• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.511-519
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• 2024

Background: The cycle of seasonal dormancy of perennating buds is an essential adaptation of perennial plants to unfavorable winter conditions. Plant hormones are key regulators of this critical biological process, which is intricately connected with diverse internal and external factors. Recently, global warming has increased the frequency of aberrant temperature events that negatively affect the dormancy cycle of perennials. Although many studies have been conducted on the perennating organs of Panax ginseng, the molecular aspects of bud dormancy in this species remain largely unknown. Methods: In this study, the molecular physiological responses of three P. ginseng cultivars with different dormancy break phenotypes in the spring were dissected using comparative genome-wide RNA-seq and network analyses. These analyses identified a key role for abscisic acid (ABA) activity in the regulation of bud dormancy. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that a transcriptional network comprising stress-related hormone responses made a major contribution to the maintenance of dormancy. Results: Increased expression levels of cold response and photosynthesis-related genes were associated with the transition from dormancy to active growth in perennating buds. Finally, the expression patterns of genes encoding ABA transporters, receptors (PYRs/PYLs), PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2Cs (PP2Cs), and DELLAs were highly correlated with different dormancy states in three P. ginseng cultivars. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that ABA and stress signaling outputs are intricately connected with a key signaling network to regulate bud dormancy under seasonal conditions in the perennial plant P. ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2002

Gibberellic acid (GA) was applied to field-grown 3-year-old North American ginseng (Panax quinqueiolius L.) between 1 and 4 times, before and during bloom in 1999. Applications of both GA$_3$ and GA$\sub$4+7/ four times (x4) to the developing inflorescences increased maximum pedicel length, and seed head diameter and height. Treatment with GA$\sub$4+7/ increased mean and total root fresh weight linearly, whereas those treated with GA$_3$ did not show similar increases. Both GA$_3$ and GA$\sub$4+7/ at 50, 100 and 200 mg L$\^$-1/ (x4) increased the incidence of breaking of dormancy of perennating buds with GA$_3$ being twice as effective as GA$\sub$4+7/. Both GA$_3$ and GA$\sub$4+7/ treatments resulted in an increased number of new bud initials forming per root, with the number of new initials per root increased two-fold by the GA$_3$ sprays compared to GA$\sub$4+7/.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.337-340
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• 2008

Seedlings of North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) were grown to full canopy establishment and then leaflet or leaf removal at different times applied to determine the effects on plant growth and performance. Leaf removal at 47, 57, 69 and 78 days after seeding resulted in 82.1, 59.8, 41.3 and 29.8% reduction, respectively, in root dry matter (economic yield) ; this indicates that leaf removal during the early root growth period causes greatest reduction in root yield. Removal of 1, 2, and 3 leaflets at 42, 52, 62 and 70 days from seeding reduced root weight at harvest (80 days from seeding) linearly, particularly at earlier removal dates. The perennating bud formed on all roots and was not influenced by treatment. This would suggest that if leaf loss occurs after canopy establishment the plant will re-grow the next year after the obligatory dormancy period.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.527-534
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• 2021

Background: Phenological studies are a prerequisite for accomplishing higher productivity and better crop quality in cultivated plants. However, there are no phenological studies on Panax ginseng that improve its production yield. This study aims to redefine the phenological growth stages of P. ginseng based on the existing Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie (BBCH) scale and proposes a disease control reference. Methods: This study was conducted at the Korea Ginseng Corporation Experiment Station in Gyeonggi province, South Korea. Phenological observations were performed once weekly or twice monthly, based on the developmental stages. The existing BBCH scale with a three-digit code was used to redefine and update P. ginseng's phenological growth codes. Results: The phenological description is divided into eight principal growth stages: three for vegetative growth (perennating bud, aerial shoot, and root development), four for reproductive growth (reproductive organ development, flowering, fruit development, and fruit maturation), and one for senescence according to the extended BBCH scale. A total of 58 secondary growth stages were described within the eight principal growth stages. Under each secondary growth stage, four mesostages are also taken into account, which contains the distinct patterns of the phenological characteristics in ginseng varieties and the process of transplanting seedlings. A practical management program for disease control was also proposed by using the BBCH code and the phenological data proposed in this work. Conclusion: The study introduces an extended BBCH scale for the phenological research of P. ginseng.