Growth Characteristics of New Variety of Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) 『Geumwon』
Background : New ginseng variety “Geumwon” is appropriate for the cultivation in Chungnam. As an effort to develop new ginseng variety for regional specialization, it was collected from the Geumsan ginseng fields, selected and fixed and then was registered as new ginseng variety in 2015 through the verification of production capacity, farm demonstration and regional adaptation test. It is excellent in underground growth, disease-resistance and yield-ability compared to candidate varieties. Methods and Results : Regional adaptation tests were conducted for new ginseng variety “Geumwon” in 3 regions(i.e. Geumsan, Gochang and Icheon). The results suggested that the leaf length and width of 2-year old ginseng was 7.9cm and 4.2cm in 3 regions on an average basis. Anthrax incidence rate was about 2.5%, which was smaller than that of candidate variety(3.6%), and the underground root weight was 5.6g, which was 34% higher than that of candidate varieties. The leaf length and width of 3-year old ginseng was 9.4cm and 4.5cm, and anthrax incidence rate and leaf soot incidence rate was 0.8% and 1.2% respectively, which was lower than that of candidate varieties. The the root weight, root diameter and hull length of “Geomwon” were superior to that of candidate varieties by about 24%, 6% and 9% respectively. In addition, red discoloration and root rot incidence rate were also lower than that of candidate varieties. The growth of 4-year old ginseng was also superior to that of candidate varieties in the order of Geumsan, Ichoen and Gochang, and the anthrax and leaf soot incidence rate was also lower than that of candidate varieties(about 2.2.% and 2.3 %, respectively). Conclusion : The results of this study suggested new ginseng variety “Geumwon” is easy to cultivate in Chungnam because of its superior underground growth and excellent quality, and it was also evaluated to be an excellent variety that would contribute to the specialization of the ginseng cultivated in Geumsan.