Local strain selection of Dendranthema zawadskii complex native to Korea for rhizome mass production.

This study was initiated to screen adequate wild local varieties of Dendranthema zawadskii Tzvelve. complex native to Korea for rhizome mass production and maximizing ground cover effect. Rhizome characteristics of D. zawadskii complex selected from four subspecies, two varieties, and twelve local strains were evaluated using 5 ㎝-cut rhizomes under two levels of light intensity (40 and 100% natural light). D. zawadskii ssp. yezoense 'NAM' collected from south coastal region showed the highest leptomorphic rhizome development among all local strains tested. This strain showed 3.5 m total rhizome length, 3.5 ㎜ rhizome diameter, and 4.3 g dry weight per single 5 ㎝-cut rhizome at 100 days after field-planting. Average rhizome dry weight of all strains cultivated under 100% natural light showed more than 80% increase compared to those under 40% natural light. Thus, rhizome production of most D. zawadskii tested in this experiment could be successful as a ground cover crop under high light intensity regardless of light conditions in their diverse natural habitats.