Abstract: Above and below-ground biomass allocation has implications for plant growth strategies. It is not clear whether below-ground biomass of herbaceous plants isometrically scales with above-ground biomass or not. Both nutrients and individual density may affect the biomass allocation in medicinal plants. Here, we compared the differences of aboveand below-ground biomass allocation between wild and cultivated Gentiana rigescens Franch. ex Hemsl. and analyzed the effects of cultivation duration and individual density on the biomass allocation of cultivated individuals. We found significant differences (P<0.05) in the allocation between the wild and cultivated plants, which might be influenced by soil nutrient level and plant competition. However, below-ground biomass isometrically scaled with above-ground biomass for both wild and cultivated plants. Density and its interaction with cultivation duration had significant effects on below-ground biomass (P<0.05). Further studies are needed to optimize the density and to clarify the effects of factors such as fertilization and soil microbes on the yield of medicinal use part (below-groundbiomass) of this species.

Key words: fire fighting, fire prevention by using fire, fuel management, forest fire policy, forest fire in the United States