Background : Plants of Taraxacum spp. are widely used in medicine, but some of them have some problems related to propagation, such as strong dormancy and inactive germination. This study investigated the effects of temperature, gibberellic acid (GA3), and potassium nitrate (KNO3) on seed germination in Taraxacum ohwianum. Methods and Results : The seeds (NIBRGR0000135524) were exalbuminous, and their length and width were 4.25 ± 0.118 mm and 0.89 ± 0.062 mm, respectively. Among various temperatures (15, 20, 25, and 30℃), the optimum temperature for germination was found to be 20℃ (31.3%). High temperature (30℃) induced off-type in seedlings (thickened and crumpled cotyledons, and restricted root system). GA3 treatments increased germination percentage and speed, but germination percentage was higher with KNO3 treatment. Under KNO3 treatments (50 to 200 mg·L-1), germination percentage exceeded 80% after 12 days, with 50 mg·L-1 KNO3 being notably effective (91.2%, after 15 days). Conclusion : Seeds of T. ohwianum showed germination ability at low temperature. The best method for germination was pre-soaking in 50 mg·L-1 KNO3 (4℃, dark, 24 h) and incubating at 20℃ for 15 days.

• So Lim Shin(National Institute of Biological Resources, Ministry of Environment) | 신소림
• Yun Kyung Lim(National Institute of Biological Resources, Ministry of Environment) | 임윤경
• Hyuk Joon Kwon(National Institute of Biological Resources, Ministry of Environment) | 권혁준
• Soo Young Kim(National Institute of Biological Resources, Ministry of Environment) | 김수영 Corresponding author