• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.235-245
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• 2022

Bhutan is endowed with rich biodiversity with several edible and useful fern species. Ferns have been used by local communities for centuries as vegetables, ethnobotanical artifacts, and as medicines. Owing to the limited study of edible and useful pteridophytes in the country, the knowledgebase remains poor. In this study, we attempt to document edible and useful fern species in the country scientifically while also providing an annotated checklist.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.11-11
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• 2021

Ferns have been consumed as food in many countries for centuries. As rich sources of protein, fiber, minerals, vitamins, essential amino acids, and fatty acids, ferns provide important nutrients to humans. Eastern bracken (Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum (Desv.) Underw. ex A. Heller) is the most popular edible fern in South Korea where, additionally, it has long been used as an edible wild leaf vegetable. Recently, the production of eastern brackens in South Korea (2018) has reached 14,032 tons, for an annual revenue of 83.5 billion won, and even more eastern brackens are marketed if imports are taken into account as well. Most of the common ferns can be propagated using spores. However, fern farmers cultivate seedlings through traditional propagation methods, such as root pruning or rhizome division. These propagation methods exhibit limitations in forming roots and growing-points and are labor intensive. Quality seedlings of eastern bracken can be obtained through spore propagation, but the spores are fine and difficult to handle in the field. In addition, it would require appropriate environmental control. The production of synthetic seeds using encapsulation technology is easy to establish and it can be used to achieve high productivity at low cost. Synthetic seeds contain explants embedded into a seed foam, and they overcome the limitations of micropropagation and offer the possibility of using plug seedlings. Synthetic seed matrix, such as sodium alginate, has the advantages of low cost, low toxicity, and gel stability. The present study aimed to develop and produce synthetic seeds for the commercial exploitation of eastern bracken. Furthermore, we verified spore germination and the extent of gametophyte and sporophyte development achieved with our new synthetic seeds, whose production was intended to solve current problems with the handling, storage, and transportation of eastern bracken.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.147-147
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• 2005

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2007

The different parts of 8 edible and medicinal ferns were extracted with 80% ethanol and the bioactive substances and antioxidant activities were investigated. Total polyphenol content was highest in Cyrtomium fortunei rhizome ($57.32mg{\cdot}g^{-1}$) and followed by C. fortunei root, Pyrrosia lingua aerial part and Onoclea sensibilis var. interrupta aerial part. Total flavonoid contents ranged from 1.95 (Onoclea sensibilis var. interrupta rhizome) to $27.51mg{\cdot}g^{-1}$ (O. sensibilis var. interrupta aerial part). Among the samples tested, C. fortunei root and rhizome were found to be most effective in both DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assay. Except in Selaginella tamariscina underground part and Osmunda japonica aerial part, most of the tested samples showed strong potential (above 87%) in inhibition rate on linoleic acid oxidation.