Background : Cnidium officinale Makino is a perennial herb of the family Umbelliferae, and an important traditional oriental medicinal plant in China, Japan and Korea. Cnidii Rhizoma, the dried rhizome of C. officinale have been used as traditional oriental medicine in Korea. It has been shown that the cnidii rhizomes are used in the treatment of pain, inflammation, menstrual disturbance, and anti-vitamin deficiency disease, and also act as a blood pressure depressant. In this study, we anticipated to establish the mass propagation system of C. officinale, which is a high economic value as medicinal herb, by plant tissue culture to solve the problem of root stocks contamination. Methods and Results : The whole study was carried out in the department of Herbal crop research, Eumseong, RDA. In this study, C. officinale root bud was used as a explant and it was surface sterilized by 1% sodium hypochlorite for 3 minutes, then several times washed with ddH2O. Multiple shoots were induction them on MS, B5, SH media with 0.1 - 2 ㎎/ℓ auxin (NAA, IBA) and cytokine (BA, Zeatin). In this study we obtained, 7.4 multi-shoots per an explant, and the shoot growth was also favorable in the presence of 0.2 ㎎/ℓ Zeatin. Subsequent transfer of these regenerated shoots on 1/2 SH media resulted in root formation. Rooted plantlets were able to grow in soil after a short period of acclimatization. Conclusion : This experiment was comducted to identify the optimal in vitro propagation condition of C. officinale.

Background : Rehmannia glutinosa belonging to the family of Scrophulariaceae have been utilized as a traditional medicine. This study was conducted to elucidate an effect of air curing for seed rhizome of R. glutinosa on storaging ability and yield. Methods and Results : The root of R. glutinosa cultivar (Dagang) was harvested in the end of November. Seed rhizomes were air curing for one to seven days then wrapped with newspaper and further stored in a plastic container box at 1℃. The weight loss and decay rates were significantly lower in seed air curing treatment than in untreated. Especially, the decay rate of control was approximately 50% at 120 days after storage. But, the decay rate of all air curing treatment groups was less than 1%. Also air curing led to an increase in germination rate of seeds and root yield compared with untreatment. Taken together, the best air curing treatment period was 3 days, under the that conditions, germination rate and yield were 88.7% and 2,185 ㎏/10 a, respectively. Conclusion : This study has successfully demonstrated that the air curing of rhizome as a seeds led to considerable increasement of both storaging ability and yield in R. glutinosa.

Background : Ixeris genus has been used in traditional medicines as stomachics, sedatives, and diuretics. Ixeris dentata var albiflora is a kind of perennial herbaceous plant and one of the plants of the genus Ixeris (Asteraceae). It is well-known for edible wild vegetable in Korea, China, Japan, and Mongolia. Specially, Korean has its root and young leaf with appetizing vegetable due to bitter taste. Methods and Results : We isolated 8 genes that are involved in carotenoid biosynthesis using the Illumina/Solexa HiSeq2000 platform. In this study, a full-length cDNA clone encoding phytoene synthase (IdPSY), phytoene desaturase (IdPDS), ξ-carotene desaturase (IdZDS), lycopene β-cyclase (IdLCYB), and zeaxanthin epoxidase (IdZEP) and partial-length cDNA clones encoding lycopene ε-cyclase (IdLCYE), ε-ring carotene hydroxylase (IdCHXE), and β-ring carotene hydroxylase (IdCHXB2) were identified in I. dentata. The theoretical molecular weight (MW) and isoelectric point values of 8 genes were investigated. Sequence analyses revealed that these proteins shared high identity and conserved domains with their orthologous genes. IdPSY, IdPDS, IdZDS, IdLCYB, IdCHXB2, and IdZEP were constitutively expressed in the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers of I. dentata. Conclusion : Our study on the biosynthesis of carotenoids in I. dentata will provide basic data for elucidating the contribution of carotenoids to the considerable medicinal properties of I. dentata.

