• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.16-30
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• 1980

In order to increase the production of ginseng, a cultural experiment was carried out under different types of natural forest condition. Seedlings were transplanted with three spacing (70,90 and plants per 1.62m2) under the broad leaved, needle and mixed forest. The obtained results are as follows. 1 Growth of aerial part of ginseng plant. 1) Vegetative growth under forest condition of very poor as compared with ordinary cultivation, but there was no significant in number of leaf and teasel. 2) Stem diameter and stem length under the different forest types were a little difference. However petiole length and number of leafet showed an increasing trend in broad leaved forest as compared with other forest types. 3) The withering date of aerial part of ginseng plant in the needle forest was later than of others. 2. Fresh weight of ginseng root per plant was decreasing in the order of broad leaved forest, needle and mixed forest, needle and sized forest respectively. However the root weight was much smaller than that of ordinary cultivated one. 3. No big difference was observed in the growth of both aerial and root among the planting density 4. Nitrogen content in ginseng root under forest was lower, but calcium content In root was higher than that of ordinary one. 5. Fat and fiber content of ginseng root under forest showed higher than that of ordinary one. 6. The saponin content of ginseng root grown under forest condition was higher than that of ordinary ginseng root. According to high performance liquid chromatogram of saponin, only difference from ordinary cultivated ginseng root was that ginsenoside Re showed higher peak than ginsenoside Rg1.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.405-411
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• 2014

Wild Korean ginseng has been recognized as highly precious medicine since ancient times. Nowadays, the population of wild ginseng in the forest of Korean peninsula is very rare due to indiscreet harvest. In this work, we investigated the plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis from embryogenic callus of old wild ginseng (more than 50 years-old) and compared the features of plants regenerated from 5-years old and 50 years-old ginseng. Induction of embryogenic callus from adventitious roots of 50 year-old wild ginseng required 83 weeks of culture, but only 10 weeks were sufficient for 5 year-old ginseng. Height and width of plants derived from the old wild ginseng was smaller and slender compared to the plantlets derived from 5 year-old ginseng. Total chlorophyll contents was 2-6 time lower in plantlets regenerated from 50 year-old wild ginseng than those from 5 year-old ginseng, but anthocyanin content was higher in 50 year-old ginseng. Our results revealed that plants regenerated from old wild ginseng have different morphological and physiological characters probably due to age-dependent phenomenon.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.2
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• pp.170-177
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• 2009

There are remarkable differences in growth and morphological characters of roots between mountain and field cultivated Panax ginseng. Growth of root in mountain cultivated ginseng was much slower than that of field cultivated ginseng. However, the factor affecting the retarded growth in mountain ginseng was not known. Soil analysis revealed that phosphorus (P) content of mountain soil was exceptionally low at least ten-fold lower compared to that of field soil. Thus, we suggest that low availability of P in mountain soil may be one of the limiting factors for growth of ginseng in mountain soil environment. We had monitored the growth of ginseng plants after one and three years of phosphate fertilizer application. Three kinds of phosphate fertilizers: fused magnesium phosphate, fused superphosphate, and single superphosphate were applied to mountain soil. Application of phosphate fertilizers increased the fresh-, dry weight, and diameter of ginseng roots and resulted in increased P accumulation in roots. These results demonstrate that slow growth of ginseng in mountain soil environment might be attributed to the low P content in mountain soil. Thus, analysis of P amount in mountain soil will be a good indicator for the selection of suitable site the ginseng cultivation in forest.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.5
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• pp.568-575
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• 2009

Korean wild and forest cultivated ginseng has long been accepted as high medicinal values compared to field cultivated ginseng. Owing to the high price of Korean wild ginseng, Chinese wild and forest cultivated ginseng were smuggled and sold as Korean wild and forest cultivated ginseng. Therefore, an efficient method is required to distinguish Korean ginseng from Chinese ginseng. Microsatellites, simple sequence repeats (SSRs), are highly polymorphic loci present in DNA that consist of repeating units of base pairs. Thus SSR markers are highly advantageous for detection of small genetic variances of intra-species. In the present study, we constructed a microsatellite-enriched genomic library from South Korean wild Panax ginseng. After sequence analysis of 992 randomly picked positive colonies, 126 (12.7%) of the colonies were found to contain microsatellite sequences, and 38 primer pairs were designed. By polymorphism assessment using 36 primer pairs, 4 primers (PG409, PG450, PG491, and PG582) were shown to be polymorphic to distinguish the South Korean ginseng from the Chinese ginseng. These 4 microsatellite markers will provide powerful tools to authenticate South Korean ginseng from Chinese ginseng.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.97 no.4
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• pp.357-362
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• 2008

