Optimum Cultivation Conditions from Habitat Status of Glehnia littoralis in Korean Midwest Region

Abstract

Background: The present study was conducted to investigate the fatty acid content and habitat conditions of Glehnia littoralis in the Korean midwest region.Methods and Results: The emergence area of G. littoralis was 36.1 m from the coastline at an elevation of 4.2 m and slope of 4.3%. The soil of the habitat was sandy, the pH was 8.4, organic matter content was 0.4%, PO content was 9.1 ㎎/㎏ and the content of K, Ca, Mg and Na were 0.09, 9.31, 0.43 and 0.23 cmol/㎏, respectively. Other plants growing in this area with G. littoralis included 16 taxa. Plant with high coverage and frequency were Carex kobomugi, Elymus mollis, Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii, Lathyrus japonicus, Calystegia soldanella and Carex pumila. In the seeds of G. littoralis, the maximum fatty acid content was 65.5% oleic acid, 28.7% linoleic acid, 4.3% palmitic acid, 1.5% stearic acid, and 0.2% linolenic acid.Conclusions: In G. littoralis of Korean midwest, the scope of collection and cultivation for medicinal purposes was broad, because differences in associated vegetation, soil composition, and fatty acid content owing to habitat conditions was low.