Abstract
Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), commonly known as Korean or Asian ginseng, is a perennial herb native to Korea and China. There has been limited research effort to analyze the genetic diversity and population structure of ginseng germplasm because of its growth habits. In the present study, genetic diversity and population structure of ginseng germplasm conserved in the National Agrobiodiversity Center (NAC) of South Korea were analyzed to provide basic data for future preservation and breeding of ginseng genetic resources. Seventeen simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of 1109 ginseng accessions. Among 1109 ginseng accessions, 1042 (94.0%) accessions were landraces and 66 (6.0%) accessions were breeding lines (61 accessions, 5.5%) or cultivars (5 accessions, 0.5%). SSR markers revealed 56 different alleles with an average of 3.29 alleles per locus. The average gene diversity was 0.49. Analysis of molecular variance showed that 91% of allelic diversity was attributed to individual accessions within clusters while only 9% was distributed among clusters. Using discriminant analysis of principal components, 12 clusters were detected in 1109 ginseng accessions. The results of this study provide molecular evidence for the narrow genetic base of ginseng germplasm in NAC. For the broad understanding and efficient use of ginseng germplasm, it is necessary to analyze functional factors and to evaluate morphological traits.
Highlights
Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer, 2n = 4x = 48), a medicinal herb, has long been used in the Far East, in Korea and China as a respected herbal medicine for maintaining physical vitality [1].The main physiologically active components of ginseng are saponins, phenols, polyacetylenes, alkaloids, and polysaccharides [2]
The results of this study provide molecular evidence for the narrow genetic base of ginseng germplasm in National Agrobiodiversity Center (NAC)
The objective of the present study was to analyze genetic diversity and population structure of 1109 ginseng accessions conserved in the National
Summary
The main physiologically active components of ginseng are saponins, phenols, polyacetylenes, alkaloids, and polysaccharides [2]. These major components are known to have beneficial properties for the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, endocrine system, and immune systems [3,4]. China has the most production, 44,749 tons in 2008, followed by South Korea with 27,480 tons [5]. As of 2017, the annual production of ginseng is 23,310 tons and domestic distribution size is approximately $1584 million in terms of the amount based on ginseng root and processed products in South Korea [6]. With regard to ginseng production, cultivation is focused on harvesting four to six-year-old roots in South Korea and China [7]
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