Extracts of Panax ginseng root significantly induced tolerance of Fusarium oxysporum to heavy metal, mecury, as the fungal mycelial growth was less inhibited by mercury chloride on potato dextrose medium(PDA) amended with ginseng root than on the PDA with no ginseng amendment. The most favorable concentration of ginseng root powder in detoxification of mercury chloride was 1%. The induced tolerance of F. oxysporum to mercury chloride appeared to be rather due to absorption of ginseng components, and was not related to stimulation of mycelial growth of the fungus per so by ginseng treatment. Ginseng components responsible for inducing tolerance of the fungus to mercury were involved in the water fraction of the ginseng root extract, although the water fraction had no effect on enhancement of the mycelial growth on the medium without mercury chloride. The hexane fraction of ginseng root extract, by which the mycelial growth was stimulated, was not related to the inducement of the tolerance to mercury chloride. However, more tolerance to mercury chloride was noted in PDA with both the water and hexane fractions combined than with either of the two fractions. Six-year-old ginseng roots were more effective in detoxification of mercury chloride than 4-year-old ginsng roots, and American ginseng (P quinquifolium) had no or little effect on inducing tolerance of the fungus to mercury chloride. This method may be used to screen other natural materials for test in the detoxification of mercury chloride.