Effect of Growth Conditions on Saponin Content and Ginsenoside Pattern of Panax ginseng

For the elucidation of significance of saponin as quality criterion of ginseng ginsenoside content(GC) and ginsenoside pattern similarity(GPS) by simple correlation were investigated in relation to red ginseng quality factors, age, plant part, harvest season, mineral nutrition, soil physical characteristics, growth light and temperature, shading material, growth location, physiological disease and crop stand through survey of ginseng plantstions, field experiments, water culture and phytotron experiments. Effect of tissue culture was also reviewed. GC was negatively correlated with good quality of red ·ginseng and positively with bad quality. Age did not show any consistency with GC but GPS was less with the increase of age difference. GPS was less or not significant between taproot that is lowest in GC and epidermis highest, and significant between leaf and taproot. Harvest season marked with the lowest GC and Pattern was also different. Nutrient imbalance, the increase of hazardous soil nutrient and physical condition to growth increased GC, but GPS was little different. The higher the growth lights intensity and temperature the higher the GC but GPS was little changed. Root rust increased GC, but root scab decreased it. Sponge-like and inside cavity phenomena increased GC. Ginsenoside pattern of cultured tissues and rootlet showed great variation. These results strongly indicate that there are optimum saponin content and ginsenoside pattern and that these are accomplished under the optimum growth condition.