The fruit of Ligustrum lucidum

Ligustrum lucidum is an evergreen shrub or tree of the genus Ligustrum of the Oleaceae family, which can reach a height of 25 meters; the bark is grey-brown. Branches are yellowish brown, gray or purple, cylindrical, with sparse round or oblong lenticels.

Ligustrum lucidum is a subtropical tree species with dense foliage and neat tree shape. It is a commonly used ornamental tree species and can be planted alone or in clusters in courtyards, street trees, hedges, etc. Ligustrum lucidum is native to China and widely distributed in the Yangtze River Basin and the south. It is also cultivated in North China and Northwest China. It can withstand low temperatures of about -10°C and is a native tree species widely used in landscaping.

Cultivation technology

Propagation and sowing

Ligustrum lucidum should be sown in loam, sandy loam and light clay soil with leeward direction, fertile soil, convenient drainage and irrigation, and deep cultivation layer. . After applying base fertilizer, plow and harrow carefully to ensure that the top is empty and the bottom is solid, and the land is flat. The base fertilizer is mainly manure. Applying more base fertilizer will help increase the ground temperature and maintain soil moisture. Encourage seeds to absorb water and germinate. Add 50 phoxim EC 6.0~7.5L/hm2 and add 45kg of fine soil and mix well. Remove it evenly on the surface before plowing the ground. During soil preparation, bury it in the soil to eliminate underground pests. The bed surface should be leveled.

Ligustrum lucidum seeds mature from November to December. After the seeds mature, they are often covered with waxy white powder. They must be harvested at the right time. Choose a tree with strong growth, good posture and strong resistance as the mother tree for seed collection. You can use high branch shears to cut off the fruit ears, smooth out the fruits, immerse them in water for 5 to 7 days, rub off the peel, wash and dry in the shade. You can use 2 parts of wet sand and 1 part of seeds for wet storage. Soak the seeds in hot water from the end of March to the beginning of April the next spring. Take them out and let them wet for 4 to 5 days before sowing.

Winter sowing is carried out before freezing, and germination is generally not required. Spring sowing is carried out after thawing, and germination is effective. In order to break the dormancy of Ligustrum lucidum seeds, soak the seeds with 550 mg/kg gibberellin solution for 48 hours before sowing, change the water once a day, and then take them out to dry. After being left for 3 to 5 days, they are then soaked in water at 25 to 30°C for germination. Pay attention to changing the water every day. Seedlings are sown from early to mid-March to April.

Field management

After privet seedlings are unearthed, the soil should be loosened, weeded, and thinned out in time. According to conventional management, annual seedlings can reach a height of 50cm. Ligustrum lucidum is a plant that prefers moisture, but too much water can easily cause diseases. The water must be strictly controlled and water should be sprayed every day to meet the growth environment needs of ligustrum lucidum. Water spraying can be carried out using sprinkler irrigation facilities, which can not only ensure the area where water is distributed, maintain the ground humidity well, but also reasonably control the water content without excessive moisture. The best time to spray water is between 8:00 and 10:00 every day, or between 16:00 and 18:00. Seedlings are afraid of waterlogging, so pay attention to drainage. Ligustrum lucidum does not require much fertilizer to grow in the seedling stage. As long as the foliar fertilizer is applied appropriately, you can choose Trim water-soluble fertilizer for spraying. The best time is between 16:00 and 18:00, with the standard of spraying the leaves completely for 1 time. Just do it once every 15 days.