Abstract

Background: This study evaluated the local germplasm of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. And investigated the individual variation of growth characteristics and sesquiterpenoid contents.<BR>Methods and Results: Overall, seven local germplasm were collected in Korea. Sesquiterpenoids, atractylenolide III (AT3) and atractylon (ATLN), were analyzed quantitatively using higher performance liquid chromatography to evaluate the rhizome quality of each germplasm. The Haenam local population (n = 57) was maintained in an experimental field, and growth characteristics such as numbers of flowers, stem and leaves, inflorescence size, stem length, rhizome weight, and sesquiterpenoid contents were investigated. The local germplasm from Jeongsun, Youngcheon, and Haenam had higher amounts of AT3 and ATLN than those from Munkyung, Hamyang, Hadong, and Wando. The Haenam local population was grouped individually by the leaf type and by rhizome shpape. Individual level variation in the Haenam local population was relatively large in sesquiterpenoid contents and growth characteristics except in the sizes of inflorescence and involucre. Shoot growth characteristics were positively correlated with rhizome weight, but lacked correlation with sesquiterpenoid contents. There were no differences among AT3 and ATLN contents in plants with different leaf type, and rhizome shape, and plants with compound leaves of trifoliate and pentafoliate had larger shoot growth.<BR>Conclusions: Local germplasm of A. japonica had large variation in growth characteristics and sesquiterpenoid contents, and plants with greater shoot growth and compound leaves have potential for higher rhizome yield.

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