毕业论文-红肉和白肉火龙果愈伤诱导的影响因素研究（定稿）.doc

仲恺农业工程学院毕 业 论 文红肉和白肉火龙果愈伤诱导的影响因素研究姓 名 院（系） 生命科学学院专业班级 生物技术102班学 号 指导教师 职 称 教 授论文答辩日期 2014年 6月3日仲恺农业工程学院教务处制摘 要本试验以不同培养基对红肉和白肉火龙果种子进行发芽以获得实生苗，并分别以实生苗的不同部位为材料，以及采用不同培养基和不同培养条件进行愈伤组织诱导，以研究火龙果愈伤组织诱导的影响因素。结果表明：白肉火龙果种子发芽及幼苗培养的最适培养基为MS+6-BA0.5mg/L+NAA0.2mg/L，红肉火龙果种子发芽及幼苗培养的最适培养基为MS+6-BA0.5mg/L+NAA0.4mg/L，活性炭对火龙果种子幼苗培养影响不大。火龙果诱导愈伤组织以MS培养基，蔗糖30g/L， pH5.5-6.0为最佳，外植体以茎段为最佳。关键词：火龙果 愈伤组织诱导 培养基 培养条件目 录1前言62 材料与方法62.1 实验材料62.2实验方法72.2.1 火龙果无菌苗的获得72.2.2 愈伤组织的诱导72.2.2.1 不同外植体对愈伤组织诱导的影响72.2.2.2 不同火龙果品种对愈伤组织诱导的影响72.2.2.3 无机盐浓度对愈伤组织诱导的影响82.2.2.4不同蔗糖浓度对愈伤组织诱导的影响82.2.2.5 不同pH值对愈伤组织诱导的影响83 结果与分析83.1不同激素组合对火龙果无菌苗培养的影响83.2 白肉火龙果不同外植体对火龙果无菌苗愈伤组织诱导的影响93.3不同的果肉类型对火龙果无菌苗愈伤组织诱导的影响93.4 无机盐浓度对火龙果无菌苗愈伤组织诱导的影响103.5 不同蔗糖浓度对白肉火龙果无菌苗愈伤组织诱导的影响103.6 不同pH值对白肉火龙果无菌苗愈伤组织诱导的影响10 4结果与讨论114.1 培养无菌苗培养基选择114.1.1 不同激素配比114.1.2 活性炭影响114.2 火龙果诱导愈伤组织培养基选择114.2.1 基本培养基选择114.2.2 培养基蔗糖浓度124.2.3 培养基的pH值13参考文献14英文摘要15致谢161 前言火龙果(Hylocereus undatus Britt Rose)又名红龙果、芝麻果、仙蜜果、青龙果等，为仙人掌科量天尺属的果用栽培种1。该植物原产于中美洲热带地区，其花与果均可食用，是当地传统的食物和重要的经济作物。20世纪80年代末90年代初由美洲引种到台湾2。火龙果茎和花朵因渗透压极低而具备的独特的黏液中，含有大量药效显著的营养性物质和治疗性物质。其花可清火、润肺、止咳，对肺结核、支气管炎、颈部淋巴结核有辅助治疗作用3。火龙果高纤维，低热量，富含维生素B1、B2、B3、C,葡萄糖,矿物质,以及多种微量元素，果色鲜艳美丽,果肉鲜美脆甜,深受人们的欢迎4。目前，火龙果在生产上大多采用扦插或嫁接繁殖，繁殖速度相对较慢，种源数量有限, 且易受环境条件限制, 不利于大规模生产和品种改良5。陈广超等6研究表明采用腋芽增殖途径进行火龙果的快速繁殖效率高。黄青峰7研究认为火龙果的繁殖途径以腋芽增殖途径为主。林家耕和张树河8通过火龙果茎段繁殖获得了大量试管苗, 并且试管苗移栽成活率很高, 移栽成活的试管苗经生长一段时间后, 将茎段嫁接到强壮的三角柱砧木上, 能够保持品种的遗传物质稳定, 不易发生变异。因此, 腋芽增殖途径是保证火龙果品种质量、大量快繁的一个主要手段。火龙果的快速繁殖是提供生产用种苗的重要途径, 而火龙果遗传转化是提高种苗质量和改良火龙果品种的必需方式。但遗传转化的成功需要高效再生体系的建立, 愈伤组织的诱导是建立再生体系的基础和前提。然而, 有关火龙果红肉和白肉愈伤组织诱导对比以及愈伤组织培养影响条件研究不多。本研究试图通过组织培养手段, 建立火龙果的愈伤组织诱导和对比性研究, 以期为火龙果的定向培育及遗传转化等方面的研究提供基础手段和理论依据。本试验以不同培养基对红肉和白肉火龙果种子进行发芽以获得实生苗，并分别以实生苗的不同部位为材料，以及采用不同培养基和不同培养条件进行愈伤组织诱导，以研究火龙果愈伤组织诱导的影响因素。2材料与方法2.1实验材料实验材料是白肉和红肉火龙果，购买于水果批发市场。果实过纱布包裹除去果肉，流水冲洗除去多余的果胶获得种子。2.2实验方法2.2.1火龙果无菌苗的获得火龙果种子以10%次氯酸钠灭菌9min，然后用1氯化汞灭菌8min，蒸馏水冲洗4-5次，接种到14种不同的种子发芽培养基上（pH5.8），每瓶接种15颗，每种培养基3瓶。光照2500lx下培养10d后观察统计种子发芽情况。无菌苗培养培养基的激素浓度配比如表1表1 不同激素配比的无菌苗培养培养基 培养基 激素浓度 6-BA NAA MS 0 0 MS（活性炭） 0 0 MS 0.5 0 MS 0.5 0.1 MS 0.5 0.2 MS 0.5 0.4 MS 1.0 0 MS 1.0 0.1 MS 1.0 0.2 MS 1.0 0.4 MS 1.5 0 MS 1.5 0.1 MS 1.5 0.2 MS 1.5 0.42.2.2 愈伤组织的诱导2.2.2.1 不同外植体对愈伤组织诱导的影响分别以子叶和幼嫩茎段为外植体进行愈伤组织诱导研究，每种外植体接5皿，每皿6个外植体，比较不同外植体对愈伤组织诱导的影响。