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The distant hybridization was used in lodging-resistance breeding of Platycodon grandiflorus. The parents were Platycodon grandiflorus (♀) and Campanula medium (♂). 187 seeds of F1 were harvested by using the inter-generic hybridization in 2009 and 2010, 2 repeat, and 88 normal plants were obtained. The characteristics of leaves, stems and branches were the same as female for F1 generation, F2 generation, backcross generation and S1 generation, and there were some different characteristics with female which were flower colors, branching habit and plant height. A lodging-resistance plant was selected in F1, which was about 75 cm high, deep pink flower color and developed lateral branches. The DNA groups of each generation were separated by 1% agarose gel electrophoresis and there were not significant differences. Among the each generation many flower colors and forms were obtained.

The aims of this study were to determine the viability of using freeze-thaw infusion (FI) technology to produce a range of root vegetables using enzyme treatments with improved texture characteristics for elderly consumers with swallowing difficulties. We applied enzyme impregnation as a technology to soften the textures of root vegetables commonly consumed in Korea; balloon flower root (Platycodon grandiflorus), burdock root (Arctium lappa L.), carrot (Daucus carota L.), and lotus root (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) through the use of a texture analyzer after the FI of a commercial enzyme. Out of 15 commercial enzymes that were analyzed, three enzymes exhibited a marked softening effect on the tested carrots, burdock roots, balloon flower roots, and lotus roots. The hardness of the enzymes-treated food materials reached 1.4 × 104 N/m2 for carrots, 3.0 × 104 N/m2 for burdock roots, of 3.0 × 104 N/m2 for balloon flower roots, and 3.2 × 104 N/m2 for lotus roots without changing the original shapes of the samples. These findings confirmed the potential benefits of softening carrots, lotus roots burdock roots, and balloon flower roots and will contribute to the development of foods that can be easily eaten as part of a balanced diet by elderly adults with eating difficulties.

Cisplatin (DDP) is a first-line drug for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but its efficacy and applications are constrained by intolerance and serious side effects. Platycodon grandiflorus (PG) is usually used as lung medicinal drug to enhance other drug’s effect on lung diseases. Therefore, present study aim to investigate anti-NSCLC effect of PG with DDP and mechanism involved in the combination for the first time. The results showed that compared with DDP group, the combined groups (DDP combined with 1, 2 and 4 g/kg of PG) reduced the tumor luminescence density by 26.0%, 78.2% and 32.8% respectively, and decreased the death rates, lung index, pathological damage and inflammation in lung tissue. Protein analysis of lung tissue showed that its anticancer effect may be associated with tumor cell apoptosis. Therefore, vitro studies showed that PG combined with DDP down-regulated the expression of p-Akt and PI3K and improved the protein expression of cleaved-caspase 9 in A549 cell and PG promotes the apoptosis of DDP and these mechanisms were related by inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Our study confirms that the combination of PG and DDP will help enhance efficacy of DDP and is important for improving platinum-based chemotherapy.

A new species of Stemphylium causing leaf and flower blight of Platycodon grandiflorus in Korea was determined on the basis of phylogenetic analysis and morphology. Phylogenetic analyses of internal transcribed spacer (ITS), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd), translation elongation factor 1 alpha (EF-1α) and a combined dataset revealed that the fungus placed in a subclade distinct from the closely related Stemphylium species (S. lycopersici, S. xanthosomatis and S. subglobuliferum). The fungus morphologically differs from them by producing larger conidia and no brown pigment secreted on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Hence, the pathogenic fungus is proposed as Stemphylium platycodontis sp. nov.