Background : Platycodon grandiflorum has been used as food material and a traditional medicine in Korea. In order to develop an efficient in vitro micropropagation technique for a rare plant species and conservation for inbred line of plant breeding. Methods and Results : Plant regeneration via organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis was investigated in Platycodon grandiflorum. Leaf, stem, root tissues of 7-day-old seedlings were cultured on 1/2MS medium containing various concentration (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 ㎎/L) of IBA, BA and NAA. The results showed that 1/2MS medium supplemented with BA+NAA 2.0 ㎎/L yielded the highest callus formation ratio of 73.5%. When various tissues (leaf, stem, root) were tested on 1/2MS medium containing BA 2.0 ㎎/L+ NAA 2.0 ㎎/L for somatic embryogenesis, the optimum tissue for embryogenic shoot induction was stem tissue. Callus were cultured on MS medium containing various concentration (0, 0.5 and 1 ㎎/L) of BA and NAA. The best rooting rate was achieved by three different medium (B5, 1/2MS and MS) and 1/2MS medium cultured the highest rooting ratio (82%). Conclusion : This study suggested that above micropropagation techniques can be used for rapid multiplication as well as in vitro or in vivo conservation of the Platycodon species.

Background : ‘baek-chul’(White atractylodes rhizome) widely used in traditional herbal remedies in Asia. A. Japonica and A. Macrocephala are used as ‘baek-chul’ in Japanese Pharmacopoeia but only A. Macrocephala is used as ‘baek-chul’ in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Based on morphologic observation A. japonica has small infloresence diameter, white flowers and gynodioecism, whereas A. macrocephala has large inflorescence diameter, red flowers ,monoecism and developed rhizomes. but The distinction of these isn't easy. SSRs are very useful molecular markers for species identification. In this study, genetic diversity and identification between A. Japonica and A. Macrocephala were confirmed by SSR marker. Methods and Results : DNAs were extracted from leaf tissue of A. Japonica, A. Macrocephala and A. Japonica × A. Macrocephala (Breeding varieties, ‘Dachul’) using DNeasy plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Hilen, Germany). these plants cultivated from RDA(Eumseong) and used for PCR amplification. The relative concentration of the extracted DNA was estimated Nano Drop ND-1000 (NanoDrop Technologies, Wilmington, De, USA) And final DNA concentration was adjusted to 5.5ng/μL. In this study 8 primer pairs were tested on 4 A. Japonica, 4 A. Macrocephala, 2 ‘Dachul’. These primers showed high polymorphism among and within four populations of A. macrocephala.(Zheng et al.). We detected interspecific and intraspecific SSR polymorphism by 3 primer pairs. Conclusion : The results showed that these markers were found to be useful for diversity analysis as they distinguished among Atractylodes spp. and also A.Macrocephala. This work is intended to serve as the basis for the breeding of new varieties in white atractylodes rhizome.

Background : Astragalus membranaceus is one of the most widely used traditional medicinal herbs in Korea. Studies on the genomic of A. membranaceus resources have not been carried out so far. The present study was carried out to discriminate A. membranaceus based on genetic diversity using genomic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Methods and Results : We collected 5 A. membranaceus lines: Asung, Poongsung, Am-Jecheon, Am-Sancheong, and Am-China. One hundred mg of fresh leaves were used for genomic DNA extraction using the DNeasy plant DNA isolation kit (Qiagen GmbH, Hilden, Germany). 450,449 contigs were searched for 147,766 SSR candidate loci in this study using the MicroSAtellite identification tool (MISA). We selected 949 A. membranaceus genomic SSR markers that were showed variation for the five collections in silico screening with CLC genomics workbench program. The genetic diversity of all A. membranaceus resources was analyzed using 17 SSR markers employing the DNA fragment analysis method. Based on the genetic diversity analysis, these lines were classified into four distinct groups. Conclusion : These findings could be used for further research on cultivar development using molecular breeding techniques and for conservation of the genetic diversity of A. membranaceus. Furthermore, the markers could be used for marker-assisted selection for crop breeding.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of harvest time on the growth, yield characteristics and loganin content in Dipsacus asperoides Wall. Methods and Results: Dipsacus asperoides seedlings were planted within a nursery environment in early May 2015 and harvested in early, middle and late October 2015, and early November 2015. Harvest time did not result significant differences in the plant height, stem diameter, branch length, leaf width and aboveground dry weight moreover, no significant differences were observed in root length, number of roots and root diameter. However, the diameter of lateral roots was greater in the harvests from the late October and period thereafter. The highest values of root dry weight and yield were recorded in early November. Specifically, the yield significantly increased from 205 ㎏/10 a (index: 100) in early October to 358 ㎏/10 a (index: 175) in early November, in terms of root part weight. Loganin contents of D. asperoides differed significantly among harvest times raging from 0.0766% in early October to 0.1704% in late November, thereby showing an increasing trend in later harvest times. Conclusions: These results suggest that the optimum harvest time for D. asperoides is early November, when the yield is the highest. Harvest time significantly affected loganin contents, which constantly increased from early October until early November.