We compared the morphological characters and stable isotopes of seeds of wild simulated ginseng with those of cultivated field ginseng. Seeds were collected from ten areas for wild simulated ginseng and two areas for cultivated field ginseng. The length, width, thickness and number of seeds per gram were measured and the ratio of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen was analysed as well. There was a overlapping variation of morphological characters and the ratio of stable isotope of the wild simulated ginseng among study areas. In Geumsan area, compared with the seed of cultivated field ginseng, the seed of wild simulated ginseng was significantly small and light, and the ${\delta}^{15}N$(‰) of wild simulated ginseng was lower than that of cultivated field ginseng. However, it is somewhat impossible to compare the regional variation of the unique value of ${\delta}^{15}N$(‰) among study areas of wild simulated ginseng. We can suggest the value of ${\delta}^{15}N$(‰) can be used as detection factor for cultivation regime like chemical fertilization and organic farming.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.651-658
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to investigate the comparative growth characteristics and ginenoside contents of wild-simulated ginseng on different years (7 and 13-year-old) by monitoring soil properties of cultivation regions. Plant and soil samples were collected from 6 different cultivation regions. Soil organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN) and cation exchangeable capacity (CEC) were significantly higher in 13-year-old wild-simulated ginseng cultivation regions compared to 7-year-old wild-simulated ginseng cultivation regions. Growth characteristics of wild-simulated ginseng had shown significantly higher in 13-year-old wild-simulated ginseng compared to 7-year-old wild-simulated ginseng. Ginsenoside G-Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1 were significantly higher in 13-year-old wild-simulated ginseng than 7-year-old wild-simulated ginseng. According to the results of correlation analysis, soil OM, TN and CEC of the cultivated regions were positively correlated with the growth of wild-simulated ginseng. In addition, the root length of wild-simulated ginseng showed positive correlation with ginsenoside content. Hence, this study was able to investigate the correlation between growth and ginsenoside content of wild-simulated ginseng based on soil characteristics of the cultivation regions.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.505-514
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• 2022

Background: The roots of Panax ginseng contain two types of tetracyclic triterpenoid saponins, namely, protopanaxadiol (PPD)-type saponins and protopanaxatiol (PPT)-type saponins. In P. ginseng, the protopanaxadiol 6-hydroxylase (PPT synthase) enzyme catalyses protopanaxatriol (PPT) production from protopanaxadiol (PPD). In this study, we constructed homozygous mutant lines of ginseng by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis of the PPT synthase gene and obtained the mutant ginseng root lines having complete depletion of the PPT-type ginsenosides. Methods: Two sgRNAs (single guide RNAs) were designed for target mutations in the exon sequences of the two PPT synthase genes (both PPTa and PPTg sequences) with the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Transgenic ginseng roots were generated through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The mutant lines were screened by ginsenoside analysis and DNA sequencing. Result: Ginsenoside analysis revealed the complete depletion of PPT-type ginsenosides in three putative mutant lines (Cr4, Cr7, and Cr14). The reduction of PPT-type ginsenosides in mutant lines led to increased accumulation of PPD-type ginsenosides. The gene editing in the selected mutant lines was confirmed by targeted deep sequencing. Conclusion: We have established the genome editing protocol by CRISPR/Cas9 system in P. ginseng and demonstrated the mutated roots producing only PPD-type ginsenosides by depleting PPT-type ginsenosides. Because the pharmacological activity of PPD-group ginsenosides is significantly different from that of PPT-group ginsenosides, the new type of ginseng mutant producing only PPD-group ginsenosides may have new pharmacological characteristics compared to wild-type ginseng. This is the first report to generate target-induced mutations for the modification of saponin biosynthesis in Panax species using CRISPR-Cas9 system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.109 no.3
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• pp.313-324
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• 2020

This study investigated the environmental location effects that Larix kaempferi and mixed forests had on the early growth of wild-simulated ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) seedlings. Experimental plots were created in Larix kaempferi and mixed forests, and confirmed the location environments and growth characteristics of wild-simulated ginseng seedling. Our results showed that the soil properties, such as soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and cation exchangeable capacity were significantly higher in the mixed forest soil compared to the Larix kaempferi forest soil. Likewise, the growth characteristics of wild-simulated ginseng seedlings were significantly higher in mixed forestsd compare to the Larix kaempferi forest. Correlation analysis between tree species ratio, soil properties, and growth characteristics in the experimental plots determined that the soil properties and growth characteristics had significant positive correlation with the broad-leaved forest percentage. Growth characteristics of the wild-simulated ginseng seedlings were shown to have a significant positive correlation with organic matter, total nitrogen, and cation exchange capacities. This study has clearly demonstrated that the tree species ratio, and soil properties in Larix kaempferi and mixed forests were significantly correlated with the early growth of wild simulated ginseng seedlings. These results could help to improve the selection of suitable cultivation sites for wild-simulated ginseng.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.352-359
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• 2009

Panax ginseng roots produce triterpene saponins called ginsenosides, which are high value secondary metabolites and has been used as drugs, detergents, sweeteners, and cosmetics. In the recent years plant cell, tissue and organ cultures have developed as important alternative sources for the saponin production in Panax ginseng. Adventitious roots and hairy roots have been successfully induced and cultured for the improvement of saponin contents. Genetic and metabolic engineering to regulate saponin biosynthesis in P. ginseng might be important way to improve the medicinal values of P. ginseng. Here we introduced the protocol of genetic transformation and recent progress of functional characterization of genes involved in saponin biosynthesis in P. ginseng.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.183-194
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• 2020

Background: This study investigated the effect of soil properties and soil bacterial community on early growth characteristics of wild-simulated ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) in coniferous and mixed forest experimental fields. Methods and Results: The soil bacterial community was analyzed using a high throughput sequencing technique (Illumina MiSeq sequencing). The relationship between the soil bacterial community, soil properties, and growth characteristics of wild-simulated ginseng were analyzed using principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and the Pearson's correlation analysis. Soil properties and soil bacterial community showed significant difference with forest physiognomy. Results of Pearson's correlation analysis and PCoA showed that the soil properties (soil pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, and cation exchange capacity) and soil bacterial community had significant correlation with tree species ratio and early growth characteristics of wild-simulated ginseng. Conclusions: This study clearly demonstrated the effect of soil properties and soil bacterial community on early growth characteristics of wild-simulated ginseng in coniferous and mixed forest. Moreover, these results will help in the selection of suitable cultivation sites for wild-simulated ginseng.