Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
(eISSN: 2229-4473)
Deciphering an InDel marker to differentiate Panax vietnamensis var. vietnamensis and Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus
*Article not assigned to an issue yet
Research Articles | Published: 29 August, 2026
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Keywords: DNA marker, n Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscusn , n Panax vietnamensis var. vietnamensisn , SSR (simple sequence repeat), Variety discrimination, Vietnamese ginseng
Abstract
Panax vietnamensis is a rare and endemic medicinal species in Vietnam. This includes three varieties: Ngoc Linh, Lai Chau, and Lang Bian ginsengs. These varieties are known to inhabit different locations but are similar in morphological characteristics. Thus, accurately distinguishing these is highly challenging. This study focuses specifically on the Ngoc Linh and Lai Chau varieties, as the Lang Bian variety is currently critically endangered in the wild, making authentic sample collection extremely difficult. Here, 12 Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers were evaluated on Ngoc Linh and Lai Chau ginsengs, utilizing 5 reference samples and 4 field-collected samples for each variety. Of these, PvSSR06 exhibited clear polymorphism between these varieties. It was also notably matched with the DNA barcoding method using ITS sequences. Interestingly, sequencing of the PvSSR06 amplicon revealed that its polymorphism did not stem from variations in motif repeat numbers, as seen in typical SSRs, but rather from a 134 bp insertion/deletion segment (hereafter referred to as PvInDel134). Overall, this study successfully identified PvInDel134 as a potential molecular marker to differentiate Ngoc Linh ginseng and Lai Chau ginseng, providing an effective tool for origin authentication and sustainable conservation of valuable Vietnamese ginseng genetic resources.
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Author Information
Faculty of Biotechnology, Ho Chi Minh City Open University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam