Breeding of the New Variety Rehmannia glutinosa ‘Hanbangae’ for Mechanical Harvesting

Background: The aging and declining population of farmers in South Korea have led to labor shortages in agriculture, emphasizing the need for modernization and mechanization. Cultivating Rehmannia glutinosa, a medicinal crop increasingly grown for the health food industry, is labor intensive. The varieties of Rehmannia glutinosa developed to date are high-yielding, but their long rhizomes make them unsuitable for mechanical harvesting. The aims of this study were to develop a new variety, R. glutinosa ‘Hanbangae’ suitable for mechanical harvesting, and to analyze its key characteristics.<br/>Methods and Results: R. glutinosa ‘Hanbangae’ developed by crossbreeding the R. glutinosa ‘Daegyeong’ and ‘Jeongeup’ local varietes in 2014, was tested in field trials in Eumseong, Chungcheongbuk-do from 2014 to 2019. Compared to R. glutinosa ‘Togang’, R. glutinosa ‘Hanbangae’ exhibited a lower flowering rate (15.56%), greater height (30.33 ㎝), and shorter rhizomes (13.18 ㎝). Although the total yield was slightly lower (2,487.67 ㎏/10a), R. glutinosa ‘Hanbangae’ had a higher first-harvest yield (1,997 ㎏/10a) and a larger proportion of marketable sizes (> 15 ㎜). The juice extraction rate was higher (62.16%), but the drying yield was lower (19.13%).<br/>Conclusion: R. glutinosa ‘Hanbangae’ is well-suited for mechanical harvesting, with its short rhizomes and low flowering rate reducing damage and labor costs. It showed potential for early harvesting, thereby maximizing the market value. Despite its slightly lower overall yield, the higher juice extraction rate and improved marketable size distribution underscored its economic viability. Further research is needed to optimize mechanical harvesting conditions and conduct economic analyses to fully capitalize on R. glutinosa ‘Hanbangae’ benefits in addressing agricultural labor shortages.