Heilongjiang Province is one of the major medicinal plant-growing areas in China.In order to understand the population structure and distribution characteristics of fungal species in rhizosphere soil of cultivated medicinal plants,the authors investigated and collected 220 rhizosphere soil samples in the fields of 14 medicinal plants grown in Yichun,Tieli,Suihua,Harbin,Mudanjiang and Jiamusi regions of Heilongjiang Province during July to October,2010.The mainly investigated medicinal plants included Acanthopanax senticosus,Anemarrhena asphodeloides,Arctium lappa,Belamcanda chinensis,Bupleurum chinense,Carthamus tinctorius,Codonopsis pilosula,Dioscorea nipponica,Fritillaria ussuriensis,Leonurusa artemisia,Platycodon grandiflorus,Saposhnikovia divaricata,Schisandra chinensis,and Scutellaria baicalensis.In this paper,we took the traditional morphological methods to identify fungal species.This study is aimed at the following three aspects: to investigate the detailed species and distribution pattern of sporulating fungi in rhizosphere soil of cultivated medicinal plants in six regions of Heilongjiang Province,to analyze the fungal diversity in rhizosphere soil of different medicinal plants,to collect potentially economic fungal resources,and to understand ecological characteristics of rhizosphere soil fungi of medicinal plants in the studied areas. After fungal isolation by means of soil dilution plate and soil particle plate and culture on standard media,totally 1016 fungal isolates were obtained.Based on colony and spore production,86 fungal species belonging to 35 genera were morphologically identified,including ten species in seven genera of Zygomycetes(7.78%),two species in one genus of Ascomycetes(0.69%),and 74 species in 27 genera of anamorphic fungi(70.76%),the left 20.77% of all isolates were sterile on media.The results indicated that plentiful fungal diversity was present in the cultivated medicinal plant rhizosphere soil in Heilongjiang Province.Of which the species in Penicillium,Aspergillus,Trichoderma and Fusarium were the predominant groups of fungi,their relative isolating frequencies were 16.93%,14.76%,8.46% and 6.69% respectively.The species of Gliocladium,Chrysosporium,Mucor,Cladosporium,Acremonium and Rhizopus were the subdominant groups,their relative frequencies were 5.02%,4.23%,4.13%,3.74%,2.36% and 2.26% respectively.The fungal population structures and compositions were different in the rhizosphere soil of all the medicinal plants.Penicillium,Aspergillus,Trichoderma and Fusarium occured in all the 14 investigated medicinal plants,and they were the predominant groups,but their distribution frequencies were different in different medicinal plants.The plentiful fungal isolates of Trichoderma and Gliocladium cultured from the rhizosphere soil of various medicinal plants were of economical significance for bio-control of medicinal plants soil-borne diseases and bio-transformation of Chinese herbal medicines. The medicinal plants of Schisandra chinensis,Fritillaria ussuriensis and Bupleurum chinense were most extensively cultivated in Heilongjiang Province,and the fungal diversities in the rhizosphere soil of the above three medicinal plants all grown in six investigated regions were significantly different.Yichun was the highest in Shannon diversity index(H′=2.9574) and Margalef richness index(R=5.6683).Jiamusi was the highest in Pielou evenness index(J=0.9200).The fungal diversities in the six regions were different in similarity.It ranged from 0.3704 to 0.6315,and of which the similarity coefficient of fungal populations in medicinal plant rhizosphere soil was higher(Cj=0.6315) for Mudanjiang and Suihua,while it was lower for Mudanjiang and Harbin(Cj=0.3704).Our results showed that the factors such as cropping patterns of medicinal plants,climate and soil environment evidently affected the fungal diversity and similarity in the rhizosphere soil of medicinal plants.

Polysaccharides were isolated from Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A.DC. (PG) and the effects of three polysaccharides (PGPS80, PGPS60, PGPSt) on their immunological activities were studied. The structure identification of PGPSs was assessed using physicochemical and spectral methods. Results showed that PGPSt(2.67×105Da) compared to PGPS80(1.01×105Da) and PGPS60(1.12×105Da) has relatively higher average molecular weight(Mw) at the first peak with a narrower molecular weight distribution and all consisted of glucose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, xylose and rhamnose in different mass percentages. PGPS80 and PGPSt linked mainly by 1,3-and 1,6-β-d-Galp residues. The immunological efficacy of PGPSs was performed on chicken peritoneal macrophages. Results showed that PGPSt significantly increased phagocytic rates, proliferation and NO production, stimulated macrophages to produce cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 as well as stimulated macrophages to express the maturation markers CD80 and CD86. These findings suggest that PGPSt exerted significant immunological activity and might be associated with special characters.

