Plant nutrition one of the most important factors that increase plant production. Thus, the present study was carried out to investigate the effects of NPK (three main macro elements of fertilizer) and their interactions on morphological and biochemical contents of Deodeok (Codonopsis lanceolata). Results exhibited that application of different fertilization treatments had a considerable effect on the different vegetative growth characteristics of C. lanceolata compared to the non fertilizer control. Plant height showed significant results towards all fertilization group compared to non fertilizer group, and the highest value (266.8 cm) for plant height was observed from the N+P+K group. The growth of internode was converted to vine after node 5, no fertilizer effects were found on internode elongation. Chlorophyll content showed a high amount in the range of 42.8 to 46.6 against all fertilization treatment groups, except P+K group. The highest values (57.0 g) for the fresh weight of roots were obtained from the N+P+K groups compared to non fertilizer group. The mineral nutrient content of Na, Mg, Cu and Al of the roots of C. lanceolata showed the lowest amount from in P+K groups compared to other groups. In addition, P from N+K group, Mn from N+P group and Ca, Fe, Zn from N+P+K group also exhibited the lowest mineral content compared to other groups respectively.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of medium composition on organogenesis towards in-vitro cultured diploid and tetraploid Codonopsis lanceolata and obtain in-vitro mass propagation of superior species of C. lanceolata. Regarding MS medium composition for each concentration, diploid C. lanceolata was found to be declined. However, shoot and adventitious root formation were suppressed with higher mineral salt concentration, and active growth of shootand adventitious root was exhibited as 4.9 cm and 3.2 cm respectively in 1/2 MS medium. While in tetraploid C. lanceolata, it showed 2.9 cm and 3.2 cm respectively in 1/4 MS medium. In the case of sucrose concentration, no consistent decrease was observed for growth of shoot and adventitious root of diploid both at high and low concentration. The growth of shoot (at 3% concentration) and adventitious root (at 7% concentration) was 2.3 cm and 2.0 cm respectively. Although there was no difference in shoot formation of tetraploid C. lanceolata in all concentrations with the range of 1.7 ~ 1.8, there was a slight decrease in shoot growth at high concentration. Results revealed that the adventitious root formation was suppressed at high concentration. Concentration of agar exhibited no significant difference in shoot formation of diploid C. lanceolata at all concentrations. The highest result of adventitious growth (4.1 cm) was observed at 0.8% concentration. Slight inhibition of shoot formation and root formation of tetraploid C. lanceolata was observed at higher concentration. Shoot formation of diploid C. lanceolata also exhibited inhibition at higher concentration. Shoot formation of diploid C. lanceolata was increased at lower pH and shoot growth was the highest (2.3 cm) at pH 3.8. Adventitious root formation was higher at lower pH. Although there was no difference in shoot formation of tetraploid C. lanceolata presenting 1.7 ~ 1.8 regardless of high and low pH, growth inhibition was showed at higher pH. Adventitious root formation and growth showed a little higher result at pH 5.8.

The present study was performed to investigate the effects of the colchicine concentrations on chromosome doubling for producing of tetraploid plants of Codonopsis lanceolata, and its effect on plant morphology. A total of 180 individuals germinated from 16 treatment groups, were exposed to various concentrations (0.05-1.0% w/v) of colchicine for different soaking duration (3-24 hour). The highest numbers of tetraploid plants (3) were observed from the lowest concentration of colchicine (0.05%), and one (1) tetraploid plant was obtained from the 0.5% concentration group with a 6 hour treatment. However, no tetraploid individual was observed in any other treatment groups. The plant height of the diploid (18.1 ㎝) was slightly shorter than that of the tetraploid (13.4 ㎝). The fresh weight of the main root in the diploid (0.5 g) was four-fold higher than the tetraploid (2.2 g). The colchicine-treated plant regeneration rate in C. lanceolata was decreased when the plants were subjected to high concentration of colchicine. In particular, the highest number of tetraploid plants (5 and 3) was obtained from the lower concentration (0.05% and 0.1%) of colchicine for 6-hour treatment, which were a higher rate (29.4% and 30%) of regenerated tetraploid plants than other regenerated plants. As in the seed treatment result, the plant height of the diploid was significantly higher (10.4 ㎝) than tetraploid. The higher morphological changes were observed comparatively from tetraploid plants than the diploid.

