Post-harvest treatment of wild-simulated ginseng under climate-smart environmental conditions

PLOS One | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0326237 June 18, 2025 2 / 6 chemical inputs after the third year—WSG grows naturally for 7 to over 20 years [3]. This fundamental difference in cultivation methods, especially in growth duration and chemical use, distinguishes WSG from field-cultivated ginseng (FCG). WSG exhibits unique ginsenoside profiles and age-dependent concentration increases, along with distinctive compounds not detected in FCG [4,5]. Several studies have demonstrated that WSG synthesizes a wider array of ginsenosides than that by FCG, primarily due to environmental stresses in its natural habitat [2]. These stresses activate secondary metabolism, producing a range of bioactive compounds with health benefits [6]. This broader spectrum of ginsenosides enhances its thera- peutic properties, including anti-cancer [7–9], anti-inflammatory [10,11], and immuno- modulatory effects [12]. Recent societal changes, including aging population in Korea and increased health consciousness following the COVID-19 pandemic, have driven growing demand for WSG. By 2023, WSG was cultivated on 13,858 hectares by 3,792 forestry house- holds [13]. Annual production of 254,111 kg yields a market value of 62.9 billion won, with prices up to 250,000 won per kg. These figures position WSG as one of the most valuable forest products of Korea, reflecting its premium market status. Although WSG can be certified for sale after three years of growth, its intermediate root size at this stage affects market acceptance, with trade favouring roots aged at

least seven years [14]. However, Korea Forest Service statistics show that WSG sur- vival rates drastically decline with cultivation duration (Korea Forest Service, 2024). The average survival rate is 77.8% for one-year-old roots, decreasing to 55.2% at three years and 38.8% at five years. For seven-year-old roots, which are in high demand, the rate declines to about 25.3%. This trend reflects an annual loss rate of 15–20%, with the largest decrease (16.5%) occurring from four to five years. Here, we aimed to develop an enhanced post-harvest treatment using climate- smart conditions to improve survival rates, boost root mass, and preserve the charac- teristic ginsenoside profile of WSG. We employed a controlled system that manages temperature, humidity, and light for WSG harvested during dormancy (3–4 years), applying a short-term (up to six months) post-harvest treatment in a controlled soil environment. Materials and methods Cultivation in smart facility for post-treated WSG We obtained certified three-year-old WSG plants from the Pyeongchang Wild Gin- seng Association (Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea). We transplanted the plants on April 20, 2022 and cultivated them for five months in the smart facility with envi- ronmental controls for light, irrigation, and temperature regulation. Environmental conditions were based on known physiological thresholds for WSG; the temperature was maintained below 21°C and light intensity under 200 PPFD (≈5,000 lux) to prevent photoinhibition and stress-induced growth inhibition [15,16]. Humidity was

not actively regulated but remained stable under shaded indoor conditions. We used premium ginseng soil (Shinsung Mineral Co., Ltd., Cheongan-myeon, Republic of Data availability statement: All relevant data are within the manuscript and its Supporting information files. Funding: The author(s) received no specific funding for this work. Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Abbrevations: WSG, wild-simulated ginseng; FCG, field-cultivated ginseng; DG, dried gin- seng; PPT, protopanaxatriol; CK, Compound K.