Mashan Trichosanthes

Mashan Trichosanthes

Mashan Trichosanthes is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Mashan Trichosanthes is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Mashan Town is widely known as a hometown of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. The area boasts over 100 varieties of wild medicinal plants, including Trichosanthes, Salvia miltiorrhiza, honeysuckle, and wild chrysanthemum. Local farmers also have a long tradition of cultivating medicinal herbs. Mashan is one of the places of origin of Trichosanthes, with over 300 years of cultivation history in the Zhuangke and Jiaozhuang villages.

　　Mashan is the authentic production area of Trichosanthes, with large-scale cultivation and high-quality produce that is highly favored by medicinal herb merchants. Trichosanthes farming has become a distinctive economic industry in the region and an important source of income for local villagers. To meet the growing market demand, Mashan Town has proposed, in line with its geographical conditions, a strategy to vigorously develop the medicinal herb industry and optimize the agricultural industrial structure. The town actively establishes school-local cooperation channels with Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, leveraging the university’s strengths to provide technical guidance to medicinal herb farmers and turning the herbal medicine base into a research site for the university. At the same time, relying on this base, the university translates its research findings into practical applications, which not only improves the university’s technology transfer rate but also provides high-quality services for local economic development, achieving a win-win situation for both the school and the locality.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Mashan Trichosanthes is produced within Mashan Town, Changqing District, Jinan City, Shandong Province. It is located 40 kilometers southwest of downtown Jinan, bordering Feicheng City to the south, 20 kilometers north of Changqing urban area, and 12 kilometers from the Jihe Expressway. To the east, it is adjacent to the Beijing-Shanghai and Beijing-Fuzhou expressways and the Beijing-Shanghai Railway, with Provincial Highway 104 running north-south through the town, and to the west, it lies beside the Yellow River. The town administers 53 administrative villages, with a population of 33,600 and a land area of 8,900 hectares, of which 80 hectares are used for Trichosanthes cultivation. Geographic coordinates: between 116°9′–116°11′ east longitude and 36°01′–36°45′ north latitude. The average elevation is 99.1 meters, within the designated protected area of 80 hectares.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: The soil type is sandy loam, with a pH value of 6.8–7.4. It is part of the lower Yellow River region and the hilly areas of the central Shandong mountainous region.

　　(2) Hydrology: The area has abundant water resources. Precipitation is the main source of surface water, with relatively plentiful and concentrated annual rainfall. The Bingu River flows through Mashan Town from north to south, and there is a medium-sized national reservoir at the northern end of the town with a capacity of 13 million cubic meters. Seasonal variations in river runoff are significant, and the utilization of transit water is limited. Groundwater resources are relatively abundant and of good quality.

　　(3) Climate: The area has a warm temperate monsoon semi-humid climate. Key features include distinct monsoon influences, clearly defined seasons, and climatic characteristics typical of the lower Huai River region. Springs are windy, dry, and low in rainfall; winters are cold and dry. The annual average temperature ranges from 12.8°C to 14.3°C, with the lowest monthly average in January at -2°C and the highest in July at 26.9°C. The cumulative annual average sunshine duration is 2,598.5 hours, ranging from a maximum of 2,897.9 hours to a minimum of 2,254.2 hours. May has the highest sunshine hours at 281.1 hours, while February has the lowest at 173.7 hours. May also has the highest sunshine percentage at 66%, and July the lowest at 51%. The average annual precipitation is 628.2 mm, with spring (March–May) averaging 86.2 mm (14% of the annual total), summer (June–August) averaging 399.3 mm (64%), autumn (September–October) averaging 122.3 mm (19%), and winter (December–February) averaging 20.4 mm (3%). Monthly precipitation distribution is uneven, with July being the wettest and January the driest. The average first snowfall occurs on December 7, and the average last snowfall on March 17, with an average snow cover period of 101 days. The maximum snow accumulation is 21 cm. The annual average relative humidity is 62%, peaking at 76–79% in July–August and reaching a minimum of 52–53% in March–April. The frost-free period lasts 215 days on average, with the first frost occurring around October 30 and the last around March 31.

