Dracocephalum argunense Fischer ex Link (Labiatae) is a perennial herbaceous plant used as valuable materials for ornamentals, honey production, and pharmaceutics. Since seed germination of this species was quite difficult, present studies were conducted to improve the germination rate by subjecting the seeds to various environmental conditions (temperature and light) and treatments (scarification, priming and seed coating). Optimum temperature for adequate germination was 20℃ though it ranged from 15℃ to 25℃, and low temperature treatment improved germination rate. Light was required for higher germination rate in this species. The scarification of seeds resulted in much higher germination, especially by the physical treatment with sandpaper or chemical treatment with sulfuric acid for 30 seconds. Various primers with different concentrations were treated on the seeds and it was demonstrated that low temperature enhanced germination rate, regardless of kinds and concentrations of the primers. Three treatment combinations of the primers, 0.5 mM GA3 treated for 48 hours, 0.5 mM IAA for 24 hours, and 1.0 mM IAA for 24 hours, increased the seed germination rate profoundly. Soaking treatment of inorganic salts, KNO3 and KH3PO4, promoted germination when seeds were subjected to low temperature. Water soluble primers such as sucrose at 0.5 and 3% concentration and solid primer talc powder were effective in enhancing germination rate.

This experiments were carried out to find out the effects of different explant materials, kinds and concentration of plant growth regulators, and total nitrogen and sucrose contents on the in vitro regeneration of Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai. The effects of growth regulators on regeneration from 3 explant sources (leaf, internode and node) were more or less same. Leaf explants produced only callus with 2ip (Isopentenyladenine) and NAA (Naphthaleneacetic acid) treatment and other regulators had no effects. Test with internode explants yielded about same results but callus was obtained with 2,4-D (2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid). Node explants resulted in shoot regeneration by all regulator treatment except NAA and 2,4-D, but control also showed similar results. Callus formation from internode and node explants was vigorous by 2ip, zeatin, and 2,4-D treatments and high NAA concentration resulted in higher callus formation. In this experiment, various mixed treatment of growth regulators were also employed, using node as explant material. Shoot regeneration was obtained with BA (Benzyl adenine) + NAA treatments but the results were comparable with control. Generally shoot and root regeneration was poor with all combined treatment except 2ip + NAA and 2,4-D + NAA. However, callus was formed readily with all treatments. In this experiment, combined treatments of regulators were applied on the callus derived from singular regulator treatment. The results showed no shoot and root regeneration with any combination of 2,4-D, IAA (Indoleacetic acid) and NAA, but soft milky white callus was formed in all the treatments. No shoot and root regeneration was observed with any combination of 2iP, NAA and IAA, but somewhat hard, light green callus was formed in all the treatments. Callus formation decreased with high kinetin concentration in case of kinetin + NAA treatment. The experiments with total nitrogen content of media showed that low concentrations of 15 and 30mM were effective for the shoot and root regeneration. Sucrose experiment demonstrated shoot regeneration with 1~4% concentration, and root and callus formation with 2~4%. No root and callus formation was observed with 0 and 1% sucrose.

Present studies were performed to determine the physiology of seed germination in Viola species native to Korea. Twelve species, 1 variety and 1 form were collected, classified and used as materials: V. collina, V. blandaefomis, V. rosii, V. chaerophylloides, V. phalacrocarpa, V. patrinii, V. mandshurica, V. mandshurica for. albescence, V. seoulensis, V. yedoensis, V. keiskei, V. variegata, V. variegata var. chinensis, and V. verecunda. V. tricolor 'Helen Mount' was also used to compare wild with cultivated species. In order to investigate the effect of temperature on seed germination, seeds stored at 4±2℃ for 10 months or 4 years were incubated at 10, 15, 20, 25℃ under 16h illumination with 4 replicates per treatment. Seeds which had not germinated at 10℃ were transferred to 30℃ to assess the effect of temperature change in germination. Germination percent and the days of first, 40% and 80% germination were assessed. Capability of seed germination varied with taxon; Species belonging to subsection Patellares had high ability of germination, compared to species in the other subsections, and series Chinensis was the best among subsection Patellares. Species capable of high germination germinated in all temperatures with reasonably high germination rate, but the other species responded sensitively to temperature with different germination patterns. Higher the temperature, shorter the incubation time required for first, 40% and 80% of germination. Therefore, high temperature was effective in almost all species, not only for inducing high rate of germination but also the uniformity of germination. Temperature change from 10℃ to 30℃ had a positive effect on seed germination.