Effects of Rice Hull Cover for Seed Germination, Types of Tray and soi, Shading Conditions for Seedling Growth of Codonopsis pilosuala

This study was conducted to determine the effects of rice hull cover on seed germination and tray types, soil types, shading conditions for seedling growth of Codonopsis pilosuala. We also examined the feasibility of cultivation of small seedlings transplanted in the Gyeonggi-do area for a month. Under control condition, the seed germination was 8% whereas it dramatically increased to 78% under rice hull cover treatment. Under the different conditions (tray types, soil types, and shading conditions), young seedlings showed the best quality without shading in TKS soil of 50 plug cell tray, with the growth characteristics of plant height (11.9 cm), number of leaves (71), leaf width (3.1 cm), leaf length (2.6 cm), and root length (14.3 cm). Seedling quality was the best without any shading in TKS+perlite, with the physiological characteristics of evaporation (3.9 mmol·m-2s-1), carbon assimilation (9.1 μmol·m-2s-1), and water use efficiency (2.2 μmol·m-2s-1). Considering the economical, morphological, physiological and survival rate of the seedlings, it was an ideal method for transplanting seedlings in the field after they have been grown for 30-45 days in TKS and TKS+perlite of 200 plug cell tray in 0% or 30% shaded conditions. As the results of 5 months examination on the possibility to cultivate Codonopsis pilosuala in the Gyeonggi-do area, 88% to 96% of survival rate was observed with normal induced flowers. Therefore, cultivation of Codonopsis pilosuala was possible in the Gyeonggi-do area. While there were symptoms of etiolation and wilting under no shading condition, they did not appear in 30% and 70% shading conditions. Therefore, cultivation of Codonopsis pilosuala is considered to be necessary 30% or 70% shading.