Background: This study was conducted to acquire basic information on the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the germplasm of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer collected from China and Korea, and identify the variations that can be utilized in ginseng breeding programs. Methods and Results: Quantitative parameters were evaluated, and used to compare and analyze on genetic polymorphisms in the germplasm. The genetic characteristics and classifications were compared and analyzed for each character. Stem length followed a normal frequency distribution ranging from 15.5 ㎝ to 40.5 ㎝, with showing approximately 40% having a stem length of 20 - 30 ㎜. Stem diameters ranged from 2.7 ㎜ to 11.3 ㎜. Stem number per plant ranged from 1 to 3; approximately 50% had a single stem, and 45% had two stems. A non-normal frequency distribution was observed for petiole number, with approximately 60% of the germplasm having 3 - 5 petioles. Petiole length exhibited a normal frequency distribution, raging from 4.5 to 10.6. Petiole angle in the germplasm ranged from 28° to 89° and seedstalk length ranged from 5.6 ㎝ to 27.3 ㎝. Conclusions: The genetic polymorphisms identified by complete linkage clustering based on the quantitative characteristics of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer collected from Korea and China were classified to 6 groups, namely I, II, III, IV, V, and VI with frequencies of 6.7%, 20.0%, 31.7%, 8.3%, 6.7%, and 26.7%, respectively.

Background: The roots of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi contain atractylone, which is used to suppress appetite and indigestion caused by gastrointestinal disturbance. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of several organic compost on the growth and root yield of A. macrocephala with organic fertilizer.Methods and Results:When organic fertilizer was applied basally, the average yield of 10 a was 184.6 ㎏ in the HA (Hwanggeumjidae, organic material mix), 171.3 ㎏ in the GG (Gyunbaeyangchegreen, bacterial cuture filtrate) and 175.0 ㎏ in the CF (Customary fertilization, control) each other in practice of CF had no statistical significance. Atractylenolide I was significantly greater in the HA (0.036%) than the GG (0.034%) or CF (0.023%). With regard to the amount of organic fertilzer, 10 a yield ws the most common of 203.0 ㎏ at 2.0 times of the organic 1 (HA), conventional fertilization of 134.0 ㎏ and 173.0 ㎏ of no application was a statistically significant. Organic fertilizer 1 was 1.5 to 2.0 times, organic fertilizer was 2 to 1.5 times that were most suitable.Conclusions:The results of the present study indicated that HA and GG are the most suitable for the organic cultivation of A. macrocephala. The content of atractylone I was highest under the HA treatment and lowest under the CU (Chamjoa, oil cake), TG (Totogreen, plant oil cake) and HG (Heuksalgreen, Castor oil cake) treatment.

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.

This study was carried out to have the basic and applied informations relating to develop the cultivation methods and to increase the productivity and quality of ginseng. 1 to 6 year old ginsengs of Jakyung cultivar were cultivated and the content and synthetic amount of carbohydrates were investigated with different plant tissues, growth stages, and years old. The concentration of total carbohydrates at six year old ginseng including water soluble and water insoluble carbohydrates was about 18.9%, 42.9%, and 43,6% in leaves, tap roots, and lateral roots, respectively. Water soluble carbohydrate of tap and lateral roots was slightly decreased from August until September, and then increased on November, whereas its water insoluble carbohydrate was increased from August to September and then decreased on November. Comparing with the content of carbohydrates of 1 to 6 year old ginsengs, it was continuously increased from one year old ginseng until five year old ginseng, however it was not increased much in six year old ginseng. The highest content of carbohydrates was at five year-old in all tissues of ginseng. Water soluble and water insoluble carbohydrates were significantly shown different in leaves, stems, tap roots, and lateral root at different growth stages and with different years old. The content of water soluble carbohydrate in the leaves was remarkedly higher compared to that of water insoluble carbohydrate, while in the root the content of water insoluble carbohydrate was clearly higher compared to the water soluble carbohydrate. Comparing with the synthetic amount of carbohydrates, water soluble carbohydrates was higher in the shoot than that in the root, whereas water-insoluble carbohydrates higher in the root than that in the shoot. Carbohydrates which would be utilized in ginseng tissues for short and long-term periods as major energy were appeared differently in between shoot and root, with different growth stages, and years old.

