rock particles were added to the bottom of the sand storage pit during sand storage. The germination rate was increased to 96% and the transplant survival rate reached 97%. The ceramsite protrusions increased the bottom air permeability, and the volcanic rock particles (porous structure) improved the drainage of the sand storage layer, avoiding water accumulation and seed rot. At the same time, the minerals in the volcanic rock can regulate the pH of the microenvironment, maintain the optimal state of micro-oxygen and humidity in the sand storage environment, promote aerobic growth of the embryonic roots, and reduce the risk of rot.

[0044] Example 5, compared to Example 4, adds a swallowtail-shaped seed tray with a rejuvenating substrate design, achieving a germination rate of 98% and an overwintering survival rate of 97%. The swallowtail shape guides the radicle to extend along the sloping wall, preventing the taproot from bending. Flavonoids (≥12mg / mL) in the rejuvenating substrate promote the development of lateral meristems, vermiculite improves porosity, and symbiotic microorganisms carried by the native soil enhance seedling resistance, collectively improving seedling uniformity and overwintering ability. Example 6, compared to Example 5, further adds an insect-repellent substrate layer and sets up a mixture of Hongping apricot shell powder and sulfur. The transplant survival rate reaches 99%, and the overwintering survival rate is increased to 98%. The shell powder contains natural insect-repellent components (such as polyphenols), and the sulfur releases sulfur vapor to inhibit nematodes and fungi. The two work synergistically to reduce underground pests and soil-borne diseases, reduce root damage during the seedling stage, and directly improve the survival probability.

[0045] In contrast, the comparative example used mechanical shell breaking, which resulted in uneven incision depths that easily damaged the embryo, leading to a Y-shaped radicle formation rate of only 41%. The continuous anaerobic environment during gibberellin soaking inhibited embryo activity, resulting in a germination rate of only 58%. The sand storage environment, lacking a protective coating layer, led to mold growth. The absence of an insulating substrate and significant temperature fluctuations during sand storage hindered radicle development. Furthermore, soil compaction in the seedbed resulted in root hypoxia after emergence, ultimately leading to a winter survival rate of only 65%. Compared to the comparative example, the technical means of this invention have the following significant advantages: Ultrasonic waves are used to precisely control crack depth, avoiding mechanical damage and creating channels for gibberellin penetration. By simulating natural temperature rhythms, the activity of seed amylase and protease is activated, improving germination rate. A micro-ecological barrier is constructed using biomimetic coating technology, forming a porous membrane that slowly releases trehalose (for moisture retention) and native soil microorganisms, promoting embryo colonization with local flora while maintaining a slightly acidic environment to inhibit fungal growth. A composite layer of aeration, drainage, and mineral supply is constructed using wavy expanded clay pebbles and volcanic rock, increasing oxygen content in the sandy environment and reducing hypoxia-related browning of the radicle. The native soil and extracts from Hongping apricot leaves form a dual mechanism of allelopathic substances and symbiotic bacteria, inducing lateral root differentiation. The insect-repellent layer formed by sulfur and Hongping apricot shell powder acts as a powerful physical barrier, greatly reducing the infestation of underground pests. The Hongping apricot seedling cultivation method provided by this invention features a comprehensive stress-resistant design (insect resistance, stress resistance, and frost resistance), significantly improving the seedling efficiency of the rare tree species Hongping apricot, achieving a leap from low survival rate to high stability, and laying the foundation for large-scale seedling cultivation of Hongping apricot.

[0046] The number of devices and processing scale described herein are for the purpose of simplifying the description of this invention. Applications, modifications, and variations of the Hongping apricot seedling cultivation method of this invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0047] Although embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed above, they are not limited to the applications listed in the specification and embodiments. They can be applied to various fields suitable for the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other modifications can be easily made. Therefore, without departing from the general concept defined by the claims and their equivalents, the present invention is not limited to the specific details and the specific embodiments shown and described herein.

