Background : Cudrania tricuspidata Bureau is a widely used medicinal perennial woody plant. Obtaining information about the genetic diversity of plant populations is highly important for conservation and germplasm utilization. In this study, we developed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers derived from chloroplast genomic sequences to identify distinct Korean-specific ecotypes of C. tricuspidata via amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-PCR analyses. We performed molecular authentication of twelve C. tricuspidata ecotypes from different regions using DNA sequences in the chloroplast TrnL-F intergenic region. Methods and Results : SNPs were identified based on the results of nucleotide sequence for the intergenic region of TrnL-TrnF gene (chloroplast). Molecular markers were designed for those SNPs with additional mutations on the second base from SNPs for amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR). HRM pattern analyses were performed using the Mx3005P QPCR System (Agilent Technologies, CA, USA). Conclusion : We collected 12 individual lines of C. tricuspidata from various region in South Korea and China. Based on the nucleotide sequence in the trnL-trnF intergenic region of these lines, six SNPs and a deletion of 12 bps were identified and 12 individual lines were able to be grouped in one Korean ecotype and two different ecotypes of chinese lines, chinese line 1 and 2. The SNP markers developed in this study are useful for rapidly identifying these specific C. tricuspidata ecotypes collected from different regions.

Background : This study was performed to know the effect of mulching materials on the growth and root characteristics of Platycodin grandiflorum Ridix. Methods and Results : Platycodin grandiflorum Ridix was treated by with biodegradable film, rice husks, and sawdust, non-mulching (hand weeding). To measure the fresh weight and length, thickness and the number of fine root of the Platycodin grandiflorum Ridix roots harvested in October. Root length appeared in the biodegradable film and sawdust were 27.5 and 26.7㎝ longest, rice husks was the shortest 22.0㎝. Diameter at the thickest showed 30.9 ㎜ in biodegradable film, the following phrase appeared sawdust and rice husks application. The number of fine-root was investigated in biodegradable film most piece 36.0. Fresh weight, which is directly related to yield were biodegradable film to 130 g the highest in the number of fine-root and the longest root length. Conclusion : For the increasing the yield that Pharmacological effect, biodegrada

This study was performed to compare the effect of Platycodi Radix (PG) and Black Platycodi Radix (BPG; developed from fresh Platycodon grandiflorum root by steaming nine times at 80°C for 36 hr and drying nine times at 30°C for 24 hr , at which point it becomes black in color.) on anti-oxidant effect, anti-bacterial properties and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma mouse model by calculating serum cytokines and IgE. To induce the allergic asthma, in the control group and the sample treated group, mice of each group were sensitized intraperitoneally with OVA solution at the 1st, the 7th and the 14th day. Sensitization was performed by aerosol allergen challenges with 1% OVA solution intratracheally at the 21th, the 23th, the 25th and the 27th day. At the 29th day, the mice were killed and the levels of interferon-γ, interleukin-4, 5 and 10, total IgE and OVA-specific IgE were measured. IFN-γ was not different among the PG, BPG, and control groups. IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, total IgE, and OVA-specific IgE were significantly in the BPG group compared with the control group. Considering the above experimental results, this study showed that nine times-repitative steaming process on the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum could enhance reduction of the allergic reaction by reducing level of OVA specific IgE and immune cell infiltration and restoring Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance.

Background : This study was performed to know the effect of organic fertilizers on the growth and root characteristics of Platycodin grandiflorum Ridix. Methods and Results : As basal fertilizer were treated before transplanting Platycodin grandiflorum Ridix with chemical fertilizer(Super21, 21-17-17, Namhae Chemical), mixed organic fertilizer, bacterial cultures and fermented oil cake, manure in each trial of nitrogen based on 3 ㎏/10a criteria. To measure the fresh weight and length, thickness and the number of fine root of the Platycodin grandiflorum Ridix roots harvested in October. Root length appeared in the mixed organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer were 25.3 and 24.0 ㎝ longest, oil cake was the shortest 15.3㎝. Diameter at the thickest showed 26.6 ㎜ in chemical fertilizer, the following phrase appeared bacterial cultures and mixed organic fertilizer application. The number of fine-root was investigated in mixed organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer most pieces 20.0 and 17.0. Fresh weight, which is directly related to yield were mixed organic fertilizer to 55.7 g the highest in the number of fine-root and the longest root length. Conclusion : For the increasing the yield that Pharmacological effect, organic fertilizer is effective to increase the number of fine-root high which high contented with saponins.

Carrots (Daucus carota L.) are consumed as an important dietary source of b-carotene (provitamin A), a-carotene and lutein. An HPLC method was applied to determine the content of the carotenoid composition in carrot cultivars from Korea. Analyses were carried out with five carrot cultivars (Socheon-5-chon, Hongsim-5-chon, Myeongju-5-chon, Seonhongbom-5-chon and Betarich) sown at April, 2007 and six cultivars (Yeoreum-5-chon, Hanyeoreum-5-chon, Sinheukjeon-5-chon, Bibariheukjeon, Manina and Betarich) sown at August of the same year. The former and the latter carrots were harvested after 110 and 96 days from seeding, respectively, and the carotenoids were extracted with acetone after freeze-drying. The amount of a-carotenewas similar to that of b-carotene for the carrot cultivars sown at spring, while the content was about a half of b-carotene content for the latter cultivars. In addition, the average content of lutein in the former cultivars was nine times higher than that in the latter cultivars. Among the spring cultivation types, Socheon-5-chon and Myeongju-5-chon showed higher amount of a-carotene and b-carotene, while the higher amount was determined in Yeoreum-5-chon and Sinheukjeon-5-chon among the autumn cultivation types. This difference between spring cultivation types and autumn cultivation types was also shown in commercial two types of carrots purchased from local market.

When three cultivars, “Shinsunchalbyeo”, “Nokmi” and “GW-05-01”, which was collected from native glutinous rice, were exposed to increased salinity stress in exogenous solution and duration of salt stress, leaf relative water content (RWC), root water uptake and chlorophyll fluorescence were observed the significant decrease at ≥500mM NaCl concentration for 4 day stress. These decrease in leaf RWC showed 69%, 77% and 67% for Shinsunchalbeyo, Nokmi and GW-05-01, respectively, in water uptake these effects showed 84%, 85% and 91%. The difference in Fv/Fm of plants treated with 500mM NaCl showed 0.62, 0.68 and 0.78 compared with 0.78, 0.81 and 0.75 in control treatment. The effects of NaCl stress in rice seedlings indicate that the leaf RWC and photosynthetic capacity is more sensitive GW-05-01 in comparison with Shinsunchalbyeo and Nokmi, and water uptake in root is more resistant. Average plant height in Shisunchalbyeo, Nokmi and GW-05-01 showed 107, 102 and 111cm, and the 1000 grains weight were 25.5, 20.3 and 21.8, respectively.