본 연구는 강원지역 1영급 금강소나무를 대상으로 천연임분과 인공임분간의 직경별 뿌리의 분포 특성을 알아보기 위해 실시하였다. 직경별 뿌리분포는 두 임분 모두 0.5-2.0 mm 직경급의 뿌리가 가장 많았고, 10.0-20.0 mm 직경급의 뿌리가 가장 적었다. 두 임분간 직경별 뿌리발달에서 5.0 mm 이하의 직경급은 인공임분이 천연임분보다 우수하였지만, 5.0 mm 이상의 직경급 발달은 천연임분이 더 우수하였다. 토양 층위별 뿌리의 직경별 발달은 천연임분이 인공임분보다 다양한 토양층위에 고르게 분포하였으며, 인공임 분은 5.0 mm 이하의 직경급이 토심 10 cm, 토양 수평층위 20 cm 범위 내에 편중되어 발달하였다. 따라 서 임분 성립방법의 차이는 뿌리발달의 현저한 구조적 차이를 나타낼 수 있으며, 이러한 결과는 인공조림 시 올바른 식재방법과 조림지침을 제공하는데 중요한 기초자료로 사용될 수 있을 것이다.

Background: In Korea, 6-year-old ginseng root is economically more important than 4 or 5-year-old roots. In general, the root age is determined by counting the number of stem vestiges. However, this method does not accurately estimate ginseng root age. Methods and Results: In this study, the stem vestige counting method was used to survey a total of 18,395 fresh ginsengs cultured in 2014, and 2015, to determine the accuracy of this method. The proportion of 6-year-old roots, with more than four stem vestiges, was 46.1% in 2014. For the cultivar Chunpoong cultivated in Eumseong and Goesan countries in 2015, the proportion of more than four stem vestiges was 55.9%, and 43.5%, respectively. The proportion of more than four stem vestiges for the Gumpoong cultivated in Eumseong and Yangpyeong countries was 67.0%, and 35.1%, respectively, whereas that for the cultivar Yunpoong was 36.0% and 61.0%, respectively. Moreover, it was confirmed that differences in the levels of Rg1 will enable root age determination. Conclusions: Root age determination by the stem vestige test was found to differ depending on the environmental and cultivation conditions. To determine the age of ginseng roots, a comprehensive method, such as counting stem vestiges and evaluating differences in ginsenoside levels, should be applied.

Background : Wild-cultivated ginseng (WCG) prices are very different according to root ages. Generally, two methods are used to discriminate the root ages of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. The first method is the yearly determination method by the ring dyeing method, and the second method is the confirmation the number of stem vestiges in the rhizome. In this study, we analyzed the agronomic and growth characteristics of the WCG cultivated in Korea. In this study, to determine the appropriate root ages discrimination method for the determination of the root ages of WCG, the root ages of WCG and cultivated ginseng was examined. Methods and Results : We examined the cultivated ginseng (CG) and WCG that was collected and sold by regional groups at the Korean market. WCG does not form annual rings, which are clear and regular in wild ginseng. Therefore, it is impossible to identify the age of WCG by using the annual growth rings staining method. However, the age can be estimated by determining the number of stem vestiges in the rhizome. Conclusion : From the results of the Study on identification of root age for quality evealuation in WCG in Korea. Appropriate root ages discrimination method of WCG was confirmation the number of stem vestiges in the rhizome.

Background : Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) is a precious herb plant belonging to Araliaceae family especially in Asia and it has been cultivated more than a thousand years as a traditional medicine. Due to their pharmacological efficacy, old ginseng plants are traded high price, however, there are no crucial criteria to determine the ginseng age. To prevent illegal transactions, we assessed the telomere of ginseng roots based on modifications of the assays reported previously. Methods and Results : It is known that telomere length of ginseng root is shorter upon organismal aging. In this study, to support the determination of ginseng age, we modified and investigated methods through telomere analysis. Firstly, we examined the southern blot analysis whether telomere length depends on ginseng age. Based on previous study, we measured telomerase activity that is correlate with age. Furthermore, telomeric DNA was quantified by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to corroborate telomere shortening. The older ginseng root was shown short telomere length to compare with younger ginseng roots. Also enzyme activity of telomerase and amount of telomeric DNA represented decrease patterns upon age. Conclusion : Taken together, it is help to determine the age of ginseng through various methods using telomere because the results shown to positive correlation between telomeric characteristics and age for ginseng.

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.