Background : The interest in paddy-converted fields to be used as an alternative new farming area for the stable ginseng production is increasing, and made up -32% of the total ginseng cultivation area in Korea in 2014. Therefore, this study examined how soil types and fertilizer regimes influence fatty acid (FA) and vitamin E (Vit-E) variation in 6-years-old ginseng root. Methods and Results : Ginseng variety “Jagyeongjong” was cultivated upland and paddy-converted field, and three organic fertilizers were applied to both fields, at 0, 1, 2, and 4 tons per 1,000 ㎡, prior to the ginseng seedling transplantation. The 37 FAs and 8 Vit-E were analyzed with GC-FID. We observed significant variation in both FA and Vit-E contents owing to the type and quantity of organic fertilizer used in each soil type during cultivation. Unsaturated FAs were approximately 2.7-fold higher in ginseng than in saturated FAs. Linoleic, palmitic, and oleic acids were the most abundant FAs detected in ginseng roots. Additionally, α-tocopherol was the major Vit-E detected. In particular, the increased application of rice straw compost or food waste fertilizer elevated the quantity of nutritionally desirable FAs and bioactive Vit-E in ginseng root. Partial least square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) score plots showed that soil type might be the main cause of differences in FA and Vit-E levels in ginseng. Specifically, the PLS-DA model indicated that palmitic acid is a suitable FA marker in determining whether ginseng plants were grown in a paddy-converted field or an upland field. Moreover, linoleic acid levels were highly correlated with α-linolenic acid (r = 0.8374) according to Pearson's correlations and hierarchical clustering analysis. Conclusion : This study investigated how soil type, as well as organic fertilizer type and amount, altered the FA and Vit-E profiles in ginseng roots. Therefore, these preliminary data should be beneficial to ginseng farmers and any industries involved in the production of high quality and nutritional ginseng products.

Background : Agaricus bisporus mushroom, which originated from Europe, is an edible mushroom with a unique taste and flavor and is the most widely cultivated mushroom type worldwide, particularly because of the relatively high protein, dietary fiber, and vitamin D contents of the fruit body, which have human health benefits like anticancer and DNA damage protection. However, to our knowledge, few studies have been conducted on the ability to discriminate mushroom’s bioactive compounds according to regional production sites. Thus, this study was aimed to examine the regional difference of selected bioactive compounds in of Agaricus bisporus mushroom. Methods and Results : The cultivars (cv.) “Saedo” and “Saehan” obtained from five regions of Korea were measured their phenolics and fatty acids profiling by LC/MS and GC-FID system, respectively. Among 54 targeted phenolics, protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, caffeic, 2,4-dihydrobenzoic, p-coumaric, and salicylic acids were found in the cv. Saedo and cv. Saehan fruit body. Also, tyrosine and phenylalanine, which are precursor metabolites of phemolics, were also observed in the A. bisporus fruit body. In particular, phenylalanine and p-hydroxybenzoic acid were the most abundant phenolic precusor and metabolite present in the A. bisporus, and was significant with the production regions (p < 0.05). The FA content was significant with the production region, but not much differed (p < 0.05). The n-6 FA including linoleic acid was the major FA in the mushroom, accounting > 70% over total FA content. However, the n-3 FA was the n-6 FA was very minor FA metabolites. Conclusion : These preliminary results can extend knowledge of regional difference of certain targeted bioactive compounds in A. bisporus mushroom produced in Korea, contributing to reliable regional difference with potential broader applications for the international mushroom market.