Analysis of Changes in Major Cultivation Areas and Physiological-Biochemical Characteristics of Medicinal Plants under Climate Change Scenarios

Myeong Ja Kwak1*, Jooyoung Kim1, Hyeonmuk Hwang1, Irae Kim1, Dawon Kang1, Yeji Lee1,

Su Young Woo1, Yong-il Kim2

(1Department of Environmental Horticulture, University of Seoul,

2National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Department of Herbal Crop Research, Herbal Crop Research Division)

Abstract: Climate change causes variations in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration and temperature, significantly impacting the physiological and biochemical characteristics of medicinal plants. This study analyzed the effects of CO2 concentration and temperature changes on the physiological and biochemical properties of medicinal plants. The results showed a close relationship between chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency. It was observed that an increase in CO2 concentration led to a decrease in stomatal conductance and a reduction in photosynthesis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations indicated a trend of increased stomatal density and decreased stomatal size with rising CO2 levels. These changes are interpreted as the plant responses to higher CO2 levels, forming more stomata to regulate gas exchange. This indicates that climate change negatively affects the photosynthetic capacity and stomatal activity of plants. In particular, high-temperature environments showed an increase in trichomes and a decrease in stomatal density, which appeared to be strategies to minimize leaf surface water loss due to decreased relative humidity and soil moisture. In conclusion, climate change significantly impacts the physiological and biochemical characteristics and cultivation areas of medicinal plants. Understanding plant responses to changes in CO2 concentration and temperature provides essential information for developing cultivation strategies for medicinal crops that can adapt to future climate change.

Keywords: Climate change, Cultivation areas, Safflower, Astragalus, Physiological-biochemical characteristics

Acknowledgments: This work was carried out with the support of “Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science and Technology Development (Project No. PJ014833)” Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.