其中，基本培养基为MS，激素组合为6-BA 2.0 mg/L NAA0.2 mg/L，琼脂6g/L，蔗糖30g/L。25，黑暗条件下，培养25d后统计愈伤组织诱导率。2.2.2.2 不同火龙果品种对愈伤组织诱导的影响分别以白肉和红肉的子叶和茎段为培养材料，研究不同火龙果品种对愈伤组织诱导的影响。每种培养基接5皿，每皿6个外植体。其中，基本培养基分别为MS，激素组合为6-BA 2.0 mg/L，NAA0.2 mg/L，琼脂6g/L，蔗糖30g/L。25，黑暗条件下，培养25d后统计愈伤组织诱导率。2.2.2.3 无机盐浓度对愈伤组织诱导的影响以茎段为外植体进行愈伤组织诱导研究，比较无机盐浓度对愈伤组织诱导的影响。每种培养基接5皿，每皿9个外植体。其中，激素组合为6-BA 2.0 mg/L NAA0.2 mg/L，琼脂6g/L，蔗糖30g/L，基本培养基分别为MS和1/2MS。25，黑暗条件下，培养25d后观察火龙果生长状况。2.2.2.4不同蔗糖浓度对愈伤组织诱导的影响培养基蔗糖浓度分别设置为20g/L、30g/L、40g/L，每种培养基接5皿，每皿6个外植体，比较不同的蔗糖浓度对愈伤组织诱导的影响。其中，基本培养基为MS，激素组合为6-BA 2.0 mg/L NAA0.2 mg/L，琼脂6g/L，外植体为茎段。25，黑暗条件下，培养25d后观察火龙果生长状况。2.2.2.5 不同pH值对愈伤组织诱导的影响培养基pH值分别为5、5.5、6、6. 5，研究不同pH值对愈伤组织诱导的影响。每种培养基接5皿，每皿6个外植体。其中，基本培养基分别为MS激素组合为6-BA 2.0 mg/L NAA0.2 mg/L，琼脂6g/L，蔗糖30g/L。25，黑暗条件下，培养25d后观察火龙果生长状况。3结果与分析3.1不同激素组合对火龙果无菌苗培养的影响种子发芽获得无菌苗是本实验的前提条件，由此研究了不同激素组织对无菌苗获得的影响。由表2可以看出。白肉火龙果无菌苗获得的最适培养基为MS+6-BA0.5mg/L+NAA0.2mg/，红肉火龙果无菌苗获得的最适培养基为MS+6-BA0.5mg/L+NAA0.4mg/L，总体来说，白肉火龙果的发芽率和生长状态好于红肉火龙果(图1，表2)。同时，活性炭的加入不利于火龙果实生苗的生长。 图1 火龙果发芽和无菌苗生长情况（最适培养基） A,C: 红肉火龙果；B,D: 白肉火龙果表2 不同培养基对红白肉火龙果发芽和生长的影响培养基 激素浓度 出芽率 茎生长状况 根生长状况6-BA NAA 红 白 红 白 红 白MS 0 0 100% 86.7% + + * *MS（活性炭）0 0 40% 86.7% + + * *MS 0.5 0 93.3% 86.7% + + * *MS 0.5 0.1 66.7% 80% + + * *MS 0.5 0.2 80% 93.3% + + * *MS 0.5 0.4 53.3% 40% + + * *MS 1.0 0 20% 80% + + * *MS 1.0 0.1 60% 80% + + * *MS 1.0 0.2 73.3% 80% + + * *MS 1.0 0.4 73.3% 86.7% + * *MS 1.5 0 60% 86.7% + + * *MS 1.5 0.1 60% 86.7% + + * *MS 1.5 0.2 46.7% 86.7% + + * *MS 1.5 0.4 80% 93.3% + + * *注：+较细；+较粗；+很壮 *几乎没有；*较少；*多；*很多3.2 白肉火龙果不同外植体对火龙果无菌苗愈伤组织诱导的影响为研究不同外植体对于火龙果愈伤组织诱导的影响，本研究采用白肉火龙果子叶和带茎段为外植体进行比较研究。结果表明，以子叶为外植体时，愈伤组织都呈现白色颗粒较小的紧密团块，火龙果愈伤组织诱导率为54.8%，以茎段为外植体时，火龙果愈伤组织诱导率为85.4%。说明火龙果通过间接方式进行无性快速繁殖是选用茎段为外植体为佳。表3 白肉火龙果不同外植体对火龙果无菌苗愈伤组织诱导的影响 外植体类型 接种数 污染数 存活数 愈伤数 污染率 诱导率 子叶 60 18 42 23 30% 54.8%茎段 60 12 48 41 20% 85.4%3.3不同的果肉类型对火龙果无菌苗愈伤组织诱导的影响为研究不同品种火龙果无菌苗愈伤组织诱导的影响，本研究分别以红肉和白肉火龙果的子叶和茎段为材料研究不同的果肉类型对火龙果无菌苗愈伤组织诱导的影响。结果表明，无论是以子叶还是茎段为材料，红肉和白肉的火龙果的愈伤组织诱导率差别不明显。茎段和子叶愈伤组织状态差别不大，都呈现白色颗粒较小的紧密团块，就两个果肉类型的火龙果来说，均是茎段的愈伤组织诱导率要高于子叶，也进一步说明火龙果进行愈伤组织诱导时，以茎段为外植体为佳。表4 不同果肉类型对火龙果愈伤组织诱导的影响 果肉类型 外植体 接种数 污染数 存活数 愈伤量 污染率 诱导率 子叶 30 6 24 14 20% 58.3% 红肉 茎段 30 10 20 17 33.3% 85% 子叶 30 12 18 9 40% 50% 白肉 茎段 30 0 30 29 0 96.7%3.4 无机盐浓度对火龙果无菌苗愈伤组织诱导的影响为研究比较无机盐浓度对愈伤组织诱导的影响，本研究以火龙果茎段为材料进行愈伤组织诱导研究。