Optimizing Rhizome Quality in Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. Through High Maltose Concentration

Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (L. chuanxiong) is a traditional medicinal food in East Asia. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the effects of various carbohydrates on L. chuanxiong. It covers rhizome induction, acclimatization, and field growth. In the context of this study, the most effective carbohydrates for promoting rhizome induction in vitro to field growth ex vitro of L. chuanxiong were identified as maltose treatments with a concentration of 4% and 6%. It has been demonstrated that, particularly at a concentration of 4%, this treatment is particularly beneficial for in vitro rhizome development of L. chuanxiong. Following acclimatization, the 6% maltose treatments exhibited the highest fresh weight (3.3 ± 0.2 g). Following the process of field growth, there was a significant increase in the fresh weight of the rhizome under the 6% maltose treatment (160.8 ± 22.2 g) in comparison with the other treatments. This investigation is the first study on rhizome production of L. chuanxiong. It is clear that the appropriate carbohydrate treatment protocol is key to optimizing rhizome production and providing fundamental data for the best propagation of L. chuanxiong.