GROWTH-PATTERN AND GINSENOSIDE PRODUCTION OF AGROBACTERIUM-TRANSFORMED PANAX-GINSENG ROOTS

Panax ginseng roots transformed by Agrobacterium rhizogenes grew rapid ly in a hormone-free medium. The transformed roots showed biphasic gro wth: rapid during the first two weeks and slower thereafter. Sucrose i n the medium was almost all converted to glucose and fructose during t he first two weeks, and the root growth slowed down after the depletio n of sucrose in the medium. Periodic changes of the medium maintained the high growth rate, and the dry weight increased by 31 times in 32 d ays, which is the highest growth rate so far reported for cultured tis sues of ginseng. The medium exchange also increased the ginsenoside co ntent in the roots. Effective scale-up of the root culture was achieve d in a turbine-blade type bioreactor.