barley grain and malt is highly related to beer quality, especially hordein is known to be a more significant factor in malting process than albumin. In this study, we proposed selection criteria for high quality malting barley with aid of grain and malt quality parameter scores and storage protein subunit profile informations. Albumin and hordein were extracted and denatured protein subunits were evaluated with malt and grain quality parameters. Total 13 local adaptability test (LAT) lines were planted in four locations (Naju, Iksan, Jeju, and Jinju) and evaluated for malt and beer making qualities. Seventeen germplasms (world collections for high or low seed storage protein content) were also evaluated for biochemical genetic marker. Denatured seed storage protein subunits of albumin and hordein of all tested lines and germplasms were evaluated using 12% 1D SDS-PAGE. Scored data of protein subunit's presence or absence was applied to Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC) for statistical analysis. Subunits fractionated within specific molecular weight ranges (97.4-31.0, 66.2-31.0, and 45.0-31.0 kDa) were highly correlated with agricultural characteristics. Several LAT lines showing good performance in agricultural characteristics were clustered in dendrogram constructed by biochemical-genetic assay using XLSTAT. Specific band pattern showed in good performance LAT lines were also observed in some germplasms of world collection having low protein contents which are known to have superior quality in malting. The results would provide selection criteria for high quality malting barley in the malting barley breeding program.

Truncated hemoglobins (trHbs) constitute a familkrof small oxygen-binding heme proteins distributed in eubacteria, cyanobacteria, protozoa, and plants. Three distinct types of trHbs (HbN, HbO and HbP) have been identified within the mycobacterial genome. The soluble trHb of the cyanobacterium Nostoc commune is localized on the cytoplasmic face of the cell membrane and is expressed only under anaerobic conditions. In addition, the gene encoding trHb is coexpressed with genes of the nitrogen fixation complex. The trHb of the unicellular green alga C. eugametos is induced in response to active photosynthesis and is localized, in part, along the chloroplast thylakoid membranes. Yeast II hybridization screening was performed using TatrHb as a bait protein to elucidate putative role of TatrHb. cDNA Library for Yeast II hybridization screening was constructed with mRNA from young seedling treated 0% oxygen for 48 hours. 12 positive clones were selected by colony PCR and sequenced. Among them, 4 clones are related in photosynthesis and show highly homologe to Hordeum vulgare chloroplast photosystem I PSK-I subunit mRNA (393 bp), Zea mays photosystem II subunit PsbS1 mRNA (900 bp), Triticum aestivum ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase(RubisCo) large subunit mRNA (1434 bp), Triticum aestivum ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase small subunit mRNA (525 bp).

UNUSUAL FLORAL ORGAN (UFO), a novel gene, is involved in controlling flowering initiation and development. In Arabidopsis, UFO is required for floral organ identity in the second and third whorls. However, the mode of expression and function of TaUFO have not been studied yet. The cDNA sequence of TaUFO is comprised of 1344 bp open reading frame which encodes 50.82 KDa polypeptide consisting amino acid residues. F-box protein, the components of TaUFO, plays an important regulatory role in a wide diversity of developmental and physiological responses. In almost all F box proteins, the N terminus of the protein contains the F-box motif, and the rest of the protein contains the protein-protein interaction domains required for target protein binding. In order to elucidate the function of the TaUFO, various phytohormones and abiotic stresses were applied on young seedlings (14 day after germination) and its transcripts were evaluated. TaUFO:GFP fusion construct was transformed into onion epidermal cells by particle bombardment to elucidate the subcellular localization of the TaUFO protein. The function of the F-box protein is to interact with target proteins. With the use of a yeast two-hybrid screen to isolate proteins interacting with the TaUFO (F box protein), we identified potential TaUFO interactive protein in wheat spikelet library.

