Background : Currently sprout ginsengs are produced in extensive variations of cultivation times, methods and specifications that are different in each farm in Korea. Also, regardless the effective ingredient content of ginseng, overgrown sprout ginseng are distributed so that the quality standardization of sprout ginseng is urgently required. The sprout ginseng market is only a segment of the Korean ginseng market still. However, If development of processed products utilizing the functionalities is connected, the market may exponentially grow. Also, if the use of sprout ginseng is extended to productions of drinks, cosmetics, facial masks and others in the cosmetics and health functional food industries, the export competitiveness to the global market is expected to increase. Therefore, this study aims the quality standardization of sprout ginseng to secure the market competitiveness in Korea and overseas by examining the property change following the cultivation period.
Methods and Results : Growth of sprout ginseng were investigated on 20 th, 30 th, 40 th and 50 th days after planting on May 30 th. Growth of above-ground parts and underground parts of 2-years-old sprout ginseng increased with longer growing period. As the growing period became longer, the sprout ginseng weight increased, that is the result of the increase of the above-ground part. Also, according to the examination on the leaves, stems and roots properties of 2-year grown sprout ginseng in each growing period, a trend that, as the growing period is longer from 20 days to 50 days, the hardness, gumminess, chewingness and fracture of leaf, stem and root are higher.
Conclusion : In case of cultivating sprout ginseng in a green house, as the growth period of 2-years-old sprout ginseng was prolonged, the growth of above-ground parts and underground parts was improved. And, as the growing period of sprout ginseng was prolonged, the properties of leaves, stems and roots tended to increase.