Mutant populations generated by ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) have been used for crop improvement and functional genomics. Since pepper is very recalcitrant to be transformed, EMS mutagenesis can be a very useful to generate useful alleles and to characterize the function of genes. We have been developing a mutant population aiming at 5,000 mutants by treating EMS on seeds of C. annuum ‘Yuwolcho’. A total of 4,300 M1 mutants have been developed until now. Among the 4,300 M1 population, almost 800 M2 mutant lines have been phenotyped and evaluated to confirm the effect of EMS. We categorized seven key organ development and subdivided them into twenty secondary categories. Among them, 50 and 72 families have been shown variations in plant growth and leaf development, respectively. In addition, we detected nucleotide variations using HRM analysis in eIF4E and putative aminotransferase genes. These results demonstrated that our mutant population can be very useful for study function of genes in near future.

For QTL analysis of agronomic traits based on cultivation of low and high altitude locations, BC1 F5 181 lines were developed from a cross of Tongil type Gayabyeo and japonica Chhomrong originated from Nepal. Plant materials were grown in both of low altitude area of Milyang, Korea and high altitude area of Khumaltar, Nepal. In QTLs analysis, a total of 42 QTLs were detected in days to flowering, culm length, panicle length, number of panicles/hill, panicle exertion, and spikelet ripening ratio. Although many of the QTLs were coincided between the two locations of Korea and Nepal, several QTLs were revealed as location specific in high altitude area of Khumaltar. Especially, the regions harboring marker RM489-RM14281 on chromo- some 3, RM5642-RM19049 on chromosome 5, and RM2854-RM6696 on chromosome 12 where QTLs were clustered and coincided between the two locations are considered as positive target regions for environmental independent traits. Furthermore, high rate of location specific QTLs such as panicle exertion and spikelet ripening ratio could be considered carefully for understanding the mechanism of cold tolerance based on cultivation of different altitude location.

A new species of Chrysosplenium (Saxifragaceae), C. epigealum J.W.Han & S.H.Kang is described from Mt. Seoraksan, Inje-gun, Gangwon-do, Korea. This new species is distinct from C. flaviflorum Ohwi, its closely relative species, in having calyx 2-2.5 mm long, pistils slightly shorter than calyx, filaments 2-3 times longer than anthers and stolons epigeal.

We presented fundamental stellar parameters and evolutionary statuses of six solar type detached eclipsing binaries whose masses are in the range of 0.97-1.43 M⊙. EK Cep and FL Lyr belong to the zero age main sequence. HS Hya, IT Cas and CD Tau are on the main sequence. Their ages are 1.3, 1.9 and 2.2 Gyr, respectively. Both component stars of AI Phe evolved to sub giants and its age is 4.0 Gyr. Those ages of the detached binary systems show good agreement with the time scale for synchronization and circularization of the binary systems.

The ultrastructural characteristics of germ cell differentiations during spermatogenesis and mature sperm morphology in male () were evaluated via transmission electron microscopic observation. The accessory cells, which contained a large quantity of glycogen particles and lipid droplets in the cytoplasm, are assumed to be involved in nutrient supply for germ cell development. Morphologically, the sperm nucleus and acrosome of this species are ovoid and conical in shape, respectively. The acrosomal vesicle, which is formed by two kinds of electron-dense or lucent materials, appears from the base to the tip: a thick and slender elliptical line, which is composed of electron-dense opaque material, appears along the outer part (region) of the acrosomal vesicle from the base to the tip, whereas the inner part (region) of the acrosomal vesicle is composed of electron-lucent material in the acrosomal vesicle. Two special characteristics, which are found in the acrosomal vesicle of A. () in Pinnidae (subclass Pteriomorphia), can be employed for phylogenetic and taxonomic analyses as a taxonomic key or a significant tool. The spermatozoa were approximately in length, including a sperm nucleus (about in length), an acrosome (about in length), and a tail flagellum (about ). The axoneme of the sperm tail evidences a 9+2 structure.

The effects of seawater on growth of fettuce(Lactuca sativa L.), leaf perilla(perilIa frutescens var. japonica Hara), red pepper(Capsicum annuum L.) and cucumber(Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings were investigated in the glass greenhouse. These effects were studied on seedlings, and diluted seawater (1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 50%, 100% v/v) was sprayed enough on feaves. The tested four vegetable crops have well grown up to 10% diluted seawater, but the tested vegetable crops were damaged from increasing salt levels. Of these, lettuce was provided salt-tolerant vegetable crop and red pepper was considered salt-sensitive vegetable crop. The salt tolerance of vegetable crops is different between crops and complicated because of additional detrimental effects caused by accumulated ions or specific ion toxicities in their leaves. These results show that agricultural use of seawater may be benefit crop cultivation in organic farming system as well as in conventional farming system.