With the purpose of improving ginsenoside production in Korean wild ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) mutant adventitious root lines, a synthetic gene encoding squalene synthase (PgSS2) was placed under the control of 35S promoter and transferred to Panax ginseng. Embryogenic callus obtained from ginseng adventitious root lines were transformed by infection with A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 containing the PgSS2 gene. Ten phosphinothricin-resistant plants were generated on selection medium, and the transgene integration and expression in these plants were confirmed by PAT test strip, RT-PCR and Southern hybridization. Ginsenoside analysis by HPLC revealed that the total contents of the 8 ginsenoside types (Rg1, Re, Rf, Rh1, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, Rd) in transgenic adventitious root lines were about 1.6-fold higher than that of the mutant control line (MCL1). This transformation method may facilitate the improvement of Panax ginseng in terms of the accumulation levels of ginsenoside.

This study was carried out to investigate change of ginsenoside contents according to tissue ratio in ginseng root by age and diameter. The epidermis-cortex and xylem-pith extent, fresh weight, dry weight of ginseng increased with the root age increase. They increased higher in xylem-pith than in epidermis-cortex. The ratio of epidermis-cortex decreased and xylem-pith increased as the main root diameter increased. In case of same diameter, the xylem-pith ratio increased by the increase of root age. The epidermis-cortex ratio was 4 > 5 > 6 years, respectively. The total 10 ginsenosides of epidermis- cortex increased with the root age increase. However, the total ginsenoside of xylem-pith decreased and it was 2~5 times lower than epidermis-cortex. The most of ginsenoside contents existed in epidermis-cortex. The diameter decrease in main root is related to the increase of epidermis-cortex ratio. It leads to increase of ginsenoside contents. In order to select high level of ginsenoside cultivar, it suggested that it should be selected main root having narrow diameter and lower epidermis- cortex ratio.

This study was carried out to investigate ginsenoside content in different root parts and the correlation between root diameter and ginsenoside composition of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer cultivated by direct seeding. The unit contents of ginsenoside were 29.65, 28.76, 26.34 mg/g, respectively in 4, 5, 6 years old. However, the total contents of ginsenoside were 431.97, 606.56, 657.80 mg/root, respectively. Total ginsenoside content of fine root was higher than that of main root and lateral root. These tendencies were related to decrease by the increase of root diameter. When diameter of main root and lateral root were the same in different ages, the total ginsenoside content was higher in the order of 4 > 5 > 6 years old roots. Except for ginsenoside-Rg1, other ginsenosides components (PD/PT and total ginsenosides) had highly negative correlation with the root diameter within whole root, main root, lateral root and fine root, which indicated that ginsenoside content is correlated to root diameter. As results, it is suggested that ginsenoside content can be predicted.

In this study, ginseng flower water extracts were analyzed to set up the ginsenoside content and quality optimization condition. The highest total ginsenoside content among the ginseng flower water extracts was 67.44mg/g which was extracted at 85℃ for 3 hours. In addition, the ginsenoside content decreased according to the increased extraction temperature and time. The highest total content of Rb2 and Re was 37.42mg/g at 75℃ for 6 hours. Total content of Rb2 and Re decreased according to the increased extraction temperature and time. The highest prosapogenin (Rg2 + Rg3 + Rh1) content among the total of ginseng flower water extracts was 18.58mg/g which was extracted at 95℃ for 12 hours. The sweetness, absorbance were increased according to the increased extraction temperature and time. But pH was decreased according to the increased extraction time.

Growth characteristics, root yield and ginsenoside contents of 3-year-old ginseng in greenhouse shaded by 30˚ sloped-curtain made of aluminum were compared to traditional shade facility in order to develop cultural practice for organic ginseng. Light transmittance ratio in greenhouse with 30˚ sloped-curtain shade was distinctly lower than that of traditional shade from sunrise to 9 a.m., while its ratio in greenhouse was higher than traditional shade since 9 a.m. due to the reflection of light. Air temperature of greenhouse was 1.3℃ higher than that of traditional shade on the first ten days of August due to more reflected light. Root yield of greenhouse was 44% higher than that of traditional cultivation because of the inflow of reflected light and the decrease of disease of Alternaria and Anthracnose by blocking rainfall. Dry matter partitioning ratio of rhizome and lateral root were increased in ginseng cultivated at greenhouse due to longer survival time in leaf than traditional cultivation. Total ginsenoside contents cultivated at greenhouse was decreased in the part of taproot, while it was increased in the part of lateral and fine root compare to traditional cultivation. Individual ginsenoside contents between greenhouse and traditional cultivation showed significant difference more frequent in fine root than taproot and lateral root. Total ginsenoside contents including Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, and Rg2 in whole root of 3-year-old ginseng did not showed significant difference by greenhouse and traditional cultivation.

This study was carried out to clarify the difference of growth characteristics and ginsenoside content in 5-year-old ginseng root grown by direct seeding and transplanting cultivation. Root weight per plant of direct seeding cultivation was lower than that of transplanting cultivation. Fresh and dry matter partitioning ratio of direct seeding cultivation was high in main root and low in lateral because direct seeding cultivation root elongated the length of main root, while it suppressed the growth of lateral root. Total amount of ginsenoside contents by direct seeding and transplanting cultivation were 362.8 and 320.3 mg in main root, 188.6 and 548.8 mg in lateral root, 170.7 and 273.8 mg in fine root. Its contents of whole root per plant were 722.1 and 1142.9 mg by direct seeding and transplanting, respectively.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of planting position on the growth characteristics, yield and ginsenoside content in Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer at different growth stages. Referring to shoot growth characteristics, stem length, stem diameter and leave area were higher at front than rear, increasing as the proceeding of growth stages. But a lower chlorophyll contents was caused at front compared to rear and decreased as the proceeding of growth stages contrarily. According to root characteristics, root length and main body length were higher at front, with a positive correlation to growth stages, which was also shown on fresh root weight and dry root weight with the maximum in August. Meanwhile, the effect of planting position on ginsenoside content could also be definite by the highest content at front showing high light intensity, increasing as the proceeding of growth stages as well.

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.