The first morphogenetic event of preimplantation development, compaction, was required efficient production of porcine embryos in vitro. Compaction of the porcine embryo, which takes place at post 4-cell stage, is dependent upon the adhesion molecule E-cadherin. The E-cadherin through -catenin contributes to stable cell-cell adhesion. Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) signaling was found to support the integrity of E-cadherin based cell contacts. In this study, we traced the effects of ROCK-1 on early embryonic development and structural integrity of blastocysts in pigs. Then, in order to gain new insights into the process of compaction, we also examined whether ROCK-1 signaling is involved in the regulation of the compaction mediated by E-cadherin of cellular adhesion molecules. As a result, real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of ROCK-1 mRNA was presented throughout porcine preimplantation stages, but not expressed as consistent levels. Thus, we investigated the blastocyst formation of porcine embryos treated with LPA and Y27632. Blastocysts formation and their qualities in LPA treated group increased significantly compared to those in the Y27632-treated group (p < 0.05). Then, to determine whether ROCK-1 associates embryonic compaction, we explored the effect of activator and/or inhibitor of ROCK-1 on compaction of embryos in pigs. The rate of compacted morula in LPA treated group was increased compared to that in the Y27632-treated group (39.7 vs 12.0%). Furthermore, we investigated the localization and expression pattern of E-cadherin at 4-cell stage porcine embryos in both LPA- and Y27632-treated groups by immunocytochemical analysis and Western blot analysis. The expression of E-cadherin was increased in LPA-treated group compared to that in the Y27632-treated group. The localization of E-cadherin in LPA-treated group was enriched in part of blastomere contacts compared to that Y27632-treated group. ROCK-1 as a crucial mediator of embryo compaction may plays an important role in regulating compaction through E-cadherin of the cell adhesion during the porcine preimplantation embryo. We concluded that ROCK-1 gene may affect the developmental potential of porcine blastocysts through regulating embryonic compaction.

Rotylenchus arsenjevi are reported for the first time in Korea. The Korean species differs slightly by having a hemispherical lip region and a slightly shorter tail than the original description (c=38.2-68.7 vs 36-41). Male was founded firstly from Korea and described. Geocenamus adakensis were collected a second time from Korea at a different locality and habitat. The measurements were compared with original description and the firstly collected specimen in Korea.

To determine the optimal media conditions for the detection of the cellulolytic activity in Ganoderma lucidum, we varied three media conditions: dye reagent, pH, and temperature. First, we evaluated the use of four dyes, Congo Red, Phenol Red, Remazol Brilliant Blue, and Trypan Blue. To observe the effect of pH on the chromogenic reaction, we also made and tested various media spanning acidic and alkaline pHs, ranging from 4.5 to 8.0. Furthermore, in order to research the effect of temperature on the clear zone and the fungus growing zone, we tested temperatures ranging from 15 to 35℃. On the whole, the best protocol called for Ganoderma lucidum transfer onto media containing Congo red with pH adjusted to 7.0, followed by incubation at 25℃ for 5 days. Our results will be useful to researchers who aim to study extracellular enzyme activity in Ganoderma lucidum

The hemipteran whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is one of the most destructive pests damaging more than 600 agricultural crop species worldwide. The B and Q biotypes are most widely spread in Korea but they are not distinguishable based on morphological characters. Carboxylesterase 2 (Coe2) was determined to be 5.9 times more expressed in B biotype compared to Q biotype. Comparison of deduced amino acid sequences of Coe2 (595 a.a.) showed a total of 3.85% polymorphisms between B and Q types but no differences in major active sites. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that both B and Q biotypes possess a single copy of coe2, suggesting that the overexpression of Coe2 in B biotype is likely due to overtranscription. To determine the putative role of Coe2 in insecticide tolerance, esterases were separated by native isoelectric focusing (IEF) and inhibited by various insecticides. The putative Coe2 band was apparently inhibited by pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides, but not by imidacloprid. These findings suggest that overexpression of Coe2 confers chemical defense against pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides, perhaps by sequestration.

Developmental time, mummification, pupal mortality, sex ratio of a South Korean strain of Aphelinus varipes Förster parasitizing the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae were studied at 20, 25 and 30℃ in controlled climate cabinets. Plastic container with sweet pepper(Capsicum annuum L.) were used as experimental units. Green peach aphid in different larval instars and as adults, reared at the three different temperatures, were presented to A. varipes in a 'no-choice' and 'choice' situation for 6h. These presentations were done at 25℃ in each experiment to avoid an influence of temperature on parasitization rate. In case of no-choice test, more 1st(24%), 2nd(22%) and 3rd(38%) instar aphids were parasitized than 4th(14%) instar and adult(10%) among the aphids reared at 25℃. In case of choice test, more 1st(41%), 2nd(42%) and 3rd(29%) instar aphids were parasitized than 4th(13%) instar and adult(0%) among the aphids reared at 25℃. Pupal mortality of the parasitoid was not influenced by temperatures. The sex ratio of A. varipes was male-biased, and varied between 49.4% females developed from aphids reared at 30℃ and 42.8% from aphids reared at 20℃. The sex ratio was not significantly influenced by host stages. The developmental time of A. varipes parasitizing the green peach aphid ranged from 26.1days at 20℃ to 11.1days at 30℃.

The molecular mechanisms and genetics of abamectin resistance mediated by target site insensitivity in the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, were investigated by comparing two isogenic AbaS and AbaR strains. Cloning and sequencing of full-length cDNA fragments of GABA-gated chloride channel genes revealed no polymorphisms between the two strains. However, sequence comparison of the full-length cDNA fragment of a T. urticae glutamate-gated chloride channel gene (TuGluCl) identified a G323D point mutation as being tentatively related with abamectin resistance. In individual F2 progenies obtained by backcrossing, the G323D genotype was confirmed to correlate with abamectin resistance. Bioassays using progeny from reciprocal crossings revealed that the abamectin resistance trait due to TuGluCl insensitivity is incompletely recessive.