Yield and Quality Variation in Two Varieties of Gastrodia elata Blume in Bionic Wild Cultivation at Different Altitudes

Gastrodia elata Blume is a rare species because of its value in Chinese traditional medicine and extensive exploitation.To improve the yield and quality of G.elata and to promote the development of the social economy in northwestern Guizhou Province,we carried out complete test design experiments to mimic sexual reproduction of wild G.elata to investigate the yield and quality of two varieties of G.elata planted at different altitudes,and to analyze their economic effectiveness.Within an altitude range of 1400-1800 m,G.elata had the hig-hest yield at an altitude of 1800 m,with yield of mature tuber(2836.80 g/m²)and immature and juvenile tuber(3799.90 g/m²)and the number of mature tubers(38.33 individuals/m²)of Gastrodia elata Bl.f.elata higher than Gastrodia elata Bl.f.viridis Makino.Furthermore,G.elata had the best quality when planted at an altitude of 1800 m.Although the dry rate of G.elata f.elata(16.33%)was significantly lower than G.elata f.viridis(19.25%),its gastro-din(4.43‰)and polysaccharide(36.63%)contents were higher than G.elata f.viridis.Based on the economic effectiveness analysis of two varieties of G.elata at different altitudes in northwestern Guizhou Province,G.elata f.elata cultivated an altitude of 1800 m would be most economical.