Low Temperature Tolerance of Panax quinquefolium

미국삼(Panax quinquefolium)의 저온 저항성에 관한 연구

One exotherm was detected in the intact ginseng seeds containing more than 35% water, but in seeds with 20% there was no exotherm. The shapes of exotherm were remarkably uniform without relation to water content above 35%. The temperature at the initiation of freezing varied from -3.5$^{\circ}C$ to -9.6$^{\circ}C$ with the different water content in the seeds, and the Initial temperature of freezing delayed with the decrease of water content. The resistance damage at low temperature appeared in order of maln body, rhizome, lateral root of 3-year-old yearling rhizome, and fine root of 3-year-old. Ginseng roots didn't receive any damage at -5$^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours. Otherwise they received serious damage below -1$0^{\circ}C$ even for 5 hours'exposure. Hence, alternative low temperature gave more severe damage compared to constant low temperature. This result suggests that the Possibility of receiving injury at low temperature was higher during the thawing season of the early spring than in the winter.