Characterization of Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci in Cultivated and Wild Panax ginseng

Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is one of the most important herbal remedies used in East Asia. The present study investigated six polymorphic microsatellite markers (PG29, PG281, PG287, PG668, PG1319, and PG1481) in samples of cultivated and wild P. ginseng collected in Korea. Total allelic number observed in this study was 27 (average allelic numbers per locus: 4.5). All examined loci exhibited deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and deficiency of heterozygosity in both cultivated and wild groups. Although the wild ginseng group exhibited slightly more polymorphic behavior (mean PIC=0.392, GD=0.454 and H∧obs=0.129), compared with the cultivated group (mean PIC=0.383, GD=0.438 and H∧obs=0.105), no significant differences of allele frequencies and genotype distributions were revealed. By combined analysis of six loci in 100 cultivated ginsengs, 71 different types were observed. The analyzed microsatellite loci in this study will be helpful for understanding genetic variation, QTL mapping and phylogemic studies in Panax species.