结果表明，外植体在MS培养基上培养15d左右开始出现愈伤，而1/2MS大约20d左右，MS上愈伤组织呈白色，且颗粒较小而紧密，1/2MS上愈伤组织呈黄色或褐色颗粒小而紧密，MS培养基的愈伤组织生长状况好于1/2MS（图2），说明无机盐浓度较高的MS培养基更适合火龙果诱导愈伤组织。 图2 无机盐浓度对愈伤组织诱导的影响 A:1/2MS培养基; B:MS培养基3.5 不同蔗糖浓度对白肉火龙果无菌苗愈伤组织诱导的影响蔗糖作为能源物质，同时，在调节渗透压方面也起着重要作用。为研究不同蔗糖浓度对于火龙果愈伤组织诱导的影响，本研究培养基蔗糖浓度分别设置为20、30、40g/L等3个梯度。结果表明，30和40g/L浓度上愈伤组织呈白色，且疏松，颗粒较小而紧密，20g/L上愈伤组织呈黄色或褐色颗粒小而紧密,蔗糖浓度的增加有利于改善愈伤组织状况，培养基蔗糖浓度为30和40g/L的情况下愈伤组织状况差异不大（图3）。考虑到成本问题，选用30g/L蔗糖为佳。图3 不同蔗糖浓度对愈伤组织诱导的影响 A:20g/L; B:30g/L; C: 40g/L3.6 不同pH值对白肉火龙果无菌苗愈伤组织诱导的影响培养基pH不仅影响培养基的硬度，同时影响外植体对营养物质的吸收。为研究pH值对于火龙果愈伤组织诱导的影响，本研究培养基pH值分别设置为5、5.5、6、6. 5等4个梯度。结果表明，pH值为5.5和6.0时愈伤生长状况良好，愈伤组织呈白色或奶黄色且颗粒小而紧密，而当pH值为5.0和6.5时，愈伤组织生长状态欠佳(图4)愈伤组织呈黄色或褐色颗粒小而紧密，所以火龙果愈伤组织诱导培养基的最佳pH值在5.5到6.0之间。图4 不同pH对愈伤组织诱导的影响 A: pH 5.0; B: pH 5.5; C: pH 6.0; D: pH 6.54 讨论4.1 培养无菌苗培养基选择4.1.1 不同激素配比种子发芽获得无菌苗是本实验的前提条件，但是种子萌发所需最适宜培养基至今还少有人研究。崔波，武思9等研究火龙果培养幼苗所用培养基为MS，激素组合为6-BA 1.0 mg/L NAA0.1 mg/L。但本实验研究结果表明，白肉火龙果无菌苗获得的最适培养基为MS 6-BA0.5mg/L NAA0.2mg/L，红肉火龙果无菌苗获得的最适培养基为MS 6-BA0.5mg/L NAA0.4mg/L。造成这种差异原因可能是火龙果品种不同，基因差异导致对不同激素反映产生差异。4.1.2 活性炭影响大量的研究表明，大部分木本植物的快速繁殖当中活性炭起着不可替代的作用。赖家业10对土柠檬的组织培养研究以及韩文璞11对甜樱桃的组织培养研究均表明,在培养基中添加适宜浓度的活性炭对诱导外植体芽和根的萌发以及生长有显著的促进作用。另一方面活性炭的吸附能力很强,它会降低培养基内有效物质的浓度,导致某些植物停止发育。刘用生和李友勇12、刘用生和王秀芹13等在对胡杨的研究中发现,在培养基中添加活性炭以后,胡杨的芽丛停止增殖,2周后再进行观察,发现芽丛开始枯萎发黄。本实验过程中加入活性炭后的火龙果培养基发现相比较没加入活性炭，火龙果发芽率降低，细弱发黄，火龙果根细小。此结果和韩文璞等的研究一致，可能是活性炭吸附能力强降低了培养基内有效物质浓度，导致实生苗缺乏营养生长状态欠佳。4.2 火龙果诱导愈伤组织培养基选择4.2.1 基本培养基选择不同种植物对培养基的需求不同，只有选择适宜的培养基才能保证培养材料的生长。何松林14等研究指出，MS培养基在木本植物的组织培养中是使用最多的,它的无机盐浓度,比如钾盐、铵盐以及硝酸盐，都是很高的，微量元素种类较全,也具有比较高的浓度,很多树种的组织培养，都选用了 MS培养基。火龙果组织培养影响因素的研究试验结果表明，MS培养基较适宜于火龙果的组织培养,愈伤组织的生长状况相比较1/2MS生长较好，这和前人的研究结果一致。 表5 2种基本培养基的特点和适用范围比较 基本培养基 特点 适用范围 具有较高的无机盐和离子浓度 适用于大部分植物，可适用 其中钾盐、铵盐和硝酸盐含量 于植物的器官、花药、细胞 MS 也比较高，是一种比较稳定的 和原生质体培养 平衡溶液 大量元素是MS培养基的一半， 可适用于植物的器官、花药 1/2MS 微量元素、有机元素，铁盐等 、细胞和原生质体培养 和MS培养基一样4.2.2 培养基蔗糖浓度黄学林和李筱菊15研究指出,适宜的蔗糖浓度范围是20-30g/L，但是由于材料的自身特性不同，需要的蔗糖浓度也是完全不同的。杨树的培养基中如果添加的蔗糖浓度大于30g/L，外植体产生的愈伤组织就极易变黑并发生老化;如果添加的蔗糖浓度过低的话，就不能诱导产生愈伤组织。卜学贤和陈维伦16研究认为如果外植体产生的幼苗出现玻璃化现象,适当的提高培养基中蔗糖的浓度,就可以降低培养基中的渗透势，从而减缓玻璃化现象的出现。本实验研究结果表明30g/L和40g/L两个蔗糖浓度下愈伤组织生长状况良好，未出现变黑老化现象。20g/L蔗糖浓度也未有玻璃化现象。产生这种结果原因可能是材料本身特性原因，对于不同材料所需蔗糖浓度也不一样。4.2.3 培养基的pH值李浚明16、黄学林和李筱菊17等研究指出大多数植物组织培养培养基最适宜的pH值范围是5. 0-6. 0。适当的降低培养基的PH值可以抑制多酚氧化酶的活性和底物利用率，进一步阻止了褐变的发生。