The objective of this study was to assess genetic diversity among 6 different wild ginseng populations from New York, Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia, and to compare these wild populations to one cultivated population. RAPD markers were used to estimate the genetic difference among samples from the 7 populations. The 64 random primers were screened, and 15 primers were selected which exhibited the 124 highly reproducible polymorphic markers. The ratio of discordant bands to total bands scored was used to estimate the genetic distance within and among populations. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) of the relation matrix showed distinctive separation between wild and cultivated populations. The MDS result was confirmed using pooled chi-square tests for fragment homogeneity. This study suggests that RAPD markers can be used as population-specific markers for American ginseng.

To evaluate the effects of cultivar, environment, age and cultivation times on ginsenoside content among 8 wild populations of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium), the concentrations of 6 ginsenosides in root were determined at the time of collection (T0) of plants from the wild and 1 year after (T1) transplanting the roots to each of two different forest garden locations. Both location and population had significant effects on root and shoot growth. Overall, ginsenoside Rb1 was most abundant. The second most abundant ginsenoside were Re and Rg1, however the contents of them were not significantly different from each other. Concentrations of Rg1 and Re were inversely related. Ginsenoside Re was influenced by population and location. Ginsenoside Rg1, Rb1, Rc, Rb2 and Rd were influenced by population, location and age. Ginsenoside levels were consistently lower but growth was consistently higher at the more intensively managed garden location.