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

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 degrees C, a humidity of 60%, and average light intensity of 46.4 mu mol 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%; 2,20 -azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity), and `K-1' took 4WAT (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 5WAT. 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 -> 5WAT), 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.