Cultivation and Quality Characterization of New Variety Atractylodeds japonica ‘Wigang’

Background: Atractylodes japonica Koidzumi, known as ‘Atractylodes rhizome white’, is used for gastric treatment and is heavily dependent on imports, with 92% of its distribution imported in 2019. Cultivation is challenged by susceptibility to Phytophthora root rot, with no suitable breeding cultivars for its pharmacopoeia origin. Methods and Results: In 2017, vigorous seedlings were selected from crossbred lines, and the most promising lines were chosen in 2019. These lines underwent replicate yield trials from 2020 to 2021 and local adaptability testing from 2022 to 2023. The result was the development of the ‘Wigang’ cultivar, offering high yields and strong resistance to Phytophthora root rot. In regional trials conducted from 2022 to 2023, ‘Wigang’ produced a dried root yield of 480 kg per acre, marking a 279% increase over Yeongdong Jaerae. Additionally, the new cultivar showed strong resistance to Phytophthora root rot in both the field and indoor inoculation tests. Although ‘Wigang’ had lower atractylenolide I and atractylon levels, its β-eudesmol level was similar to that of ‘Yeongdong jaerae.’ Conclusion: In this study, we developed ‘Wigang’, the first A. japonica cultivar in Korea. ‘Wigang’ showed a stable yield and strong resistance to Phytophthora root rot.