　　(4) Humanistic and Historical Background: Trichosanthes is a famous authentic medicinal herb in Shandong, known for its functions in clearing heat, resolving phlegm, relieving chest congestion, dispersing nodules, and moistening the intestines. It is clinically effective in treating lung heat cough and chest impediment pain. Among Shandong-grown Trichosanthes, especially the seed-bearing variety, both annual yield and export volume rank first nationwide. Hu Shilin’s edited work “China’s Authentic Medicinal Herbs” states: “Among those using the fruit, Changqing in Shandong is one of the authentic sources.” “Shandong’s Authentic Medicinal Herbs” notes: “Changqing has the highest yield and best quality.” According to old county records of Changqing, cultivation in the Zhuangke and Jiaozhuang areas of Mashan began before the Qing Dynasty, with a history of over 300 years. Mashan Trichosanthes is of high quality, renowned both domestically and internationally for its large size, thick and pliable skin, wrinkled texture with visible veins, orange-red color, rich sweetness, and strong caramel aroma. Mashan seed-bearing Trichosanthes has a large output. Records indicate that the highest annual yield of Shandong Trichosanthes was 800,000 kg, with Changqing producing 460,000 kg, and Mashan accounting for over two-thirds of Changqing’s total output.

　　The location of Mashan Trichosanthes—Mashan Town—features a municipal-level forest park with superior geographic location, good infrastructure, and a pleasant climate. It boasts numerous natural and cultural landscapes, as well as historical legends. The park is characterized by undulating mountains, ancient cypresses, dense forests, and beautiful scenery. The main peak, Mashan, stands at 512.3 meters above sea level. Originally called Gegema Mountain, it resembles a horse when viewed from afar, with cliffs hundreds of meters high and steep, rugged terrain. It is home to attractions such as “Ten Caves,” “Five Springs,” “One Cake,” and “Five Characters,” and is named alongside Mount Tai and Wufeng Mountain as one of the “Three Mountains” of Changqing. On the mountainside, there is a massive plant slogan made of millions of Chinese junipers that reads “Long Live Chairman Mao,” which was officially named “China’s Largest Plant Slogan” by the Shanghai headquarters of the Guinness World Records in August 2001.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Origin Selection and Special Provisions: Mashan Trichosanthes is grown in flat areas with deep, loose, fertile, well-aerated and well-drained soil over 1 meter in depth, free from sewage or flood risks, and with groundwater levels below 2.0 meters.

　　(2) Variety Selection and Specific Requirements: Mashan Trichosanthes includes seed-bearing and sweet varieties. Due to the scarcity of seeds and pulp in the sweet variety, it has lost economic cultivation value. Currently, the seed-bearing variety is chosen for Mashan Trichosanthes.

　　(3) Production Process Management, Including Special Regulations on Agricultural Inputs: The production process of Mashan Trichosanthes includes several stages: land selection, propagation methods, vine training and pruning, male plant and pollination management, fertilizer application, water management, and integrated pest and disease control. Land selection: Trichosanthes thrives in warm, humid environments, tolerates cold but not drought, so it should be cultivated in areas with ample rainfall and convenient irrigation. As a deep-rooted plant, it prefers deep, fertile sandy loam. It can also be planted near homes but not in saline-alkali soil. Propagation methods: ① Seed propagation: Select mature fruits, extract seeds, soak selected seeds in 40°C–50°C warm water overnight before the Qingming Festival, cool slightly, mix with moist sand, and germinate at 20°C–30°C. When most seeds crack, sow 4–5 seeds per hole at a spacing of 1.5m–2m and a depth of 5cm–6cm, cover with 3cm–4cm of soil, keep the soil moist, and seedlings will emerge in about 15–20 days. ② Root division propagation: From March to April, dig out all tubers and crowns, select disease-free, 3cm–6cm diameter, white and fresh cross-sections as seeds. Cut them into 7cm–10cm segments, preferring female plant roots with some male roots for pollination. Plant in rows spaced 1.6m–2m apart, with furrows 30cm wide and 10cm deep, placing root segments 30cm apart, covering with 4cm–5cm of soil, compacting, and seedlings will emerge in about a month. Vine training and pruning: After emergence, retain 1–2 strong buds per plant as main stems, removing excess buds and basal side shoots. When the main stem reaches 1.5m–2m, pinch the tip to retain 3–4 lateral branches. Pinch tips during budding to promote flower development and improve fruit set; during fruit swelling, prune lateral branches at fruiting nodes and non-fruiting vigorous shoots. Male plants and pollination: Male plants are planted on the sides of planting rows, controlled by multi-vine pruning without fertilization, keeping height under 2m. Manual pollination can be done between 6–8 AM by placing male flowers directly on female flowers. Fertilizer application: Follow NY/T496 standards. Base fertilizer: Apply half a month before planting in prepared holes. Use 2,000kg well-rotted livestock manure, 20kg well-rotted cake fertilizer, 50kg phosphorus fertilizer, 5kg–8kg compound fertilizer, and 0.5kg boron fertilizer per 666.7m². Separate fertilizer from root crowns with soil. Topdressing: During budding, apply 4kg compound fertilizer per 666.7m² as flower-promoting fertilizer. After flowering and fruit set, combine pruning with 5kg–10kg compound fertilizer plus 5kg–10kg urea per 666.7m² as fruit-swelling fertilizer. Water management: Keep soil moist throughout the growth period, especially after fruit set. During drought, use “running horse water” irrigation, avoiding flooding. After heavy rain, prevent waterlogging and drain promptly. Integrated pest and disease control: Main diseases include anthracnose, wilt, gummy stem blight, viral diseases, and root-knot nematode; main pests include aphids, diabrotica, melon fruit moth, and Trichosanthes clearwing moth. Agricultural control: Regularly clean the Trichosanthes field, burn diseased branches, pest-infested twigs, weeds, and fallen leaves off-site to eliminate sources of infection. Deep plow the field in winter, shallow till early spring, continuously hoe and weed, fertilize via digging or furrowing, and flood with water to kill larvae and pupae of pests like diabrotica and Trichosanthes clearwing moth, reducing pest density. Chemical control methods are shown in the table below.

