Quality evaluation of Panax ginseng adventitious roots based on ginsenoside constituents, functional genes, and ferric‐reducing antioxidant power

In the study, six adventitious root lines of Panax ginseng have been successfully established. HPLC-ESI-MS analysis showed that 20 ginsenosides were identified in root lines, notoginsenoside Fa and notoginsenoside R2 were not found in AR lines. In AR lines, the highest accumulation of total ginsenosides was obtained in five-year main AR (24.87 mg/g). Principal component analysis classified root lines into three groups. Five-year ginseng was mostly similar with five-year main AR, five-year rootlet AR, and four-year rootlet AR in ginsenosides composition of group 1. Besides, gene expressions were consistent with the production of total ginsenosides, and correlation analysis revealed that total ginsenosides biosynthesis was significantly positively correlated with the gene expression of dammarenediol synthase. Five-year rootlet AR showed the highest activity on ferric-reducing antioxidant power test among samples. It provides a scientific evidence for the further exploitation and large-scale production of P. ginseng. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This study provides valuable information for the commercial scale culture of ginseng adventitious roots. This report combines morphology, ginsenoside composition and content, gene expression, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power test to evaluate the quality of P. ginseng adventitious root, and combined with principal component analysis to screen out the high yield and stable ginseng adventitious roots. It would be profitable to use adventitious root culture of P. ginseng instead of field cultivation.