Solvent-free solid injection was applied to differentiate between wild and cultivated South Korean medicinal foods, including dureup (Aralia elata), deodeok (Codonopsis lanceolata) and doraji (Platycodon grandiflorus). A number of compounds were identified in wild and cultivated dureup (53 and 46), deodeok (47 and 51) and doraji (43 and 38). Secondary metabolites, including butanal,2-methyl-, β-caryophyllene, neoclovene, α-humulene, γ-curcumene, β-bisabolene, and phytol, were identified in dureup with significantly (P

Platycodon grandiflorus is an important medicinal plant in China and its root has been used as medicine or food for centuries. Polyploids are usually valuable because they exhibit increased biomass and contain effective medicinal compounds. Polyploidy induction was successfully achieved in this plant in a previous study by apical shoot tip treatment of young seedlings for 72 h using semi-solid 0.05% colchicine. Polyploidy was further confirmed by meiosis behavior of pollen mother cells in this study. The meiosis of diploid controls is regular, with normal chromosome pairing, and diploids were identified with 2n = 2x = 18 chromosomes at metaphaseI, nine bivalents at diakinesis and 9–9 separation at meiosis I, then differentiating into tetrads that subsequently give rise to mature pollen grains. Induced tetraploids were cytogenetically distinguished from diploids by the occurrence of 36 chromosomes at diakinesis with different combinations of univalents, bivalents, trivalents, quadrivalents, and multivalent...

This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of Rhizome rot incidence of Platycodon grandiflorus by cultivation period and ridge width and furrow depth. The three types of ridge width 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2 m and several levels of furrow depth and 6 levels cultivation period. This experiment was done in farmer's farm and the treatments were also classified in the same spot. In this investigation, ridge width, soil water content, soil hardness, and cultivation period were positively related with Rhizome rot incidence, however, furrow depth was negatively related with that. So this experiment could draw a conclusion : excess water damage and soil hardness could directly or indirectly effect on the Rhizome rot incidence, so cultivation method should be developed such as making underground ditch or cultivation in well draining soil for escaping excess waster damage.

This study was carried out to investigate the seedling establishment and yield of direct-sown Platycodon grandiflorus seeds cultured by three ridge width, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 m and four mulching materials, rice straw, rice bran, black plastic film, and no mulching in upland. Seedling establishment rate (70%) was the highest in rice straw mulched plot of 500 seeds/ sowed and root yield after one year was also the highest in rice straw mulched treatment and followed by rice bran, no mulching, and black plastic film treatment. In this result, ridge width 120cm and rice straw mulching combined treatment was best for getting the highest seedling establishment ratio and seedling numbers per area. However, ridge width and mulching materials should be considered soil moisture content and weed population for saving labor cost.

Platycodon grandiflorus is an important medicinal plant in China and its root has been used as medicine or food for centuries. Polyploidy may increase the amounts of functional compounds in vegetative organs for medicinal plants. So polyploid manipulation for medicinal plants is an effective approach of germplasm development. This research focused on tetraploid induction of P. grandiflorus by modified colchicine method. The diploid seedlings were induced under three treatments (24h, 48h and 72h) to test the best treatment time. Morphology and cytology identifications between obtained mutants and diploid controls were also conducted. The seedling growth and development of all mutants was more stunted than controls. According to preliminary morphological characteristics, mutant rates in different treatment times were statistically estimated and the highest mutant rate was 50% under the treatment of 72h. The chromosome number of most mutants was 36 (2n=4x), while the chromosome number of diploid con...

In order to investigate the epigenetic variations between diploid and autotetraploid of Platycodon grandiflorus. The diploid buds of P. grandiflorus were soaked in the mixture of different concentration colchicines and 0.002 g•mL ⁻¹ dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO)．The identification of autotetraploid plants were based on morphological characteristics, chromosome number and flow cytometry. And then the level and pattern of DNA methylation explored by using the technology of methylation sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP)．The result demonstrated that the buds soaked in 0.2% colchicines and 0.002 g•mL ⁻¹ DMSO solution for 12 h was ideal conditions to induce autotetraploid of P. grandiflorus, with induction rate of 32.0%.The diploid and tetraploid plants existed distinctly differences in morphological indexes.Totally,1 586 bands were amplified by 20 pairs of selective primers, of which 764 and 822 bands were detected in diploid and autotetraploid respectively. The total methylation ratio,full methylation ratio and hemimethylated ratio were 91.25%,61.25% and 30.65% in diploid of P. grandiflorus,respectively.However,the total methylation ratio,full methylation ratio and hemimethylated ratio of autotetraploid of P. grandiflorus were 86.13%,54.38% and 31.75%, respectively. Compared with diploid, the genomic DNA total methylate ratio and full methylation ratio of autotetration plants decreased by 6.02% and 7.14%.But the hemimethylated ratio of autotetraploid was higher than that of diploid, which more than 1.6%. All this results indicated that DNA methylation patterns have adjusted during the polyploidy process．.

Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A.DC. (PG) has long been used as an ingredient of foods and is known to have beneficial effects on cognitive functions as well. The present study examined the effect of each PG extract (PGE) from root, aerial part, and seeds on cognitive functions in mice. Changes in spatial learning and memory using a Y-maze test, and markers of adult hippocampal neurogenesis and synaptogenesis were examined. Moreover, changes in neuritogenesis and activation of the ERK1/2 pathway were investigated. Results indicated that mice administered PGE (root) showed increased spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze test and synaptogenesis in the hippocampus. In addition, PGE (root) and platycodin D, the major bioactive compound from the PG root, significantly stimulated neuritic outgrowth by phosphorylation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway in vitro. These results indicate that the PGE (root), containing platycodin D, enhances cognitive function through synaptogenesis via activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

The biotransformation of bufalin by cell suspension cultures of Platycodon grandiflorus was investigated and two new biotransformed products were obtained, which was 3-epi-telocinobufagin and 3-epi-bufalin-3-O-β-D-glucoside.

キキョウ‘五月雨紫’等の開花 2～5 日前の花蕾子房を縦に 8 分割した子房片を外植体として，NAA と BAPの両方を添加した MS 培地で培養すると不定芽が形成れた．1 mg·L−1NAA と 5 mg·L−1BAP 添加区で最も不定芽形成率が高かった．この不定芽を MS 培地に継代培養することで植物体が再生した．この植物体をポットで栽培した結果，再生個体の茎葉の形態，開花様相は親植物と同一であった．また，子房片からの不定芽形成率には品種間差異が認められた．

The productivity and profitability of annual and perennial field-grown specialty cut-flower species were evaluated for the southeastern United States. Data were collected on 20 annuals and 20 perennials in 1992 and on 19 annuals and 19 perennials (10 in their second year of production) in 1993. Productivity and profitability were based on yield and stem length measurements. Yield was expressed as total number of stems harvested. Income per 30-cm center was predicted from the number of stems ≥41 cm long that were harvested. Some species had high yields but stem lengths were too short for most market outlets. Among those species that combined high yield with long stems and resulted in high profitability without major pest or postharvest problems were the perennials Achillea filipendulina Lam., Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench, Liatris spicata (L.) Willd., and Platycodon grandiflorus Jacq. A. DC. and the annuals Antirrhinum majus L., Cosmos bipinnatus Cav., Scabiosa atropurpurea L., and Zinnia elegans Jacq. Low overhead of field production coupled with productive species could prove to be profitable.

Nine herbaceous perennial species were evaluated for use as flowering potted plants for late winter and early spring sales. Plugs of `King Edward' Achillea × Lewisii Ingw. (yarrow), Arabis sturii Mottet. (rockcress), `Alba' Armeria maritima (Mill.) Willd. (common thrift), `New Hybrid' Bergenia cordifolia (Haw.) Sternb. (bergenia), Chrysogonum virgianum L. (goldenstar), `War Bonnet' Dianthus × Allwoodii Hort. Allw. (Allwood pinks), Phlox × chattahoochee L. (Chattahoochee phlox), `Sentimental Blue' Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A. DC. (balloonflower), and Veronica L. × `Sunny Border Blue' (veronica) were established in 14-cm (0.8-liter) round plastic containers, grown for one season and covered with a thermoblanket for winter. Five plants of each species were transferred to a 21 ± 3C glasshouse for forcing under natural daylengths at six 10-day intervals beginning 1 Dec. 1993. Arabis sturii, Phlox × chattahoochee, Platycodon grandiflorus `Sentimental Blue', and Veronica × `Sunny Border Blue' flowered out of season without supplemental lighting. `Alba' Armeria maritima and Chrysogonum virginianum also flowered; however, their floral displays were less effective. `New Hybrid' Bergenia cordifolia did not flower and `King Edward' Achillea × Lewisii and `War Bonnet' Dianthus × Allwoodii only flowered sporadically, therefore, these perennials are not recommended for forcing out of season using our vernalization method.