This study was conducted to improve the postharvest storage techniques of managing and storing seeds, totest qualities and viabilities of the seeds and to examine the germination rate and the protein expression of Achyranthesjaponica Nakai. The seeds collected from different areas of Je-Cheon and Gwang-Ju were stored with different temperaturesand durations. Two plant growth regulators and two seed priming were treated to investigate their effect on the germinationrates and the days required for germination. The weight of one hundred seed collected in Gwang-Ju was heavier than thosein Je-Cheon. Seed length collected in Gwang-Ju was also longer about 5.12㎜ than those in Je-Cheon about 4.90㎜ andseed width was longer in Gwang-Ju than those in Je-Cheon. The rates of seed germination in two different collection areaswere higher about 2.9 to 13.0% in Gwang-Ju compared to those in Je-Cheon. Comparing its rates with the storing tempera-tures and durations, they were not clearly different in between 4℃ and 25℃ and they also were gradually decreased withgetting longer storing durations. The germination rates treated by plant growth regulators were higher with GA3 than thosewith Kinetin. The highest seed germination rate was appeared at 50 ppm of GA3. Comparing its rates with different seedpriming, they were relatively higher with KNO3 than those with PEG6000. In protein expression patterns between before thegerminating and after the germinating of seeds, more and clear bands were appeared in the seed after the germination com-pared to those before the germination of seeds, especially 10~20kDa. These results showing more and clear bands weremore clearly appeared in Gwang-Ju compared to Je-Cheon. Comparing the protein expression with plant growth regulatorsand seed primings, GA3 was better expression than those with Kinetin and KNO3 was better than those with PEG6000. Moreand clear bands were closely related to the germination rates of seeds and more detailed studies would be required.

This study was conducted to investigate the quality of seeds, the germination rates and the days required for germination, to examine the patterns of protein expressions during the germination and to improve the techniques of managing and storing seeds and viability of the seeds of Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc. After collecting and harvesting seeds, they were classified to white and brown colors of seed coat through testing their seed size, weight, and quality. The germination rates, the days required for germination, and the protein expressions were examined with different colors of seed coats, storing temperatures and durations by treating the different plant growth regulators and primings. One hundred seed weight of white color was heavier about 1.17 g than those of brown one about 0.81 g. The germination rates in white color of seed coat was higher, 3.05 ~ 5.75%, than those in brown one. Its rates were decreased with getting longer in storage durations. There was no big differences on germination rates between storage temperatures. The plant growth regulator of GA3 and Kinetin was affected to improve the seed germination. GA3 increased the seed germination clearly at 25 ppm level, while kinetin increased it gradually from 25 to 100 ppm levels. In germination by seed primings, PEG6000 made higher germination rate with increasing their levels, whereas KNO3 increased the germination until 100 mM level and then decreased it with 200 mM unlike PEG6000. The protein expressed during the seed germination were appeared more and clearer bands in the seed after germination, especially 20 ~ 30 kDa, compared to those in the seed before germination. These results showing more and clearer bands were positively related to the germination rates which were different by seed colors, storage temperatures and durations, and plant growth regulators and primings.

This study was performed to identify optimal harvesting time of ginseng seeds and to examine the effect of GA3 treatment for improvement of seed stratification rate. Ginseng seeds harvested from Land race, Chunpoong and Yunpoong cultivar in July 20 were tested for stratification rate. It was shown that stratification rates of land race, Yunpoong and Chunpoong cultivar were 94.1%, 93.1%, and 82.6%, respectively. Seeds of Chunpoong cultivar harvested 10-15 days later showed a comparable stratification rate to that of Land race, indicating that late harvest of Chunpoong seeds is beneficial for the increase of stratification rate. The higher stratification rate was found in mature seeds (92.3%) than immature seeds (37.8%), both of which were harvested in July 20. Stratification rate of mature seeds harvested in July 15 was 87.5%, demonstrating optimal harvesting time of ginseng seeds with higher stratification rate is after mid-July. An exponential growth of endosperms of ginseng seeds was observed from early June to mid-June and then slow growth was observed. There was no obvious growth of embryos from fertilization to mid-August. After the this time, embryos quickly grew until late October. Thus, appropriate stratification control is essential during the period (from early September to late October) in order to optimize embryo growth and development. While no increase of stratification rate was observed in seeds treated with 50 ppm of GA3, significant increases were observed in seeds treated with 100 ppm of GA3. At this concentration of GA3, the stratification rate of Land race, Chunpoong and Yunpoong cultivar was 95.0%, 95.3%, and 96.5%, respectively.