Seed storage proteins of different solubility were extracted and denatured subunits of each protein were evaluated with malting barley quality parameters. Its been known that each subunit of seed storage protein encoded by each gene and subunit profiles were highly related to end-use quality in cereals. The purpose of this study is to provide selection criteria for high quality malting barleys with aid of bichemical-genetic information. Total 13 regional test lines and three locations (Naju, Jinju, and Jeju) were incorporated in this study. Albumin and hordein were extracted, denatured, and separated in 12% SDS-PAGE. Presence and absence of subunits of each protein were scored. Dendrogram (using XLSTAT program) was constructed to evaluated the relatedness of lines. The correlation between band profiles and quality test were assessed through Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC) for statistics analysis. Hordein subunits can be classified into four groups, A, B, C, and D group. In general, hordein fractions contribute higher than albumine to determine malting quality. Specific molecular weight ranges (97.4-31.0, 66.2-31.0, and 45.0-31.0 kDa) of subunits were highly correlated with malting barley quality parameters. The subunit information would be directly incorporated in providing selection criteria for high quality malting barley in the malting barley breeding program.

Pectin, one of the main components of plant cell wall, is deesterified in muro by PME (Pectin methylesterase). PME activity is particularly regulated by inhibitor proteins known as the pectin methylesterase inhibitor (PMEI). The PMEI plays a key role in wounding, osmotic stress, senescence and seed development. However, the role of PMEI in plant species still remains to be demonstrated especially in wheat. To facilitate the studies on the expression of the TaPMEI gene, RT-PCR was performed using leaf, stem and root tissues in response to exogeneous application of phytohormones and abiotic stress treatments. Transcription of the TaPMEI gene was significantly induced in NaCl, H2O2 and SA treatments, and reduced when plants were treated with ABA. To elucidate the subcellular localization of the TaPMEI protein, TaPMEI:GFP fusion construct was transformed into onion epidermal cells by particle bombardment. The fluorescence signal was exclusively detected in cell wall of the cells. In order to obtain recombinant TaPMEI protein, the TaPMEI protein, expressed in E.coli as a MBP (~42.5 kDa) fusion protein recombinant. Purification and functinal analysis of TaPMEI as an inhibitor of PME activity are described.

It was previously pointed out that mutation is the ultimate source of variation. Adequate variation is needed for plant breeding if there is a limitation in natural genetic resources. When the ionizing radiation has been known to cause chromosomal and genomic alternations, it is widely used for inducing mutagenesis. The electron beam as an ionizing radiation is the principal physical mutagens that induces mutation and effectively used in plant breeding. Since dose-response relationships of electron beam in plant species are rarely known, we investigated the seed germination rate and early seedling growth of irradiated seeds of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds., cv Penn-A1) with various electron beam irradiating conditions (1, 1.3, 2 MeV at both 0.03 mA and 0.06 mA with dose of 100 Gy (Gray) and 0.03, 1, 1.3, 2 MeV at 0.03 mA with dose of 200 Gy, respectively) using electron accelerator at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. The growth parameters in terms of shoot length, primary root length, and secondary root length showed similar response between 0.06 / 1 (mA / MeV) at 100 Gy and 0.03 / 0.3 (mA / MeV) at 200 Gy. Bentgrass seed germination was mainly affected by the intensity of irradiated dose (Gray). Germination rate was lowered as the irradiated dose increased. On the other hand, early seedling growth was mainly governed not by the dose of radiation but by voltage.

The direct use of mutation is a valuable approach to generate variability in crops. The electron beam, one of the ionizing radiations, has been applied to evaluate its effect on seed germination and early seedling growth of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds., cv Penn-A1). The mature dry seeds were irradiated with various electron beam energies (0.3, 1.0, 1.3, and 2 MeV) and current levels (0.03 and 0.06 mA). Although large variability was existed within each dose, distinct difference of germiability and seedling vigor were not found at 0.3 MeV / 0.03 mA and 0.3 MeV / 0.06 mA beam condition. However, 1.0 MeV / 0.06 mA application most effectively inhibited and retarded seed germination and most severely restricted cotyledon and root growth in early seedling growth. The direct use of electron beam would be a valuable supplementary approach to generate mutants suitable for breeding purposes.