培养基的pH值大小对外植体的营养元素的吸收过程也有一定的影响，进而影响到外植体的呼吸代谢作用、多胺代谢作用以及外植体与脱氧核糖核酸的合成、植物激素进出外植体细胞等作用，最终对愈伤组织的形成以及形态建成造成了直接或者间接的影响。本实验中火龙果在四种不同pH值下生长状况差异明显。其中pH在5.5和6.0之间生长状况最佳，和李浚明等的研究一致。参 考 文 献1 杨巧云,邹琼,等. 日光温室火龙果栽培技术J.河南农业科学,2004(1):58. 2 黄青峰. 火龙果的棱片离体培养J.福建农业学报,2002,17(3):186-1893 陈振东,高海等. 一种值得推广的新兴水果火龙果J.福建热作科技,2001,26（3）：45-47. 4 黄青峰,余成章. 火龙果的组织培养与快速繁殖J.植物生理学通讯,2002,38(5):175-1775 黄红梅,任希望等. 火龙果愈伤组织诱导与植株再生J.植物生理学报,2012,48(60：584-5886 陈广超,谢晓明,林燕绒. 火龙果组培快繁技术J.中国南方果树, 2003,32 (3): 317 黄青峰. 火龙果的棱片离体培养. 福建农业学报J. 2002,17 (3): 186-1898 林加耕,张树河. 火龙果茎段组织培养和快繁试验J. 福建果树, 2002,119 (38): 6-79 崔波,武思,蒋素华等. 火龙果茎段再生体系建立J.北方园艺,2011(08):146-147 10 赖家业,杨振德. 活性炭在土柠檬组织培养中的作用J.广西热作科技,1999(4) : 10-1111 韩文璞,袁明莲. 活性炭在甜樱桃组织培养中的应用J.落叶果树,2001(3):7-812 刘用生,李友勇. 植物组织培养中活性炭的使用J.植物生理学通讯,1994.30(3) :214-21713 刘用生,曾兆云,王秀芹. 活性炭吸附作用的生物鉴定J.植物生理学通讯,1995.31 (2):123-12614 何松林,十鸟三和子,孔德政.基本培养基及凝固剂对文心兰试管苗生长发育的影响J.北京林业大学学报,2001.23(1):29-3115 黄学林,李筱菊. 高等植物组织离体培养的形态建成及调控M.北京:科学出版社,1995.16 卜学贤,陈维伦. 试管植物的玻璃化现象J.植物生理学通讯,1987(5) : 13-18Study on Callus Induction of Red and White Meat Pitaya Liu Ping（College of Life Sciences, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China）Abstract: The full and mature seeds of red and white meat pitaya were germinated with different medium to obtain the seedlings. And the effect of different explants、medium and culture condition on callus induction were studied by using the seedlings as material. The results showed the medium was more suitable for white meat pitayas seed germination and seedling cultivation was MS+6-BA0.5mg/L+NAA0.2mg/L, however, the medium was more suitable for red meat pitayas seed germination and seedling cultivation was MS+6-BA0.5mg/L+NAA0.2mg/L,MS+6-BA0.5mg/L+NAA0.4mg/L, and there is no significant influence of activated carbon on seedling cultivation. The MS medium with 30 g/L sucrose and pH 5.5-6.0 is the best for callus induction of pitaya, and the barbed stems as explant is the best.Key words: pitaya; callus induction; medium; culture condition致 谢我的论文之所以顺利完成，我要感谢我的指导老师周玲艳老师的悉心指导和关心。正是在周玲艳老师科学、严谨的指导下，我的研究课题才能顺利进行，这篇研究论文才得以顺利完成。另外，还要特别感谢给我提供了场地上和技术上的支持的梁佳勇老师，感谢在实验过程中对我不离不弃一直陪伴着我的同组的余鹏辉、彭广顺和王嘉明同学，也十分感谢给我宝贵意见的各位同学们。在此，我要献上最诚挚的感谢和深深的祝福给你们。最后，向在百忙中抽出时间对本文进行评审并提出宝贵意见的各位老师表示衷心地感谢！