The present study was investigated the effect of recycled coir organic substrates on the growth of different vegetable crops. The recycled coir had better physical and chemical properties than the new coir. The growth of tomato plant was better on the coir substrate that had been used for 2 years than that on the new coir substrate. The average number of tomato fruits was 108 on the new coir substrate, while it was 179 and 165 on the coir substrate used for 1 and 2 years, respectively. The growth of cherry tomato plant was also better on the coir substrate used for 2 years than that on the new coir substrate. The average number of cherry tomato fruits was 43 on the new coir substrate, while it was 206 and 164 on the coir substrate used for 1 and 2 years, respectively. The growth of brussel sprout was better on the coir substrate used for 3 years than that on the new coir substrate and the average number of brussel sprout leaves was 26.8 on the new coir substrate, while it was 34.3 on the coir substrate used for 3 years. The growth of Korean cabbage improved on the coir substrate used for 1 years compared to the new coir substrate and the number of leaves was 15.1 on the new coir substrate, while it was 24.3 on the coir substrate used for 1 year. Thus, used coir can be recycled to improve vegetable yields compared to using new coirs.

In nine commercial watermelon cultivars, the effects of osmotic seed priming were evaluated for seed viability and seedling growth at different germination temperatures and field conditions. Generally, primed seeds showed improved germination rate and reduced time for emergence at different germination temperatures, as compared to untreated seeds. In particular, priming effect on seed germination was significantly high at 15℃, which is an environment normally resulting in poor germination. Depending on the watermelon cultivar, germination rate under low temperature (15℃) was improved by up to 15~66% in primed seeds, as compared to untreated seeds. However, priming effect on germination was gradually reduced as the temperature reached to its optimum level for seed germination. Seed priming tended to improve the viability, fresh weight, and dry weight of watermelon seedlings, but its effect on seedling stage was not large, as compared to untreated seeds. Primed watermelon seeds showed improved emergence rate and facilitated germination in the field, but their seedling growth after 30 days from germination was not significantly affected. Our results indicated that seed priming can greatly improve the seed germination at poor temperature conditions in the watermelon.

This study was conducted to investigate days after anthesis (DAA) and fruit after-ripening period (FAP) for seed-harvesting of high quality watermelon seeds. Fruit weight and number of seed per fruit increased according to DAA, while those did not significant about FAP. Ratio of cotyledon at whole seed was higher about 2 to 4% compared to seed coat irrespective of DAA and FAP. Germinability of watermelon was not a significant effect by DAA, however, it had differences by FAP. Percent of germination (PB) was below 50%, when 30 days maturated fruits after anthesis was omitted ripening, while PB was increased to 92% by ripening. In addition, seeds at DAA 40 and FAP 20 were higher general seedling vigors (hypocotyl length, diameter etc.) in BP test. Results indicated that considering seed productivity, it had maximized seed viability at DAA 40 and FAP 20.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of fruit set internode on the germination of watermelon seeds. Generally fruits setted in higher than 20 internode were high percent of germination, fruit setted in low internode(5-10) is low. The higher fruit-set internode, fruit weight was significantly increased, but 1,000 seed weight was decreased the more fruit set internode. However number of seed was about 300 seeds irrespective of fruit-set internode. Investigating viability of seed by BP test, general percent germination was recorded highest at 5 flower cluster above 20 internode of fruit-set internode. In contrast, condition of fruit setted on 3, 4, 6 flower cluster were high percent of germination, regarded as unnormal germination not to be as normal seedling by 2~3%. Seed harvested at 5 flower-cluster had high viability on hypocotyl height and diameter of seedling through early growth test, but were not significant. Therefore 5 flower-cluster was optimum fruit-set internode to obtain high-quality seed.

The present study was conducted to find a way to recycle the coir substrate by investigating changes in its physical and chemical properties based on the number of use year. Specific gravity of unused coir substrate was 0.212 g/cm3 , while it was higher for the substrate used for 2 years. Porosity was different depending on the number of use year. The porosity of unused substrate was 51.9%, but it increased to 68.6% after used for 2 years. In general, physical and chemical properties were better in the coir substrate used for 2 years than in unused one. The number of leaves, leaf area, flesh weight and dry weight of oriental cabbage and lettuce were higher in coir substrate used for 2 years than those in unused one. Whereas, no significant difference was observed between the substrates used for one year and 2 years, indicating that the one time-used wast substrate could be recycled for cultivating vegetables. Growth of the vegetables was improved when organic fertilizer composed of complex organics with different mixing ratios was provided to the coir substrate, compared to untreated plot. The optimum mixing ratio of the wast substrate and complex organics was 2:8(v/v) for fertilization using wast coir substrate. Therefore, coir substrate generally wasted after being used for one time was reuseable by supplying organic fertilizer.

The present study was conducted to development mass production methods for peanut sprouts that is considered as a field of blue ocean among the agricultural products. 'Jopyeong' was the best as a major cultivar for peanut sprouts production. The manual for the production of high-quality peanut sprouts is as following. Germination temperature appropriate for production of high-quality peanut sprouts was 27℃. Peanut sprouts at the growth stage of 8th day, and older plants with advanced growth showed deteriorated merchantable and eating quality. Resveratrol compound was not found in the seeds, but its highest amount was detected from 9-day old sprouts. The best water temperature applicable to high quality peanut sprout production was 25℃. The growth of peanut sprout was inhibited by the high temperatures above 35℃ and low temperatures below 15℃.

The present study was conducted to develop seed treatment for the production of healthy and clean peanut sprout. Dry heat treatment of peanut seeds reduced the incidence of the rot. The seed treatment condition at 52℃ for 10 h. was the most efficient without inhibiting seed viability significantly. Seeds were dark cultured at 27℃ for up to 9 days. The treatment of Indole-B and gibberellic acid influenced germination, T50, fresh, dry weight, hypocotyl length, hypocotyl length diameter, root length, number of lateral root and epicotyl of peanut sprout. There were no differences in the germinability of peanut seeds between gibberellic acid treatment methods but higher fresh weight was observed in the GA3 solution spray after 2 hour water soaking. The general growth and lateral root development of peanut sprouts were suppressed by Indole-B which is used for inhibiting root formation and promoting hypocotyls. The treatment of gibberellic acid promoted hypocotyl elongation, but it did not influence on the growth of hypocotyls and root system.

This paper introduces the research progress on the artificial brain in the Telerobotics and Control Laboratory at KAIST. This series of studies is based on the assumption that it will be possible to develop an artificial intelligence by copying the mechanisms of the animal brain. Two important brain mechanisms are considered: spike-timing dependent plasticity and dopaminergic plasticity. Each mechanism is implemented in two coding paradigms: spike-codes and rate-codes. Spike-timing dependent plasticity is essential for self-organization in the brain. Dopamine neurons deliver reward signals and modify the synaptic efficacies in order to maximize the predicted reward. This paper addresses how artificial intelligence can emerge by the synergy between self-organization and reinforcement learning. For implementation issues, the rate codes of the brain mechanisms are developed to calculate the neuron dynamics efficiently.