Claims

1. A method for raising seedlings of Hongping apricot, characterized in that, include: S1. Select mature Hongping apricot fruits and soak them in a lime water solution with a mass concentration of 4.8-5.2% for 12-15 hours. Take them out and pile them up for 18-24 hours to remove the pulp and obtain the Hongping apricot kernels, then wash them. S2. Treat the Hongping apricot kernels obtained in step S1 with ultrasound at a frequency of 35~38kHz for 8~10 minutes, with the ultrasonic power density controlled at 0.15~0.18W / cm³. 3 This allows the depth of the crack in the kernel to be controlled to 1 / 3 to 1 / 2 of the thickness of the seed coat, resulting in a broken kernel. S3. Soak the broken fruit kernels obtained in step S2 in a gibberellin aqueous solution with a concentration of 500 mg / L for 24-28 hours, and then drain. S4. Take the dried and cracked fruit kernels from step S3 and mix them with wet sand at a weight ratio of 1:2~4. After spraying the mixture with a coating liquid to form a honeycomb porous coating layer, place it in a woven bag. The coating liquid includes the root soil soaking liquid from the native Hongping apricot area. S5. Select a high-lying area to dig a sand storage pit, and place the woven bag containing the mixed seeds after step S4 in the sand storage pit. Fill it with a covering layer. Every 15 days, rotate the woven bag counterclockwise by 90° until more than 70% of the fruit kernels have formed the Y-shaped branching structure unique to Hongping apricot at the tip of the radicle. Take out the fruit kernels with the Y-shaped branching structure and sow them on the seedbed. The covering layer is a heat-insulating matrix made by mixing humus from the original apricot growing area of ​​Hongping with fir wood chips in a weight ratio of 2 to 3:

1.

2. The method for raising seedlings of Hongping apricot as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In step S1, the Hongping apricots are wrapped in a three-layer composite covering layer during the composting process. The three-layer composite covering layer includes a first wet burlap layer, a bamboo charcoal fiber cloth layer, and a second wet burlap layer arranged from the outside to the inside. During the composting process, the Hongping apricots wrapped in the three-layer composite covering layer are turned over every 7 to 8 hours and sprayed with slightly acidic water with a pH of 6.0 to 6.

5. The slightly acidic water is prepared by mixing citric acid solution and deionized water.

3. The method for raising seedlings of Hongping apricot as described in claim 1, characterized in that, After obtaining the cracked kernels in step S2, the cracked kernels need to be placed in a vibrating sieve with an amplitude of 0.8~1.0mm to screen kernels with a particle size of 7~7.5mm and intact hilum.

4. The method for raising seedlings of Hongping apricot as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In step S3, the seeds are placed in a dynamic temperature-controlled soaking system, and a periodic temperature-changing mode is executed. The first stage involves heating the solution at a rate of 1.2–1.5°C per hour to 22–24°C and maintaining the temperature for 2–3 hours. The second stage involves cooling the solution at a rate of 1.0–1.2°C per hour to 12–13°C and maintaining the temperature for 4–5 hours. This process is repeated for three cycles, with the total soaking time controlled at 24–28 hours. During each cycle interval, the gibberellin aqueous solution is aerated to maintain the dissolved oxygen concentration at 5.5–6.5 mg / L.

5. The method for raising seedlings of Hongping apricot as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The coating solution described in step S4 comprises the following components by mass percentage: The composition consists of 0.08-0.12% ZnO nanoparticles with a particle size of 30-50 nm, 2.5-3.5% chitosan-polylactic acid complex, 1.0-1.5% trehalose, 10-16% soaking solution of root soil from the native Hongping apricot orchard, 0.05-0.08% sodium dodecyl sulfate, and the balance being a citric acid buffer solution with a pH of 6.2-6.

