An light-emitting diode (LED)-based light source was used as a monochromatic light source to determine the responses of raw ginseng roots (Panax ginseng Meyer) to specific emission spectra with respect to the production of ginsenosides. The ginsenoside content in the ginseng roots changed in response to the LED light treatments at 25℃ relative to the levels in the control roots that were treated in the dark or at 4℃ for 7 d. Ginseng roots were exposed to LEDs with four different peak emission wavelengths, 380, 450, 470, and 660 nm, in closed compartments. Compared with the control 4℃-treated roots, roots that were treated with 450 and 470 nm light showed a significantly increased production of ginsenosides (p<0.05), with increases of 64.9% and 74.1%, respectively. The contents of the ginsenosides Rb2, Rc, and Rg1 were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the 450 and 470 nm-treated root samples. The ratio of protopanaxadiol ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Rd) to protopanaxatriol ginsenosides (Rg1, Rg2, Re, and Rf) was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the 450 and 470 nm-treated root samples than in the control 4℃-treated roots. This is the first report that demonstrates the increase and conversion of ginsenosides in raw ginseng roots in response to exposure to LED light.

Three type of Lime Bordeaux mixture (LBM) that has been used since 1800's for control plant disease are used for eco-friendly ginseng (Panax ginseng) disease control. But it was restricted the use in the crops cultivation in some countries of Europe recently, because there is a possibility that the copper component is concentrated in the soil and plants with using LBM containing copper. According to the concentration and number of LBM spraying treatment, it was investigated copper and other components in soil and ginseng root. In case of LBM sprayed 33 times for three years, copper concentration was increased up to 75.9 ppm in the soil. However copper concentration of ginseng root was increased with 9.9~23.0 mg/kg in comparison with 8.38~11.39 mg/kg at LBM non-treatment. It has shown that the copper components can be concentrated to in the soil if used continuously in the long term.

Korean ginseng has been used for thousands of years as an important medicinal plant. Lime-Bordeaux mixture (LBM) was made with copper sulfate and quicklime, which was sprayed instead of pesticides in ginseng field. Net photosynthesis (PN) was compared between Treatment and Non-treatment of LBM in 3 Year Old Ginseng. PN in control plot recorded 2.94 μmol (CO2) m-2 s-1 at the first day of experiment, which was similar until the last day of experiment. However, The PN in LBM recorded 2.23 μmol (CO2) m-2 s-1 , which was lower than that in control plot. As time goes by, The PN in LBM was gradually increased up to 3.21 μmol (CO2) m-2 s-1 and finally, it was similar with that in control plot at 7th day as a 3.20 μmol (CO2) m-2 s-1).