　　Main Pests and Diseases and Control Methods

　　Pests/Diseases | Recommended Agents | Application Method

　　Anthracnose | Mancozeb, carbendazim, chlorothalonil, etc. | Spraying

　　Wilt | Carbendazim, kasugamycin, etc. | Drenching, applying to affected areas

　　Gummy Stem Blight | Thiophanate-methyl, chlorothalonil, etc. | Spraying, applying to affected areas

　　Root-Knot Nematode | Fenamiphos, nematicide granules, etc. | Soil treatment, soaking root crowns

　　Viral Diseases | Virus A, jinggangmycin, etc. | Spraying

　　Aphids | Sumicidin, imidacloprid, etc. | Spraying

　　Diabrotica | Lorsban, phoxim, etc. | Root drenching, spraying

　　Aphids: Use insecticides such as Methomyl or Yipianjing, applied via spraying.

　　Diabrotica undecimpunctata: Use pesticides such as Lorsban or Phoxim, applied by root drenching or spraying.

　　Cotton leafroller Abamectin, fipronil, etc. Spray

　　Trichosanthes piercer Abamectin, tebufenozide, fipronil, etc. Spray

　　(4) Regulations on product harvesting and post-harvest handling: Trichosanthes plants begin to bear fruit 2–3 years after planting. Due to the long flowering period and uneven fruit ripening, harvesting should be done in batches in a timely manner. The fruits are then hung in a ventilated place to dry, yielding whole dried trichosanthes. Direct sun exposure should be avoided. Alternatively, perennial trichosanthes roots can be dug up, cut into small segments, and dried to produce Radix Trichosanthis (Tianhuafen).

　　Typical quality characteristics of the product and product safety regulations

　　(1) External sensory characteristics: Mashan trichosanthes is a perennial herbaceous plant with tendrils on the stems, heart-shaped leaves, white flowers, and dioecious reproduction. The fruit is oval or nearly round, deep green at harvest, and turns yellow upon drying. Fresh fruits weigh 300–400 grams, with some around 500 grams; dried fruits weigh about 150 grams. The seeds are oblong, the pulp is brownish-yellow, and the dried fruit has a sweet taste with slight bitterness and astringency. The trichosanthes root (known in traditional Chinese medicine as Radix Trichosanthis), the fruit (Trichosanthis Fructus), the fruit peel (Trichosanthis Pericarpium), and the seeds (Trichosanthis Semen) are all used medicinally, offering effects such as reducing fever, quenching thirst, promoting urination, and relieving cough and phlegm. Trichosanthes preparations have certain therapeutic effects on coronary heart disease and angina pectoris.

　　(2) Internal quality indicators: Trichosanthes fruit contains triterpenoid saponins, organic acids, fatty oils, resins, sugars, and pigments; the seeds contain fatty oils; the root contains proteins, saponins, acids, and other components.

　　Packaging, labeling, and related regulations

　　Packaging marks: Comply with the requirements of the "Design and Usage Manual for Public Identifiers of Geographical Indications for Agricultural Products." Users of the mark shall uniformly label their products or packaging with the "Mashan Trichosanthes" geographical indication for agricultural products and the combined public identification pattern.

　　The mark shall be clear, indicating the product, product name, grade, weight (gross weight, net weight), and the name or code of the inspector.

　　During transportation, take care to prevent rain exposure. Storage in warehouses or vehicles contaminated with residual toxins is strictly prohibited. The product must not be mixed or stored with toxic items. Store in a ventilated, dry indoor environment.