Background: This study was carried out to determine the best time for collecting ginseng berries without reducing the ginsenoside- Re content of ginseng roots, which are used as food, medicine, or cosmetic materials. Methods and Results: The test variety of ginseng used in this study was is Chunpung, which was collected from a 4-year-old ginseng field. Ginseng berries were collected at 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, and 56 days after flowering. The number of berry bunches per 1.62㎡ ranged from 43.4 to 61.4, while the weight of berries per 1.62㎡ was the greatest when they were collected 49 days after flowering. The root fresh weight per 1.62㎡ was increased by 0.21 - 1.00 ㎏ compared with that before the test, but root weight gain was decreased as the berry collection time was delayed. Total ginsenoside content of 4-year-old ginseng was the highest when berries were collected 7 days after flowering, while the ginsenoside-Re contents was the highest when collection was done 14 days after flowering. Conclusions: The most suitable period for ginseng berry collection was proposed to be from 14 to 21 days after flowering, as this is when the content of ginsenoside-Re, which is useful as a medicinal or cosmetic material, is still high and the ginseng root has not yet decreased in weight.

국내에서 수집된 인삼 자원 중에서 작물학적 특성이 우수하다고 조사된 54점(6~7년 근)을 대상으로 UPOV 조사 기준에 따라 주요 형태적인 특성들을 조사한 결과 경수는 1~4개 범위로 1개인 것이 42.6%이고, 2개인 것이 38.6%로 경수가 1~2개인 것이 전체 81.2%로 나타났으며, 경수가 5개인 것은 없었다. 장엽수는 3~6엽 범위로 5엽이 55.6%였고 4엽인 것은 25.9%였다. 경색은 자색계열이 전체 81.5%로 자색이 46.3%, 연자