Background: Many Taraxacum spp. plants are widely used in medicine, but some of them have propagation problems, such as strong dormancy and poor germination rates. This study investigated the effects of temperature, gibberellic acid (GA3), and potassium nitrate (KNO3) on seed germination in Taraxacum ohwianum. Methods and Results: The seeds (NIBRGR0000135524) were exalbuminous, and their length and width were 4.54 ± 0.032㎜ and 0.97 ± 0.029㎜, respectively. Various germination temperatures were tested (15, 20, 25, and 30℃), the optimum temperature for germination was found to be 20℃ (31.3%). High temperature (30℃) resulted in non-typical seedlings (thickened and crumpled cotyledons, with a restricted root system). To increase the germination capacity, GA3 (200, 500, and 1,000 ㎎/ℓ ) or KNO3 (20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 ㎎/ℓ ) solutions were used as pre-soaking solutions instead of water. The GA3 treatments increased the germination percentage and rate, but germination percentage was higher with the KNO3 treatments. Under the 50 - 200 ㎎/ℓ KNO3 treatments, the germination percentage exceeded 80% after 12 days, and 50 ㎎/ℓ KNO3 was notably effective (91.2% after 15 days). Conclusions: T. ohwianum seeds showed improved germination at low temperatures. The best method for germination was presoaking in 50 ㎎/ℓ KNO3 for 24 h, in the dark at 4℃, and then incubating the germinated seed at 20℃ for 15 days.

Background : Plants of Taraxacum spp. are widely used in medicine, but some of them have some problems related to propagation, such as strong dormancy and inactive germination. This study investigated the effects of temperature, gibberellic acid (GA3), and potassium nitrate (KNO3) on seed germination in Taraxacum ohwianum. Methods and Results : The seeds (NIBRGR0000135524) were exalbuminous, and their length and width were 4.25 ± 0.118 mm and 0.89 ± 0.062 mm, respectively. Among various temperatures (15, 20, 25, and 30℃), the optimum temperature for germination was found to be 20℃ (31.3%). High temperature (30℃) induced off-type in seedlings (thickened and crumpled cotyledons, and restricted root system). GA3 treatments increased germination percentage and speed, but germination percentage was higher with KNO3 treatment. Under KNO3 treatments (50 to 200 mg·L-1), germination percentage exceeded 80% after 12 days, with 50 mg·L-1 KNO3 being notably effective (91.2%, after 15 days). Conclusion : Seeds of T. ohwianum showed germination ability at low temperature. The best method for germination was pre-soaking in 50 mg·L-1 KNO3 (4℃, dark, 24 h) and incubating at 20℃ for 15 days.