A simplified method for identifying the Panax ginseng cultivar Gumpoong based on 26S rDNA

Molecular identification of PANAX GINSENG (Korean ginseng) cultivars is very important for their management. We have developed a simple and reliable method for specific identification of the superior cultivar "Gumpoong." The 26S rDNA was targeted for our molecular analysis, and a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was identified between Gumpoong and the other cultivars within the sequence data. From this SNP site, a modified allele-specific primer and a novel primer set have been developed to identify the Gumpoong cultivar via multiplex PCR. The established multiplex PCR method was determined to be effective, and the SNP marker showed high specificity to Gumpoong. Therefore, the described method may serve as a useful tool for rapid selection of Gumpoong cultivar.