• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.229-236
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• 1998

The incidence of fungi and their possible contribution to low vigour were examined in a collection of ginseng (Panax quiquefolius) seed from Ontario. When examined after one winter of stratification in the field and storage at 4f for five months in the laboratory, the collection exhibited low vigour (plant stand 16.7% of seeding rate six weeks after seeding) and high incidence (94%) of discolored or soft seed. Fungi isolated (and incidence) from 1,304 endosperm halves recovered from surface-sterilized seed were, in order of abundance, Fusarium rostrum (22.2%), Chaetomium crispuum (14.3%), Funriud oxysporum (9.0%), Fusarium sdani (9.0%), iwmor sp. (8.4%), Alternaria sp. (8.1%), Zowieua lucotricha (7.8%), Cylindruarpn sp. (0.9%), Fusarium avenacmm (0.9%), and Vdudla iliata (0.4%). Most of these fungi, including known and potential pathogens of ginseng (species of Alerraria, Cylindrocarpon, Fusarium, and Trichodirma), were associated with both healthy and diseased seed. Application of Benlate (benomyl), Thiram (thiram), or UBI-2584 (tebuconazole) to seed caused slight to pronounced reduction in emergence and did not significantly affect plant stand six weeks after seeding. The study demonstrated the high level of infection by fungi, including known and potential pathogens of the cry, in an arbitrary collection of ginseng seed from commercial sources, and the phytotoxicity of the fungicides tested when applied to moist stratified seed. The lack of efficacy of the fungicides precluded determination of the contribution of seedborne fungi to low vigour of the seed.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.134-136
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• 1994

The effects of soil phosphorus level on seed emergence, seedling mortality, plant and root development of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) were evaluated in a newly planted commercial ginseng garden. Phosphorus levels were increased from 58 ppm to 100, 150 and 200 ppm with triplephosphate (0-45-0). Higher phosphate levels increased, seed emergence and reduced seedling mortality. Root length, diameter, fresh root weight and total leaflet length were not affected by phosphate levels.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2016

This study was to evaluate the effect of ginseng (Panax ginseng) seed oil on the ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase. Each ginseng seed oils (HE, SE, EE) exhibited a significant inhibitory effect (p<0.001) at all concentrations (10 and 20 mg/ml) on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity. HE is the highest inhibitory activity (86.92%) at a concentration of 20 mg/ml, SE and EE showed an inhibitory effect of 77.13% and 65.83%, respectively. And also, Each ginseng seed oils (HE, SE, EE) exhibited a significant inhibitory effect (p<0.001) at all concentrations (1 and 2 mg/ml) on ${\alpha}$-amylase activity. HE is the highest inhibitory activity (89.68%) at a concentration of 2 mg/ml, SE and EE showed an inhibitory effect of 76.99% and 65.70%, respectively.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.169-171
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• 1983

The structural components of cell wall in various parts of Korean ginseng were analysed. Pectin was abundant in the cortex and epidermis of root, and leaf. Hemicellulose in root was more than in other parts of ginseng. Cellulose content of stem and seed coat was much higher compared to other parts and lignin content was highest in seed coat.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.519-526
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• 2021

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of cold plasma treatment on the improvement of seed germination and surface sterilization of ginseng seeds. Methods: Dehisced ginseng (Panax ginseng) seeds were exposed to dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma operated in argon (Ar) or an argon/oxygen mixture (Ar/O₂), and the resulting germination and surface sterilization were compared with those of an untreated control group. Bacterial and fungal detection assays were performed for plasma-treated ginseng seeds after serial dilution of surface-washed suspensions. The microbial colonies (fungi and bacteria) were classified according to their phenotypical morphologies and identified by molecular analysis. Furthermore, the effect of cold plasma treatment on the in vitro antifungal activity and suppression of Cylindrocarpon destructans in 4-year-old ginseng root discs was investigated. Results: Seeds treated with plasma in Ar or Ar/O₂ exhibited a higher germination rate (%) compared with the untreated controls. Furthermore, the plasma treatment exhibited bactericidal and fungicidal effects on the seed surface, and the latter effect was stronger than the former. In addition, plasma treatment exhibited in vitro antifungal activity against C. destructans and reduced the disease severity (%) of root rot in 4-year-old ginseng root discs. The results demonstrate the stimulatory effect of plasma treatment on seed germination, surface sterilization, and root rot disease suppression in ginseng. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the cold plasma treatment can suppress the microbial community on the seed surface root rot in ginseng.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.295-315
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• 1986

Structure and differentiation mechanism of the seed coat of Panax ginseng are studied with light and electron microscopes to clarify the developmental processes of seed coat and the structural changes during the differentiation of the seed. The seed coat of ginseng is differentiated from the inner cell layers of ovary wall, which can be compared with the seed coat differentiated from integument(s) in other plants. The single integument is differentiated into endothelium, which is degenerated to one layer of 4${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in thickness, composed of remants of cell wall components in fully ripened seed. The ripened seed coat is composed of three layers; fringe layer, inner layer and palisade layer, and all of the them are crossed at right angles with one another. This may be the cause of protection of the kernel from other mechanical injuries. The thickness of fully ripened seed coat is about 300~600 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, and arrangements of sclereids are irregular. However, the raphe region of seed coat is thin about 200 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in thickness and sclereids in that region are arranged regularly. This is the important cause for the cleavage of the seed coat during post-maturation process. The vascular bundles on the raphe are still remaining after sarcocarps are removed, and one of the branches of vascular bundles entered into the seed coat through the hilum and extended to chalazal region. During post-maturation process, the supply of water being necessary for growth of embryo may be accompolished by the vascular bundles entered into the seed coat through the opened hilum.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 1996

This paper gives a description about the germination inhibition of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) seed coat. The existence of seed coat is one of the inhibitory factors which inhibit the embryo growth, particularly during the morphological after-ripening stage. The seed coat can obstruct the water absorption at the beginning of seed stratification, but it can not threaten seed germination. The inhibition of seed coat is not caused by the mechanical fetter neither. However, before splitting the seed coat, the inhibition of seed coat comes from both air-tight character and inhibitors, and after splitting the seed coat, the inhibition may come mainly from the inhibitors.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.167-170
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• 2001

Experiments were conducted to study the optimum chilling period for breaking physiological dormancy of dehisced ginseng(Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) seed. Embryo of ginseng seed is too small to be noticed with naked eyed on harvesting time. Embryo grew to half size of endosperm after seeds were stratified for 3 months. It takes 6 months for this embryo to reach the size enough for germination. And it grew faster indoors than outdoors. Dehisced ginseng seed with full-size embryo did not germinate at room temperature and required chilling treatment for 75days in outdoors and 90 days in cold chamber. While seed receiving sufficient chilling treatment were left to be in room temperature, the chilling effect decreased remarkably.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.225-234
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• 2022

Background: Ginseng, officially known as Panax ginseng Meyer, has been traditionally used as a medicinal herb, particularly in Asia. Ginseng is propagated from seeds; however, seed germination is challenging, especially in its natural environment on farms. The seeds typically exhibit morphophysiological dormancy and require release from both morphological and physiological dormancy before germination. Although some studies have proposed methods for increasing seed germination rates, the underlying mechanisms of its dormancy release process remain unclear. Here, we investigated metabolic alterations during dehiscence in P. ginseng to determine their potential roles in dormancy release. Methods: We compared the ginseng seed metabolome before and after dehiscence and the ginsenoside and phytosterol compositions of the seeds in both periods in the presence of related enzymes. Results: After seed dehiscence, the sugar, amino acid, and squalene concentrations were significantly altered, phytosterols associated with the stigmasterol biosynthesis pathway were increased, while ginsenoside and brassinosteroid levels were not significantly altered. In addition, squalene epoxidase, cycloartenol synthase, 24-methylenesterol C-methyltransferase, and the stigmasterol biosynthesis pathway were activated. Conclusion: Overall, our findings suggest that morphological activities that facilitate ginseng seed growth are the primary phenomena occurring during the dehiscence process. This study improves the understanding of P. ginseng germination processes and promotes further research of its germination and cultivation.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.480-488
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• 2015

Background : In order to determine the effects of planting methods on root growth of ginseng varieties, two different methods, direct seed sowing and transplanting were compared in terms of their effects on different root growth characteristics. Methods and Results : Higher fresh root weight was observed in ginseng grown by direct seed sowing. Direct seed sowing of three cultivars (Sunhyang, Chungsun and K-1) resulted in higher yield, whereas no difference was observed in the yield of one cultivar (Chungsun). Gumpoong was highly tolerant to physiological stress, as it showed fewer symptoms of rusty and rough skin root diseases in both direct seed sowing and transplanting. The average main root length per total root length of ginseng grown by direct seed sowing was 33.6%, whereas that of ginseng grown by the average of those by transplanting was 22.4%. Other root growth characteristics, including root length, main root diameter, and number of side roots, improved when the direct seed sowing method was used. Conclusions : To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the differences in root growth parameters of ginseng varieties grown by direct seed sowing or transplanting at the same planting density. Because of the advantages of direct sowing during ginseng planting, developing new varieties and improving cultivation methods are imperative.