Gyeongbuk Agricultural Research & Extension Services Launches Full-Scale Development of Superior Medicinal Crop Varieties

Bonghwa Medicinal Crop Research Institute Applies for Three Varieties: Omija 'Hano-mi', 'Some Red', and Gobo 'Nokhyang'

Peony flowers in Uiseong.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Gwiyeol] The Gyeongbuk Agricultural Research and Extension Services is developing superior varieties to enhance the productivity and functionality of medicinal crops, as the demand for health functional foods that help boost immunity has increased due to COVID-19.

Since there are few cultivated varieties of medicinal crops, most farmers grow traditional varieties, and because they use self-harvested seeds and rhizomes for cultivation, seed mixing and yield variation are severe, resulting in low productivity.

The Bonghwa Medicinal Crop Research Institute will jointly promote the development of new varieties of medicinal crops such as Paeonia (Jakyak) and Angelica (Baekji) with the Rural Development Administration starting this year.

Paekji (Angelica) is used for various purposes including relieving abdominal pain, stomach cramps, analgesic, antipyretic, and treatment of gynecological diseases.

Baekji (Angelica) has analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects and is mainly used in traditional Korean medicine as a painkiller for colds, headaches, and toothaches.

Currently, Paeonia farmers use seed propagation (sexual reproduction), which has a higher propagation rate than division propagation, resulting in many natural hybrids. Therefore, the development of standardized varieties for raw materials is urgently needed to improve Paeonia productivity and develop processed products.

Baekji (Plant name: Guritdae).

Baekji (plant name: Angelica gigas) is cold-resistant and grows well, so it can be cultivated anywhere in the country, but there are no domestically developed varieties, and traditional varieties are grown, resulting in low uniformity and quality.

Medicinal crops have been widely used as herbal medicines for treating diseases or promoting health, but recently their use has expanded to industrial materials such as functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

The development of medicinal crop varieties is expected to contribute to the stable supply of industrial materials by standardizing raw materials and improving productivity.

The Bonghwa Medicinal Crop Research Institute has been steadily conducting breeding research and filed variety applications for large-fruited and early-maturing Schisandra chinensis varieties (Hanomi and Some Red) in 2020.

In 2021, a variety of Ligusticum (Gobon 1 line, Nokhyang) was filed for variety registration; it has large and thick roots, with root weight 8.6% heavier than the control variety, and is evaluated as advantageous for propagation due to its abundant flowers and seeds.

Shin Yongseup, Director of Gyeongbuk Agricultural Research and Extension Services, said, “To enhance the competitiveness of the medicinal crop industry, the development of varieties that can be distributed to farmers must precede,” adding, “We will focus more on developing medicinal crop varieties starting with Paeonia and Baekji.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.