Background : The aim of the present study was to identify an effective physicochemical control method to reduce Fusarium species infestation in adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) before and after harvesting. Methods and Results : We observed that prochloraz emusifiable concentrate and hexaconazol prochloraz emusifiable concentrate strongly inhibited the mycelial growth of 10 Fusarium species. Strong growth inhibitions and cell lysis were observed following treatment with 4% NaOCl solution. The total number of fungi detected were lower follwing treatment with thiophanatemethyl triflumizole wettable powder (1.1 × 104 CFU/g), hexaconazol prochloraz emulsifiable concentrate (1.2 × 104 CFU/g), carboxin thiram dustable powder (1.6 × 104 CFU/g) and prochloraz emulsifiable concentrate (1.7 × 104 CFU/g) than in the non-treated control (7.7 × 104 CFU/g). The reduction of Fusarium fungi varies with the concentration and soaking time of NaOCl solution. Fungal detection was not observed after soaking in NaOCl solution for 24 h and harmful effects were not observed for plant growth by NaOCl after soacking for 6 - 12 h. Conclusion : Soaking seed for 6 - 12 h in 4% NaOCl could be an effective method of disinfectant treatment for the control of Fusarium fungi in adlay seeds.

Background : This study examined the effect of harvesting time on the growth, yield characteristics, and major beneficial components in Salvia miltiorrhiza. Methods and Results : Although plant height, stem diameter and branch length were not affected by harvesting time, the number of stems was highest when harvested in mid October. There were no differences in root length and thickness, however, the rhizome was thicker when it was harvested at the end of October or early November than when it was harvested in early and mid October. The dried root weight also showed a similar pattern. However, there was a statistically significant increase to 408 ㎏ (16%) in the rhizome weight when in late October and a rise to 455 ㎏ (29%) when harvested in early November. Harvest time had little effect on the content of the major component of S. miltiorrhiza. For example, salvianolic acid content rose from 9.42 to 9.64% with later harvest times, and tanshinone ΠA content was tended to be slightly more increased in mid October which S. miltiorrhiza has 0.22% tanshinon ΠA than in early October. Conclusions : According to these results, the optimum harvest time for S. miltiorrhiza is early November when plant or major component yields are hightest. There were no significant harvest time effects on the major beneficial components.

Background : A series of studies were conducted to optimize adventitious root induction in vitro from explants of Astragalus membranaceus using various nutrient media supplemented with plant hormones. Methods and Results : Levels of active components were analyzed from adventitious roots induced under different media conditions. Among the different media conditions, Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 1.0㎎• ℓ −1 indole-3-butyric acid resulted in the greatest adventitious root induction rate. The amount of the major active component of the adventitious roots of Ama1, calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside was higher than that of other adventitious root samples. Conclusions : These results suggest that the adventitious roots of A. membranaceus could be used for the commercial production of medicines.