4. The chitosan and polylactic acid complex has a mass ratio of chitosan to polylactic acid of 1:1.8~2.

2. The soaking solution of the root soil from the native site of Hongping apricot is obtained by soaking the root soil from the native site of Hongping apricot in deionized water at a material-to-liquid ratio of 1:20~30g / mL and then taking the filtered soaking solution. After draining the shelled fruit kernels in step S3, mix them with wet sand, spray with coating liquid, and then instantly cool down to 4~6℃ and maintain for 10~12 hours. After returning to room temperature, a honeycomb porous coating layer will be formed on the surface of the mixture.

6. The method for raising seedlings of Hongping apricot as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In step S5, wavy ceramic granule protrusions with a spacing of 16-18cm and a height of 6-10cm are set at the bottom of the sand storage pit. Woven bags containing mixed seeds are placed on the troughs of the wavy ceramic granule protrusions and arranged along the trough direction. The space between the woven bag containing mixed seeds and the sand storage pit wall is filled with volcanic rock particles with a particle size of 3-5mm.

7. The method for raising seedlings of Hongping apricot as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The operation of sowing to the seedbed in step S5 is as follows: a swallowtail-shaped sowing trough with a depth of 10-12cm is opened on the surface of the seedbed, the bifurcation end of the radicle is placed facing the bottom sloping wall of the sowing trough, and then a layer of rejuvenation substrate is compacted and covered into the sowing trough so that the porosity of the rejuvenation substrate is 28-32%. The rejuvenation substrate includes soil from the native habitat of Hongping apricot, vermiculite and extract of Hongping apricot leaves in a weight ratio of 4:1:0.3-0.

5. The Hongping apricot leaf extract was obtained by the following method: Healthy leaves of Hongping apricot were collected, flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and ground into leaf powder with a particle size ≤0.1mm. The leaf powder was added to a citrate buffer solution with pH 5.8-6.2 at a material-to-liquid ratio of 1:15~20g / mL. After ultrasonic extraction for 25~30min, the supernatant was collected and concentrated to 1 / 5~1 / 3 of the original volume to obtain the Hongping apricot leaf extract. The flavonoid content in the Hongping apricot leaf extract was ≥12mg / mL.

8. The method for raising seedlings of Hongping apricot as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The seedbed is provided with an insect-repellent base layer 2-4cm below the planting hole on the seedbed. The insect-repellent base layer is 2-5cm thick and is made of Hongping apricot shell powder and sulfur in a ratio of 5-8:

1.

9. The method for raising seedlings of Hongping apricot as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The method for preparing and laying the insect-repellent base layer includes: Soak the shells of Hongping apricots in a 2-3% sodium bicarbonate solution for 3-4 hours, then wash and dry them until the moisture content is ≤8%. Grind the dried Hongping apricot shells using a high-energy ductile iron method at a ball-to-material ratio of 10:1 at a speed of 300-350 r / min for 2-3 hours to obtain Hongping apricot shell powder with a particle size of 50-80 μm. After passing the sulfur powder through a 200-mesh sieve, dry it in an environment of 45-50℃ for 1-2 hours for later use. Weigh out Hongping apricot shell powder and dried sulfur powder at a weight ratio of 5-8:1, add sodium carboxymethyl cellulose as a binder, mix, add deionized water, and stir to form a plastic paste-like mixture. The weight ratio of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose to Hongping apricot shell powder is 1:100-150; the weight ratio of deionized water to Hongping apricot shell powder is 1:5-8. Two to four locations below the planting holes in the seedbed, a custom mold is used to press the paste mixture into an insect-repellent base layer with a thickness of 2 to 5 cm. The custom mold has raised cylinders spaced 3 to 5 cm apart and with a diameter of 2 to 3 mm, which drives the base layer to form uniformly distributed breathable micropores. After pressing, a chitosan solution with a mass concentration of 0.2-0.3% is evenly sprayed on the surface of the insect-repellent base layer to form an antibacterial film. Then, a layer of rice husk charcoal with a mass concentration of 1-2 cm is placed on the antibacterial film. The rice husk charcoal is pre-soaked in a microbial agent with a mass concentration of 0.1-0.2% for 2-3 hours and then dried. The microbial agent includes Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis in a mass ratio of 1:1.

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