Ethephon at 50 mu M enhanced both root growth and ginsenoside accumulation in ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) adventitious root cultures, but at 100 mu M it inhibited only ginsenoside accumulation. Ginsenoside productivity with 50 mu M ethephon was the highest at 1.7 mg l(-1) d(-1) after 8 days of elicitation. However, elicitation with 50 mu M ethephon and 100 mu M methyl jasmonate (MJ) improved productivity (6.3 mg l(-1) d(-1)) whereas elicitation with 100 mu M MJ alone gave only 2.9 mg l(-1) d-(1).