Ginseng Genome Database: An Open-Access Platform for Mining Genomic Resources of Panax ginseng

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is a perennial herbaceous plant that has been used in traditional oriental medicine for thousands of years. Ginseng grows up to hundreds of years in wild mountain areas and has not been well domesticated, although it is commercially cultivated for six years for root harvesting. Ginsenosides, which have significant pharmacological effects on human health, are the major bioactive constituents in this plant. Given the importance of this plant to humans, an integrated omics resource is essential to facilitate genomic research, molecular breeding and pharmacological study of this plant. The first draft genome sequences of P. ginseng reference cultivar Chunpoong were de novo assembled and annotated recently. Here, using the draft genome, transcriptome, and functional annotation datasets of P. ginseng, we developed the Ginseng Genome Database http://ginsengdb.snu.ac.kr/, the first open-access platform to provide comprehensive P. ginseng genomic resources. The current version of this database provides the latest draft genome sequence (approximately 3,000 Mbp of scaffold sequences) along with the structural and functional annotations for 59,352 genes and digital expression of genes based on transcriptome data from different tissues, growth stages and treatments. In addition, tools for visualization and analysis of genomic data are provided. All data in the database were manually curated and integrated within a user-friendly query page. This database provides valuable resources for various research fields related to P. ginseng and other species belonging to the Apiales order as well as for plant research communities in general.