Seasonal Growth and Root Respiration of North American Ginseng

American ginseng plants (Panax quinquefolium L.) of various ages were harvested every two weeks during each of three growing seasons and dry matter yield of components and root respiration determined. Shoot dry weight was about 0.5 g, 2.5 g and 4 g for 2, 3 and 4-year-old plants, respectively and fruit dry weight was as much as 50% of this in 3- and 4-year-.old plants. Root dry weight decrease by 30~50% as shoots emerged and at the end of the season was about 2 g, 3.5 g and 5 g in 2, 3, 4 and 5-year-old plants, respectively. Shoot and root dry weight were linearly related with an approximate 1:2 ratio. Root respiration rate at 2$0^{\circ}C$ in the dark was about 5 $\mu\textrm{g}$ CO2 g-1 DW(dry weight) min-1 in the early season, then doubled within 50 days as shoots emerged, and thereafter declined over the season to 2~5 $\mu\textrm{g}$ CO2 g-1 DW min-1. The Q10 for dark respiration over the interval from 10 to 2$0^{\circ}C$ was 1.58. Root respiration rate and shoot growth rate was positively linearly related in all ages of plants. Key words: Dry weight, partitioning.