title: Characteristics of Korean ginseng varieties of Gumpoong, Sunun, Sunpoong, Sunone, Cheongsun, and Sunhyang.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is an important medicinal herbs in Asia. However, ginseng varieties are less developed.
  
  
  METHODS
  To developed ginseng varieties, a pure line selection method was applied in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gumpoong was testing of 4-yr-old specimens in 2002, the proportions of the below-ground roots that were rusty colored for Gumpoong was 1.29 in Daejeon and 1.45 in Eumseong, whereas the proportions for its yellow berry variant were 2.60 and 2.45 in the two regions, respectively. Thus the Gumpoong was resistant to root rust. Sunpoong has a high yielding property. Its average root weight is 70.6 g for 6-yr-old roots. Its yield is 2.9 kg/1.62m(2) and the rate of heaven- and earth-grade product is 20.9%, which is very high compared to 9.4% for Yunpoong. Sunone is resistance to root rot and the survival rate of 4-yr-old roots was 44.4% in 1997, whereas that of the violet-stem variant landrace was 21.7%. Sunhyang has content of arginyl-fructosyl-glucose (AFG), which produces the unique scent of red ginseng, is 95.1 μmol/g and greater than the 30.8 μmol/g of Chunpoong in 6-yr-old plants. Sunun and Cheongsun are being nurtured to protect genetic resources.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Developed ginsneg varieties will be used as the basis for the protection of genetic resources and breeding.
authors.affiliation: R&D Headquarters, Korea Ginseng Corporation, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jang-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: R&D Headquarters, Korea Ginseng Corporation, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon-Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Korean Ginseng Center for Most Valuable Products and Ginseng Genetic Resource Bank, Kyung Hee University, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Woo-Saeng
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: R&D Headquarters, Korea Ginseng Corporation, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Je-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: R&D Headquarters, Korea Ginseng Corporation, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Yun
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: R&D Headquarters, Korea Ginseng Corporation, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jun-Gyo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: In
authors.affiliation: R&D Headquarters, Korea Ginseng Corporation, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun-Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: R&D Headquarters, Korea Ginseng Corporation, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jiho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: R&D Headquarters, Korea Ginseng Corporation, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: In-Ho
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Baeg
authors.affiliation: R&D Headquarters, Korea Ginseng Corporation, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Il-Moo
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Language Consultants to the Korea Ginseng Corporation, 2655 McDonald Drive East, Victoria, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grainger
keywords: KGC; Korean; Panax ginseng; breeding; variety