Pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs) are known to function in higher plants as a protein-based defensive system against abiotic and biotic stress, particularly pathogen infections. A full-length cDNA sequence of PR BetV1 was isolated and characterized from a 14-year-old ginseng expressed sequence tags library and we named this as PgPR10-4, because of similar identities with previous isolated PgPR10s sequences. The PgPR10-4 gene encodes a 477 bp open reading frame and its deduced protein contains 158 amino acids with a 53 % identity with that of the Actinidia chinensis BetV1 allergen. The expression of PgPR10-4 gene was abundant in leaves and its transcripts showed differentially up-regulated patterns against several ginseng pathogens and abiotic stimuli such as high light and salinity. In addition, PgPR10-4 expression was strongly responsive towards the stress signaling molecules H2O2 and jasmonic acid (JA), while weekly responsive to salicylic acid and abscisic acid. A functional role of PgPR10-4 in environmental stress tolerance was further validated through its overexpression in Arabidopsis. An analysis of T2 transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing the PgPR10-4 gene showed an enhanced tolerance to bacterial and fungal infection, but not to salt stress. When we tagged with cyan fluorescent protein fusion protein, the PgPR10-4-was found to localize to the cytoplasm. The enhanced antifungal activity observed from the Arabidopsis transgenic lines suggests the possible involvement of PgPR10-4 in a defense-related mechanism via the JA signaling pathway.