Features of new medicinal plant Platycodon grandiflorus A. Dc. introduction in the Non-Chernozem zone of Russia

The aim of the study is to investigate the growth and development characteristics, economically valuable traits of Platycodon grandiflorus A. DC in the Non-Chernozem zone of Russia. The studies were conducted on the experimental field of the Botanical Garden of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution VILAR in 2020-2023. The soils of the site are sod-podzolic heavy loamy. Sowing was carried out in the middle of the first - end of the second decade of May to a depth of 1-2 cm, with a row spacing of 60 cm and a seeding rate of 1.2 g/m2. The plot size was 2.4 m2, repeated 4 times. Phenological observations, biometric measurements, determination of raw material productivity, raw material yield were carried out according to the methodology adopted for the introduction of medicinal plants. The content of water- and alcohol-soluble extractive substances was determined according to the Hong Kong and Chinese Pharmacopoeias. In the conditions of the Non-Chernozem zone of Russia, the large-flowered bellflower goes through all phenological phases. Seedlings begin to appear 20-28 days after sowing. Plants in the first year of life finish vegetation in mid- to late October at a height of 2.04-15.6 cm with 5.2-12.8 true leaves. In plants of the 2nd-3rd year of life, the beginning of spring regrowth of the aboveground part is observed at the end of the third decade of April - first decade of May. The onset of mass budding is noted from July 28 to August 17, mass flowering is observed from August 11 to September 14 and continues until the end of September. Fruiting is observed from the first-second decade of September until mid - to late October. The duration of the vegetation period from the beginning of spring regrowth until the death of the aboveground part is 164-178 days. The yield of freshly harvested roots is (0.870 ± 0.091) kg/m2 for plants of the 2nd year of life, (2.286 ± 0.243) kg/m2 for plants of the 3rd year of life. The content of water- and alcohol-soluble extractive substances in the roots meets the requirements of regulatory documentation (Pharmacopoeias of Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China).