Effects of environmental factors on the growth response of above- and below-ground parts of Mankyua chejuense, endangered endemic plant to Jeju province, in Korea

Mankyua chejuense is a native endangered plant distributed only in Gotzawal, a forested wetland, in Jeju Province, Korea. In order to determine the optimal environmental conditions for the growth and development of M. chejuense, we investigated the above- and below-ground growth responses and survival rate to various soil texture (sand and clay), water regimes (flooding and non-flooding), and $CO_2+T$ (ambient and elevated) conditions. All of the treatments had significant effects on aboveground growth parameters, while only the water regime and $CO_2+T$ treatments influenced belowground growth. The survival rate of M. chejuense was about twice higher under the sand, non-flooding and elevated $CO_2+T$ conditions than clay, flooding and ambient $CO_2+T$ conditions. These results indicate that M. chejuense grows in well-drained sandy soil conditions and elevated $CO_2$ concentration and temperature situations. Thus, there is a need to maintain M. chejuense under constant non-flooding soil conditions by implementing appropriate soil drainage strategies.