Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants which belongs to Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae sensu in APG system has been known as a useful plant in various fields as well as an invasive species spreading all over the world. To understand its phylogenetic relationship with neighbour species, we completed chloroplast genome of D. ambrosioides collected in Korea. Its length is 151,689 bp consisting of four sub-regions: 83,421 bp of large single copy (LSC) and 18,062 bp of small single copy (SSC) regions are separated by 25,103 bp of inverted repeat (IR) regions. 128 genes (84 protein-coding genes, eight rRNAs, and 36 tRNAs) were annotated. The overall GC content of the chloroplast genome is 36.9% and those in the LSC, SSC and IR regions are 34.9%, 30.3%, and 42.7%, respectively. Distribution of simple sequence repeats are similar to those of the other two Dysphania chloroplasts; however, different features can be utilized for population genetics. Nucleotide diversity of Dysphania chloroplast genomes 18 genes including two ribosomal RNAs contains high nucleotide diversity peaks, which may be genus or species-specific manner. Phylogenetic tree presents that D. ambrosioides occupied a basal position in genus Dysphania and phylogenetic relation of tribe level is presented clearly with complete chloroplast genomes.

Background : Korean Indigenous Hylotelephium erythrostictum is widely distributed in South Korea and is used in Korean traditional medicine. In this study, the phylogenetic analysis of Korean native Hylotelephium erythrostictum and related plants on Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequences were investigated to distinguish its origin. Methods and Results : The phylogenetic analysis of 6 species of Hylotelephium were investigated by ITS. The dendrogram was constructed by UPGMA(Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean) clustering algorithm based on genetic similarity of ITS. In the ITS sequence analysis, the size of total was varied from 676 to 779 bp. The size of ITS 1 was rated at 287bp, while ITS 2 was rated at 123bp. The G+C content of ITS region was ranged from 60 to 66%. In the ITS tree, six species of Hylotelephium were monophyletic, and H. viviparum was the first branching within the clade. Conclusion : H. spectabile formed a clade with H. erythrostictum, while H. verticillatum formed with H. viviparum.

Angelica gigas, also called Dang Gui or Korean Angelica, is a major medicinal herb used in Asian countries such as Korea, Japan and China. In Korea, we are using the roots of A. gigas., but, they are using Angelica sinensis in China and using Angelica acutiloba. in Japan to obtain many active constituents such as dercursin, decursinol angelate, nodakenetin, nodakenin, umbelliferone, β-sisterol, or α-pinene. The plants of the Angelica family are used to improve gynecological health. The biggest problem in the cultivation of A. gigas is bolting. If the bolting occurs, A. gigas can not be used as a medicinal component because the roots are lignified. In this study, 11 A. gigas genetic resources in Korea; 1. Hwangje variety, 2. Sungwoo Jongmyo company, 3. Bonghwa No. 1, 4. Bonghwa No. 2, 5. Bonghwa No. 3, 6. Bonghwa No. 4, 7. Jechun local variety, 8. Jirisan local variety, 9. Manchu variety in Eumseong, 10. Manchu variety in Bonghwa, 11. Jinbu local variety, were collected and performed phylogenetic analysis using RAPD molecular markers.

Adenophora triphylla var. japonica HARA is a herbaceous plant belongs to Campanulaceae. Adenophora root is mainly used for medicinal purpose. It is effective for lung cleaning, sputum remove, viscera strengthening, cough stopping and cancer treatments. Adenophora has about 70 species in the world and 17 of the species are distributed in Korea. Genetic resources of A. triphylla var. japonica HARA are valuable as the habitat is concentrated in East Asia. The intraspecies variation is very high according to the environmental conditions. A new A. triphylla var. japonica HARA variety, ‘Harang’, was developed through polyploid breeding in 2011. But, low domestic production and passive studies caused our country to rely on imports for almost all amount of the A. triphylla var. japonica HARA demands. In this experiment, genetic diversity between the collections were analyzed using 32 RAPD primers. Through this study, limit of morphologic classification could be solved and genetic diversity of this plant could be assured.

Codonopsis lanceolata is used as a natural medicine or vegetables. It originates in East Asia such as Korea, Japan and China. Similar to Panax ginseng, C. lanceolata contains saponins as effective components. C. lanceolata is cultivated in many regions of South Korea. But, no variety was developed yet and the origin discrimination in the distribution market of C. lanceolata became a problem. In this study, we collected 20 C. lanceolata regional groups; Hoengseong, Wonju, Samcheok, Chuncheon, Pyeongchang, Hongcheon, Yongin, Yangpyeong, Danyang, Chungju, Bonghwa, Ulleung, Yeongju, Sancheong, Muju, Gwangyang, Sinan, Hwasun, Jeju-si and Seogwipo-si, and tested the genetic relationship using RAPD molecular markers. The genomic DNA was extracted using CTAB and the RAPD analysis was performed using 32 primers of Operon Technologies. NTsys-PC program was used for the phylogenetic analysis of the data.

Platycodon grandiflorum is a perennial herbal plant belongs to Campanulaceae family. It has very important genetic value as a major plant in Asterids order. The major ingredients are platycosides, terpenoid saponins. In Korean industrial plants market, it was produced 5,633 tons in 2013, and the total amount of production was less than only five species, omija, ginger, raspberry, yam and deodeok. P. grandiflorum is called ‘Gilgyung’ and is used as a fresh vegetable and an ornamental plant. Nowadays, various components of P. grandiflorum were already published. But, genetic research is in the starting stage. In this study, 11 cultivars; 1. MariesⅡ, 2. Hakone double white, 3. Hakone double blue, 4. Fuji white, 5. Fuji pink, 6. Fuji blue, 7. Astra white, 8. Astra pink, 9. Astra blue, 10. Astrasemi double blue, 11. Jangback, were analyzed using 60 Operon Universal RAPD primers. The results were phylogenetically analyzed and related to the morphological characteristics of the cultivars.