为你提供优秀的毕业论文参考资料，请您删除以下内容，O(_)O谢谢！2 Many people have the same mixed feelings when planning a trip during Golden Week. With heaps of time, the seven-day Chinese为你提供优秀的毕业论文设计参考资料，请您删除一下内容，O(_)O谢谢！National Day holiday could be the best occasion to enjoy a destination. However, it can also be the easiest way to ruin how you feel about a place and you may become more fatigued after the holiday, due to battling the large crowds. During peak season, a dream about a place can turn to nightmare without careful planning, especially if you travel with children and older people. As most Chinese people will take the holiday to visit domestic tourist destinations, crowds and busy traffic are inevitable at most places. Also to be expected are increasing transport and accommodation prices, with the possibility that there will be no rooms available. It is also common that youllwait in the line for one hour to get a ticket, and another two hours at the site, to only see a tiny bit of the place due to the crowds. Last year, 428 million tourists traveled in China over the week-long holiday in October. Traveling during this period is a matter that needs thorough preparation. If you are short on time to plan the upcoming Golden Week it may not be a bad idea to avoid some of the most crowded places for now. There is always a place so fascinating that everyone yearns for. Arxan is a place like this. The beauty of Arxan is everlasting regardless of the changing of four seasons. Bestowed by nature, its spectacular seasonal landscape and mountains are just beyond word. Arxan is a crucial destination for the recommended travelling route, China Inner Mongolia Arxan Hailar Manzhouli. It is also the joint of the four prairies across the Sino-Mongolian border, where people gravitate towards the exotic atmosphere mixed with Chinese, Russian, and Mongolia elements. As a historic site for the Yitian Battle, Arxan still embodies the spirit of Genghis Khan. Walking into Arxan, you will be amazed by a kaleidoscope of gorgeous colors all the year round - the Spring azaleas blooming red in the snow, the Summer sea wavering blue in the breeze, the Autumn leaves painted in yellow covering volcanic traces, and the Winter woods shining white on the vast