This study was investigated to evaluate germination rate of Astragalus membranaceus B. in Korea as affectedby storage temperature, germination temperature and storage period of seed. The highest germination rate was obtainedfrom condition of 25℃ in germination temperature. Seeds were stored at −20℃ and 5℃ for 8 weeks has showed higher ger-mination rate than one at room temperatures. The germination rates showed significantly difference by harvested year of2010, 2011 and 2012. The seed of A. membranaceus in harvested year of 2011 and 2012 had germinated well. On the otherhand, seeds in harvested year of 2010 were not nearly germinated. Consequently, the longer storage period after seed har-vest lower germination rate and seed vigor as well.

This study was carried out to compare the characteristics of seed germination and the first stage of growth in Cynanchum wilfordii (Maxim.) by different light conditions such ass fluorescent light, dark and light emitting diode (LED). There was not much difference from the germination rate of C. wilfordii (Maxim.) in different light conditions for 10 days. The highest of germination rate occurred over 91.11 percentage by LED red condition at 26℃. Also mean germination velocity and promptness index were represented the highest results of 2.3 ea/day and 52.67 under red light, respectively. But mean germination time under both LED red and blue light was represented low data that it takes over three days for germinating of seed. Even though handling both LED red and blue lights, the germination uniformity was not constant. These results may help our understanding of variations in germination characteristics for C. wilfordii (Maxim.) seeds treated under different light conditions.

This study was carried out to select the appropriate medium (especially, carbon and nitrogen source, potassium phosphate and pH) for somatic embryogenesis in order to develop the rapid mass production system in suspension culture of Oplopanax elatus Nakai. Direct somatic embryos were obtained from root explants in the hormone free suspension culture (MS). Combination of NH4NO3 and KNO3 at the ratio of 1650 (mg/l) : 1900 (mg/l) obtained the better result to produce somatic embryo in suspension culture. MS medium supplemented with 170mg/l KH2PO4. The addition of 1 and 3% sucrose was effective for formation of embryogenic callus. Therefore, this report will be helped to improve the establishment for suspension culture in Oplopanax elatus Nakai.

This study was investigated seed germination of Rheum undulatum L. depends on storage temperature (-20, 5℃ and room temperature), germination temperature (5, 15, 25 and 40℃) and a soaking treatment (no soaking, 2 days and 4 days). There was not much difference from the germination rate of R. undulatum L. in storage temperature conditions for 8 weeks. The highest of germination rate occurred over 80 percentage at 25℃. When R. undulatum L. was soaked with tap water for four days, the average values of germination velocity and germination day were represented of 1.7 ea/day and 1.68 days. These results may help our understanding of variations in germination characteristics for R. undulatum L. seeds treated under various germination conditions.

억새 수집종의 초장 길이를 조사한 결과, 개화 전과 후 전체 생육기간 동안 200 cm 이상 우량한 생육을 나타낸 개체 자원은 India에서 수집한 억새 MS013이며, 개화 후에는 MS005, MS010, MS011, MS014 억새도 200 cm 이상의 생육을 보여주었다. 대부분의 억새 수집종의 경우 분얼수가 2-3개 정도로 나타났다. 엽장의 길이가 100 cm 이상인 수집종은 MS001, MS002, MS005, MS012, MS013, MS014로 6종이며, 엽폭은 1-2 cm 사이가 63%이상으로 대부분의 수집종들이 이에 속하였으며, MS002, MS003, MS005 억새의 엽폭은 2 cm 이상으로 잎이 넓은 것을 확인할 수 있었다. MS005 억새는 초장, 간경, 마디수, 분얼수 뿐만 아니라, 엽장, 엽폭에 있어서도 다른 지역에서 수집한 억새보다 수치가 높은 것을 확인하였으며 바이오에너지용 억새로서의 가치가 있다고 사료된다.

This study is part of research to develop the technology for managing major medicinal crops after harvest. We studied the optimal germination conditions of Cynanchum wilfordii (Maxim.) Hemsl. The mean germination time (MGT) of C. wilfordii seeds was higher after soaking for 4 days after storage at 5℃ for 8 weeks, than with germination at 25℃ (3 days). However, the germinative energy (GE) decreased as the number of days soaking increased. The greatest germination rate (83.3±8.8%) was at 25℃ with no soaking of seeds stored at -20℃ for 8 weeks. Based on these results, we characterized the germination conditions of a major medicinal crop.

This study evaluated the germination rate of Rheum palmatum L. in Korea as affected by storage temperature, germination temperature, and a soaking treatment. The germination rate of R. palmatum L. stored at various conditions for 8 weeks was 〉 60%. The highest germination rate occurred at 25℃. The germination point of R. palmatum L. with soaking was started 1 day after application, and non soaked seeds germinated in 2 days. When R. palmatum L. was soaked with water, the germination rate was lower, but mean germination velocity was the highest. These results may help our understanding of variations in germination characteristics for seeds treated under different germination conditions.