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.

The antimicrobial extracts of rheum palmatum and coptis chinensis root as well as grapefruit seed extract(GFSE) were applied to dipping treatment for keeping qualities of cucumbers, respectively, which were then packed in low density polyethylene(LDPE) films incorporated with 1 % antimicrobial extracts and stored . Dipping and packaging in the antimicrobial agents suppressed the growth of putrefactive microorgani는 and the decay ratio of cucumbers. In addition, the loss ratio of ascortic acid content and their weight was decreased during the sotrage of cucumbers. Consequently, the combined method of dippinf and packaging in antimicrobial agents turned out to be superior to dipping treatment or film-packaging in the view point of decay ratio and the keeping qualities of cucumbers.