Interspecies hybrids of Panax ginseng Meyer new line 0837 and Panax quinquefolius generated superior F1 hybrids with greater biomass and ginsenoside contents

Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius are important herbs with similar benefits and medicinal properties. Both possess ginsenosides, the pharmacologically active components, abundantly in their roots. In an attempt to establish ginseng cultivars with improved agronomical characters and higher ginsenoside content, reciprocal interspecific hybrids were generated by artificial pollination of emasculated flowers. Three elite cultivars of P. ginseng, types Jakyung, Chungkyung, and Hwangsook, and two new lines, 0837 and 0702, were used to assess interspecific hybrid potential. Among F1 reciprocal hybrids generated using line 0837 as either the maternal or paternal parent showed excellent agronomical traits and hybrid vigor. They showed strong root phenotypes with many lateral and fine roots resulting in 10 to 20% higher ginsenoside content compared to the parental lines. Among the major ginsenosides, pharmacologically active Re, Rb1, Rb2, and F1 were enriched. They accounted for 70% of the protopanaxadiol ginsenosides in 0837/Pq and Pq/0837 crosses, displaying strong maternal dominance. Thus, based on our results, we conclude that P. ginseng line 0837 is superior compared to already existing lines for performing interspecific hybridization with promising outcomes in root quality and ginsenoside content.