alpine snowscape. Hinggan League Arxan city is situated in the far eastern area of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Its full name Haren Arxan means hot holy water in the Mongolian language. Arxan is a tourism city in the northern frontier with a blend of large forest, grand prairies, vast snowfield, heaven lake cluster, thermium, as well as volcanic cluster. It is a rare and unique ecotourism base filled with healthy sunshine, clean air and unspoiled green. Nestled close to the countrys largest virgin forest, and known for its spring and ecological environment, Arxan is marveled at by many tourists as the purest land on earth. You cannot miss out the Autumn of Arxan. It is definitely the best with brightly-colored scenery full of emotions. Autumn in the northern part of the country comes earlier than the South. A September rain followed by the footprints of Autumn brings more colors to the once emerald green mountain and blooming grassland. Shutterbugs flock to see for themselves the marvel of splendid colors around the mountains and waters, many of whom have travel a long distance and even camp here only to capture a moment of the nature wonder. The silver birch turns golden, while the larch is still proudly green. You will find yourself drowned in the intoxicating red of the wild fruits as well as the glamour of flowers in full blown. And your heart will be lingering on the woods as its time for the wild fruits to ripe. The picturesque Arxan in Autumn is indeed a fairyland only exists in a dream that satisfies all your fantasies. If itrains heavily on Saturday night, some elderly Chinese will say it is because Zhinu, or the Weaving Maid, is crying on the day she met her husband Niulang, or the Cowherd, on the Milky Way. Most Chinese remember being told this romantic tragedy when they were children on Qixi, or the Seventh Night Festival, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, which is usually in early August. This year it falls on Saturday, August 2. Folklore Story As the story goes, once there was a cowherd, Niulang, who lived with his elder brother and sister-in-law. But she disliked and abused him, and the boy was forced to leave home with only an old cow for