Morchella, as one of the four famous bacteria in the world, is expensive in the international market. The yield of wild Morchella is extremely limited, and some genetic resources are on the verge of extinction due to a large number of collections. However, relying on the scientific research team of Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China has broken through the artificial cultivation technology of Morchella, and China can eat the cheapest Morchella in the world.
Edible value of Morchella esculenta
Morchella has a unique taste and fresh flavor, which contains 18 amino acids, including 8 essential amino acids that cannot be synthesized by human body.
Its rich nutrition and important medicinal value make Morchella known as a natural, nutritious and multifunctional health food. Because the yield of wild Morchella is extremely limited, the domestic and international markets are in short supply, and a large number of collections lead to the extinction of some genetic resources.
Systematic study on open fungi in China
In order to promote the protection and sustainable utilization of many important fungi, including Morchella, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences initiated a systematic study of large fungi in southwest China.
After nearly half a century of discipline construction and personnel training, it has formed an important mycological research team at home and abroad. The research content covers fungal systematics, fungal developmental biology, biogeography, fungal chemistry, conservation biology, domestication and cultivation of rare fungi, etc.
Since 2007, researchers have continuously collected, evaluated and selected excellent strains of Morchella in China, and obtained more than 8,920 strains.
It was found that China is the center of modern species diversity of Morchella in the world, and more than 30 core strains of Morchella with high quality and high yield were screened, including Kunzhi 1 and Kunzhi No.2. Studies have proved that 14 species of Morchella and Morchella from Liu Mei are all heterothallism, revealing the complex life history of Morchella.
Kunming Institute of Botany published related patents and papers.
It was also found that the instability of yield was caused by the rapid degradation of strains. Based on the specificity of mating gene, the early detection technology of 1+ 1 mating gene was innovatively put forward, which solved the problem of detecting high and stable yield strains of Morchella.
Through the continuous efforts of researchers, the research on Morchella has achieved fruitful results, and 19 related articles have been published successively. He applied for 33 national invention patents, won 12 national authorized invention patents, and won 2 provincial and ministerial science and technology awards. These theoretical and technological innovations provide a solid theoretical basis and strong technical support for high and stable yield cultivation of Morchella.
Create a new mode of Morchella cultivation management
In order to solve the contradiction between supply and demand of Morchella esculenta, protect Morchella esculenta resources and realize sustainable development and benefit sharing, the research team creatively put forward a brand-new planting management model of spring sowing and summer harvesting, summer sowing and autumn harvesting, and autumn sowing and winter harvesting.
The fruiting rate of field cultivation increased by 20-30%, and the planting period was shortened from 120- 180 days to 60- 100 days, which realized the efficient cultivation of Morchella all year round. Recently, the research team succeeded in industrialized cultivation of Morchella, which opened up a new way for the utilization of such resources.
Large-scale cultivation of Morchella esculenta
Morchella has achieved standardized and large-scale cultivation. At present, the planting area of Morchella is increasing in China, Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu, Guizhou, Chongqing and other provinces and cities.
The cumulative demonstration planting in China has reached more than16800 mu, and the economic benefit has reached more than1500 million yuan, effectively helping remote mountainous areas to get rid of poverty and revitalize the countryside. The project has been well received by the local government, enterprises and farmers, greatly reducing the collection of wild Morchella.