The content and composition of tocopherol were analyzed in peanuts produced in Korea. The tocopherol assay was consisted of an extraction with n-hex-ane:isopropanol mixture followed by high pressure liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Tocopherol content was higher in leaves and seeds but lower in seed coats and shells. α -/~gamma - Tocopherol ratio was as low as 0.53 in seeds and as high as 22.5 in shells. Tocopherol content in seeds of nine varieties ranged from 142 to 220 ng/mg dry weight, and the α -/~gamma -tocopherol ratio from 0.40 to 0.75. Tocopherol content decreased by 18% but α -/~gamma -tocopherol ratio increased by 44% in roasted seeds. The results indicate that the level of tocopherol in Korean peanut varieties is moderate and the ratio of α - to ~gamma -tocopherol is low.
This study was carried out to select randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers associated with grain weight of a large-grain mutant, Hyacp 39-26-1, derived from anther culture of a rice cultivar, 'Hwayeongbyeo'. The segregation mode for grain weight in an F2 population from a cross, 'Hwayeongbyeo/Hyacp 39-26-1', showed a nearly normal distribution. One hundred and ninety-one F2 plants ranged from 21.8 g to 34.7 g in 1,000-grain weight with a mean of 26.8 g. Five hundred and twenty primers were used to detect the RAPD markers associated with the grain weight of the large-grain mutant. Of these primers, 54 primers showed polymorphism between 'Hwayeongbyeo' and 'Hyacp 39-26-1'. Four RAPD markers (OPB18, OPH07, OPT20, and OPX20) were significantly related to the grain weight of twenty one F3 lines derived from the cross, 'Hwayeongbyeo/Hyacp 39-26-1'. This RAPD marker could facilitate the early and efficient selection of high-yield lines through improvement of grain weight in rice.