Background : Correct identification of Panax species is important to ensure food quality, safety, authenticity and health for consumers. This paper describes a high resolution melting (HRM) analysis based method using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 5.8S ribosomal DNA barcoding regions as target (Bar-HRM) to obtain barcoding information for the major Panax species and to identify the origin of ginseng plant.
Methods and Results : A PCR-based approach, Bar-HRM was developed to discriminate among Panax species. In this study, the ITS1, ITS2, and 5.8S rDNA genes were targeted for testing, since these have been identified as suitable genes for use in the identification of Panax species. The HRM analysis generated cluster patterns that were specific and sensitive enough to detect small sequence differences among the tested Panax species.
Conclusion : The results of this study show that the HRM curve analysis of the ITS regions and 5.8S rDNA sequences is a simple, quick, and reproducible method. It can simultaneously identify three Panax species and screen for variants. Thus, ITS1HRM and 5.8SHRM primer sets can be used to distinguish among Panax species.

INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
REFERENCES

• Kyong Hwan Bang(Planning and Coordination Division, NIHHS, RDA, Wanju 55365, Korea.) | 방경환
• Young Chang Kim(Department of Herbal Crop Research, NIHHS, RDA, Eumseong 27709, Korea) | 김영창
• Ji Young Lim(Department of Herbal Crop Research, NIHHS, RDA, Eumseong 27709, Korea.) | 임지영
• Jang Uk Kim(Department of Herbal Crop Research, NIHHS, RDA, Eumseong 27709, Korea) | 김장욱
• Jung Woo Lee(Department of Herbal Crop Research, NIHHS, RDA, Eumseong 27709, Korea) | 이정우
• Dong Hwi Kim(Department of Herbal Crop Research, NIHHS, RDA, Eumseong 27709, Korea) | 김동휘
• Kee Hong Kim(Department of Herbal Crop Research, NIHHS, RDA, Eumseong 27709, Korea.) | 김기홍
• Ick Hyun Jo(Department of Herbal Crop Research, NIHHS, RDA, Eumseong 27709, Korea) | 조익현 Corresponding Author