company. The cow, however, was a former god who had violated imperial rules and was sent to earth in bovine form. One day the cow led Niulang to a lake where fairies took a bath on earth. Among them was Zhinu, the most beautiful fairy and a skilled seamstress. The two fell in love at first sight and were soon married. They had a son and daughter and their happy life was held up as an example for hundreds of years in China. Yet in the eyes of the Jade Emperor, the Supreme Deity in Taoism, marriage between a mortal and fairy was strictly forbidden. He ordered the heaven troop to catch Zhinu back. Niulang grew desperate when he discovered Zhinu had been taken back to heaven. Driven by Niulangs misery, the cow told him to turn its hide into a pair of shoes after it died. The magic shoes whisked Niulang, who carried his two children in baskets strung from a shoulder pole, off on a chase after the empress. The pursuit enraged the empress, who took her hairpin and slashed it across the sky creating the Milky Way which separated husband from wife. But all was not lost as magpies, moved by their love and devotion, formed a bridge across the Milky Way to reunite the family. Even the Jade Emperor was touched, and allowed Niulang and Zhinu to meet once a year on the seventh night of the seventh month. This is how Qixi came to be. The festival can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). Traditionally, people would look up at the sky and find a bright star in the constellation Aquila as well as the star Vega, which are identified as Niulang and Zhinu. The two stars shine on opposite sides of the Milky Way. Customs In bygone days, Qixi was not only a special day for lovers, but also for girls. It is also known as the Begging for Skills Festival or Daughters Festival. In this day, girls will throw a sewing needle into a bowl full of water on the night of Qixi as a test of embroidery skills. If the needle floats on top of the water instead of sinking, it proves the girl is a skilled embroiders. Single women also pray for finding a good husband in the future. And the newly married women pray to become pregnant quickly. Tradition transformed The love story of Niulang and Zhinu, and the Qixi Festival ha