The present study aimed to compare and investigate the morphological characteristics and yield components according to ploidy level of diploid and tetraploid Platycodon grandiflorum under vinyl-greenhouse and open field conditions. Plant height of diploid and tetraploid P. grandiflorum was 51.3 ㎝, 54.0 ㎝, respectively. The results revealed that the plants grown in the vinyl-greenhouse showed significantly higher growth compared to those grown in the open field. Regardless of the growing place, diploid and tetraploid of P. grandiflorum showed the rapid elongation of internodes after 4 and 3 internodes respectively and elongation tends to be decreased as entering the flower-bud differentiation period. The starting day of flowering in vinyl-greenhouse cultivation was found to be faster than that of the open field cultivation by 2∼ 3 days and tended to be delayed by about 5∼6 days in tetraploid P. grandiflorum compared to diploid. Fresh weight of roots from the vinyl-greenhouse cultivation showed a high quantity as 34.2g and 49.4g in diploid and tetraploid P. grandiflorum, respectively and especially tetraploid P. grandiflorum was found to be increased by approximately 44.4% compared to other plots.

The present study was performed to compare the morpho-physiological characteristics of the tetraploid and diploid varieties of Platycodon grandiflorum and to obtain basic data for cultivating a tetraploid variety with high yield and content of functional substances. The plant height of the tetraploid variety (54.0 cm) was slightly higher than that of the diploid variety. The leaf length and width of the tetraploid variety were 10.2 cm and 7.3 cm, respectively. The results obtained from the present study revealed that the form of the leaf changed from lanceolate to ovate, and the chlorophyll content in the tetraploid variety (16.7) was slightly higher than that in the diploid variety. The photosynthetic rate significantly increased (24%) to 13.4 μmol CO2·m -2 ·s -1 in the tetraploid variety from that of the diploid variety. The pollen viability of the tetraploid variety was decreased by approximately 33% with respect to that of the diploid variety, but this did not have a significant adverse effect on seed production. The fresh weight of tetraploid P. grandiflorum was 49.4 g, which was approximately 44% higher than that of the diploid variety.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of temperature and shade, which are basic environmental conditions, on growth, yield, inorganic components, and general components of Codonopsis lanceolata, in order to obtain basic data for improving yield capacity. In natural light, in the 15, 20, and 25°C groups, the plant heights ranged between 218.9 cm and 223.9 cm, and there was no significant difference between groups. However, the leaf size was larger in shade, and the leaf area was significantly larger in the 15 and 30°C groups. In natural light, root length and diameter were shorter and thinner when the temperature was higher, and growth was highly suppressed at 30°C. With regards to macroelements, the contents of Na, Mg, and P increased as temperature increased, regardless of the plant part; however, no constant tendency was observed in K and Ca according to temperature. The contents of Mg and Ca (from highest to lowest) were in the order leaf>stem>root, whereas the contents of Na, P, and K were in the order stem>leaf>root. Contents of general components varied according to temperature, and were highest at 30°C. While the plant height was increased under the constant 25°C +DIF (Difference between day and night temperature) condition, growth was suppressed in the –DIF group, in which the night temperature was higher than the day temperature, which suggests that a change in night temperature is one of the factors that affects the growth of C. lanceolata. As in the growth of the above-ground parts, fresh weight of the root was high in the constant 25°C group and +DIF group. Notably, it was more than 2.5 times the fresh weights in the constant 15°C group, constant 20°C group, and –15 DIF group.