Comparison of Growth Patterns and Metabolite Composition of Different Ginseng Cultivars (Yunpoong and K-1) Grown in a Vertical Farm

• Published in: Horticulturae Vol. 9; no. 5; p. 583
• Main Authors: Lee, Ga Oun, Jang, Seong-Nam, Kim, Min Ju, Cho, Du Yong, Cho, Kye Man, Lee, Ji Hyun, Son, Ki-Ho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-05-2023
• Subjects: Agricultural production; antioxidant properties; Antioxidants; biological compounds; Biological properties; Comparative analysis; Cultivars; Flavonoids; Ginseng; ginsenoside contents; Growth (Plants); Growth patterns; Harvesting; Horticulture; Humidity; Hydrazine; Hydrazines; Light intensity; Luminous intensity; Metabolites; Panax ginseng; Physiological aspects; Physiology; plant factory; Scavenging; Seedlings; Sulfonic acid; Vertical farming; South Korea; St Louis Missouri; United States > US
• ISSN: 2311-7524; 2311-7524
• DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae9050583

This study analyzed growth patterns, biological compounds, antioxidant properties, ginsenoside contents, metabolites, and the annual net production of ‘Yunpoong’ and ‘K-1’ to find the optimal harvesting time of ginseng sprouts. One-year-old ginseng seedlings were cultivated in a container-type vertical farm under a temperature of 20 °C, a humidity of 60%, and average light intensity of 46.4 µmol m−2 s−1 (16 h photoperiod). Growth patterns at 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks after transplanting (WAT) differed between cultivars. Regarding biological compounds and antioxidant properties, ‘Yunpoong’ took 5 WAT (43.59%; 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazine-hydrate radical scavenging activity, 1.47 OD593nm; ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, 78.01%; 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity), and ‘K-1’ took 4 WAT (0.98 Re mg g−1; total flavonoid contents, 35.93%; DPPH) to show a high content. Two cultivars showed the highest total ginsenoside contents at 5 WAT. Most of the analyzed metabolites had a higher content in ‘Yunpoong’ than in ‘K-1’. In both cultivars, it was confirmed that the longer the growth period (3 − > 5 WAT), the lower the yield and the annual ginsenoside net production. Therefore, ‘Yunpoong’ and ‘K-1’ cultivars should be grown as ginseng sprouts in the vertical farms for approximately 3 WAT and 4 WAT, respectively.