Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is one of the most important grass species in the world's temperate zones. It is used as high-quality forage in pastures and for recreational use as turf in golf courses, lawns and parks. Genetic improvement of perennial ryegrass is difficult due to its self-incompatibility. Consequently, progress by conventional breeding can be slow. Genetic transformation is an alternative that permits direct introduction of useful genes into a plant's genome and is becoming a powerful tool to complement conventional breeding. To improve environmental stress tolerance and quality of perennial ryegrass by introducing better and useful genes into the genome, we have developed a rapid and efficient transformation system using Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer system.

In the present study, we have used an annealing-control-primer (ACP)-based differentially display RT-PCR method to identify salt-stress-induced differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in barley leaves. Using 120 ACPs, a total of 11 up-regulated genes were identified and sequenced. Temporal expression patterns of some up-regulated DEGs in response to salt stress were further analyzed by Northern blot analysis. The possible roles of these identified genes are discussed within the context of their putative role in response to salt stress. Thus, the identification of some novel genes-such as SnRK1-type protein kinase; 17 kDa, class I, small heat shock protein; and RNase S-like protein precursor genes-may offer a new avenue for better understanding the salt stress response in plants, knowledge which might be helpful for developing future strategies.

Chionanthus retusus has been used for landscaping and gardening trees, foods and medicines. This study was carried out to analyze the effect of fertilization on the growth performance of container seedlings (1-year-old) in C. retusus. We used multifeed 19 (MF) as a fertilizer, and measured the height, root collar diameter (RCD), biomass, seedling quality index (SQI) chlorophyll contents and chlorophyll fluorescence of the seedlings. The findings of this paper showed that the height, RCD, H/D ratio, T/R ratio and the fresh and dry weight of seedlings increased after fertilization. The moisture content of the stem and root did not show any significant difference among fertilizations, except in the case of the leaf. Production distribution such as the dry weight ratio of leaves and the stem dry weight ratio of fertilized seedlings had a higher value than that of non-treatment. SQI was the highest in MF 1,000 ㎎/L and 2,000 ㎎/L treatment. Chlorophyll contents (SPAD value) also increased with the increase in fertilization concentrations. Chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) showed the highest value of 0.8 in MF 2,000 ㎎/L treatment.

Crop production in rice paddy fields is of great importance because of declining rice consumption and the low self-sufficiency ratio for field crops in Korea. A controlled drainage system (CDS) is recognized as an effective means to adjust water table (WT) levels as needed and control soil water content to improve the soil environment for optimum crop growth. The present study evaluated the effects of a CDS on soil characteristics, including soil water distribution and soybean development in paddy fields. The CDS was installed with two drain spacing (3 m and 6 m) at the experimental paddy field at the National Institute of Crop Science, Miryang, Korea. It was managed with two WT levels (0.3 m and 0.6 m) during the growing season. Soil water content, electrical conductivity and plant available nitrogen content in the soil were significantly greater in the 0.3 m WT management plots than in the 0.6 m plot and the control. At the vegetative stage, chlorophyll content was significantly lower with higher WT control because of excess soil moisture, but it recovered after the flowering stage. Soybean yield increased with WT management and the 0.6 m WT treatment produced the greatest grain yield, 3.38 ton ha-1, which was 50% greater than that of the control. The CDS directly influenced outflow through the drains, which significantly delayed nutrient loss. The results of this study indicated that WT management by CDS can influence soil characteristics and it is an important practice for high yielding soybean production in paddy fields, which should be considered the crop growth stages for stable crop production.

Germination properties, leachate electrical conductivity (EC), and inorganic compound leaching were analyzed to ascertain the storage ability and change of physiological characteristics during storage of Hippophae rhamnoides seeds. Seeds were placed in an incubator at 25℃ and sown in different soil media (sand, vermiculite and horticultural substrate) after being stored for 6, 18 and 30 months at 2℃. All germination properties decreased in accordance to an increase of the seed storage period. Compared with the seed storage for 18 months, germination percentage (GP), germination performance index (GPI), and germination value (GV) of seeds stored for 30 months decreased by more than 50%. When the seeds were sown in different soil media in a greenhouse, those germination properties were similar to the seeds germinated in an incubator, and mean germination time, GPI and GV had a significant difference except GP among soil media. EC and inorganic ion concentration had a strong positive correlation with the seed storage period, but the ratios of inorganic ions from stored seeds revealed that K + /Mg 2+ and Na + /Mg 2+ were inversely correlated with the storage period.

Most forage crops growing under field conditions are often being exposed to various environmental stresses such as drought, freezing, high temperature, waterlogging and climate change. A combination of grass breeding approaches will likely be needed to improve significantly the environmental stresses tolerance of forage crops in the field. Attempts have been taken by grass breeders to develop tolerant varieties of different crops for environmental stress. A new tall fescue variety (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) named ‘Purumi’ was developed by the National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration from 1999 to 2007. For synthetic seed production of this new variety, 5 superior clones, EFa9108, EFa0010, EFa0020, EFa0108, and EFa0202 were selected and polycrossed. The agronomic growth characteristics and forage production capability of the seeds were studied at Cheonan from 2004 to 2005, and regional trials were conducted in Cheonan, Pyungchang, Jeju, and Jinju from 2008 to 2010. ‘Purumi’ showed enhanced winter hardiness, disease resistance, and regrowth ability as compared to ‘Fawn’. The dry matter yield of ‘Purumi’ was about 5.6% higher as 16,821kg/ha than that of ‘Fawn’. However, the nutritive value of both varieties was similar. When this new variety of tall fescue, Purumi, has been developed and distributed with its most remarkable adaptability for Korean climates and superior value as a livestock feed, it is expected to play an important role for a new restoration of the pasture industry in Korea.