Ginseng hairy roots were induced from root explants of ginseng by the co-culture of Agrobacterium rhizogenes and ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Mey) roots through direct inoculation. The content of ginsenosides in the ginseng hairy roots after 4 weeks of culture reached the same level as in 3-year-old cultivated ginseng roots, and the content of one ginsenoside (Rb1) increased, showing that left transferred DNA (TL-DNA) has a function of influencing the biosynthesis of ginsenosides. Based on analysis of the RiA4TL-DNA sequence, the rolC gene affecting the synthesis of ginsenosides was amplified and cloned from the ginseng hairy roots by PCR. Comparison with a previously published nucleotide sequence showed that the homology was 99.9%.