황기는 콩과에 속하는 다년생 초본으로 단너삼이라고도 불리며 한국을 비롯한 중국, 몽고 등 아시아 지역에서 자생한다. 한국에서는 한약재와 식품을 주 목적으로 재배하며 주 이용부위인 뿌리는 독성이 없어 안정하면서도 다양한 약리효능 때문에 소비가 증대되고 있다. 하지만 황기는 뿌리작물로써 연작장해가 심하고 재배 시 노동력과 비용이 많이 소모되기 때문에 이러한 문제점을 극복하기 위해 기내배양 조건을 구축하고자 하였다. 실험재료는 황기품종인 아성과 풍성을 이용하였다. 각 종자를 기내에서 발아시키기 위해 1% NaOCl에 5분동안 침지하고 다시 70% Et-OH에 3분간 침지하여 표면살균 후 멸균수에서 3회 세척하였다. 종자발아를 유도하기 위해 30g/L sucrose가 함유된1/2MS 배지를 25℃ 인큐베이터에서 16시간의 광조건 3,000룩스(lux) 광량으로 배양하였다. 부정근을 유도하기 위하여 발아된 유식물의 잎, 줄기, 뿌리 절편을 0.5 × 0.5 mm 로 절취하여 3～5 mg/L 3-indolybutyric acid(IBA)가 첨가된 1/2MS 고체배지를 사용하였으며 25℃, 암조건의 인큐베이터에서 3주간 배양하였다. 부정근의 증식은 고체배양 할 때에는 1～5 mg/L IBA가 첨가된 MS 배지에 캘러스를 치상하여 25℃, 암조건의 인큐베이터에서 3주간 배양하였고 액체배양은 0.5 와 1.0mg/L IBA가 첨가된 MS 배지에 부정근 생체를 0.2g으로 정량하여 25℃, 120rpm, 암조건의 진탕배양기에서 배양하였다. 그 결과 캘러스의 유도는 아성뿌리절편에서 IBA 3 mg/L, 풍성뿌리절편에서 IBA 4 mg/L 일 때 가장 높은 유도율을 보였다. 캘러스의 유도율이 가장 우수한 조건에서 얻어진 부정근을 이용하여 고체배양을 실시하였으며, 아성은 IBA 3 mg/L, 풍성은 IBA 5 mg/L에서 높은 증식률을 나타냈다. 액체배지의 증식은 MS액체배지에 IBA 0.5와 1.0mg/L 농도로 수행하였다. 그 결과 IBA 1.0mg/L의 MS배지에서 대조군에 비해 약 2배의 부정근 생산량을 보였다. 따라서 본 연구에서 얻어진 결과를 바탕으로 황기의 유효성분 대량생산을 위한 기내배양 시스템을 구축할 수 있을 것이라 사료된다.

홍화의 집단교배를 통한 품종 육성 및 유전자지도 작성에 대한 연구가 요구되고 있지만, 이를 위해서는 유전 분리집단 육성이 선행되어야 한다. 홍화의 육종은 주로 자가수분식물의 방법이 적용되어 격리채종 등의 방법으로 이루어져왔다. 현재까지 육종된 청수홍화 (1999년), 진선홍화 (2000년), 의산홍화 (2000년)와 화선홍화 (2002년)는 수집종의 선발 방법을 이용하였으며, 집단교배를 통한 육종은 이루어지지 않았다. 타가교배 방법을 통하여 새로운 품종의 육종은 교배대상 모본과 부본의 자원 선발이 선행되어져야 한다. 본 연구는 홍화 집단교배 및 유전자지도 작성을 위하여 수집자원으로부터 교배대상 모본과 부본 자원을 선발하고자 수행되었다. 대상 자원은 국내·외 지역 재래종과 품종 등 34자원을 수집하여 시험포장에 증식한 식물체를 대상으로 수행하였다. 증식된 자원은 각각 종자를 격리 채종하여 파종 후 개화시기, 두화 수 및 형태적 특성평가를 실시하여 선발하였다. 식재된 자원의 개화시기는 6월 11일에서 7월 1일로 최대 20일 가량의 차이를 보였으며, 개화율은 90% ∼ 100%로 나타났다. 두화 수는 개체 당 8.3개 ∼ 37.7개로 최대 4.5배 가량 차이를 보였다. 모본은 개화시기가 가장 빠르며 개화시작 후 20일 이내에 90%이상 개화가 이루어진 육성품종 의산홍화를 선발하였다. 부본은 한 개체 당 두화 수가 37.7개로 꽃 수가 가장 많으며 초장이 가장 작아 단간의 형태로서 도복에 아주 강한 미얀마 수집자원 MMR-STS-2011-11039를 선발하였다. 선발된 모본과 부본의 잎은 모두 난상피침형이나, 모본에 비해 부본의 잎은 폭이 좁으며 매우 강한 가시가 잎과 줄기에 나타나 형태적으로 현저한 차이가 나타났다. 선발된 자원은 형태적 다양성이 높고 유사도가 낮아 집단교배 및 F1 세대 육종을 통한 유전자 지도 작성 연구에 적합한 자원으로 판단된다.