GROWTH OF LICORICE (GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRAL.) AS AFFECTED) BY PROPAGATION MATERIALS

A field experiment was conducted to study licorice growth using seeds and rhizomes. Seeds and rhizome segments with 1, 2, or 3 bud(s) were planted in barrels that had been dug into the field. Measurements of the shoot and underground parts were taken at 6 wk intervals. Results showed that shoot dry weight of plants from all propagation materials increased up to 18 wk after planting, but, except for the 3-bud segment, did not change significantly thereafter. Thirty wk after planting, root and rhizome dry weight of plants grown from 2 or 3-bud segments were significantly higher than plants grown from seeds. Results of HPLC determination, 30 wk after planting indicated that roots and rhizomes of plants grown from rhizome segments contained more glycyrrhizic acid than plants grown from seeds. Furthermore, in all treatments, roots produced more glycyrrhizic acid than rhizomes. Anatomical observations of underground organs showed that both roots and rhizomes were produced by plants grown from 2 or 3-bud segments and by those that were grown from seeds. However, plants that were grown from I-bud segments did not produce rhizome.