Longtan Pearl Plum

Longtan Pearl Plum

Longtan Pearl Plum is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Longtan Pearl Plum is a new plum fruit variety cultivated from local wild plums in Tian'e County, Guangxi. Due to its dense fruiting and high yield, the fruits hanging on the branches resemble strings of pearls, hence the name "Pearl Plum." The Longtan Pearl Plum is suitable for planting at high altitudes above 500 meters. It features a crisp and refreshing flesh, easily separable from the pit, as well as characteristics such as late ripening, good storability and transportability, and high sugar content. For these reasons, it is hailed as the “Queen of Plums.”

　　The Longtan Pearl Plum is a new variety cultivated from wild plums in Tian'e County and is hailed as the “Queen of Plums.” It is the first plum variety independently developed in Guangxi. This variety is characterized by extra-late ripening (maturing in early to mid-August), self-pollination, stable and abundant yields, strong resistance to adversity, and excellent quality. It has been recognized as an outstanding single plum tree and an excellent plum variety in Guangxi, and it is both pollution-free and a geographical indication product. The fruit is nearly round to slightly flattened, with a moderate size—average single fruit weight is 21 grams. The skin is deep purplish-red and attractive in appearance. The flesh is pale yellow to orange-yellow, with a balanced sweet and sour taste, tender and crisp texture, fragrant aroma, and excellent flavor and mouthfeel. It contains 4.17 mg/100g of vitamin C, 13.8% soluble solids, 9.3g/100g total sugar, 0.73g/100mL total acid, and an impressive edible rate of 97.8%, with completely free stone separation. The skin is slightly thick, contributing to good storability and transportability, and a high commercial fruit rate.

　　After obtaining the “Geographical Indication Agricultural Product Registration Certificate” in 2010, the Longtan Pearl Plum was further honored with the title of “Guangxi High-Quality Agricultural Product” in 2013. Currently, 22,000 mu of land in the county is planted with Longtan Pearl Plums, and the produce sells well in Guangdong, Guizhou, Sichuan, and other regions.

　　Geographic Range

　　Tian'e County is located between latitude 24°36′–25°28′ N and longitude 106°34′–107°19′ E, at an altitude of 400–900 meters. It borders Nandan County to the east, Donglan County to the southeast, Fengshan County to the south, Leye and Lingyun counties to the west, and faces Luodian County of Guizhou Province across the river to the north. The total boundary length is 429 kilometers, with an east-west span of 76 kilometers and a north-south span of 94 kilometers. The protected production area of Longtan Pearl Plum covers nine townships within Tian'e County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: Liupai Town, Xiangyang Town, Bamu Township, Balaxiang Township, Nazhi Township, Gengxin Township, Xialao Township, Pojie Township, and Sanbao Township. The production area spans 2,500 hectares, with an annual total output of 75,000 tons.