Roy, R. C., Grohs, R. and Reeleder, R. D. 2003. A method for the classification by shape of dried roots of ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.). Can. J. Plant Sci. 83: 955-958. A system for classifying the dried roots of ginseng by shape was developed using roots from 3-and 4-yr-old plantings. The method is based on traditional preferences in the marketplace and allows for the separation of desirable roots (chunk or forked grades) from less-desirable roots (pencil, spider and fibre grades). Results from ginsenoside analyses showed that ginsenoside contents of all grades, other than the fibre grade, were similar. Fibre-grade material had higher concentrations of ginsenosides Rc, Rb2, Rb3 and Rd.

No abstract

. 2008. Effect of planting bed shape, mulch and soil density on root yield and shape in North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.). Can. J. Plant Sci. 88: 937Á949. Ginseng root value varies with shape. To increase understanding of factors affecting root shape and growth, we conducted a 4-yr field experiment with three planting bed shapes with and without straw mulch cover, and 3-yr duplicate experiments with varied soil textures and bulk densities (BD). Panax quinquefolius L. plants either remained undisturbed for 3 yr in vertical tiles where sand or loam soil was compacted to differing BD, or were transplanted into low BD soil after 1 yr. Transplanting aimed to demonstrate the influence of conditions encountered in the first year of growth on mature root shape, and to explore opportunities to manage beds and manipulate root shape in transplanted ginseng, which may be a common practice in future. Without mulch, 4th year root yields were reduced by 65%, primarily due to a 60% reduction in plant stand which occurred by the end of the seedling year. Seeding directly into the ground resulted in yields similar to conventional rounded beds and a greater proportion of roots of favourable shape, likely due to greater soil BD in ground plots than round beds. Relative to low BD, high BD soil resulted in shorter, rounder ''chunk'' grade roots after 1 and 3 yr growth in situ. After 3 yr, roots were shorter and rounder in loam than in sand. Soil BD effects were not retained after 3 yr for replants, so high BD pre-treatment of transplants will not improve root shape over the longer term. Moderate soil compaction may reduce production of undesirable pencil-grade roots, but there is a yield trade-off with high BD soils. A high BD must be maintained for 1 yr, and a decline in stand is likely in compacted loam soil which has slow drainage.Key words: Root grade, North American ginseng, American ginseng Roy, R. C., Ball-Coelho, B. R., Reeleder, R. D., Bruin, A. J., Grohs, R., White, P. et Capell, B. 2008. Incidence de la forme de la planche de semis, du paillage et de la densite´du sol sur le rendement et l'aspect des racines du ginseng nord-ame´ricain (Panax quinquefolius L.). Can. J. Plant Sci. 88: 937Á949. Le prix de la racine de ginseng fluctue avec sa forme. Pour mieux comprendre les facteurs qui affectent l'aspect et la croissance de la racine, les auteurs ont effectue´une expe´rience sur le terrain de quatre ans avec trois planches de semis de forme diffe´rente, paille´es ou pas, et proce´de´a`une double expe´rience de trois ans sur des sols de texture et de densite´varie´es. Les plants de Panax quinquefolius L. soit ont e´te´laisse´s intacts pendant trois ans dans des tuiles verticales entre lesquelles on avait compacte´du sable ou du loam afin d'en modifier la densite´, soit ont e´teŕ epique´s apre`s un an dans un sol de faible densite´. La transplantation devait illustrer l'influence des conditions observe´es la premie`re anne´e de croissance sur la forme des racines matures, et montrer comment on pourrait ge´rer les...

No abstract