Experiments aiming to adapt the perennial balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) as a commercial cut flower crop were conducted for 4 years under various growing conditions: four controlled-temperature rooms at two photoperiods in a phytotron, heated and unheated greenhouses, and a saran net-house (15% shade). Best flower yield was obtained following crown cooling for 12 weeks at 2 to 4 °C. Platycodon is a day-neutral plant, but produce more flowering stems under long days. Flower initiation and development is enhanced with increased growing temperature from 17/12 °C (day/night) to 27/22 °C. At very high temperatures (32/24 °C), however, only a few flowers are formed. Best quality stems were produced at 12 to 14 °C night temperature. At higher night temperatures, flowering stems were thin and weak. Gibberellin treatments to the crowns and the plants did not affect flowering time. Chemical name used: gibberellin (GA3).

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of crude extract from Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) roots on atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. Materials and Methods: To develop atopic dermatitis-like lesions, 200 μl of 0.3% 1-chloro-2, 4-dinitro benzene (DNCB) in acetone/olive oil (3:1) was applied 3 times a week for 2 weeks on the shaved skin of their backs. PG extract was dissolved in saline and orally administrated at concentrations of 300 and 500 mg/kg every day for 2 weeks. The therapeutic effect of PG on AD-like skin lesions was assessed by measuring skin severity scores and epithermal thickness, serum total immunoglobulin (Ig) E, histopathological findings for inflammatory cells including mast cells, macrophage and T cells, and mRNA expression of various cytokines related to the inflammatory and allergic response. The significance of inter-group differences was analyzed using the ANOVA test. Data were considered to be significant when P < 0.05 or P < 0.01. Results: Oral treatment of PG suppressed AD-like skin lesions according to the assessment of skin severity and epithermal thickness in the DNCB-treated NC/Nga mice. This alleviation was further correlated with a reduction of elevated serum total IgE or cytokine mRNA in the PG-treated group compared with vehicle-treated positive group. In addition, infiltrated inflammatory cells decreased on the skin lesions compared with vehicle-treated group. Conclusion: These results suggest that PG may have a potential therapeutic effect for AD via the inhibition of both inflammatory and allergic reaction.

DNA sequence analysis of rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) were exploited for their applications in differentiating medicinal species Codonopsis pilosula, C. tangshen, C. modesta, and C. nervosa var. macrantha, from two related adulterants Campanumoea javania and Platycodon grandiflorus. The data demonstrated that the rDNA ITSI and ITSII sequences of the four Codonopsis are highly homologous but not identical, and are significantly different from those of the two adulterants. The sequence difference allows effective and reliable differentiation of Codonopsis from the adulterants by PCR-RFLP.

Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A. DC. `Sentimental Blue' can be used as a pot plant and garden perennial. Plants can be grown year-round in a greenhouse as cutting flowers if supplemental heat is provided in the winter. Sowing time did not affect plant growth and flowering. Seeds took 10 to 20 days to germinate at 20–25 °C day/15–20 °C night temperatures. As the day/night temperature decreased, time to germination increased and germination rate decreased. Temperature also influenced shoot proliferation and number of basal branches increased as temperature decreased. Plants reached reproductive growth about 20 days after transplanting and took another 20 days to reach full bloom. Open flowers lasted 3–7 days. Cold treatment was not necessary for flowering, but plants were forced into dormancy when provided with 5 °C for 4 or more weeks. Plants began to emerge 2 to 3 months later and two growth forms, “rosette” and “dwarf”, occurred in the second growth cycle. The dwarf form produced one or two stems with six to eight clustered flowers per stem while the rosette form produced an average of 10 stems with one or two flower per stem. For the “rosette” form, each stem could be divided as a new plant.