The formation of thylakoid membrane proteins and changes in the chloroplast ultrastructure of ginseng leaf were investigated as a function of time following the leaf emergence. The leaf chloroplast obtained just after the leaf emergence showed short rod-like thylakoids which were connected and arranged in 3~4 layers along the longitudinal axis of the chloroplast. The 10 DAE (days after emergence) chloroplast started to form grana structure. The typical grana structure was observed 17 DAE, and the grana was fully developed 28 DAE. The membrane proteins obtained from just after emerging leaf were separated into many minor bands indicating no CP-complex formation yet. LHC II was detected after 10 days. CP 47 and CP 43 were detected after 17 days. After 28 days, the PS I and PS II proteins were distinctly separated into CP 1, LHC II, CP 47, CP 43, CP 29, CP 27+24. Thus, the appearance of the light harvesting protein, LHC II, which was concentrated in grana stacks, was consis tent in time with the formation of grana stacks 17 DAE. Key words Chloroplast ultrastructure, grana, CP-complex, LHC II.