Background: This study aimed to investigate the flowering and fruits formation characteristics of Korean Panax ginseng varieties. The results will provide basic data for ginseng seed production and breeding program. Methods and Results: The characteristics investigated included flowering date, seed setting rate, seed type and seed production. The ginseng variety Chungsun had the earliest emergency and flowering dates, whereas Sunhyang showed late emergence and flowering dates. The emergence date of Chunpoong was not later than that of the other varieties, but the flowering date was delayed. The seed setting rate was 64.6%, 75.8%, 78.5% and 74.4% for three, four, five and six-year-old varieties, respectively. The ratio of double seed (RD) for Sunhyang and Chungsun were higher than those for the others, whereas the RD for Chunpoong was the lowest. Yunpoong and Sunone had many stems per plant and a high seed production rate. Seed production was 21.7, 67.7, 74.4 and 89.0㎏/ 10 a in three, four, five and six-year-old varieties, respectively. Conclusions: The emergence date ranged from April 15 to 25, and the flowering date was from May 10 to the 19 for the new ginseng varieties. The average seed multiplication of the ginseng varieties was about 8.5 and 21.1 times a year for varieties in which, seed-production occurs once a year for over four years and four times over six years, respectively.

Background : In order to determine the effects of planting methods on root growth of ginseng varieties, two different methods, direct seed sowing and transplanting were compared in terms of their effects on different root growth characteristics. Methods and Results : Higher fresh root weight was observed in ginseng grown by direct seed sowing. Direct seed sowing of three cultivars (Sunhyang, Chungsun and K-1) resulted in higher yield, whereas no difference was observed in the yield of one cultivar (Chungsun). Gumpoong was highly tolerant to physiological stress, as it showed fewer symptoms of rusty and rough skin root diseases in both direct seed sowing and transplanting. The average main root length per total root length of ginseng grown by direct seed sowing was 33.6%, whereas that of ginseng grown by the average of those by transplanting was 22.4%. Other root growth characteristics, including root length, main root diameter, and number of side roots, improved when the direct seed sowing method was used. Conclusions : To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the differences in root growth parameters of ginseng varieties grown by direct seed sowing or transplanting at the same planting density. Because of the advantages of direct sowing during ginseng planting, developing new varieties and improving cultivation methods are imperative.

Background : Excessively high concentration of sodium ion causednutrient deficiency and significantly decrease growth. This study was carried out to determine the limiting concentration range of sodium ion in the soil of ginseng field. Methods and Results : The growth of the ginseng cultivar Chunpoong reduced with increase in salinity, and the rate of growth reduction was higher in shoots than that of roots. Particularly, ginseng plants cultivated at high level of nitrate nitrogen or sodium may suffer delayed development and stunted growth. Chlorophyll damage occurred on the leaves of ginseng planted in relatively high levels (> 0.2 c㏖+/㎏) of sodium ion, as determined by the fluorescence reaction. The incidence of physiological disorder in ginseng cultivated at 249 sites was correlated with the concentration of sodium ion in the soils. About 74% of ginseng fields in which physiological disorders occurred had concentrations of sodium ion in soil greater than 0.2 c㏖+/㎏. In contrast, the concentration of sodium ions at 51 of 85 sites where no damage occurred was relatively (0.05 c㏖+/㎏- 0.15 c +/㎏). Conclusions : The concentration of sodium ion in soil of ginseng fields can be classified into three levels optimum (≤ 0.15), permissible allowance (0.15 - 0.2) and excessive (> 0.2).

Background : Considerable time and effort is required to develop new Panax ginseng varieties. Ginseng breeders have been developing techniques to shorten the breeding cycle to resolve this problem. In this study, we investigated the effects of adding GA3 and alternating temperature (AT, 2℃→ −2℃ → 2℃) on breaking bud dormancy in the varieties (Chungsun and Sunun) of ginseng root. Methods and Results : The GA3 soaking treatment and AT were applied to one year old roots, which greatly accelerated the emergence of new buds. In one year old roots, new buds emerged from the 4th day post transplanting and after breaking dormancy with GA3 and AT treatments. The emergence of new buds was completed within two weeks. The rate of bud emergence for Chungsun was 60% - 98% over 15 - 60 days after the AT and GA3 treatments. The emergence rate of Sunun was 46% - 92%. Normal growth of the ginseng seedling was observed in spite of the early breaking of bud dormancy by combined GA3 and AT treatments. Conclusions : GA3 and AT treatments shortened the dormancy period and facilitated the stable emergence of ginseng seedlings. However, some plants suffered deformities and early sprouting owing to the combined GA3 and AT treatments. Early sprouting was free from dormancy after leaf fall from the of aerial part of the plant.

In this study, the clinical safety and toxicology of oral ingestion of supplement capsules containing ginsengradix was investigated in healthy young volunteers. This study was a pilot randomized, double blinded, placebo controlledtrial. The healthy volunteers were divided into 6 groups of 20 each (10males and 10 females). They took the ginseng powderfor 35 days (3g/day) for safety evaluation. There were measured general healthy levels such as hematological, biochemical andelectrocardiographic parameters. After the first week, besides Korean white ginseng the other treatments led to an significantincrease of white blood cells. Korean red ginseng increased UREA (blood urea nitrogen) in healthy volunteers, but it didn’texceed the range of normal values, and in the subsequent process of treatment there is no effect of elevating UREA. After thethree weeks, Korean white ginseng showed relatively low the content of blood glucose and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.After the five weeks, compared with the other treatments, Korean red ginseng increased white blood cells, platelet distributionwidth and average volume of platelet. Korean white ginseng decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. American ginsengdecreased blood creatinine in healthy volunteers. In conclusion, through test the blood routine, urine routine, liver function,renal function, blood glucose, blood lipid and electrocardiogram, the healthy volunteers continuous taking ginsengfor 35 days (3g/day) is safe and reliable, and have no obvious adverse reactions and side effects.

This study describes the efficient method for the discrimination of 'Cheonryang' in Panax ginseng Meyer using a STS primer. A total of 208 STS primers were applied to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification for discriminating Korean ginseng cultivars. Co-dominant polymorphic band patterns were generated with two primers, MFGp 0019, MFGp 0248, and successful identification of 'Cheonryang' was achieved from out of 11 Korean ginseng cultivars. Two different sizes of DNA band patterns were detected with MFGp 0019 primer. Ten Korean ginseng cultivars shared the same size of amplified DNAs (389 bp), but 'Cheonryang' showed a different size. Thus 'Cheonryang' can be efficiently distinguished from the other ten ginseng cultivars by using the MFGp 0019 primer. In the case of MFGp 0248, two different sizes of DNA band patterns were detected in the eleven ginseng cultivars. Same sized amplified DNA bands (307 bp) were shown in five cultivars (Chunpoong, Gopoong, Kumpoong, Cheongsun, Sunhyang) and 254 bp sized DNA bands were identified in the other 6 cultivars (Yunpoong, Sunpoong, Sunun, Sunone, Cheonryang, K-1). In conclusion, the two STS primers, MFGp 0019, and MFGp 0248, provide a rapid and reliable method for the specific identification of 'Cheonryang' cultivar from a large number of samples.