Background : Several members of the genus Clausena have a great potential as a candidate for the identification of new drug lead molecules, but lack of their genomic information can be a hindrance for the verification of the genetic background for future use. To broaden and delve into the genomic features of this genus, Clausena excavata, an important medicinal plant in many Asian countries, was used for RNA-seq analysis. Methods and Results : A ten ㎍ of the total RNA was used for mRNA isolation using oligo-dT beads and random sheared mRNAs were used to prepare a cDNA library for a illumina hiseq 2500 analysis. In total, 17,580,456 trimmed clear reads from the illumina hiseq 2500 were used for de novo assembly using three assemblers, CLC genomics workbench, velvet-oases, and Trinity. A total of 16,638 non-redundant unigenes with an average length of 755 bp were generated by the assembly. The functional categorization of the identified unigenes by a gene ontology (GO) term resulted in 2,305 genes in the cellular component, 5,577 in the biological processes, and 8,056 in the molecular functions, respectively. The top sub-category in biological processes was the metabolic process with 4,374 genes. Among annotated genes, 3,006 were mapped to 123 metabolic pathways by KEGG metabolic pathway analysis tool. The search for simple sequence repeats (SSRs) resulted in 845 SSRs from 749 SSR-containing unigenes and the most abundant SSR motifs was AAG/CTT with 179 occurrences. Twelve SSR markers were tested for cross transferability among five Clausena species; eight of them exhibited polymorphism. Conclusion : In the present study, genomic resources of the genus Clausena were enriched through RNA-seq and SSR markers, which will serve as valuable resources for genomic/genetic studies of the genus Clausena and close relatives.

Background : Oplopanax elatus, comnonly called Asian devil’s club, is distributed in the northern high mountains of the Korean peninsula, northeastern China, and southeastern Russia. Its root is traditionally used to treat asthma, depressive states, chronic fatigue syndrome, and hypertension, neurasthenia, hypopiesis, schizophrenia, cardiovascular problems, diabetes mellitus, impotence, emaciation, hypotension cough, rheumatism, arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders, and wounds. Plant cell and tissue culture techniques for the mass production of adventitious roots in suspension culture allows a high proliferation rate, stable accumulation rate, and production of valuable compounds. Methods and Results : The plants were cultured on 1/4 MS medium with 1% sucrose and 1% plant agar for 3 month and they transferred to pot. The pots were contained of soil, soil + pelite (1 : 1), and soil + sand (1 : 1), respectively. The plants were measured plant length, leaf length, and leaf number. The number of leaves have represented as similar result of 7.44 ± 1.34 ㎝ in soil and 7.56 ± 1.26 ㎝ on soil + pelite. The 3.22 ± 0.53 ㎝ of plant length and the 6.57 ± 0.51 ㎝ of leaves length were highest on soil. Conclusion : The survival rate depending on soil types of Oplopanax elatus was confirmed to exist in these cases of soil and soil+pelite. However, they all died in condition of soil+vermiculite. The number of leaves have no difference and the length of plant and the length of leaves were longest on soil.

With rapid growth of the one-person households, this study focused on the psychological effects of pet plant gardening, one of the new trend of gardening among them. To clarify the psychological influences of pet plant gardening, 30 university students conducted gardening of pet plants in 90 days and the psychological effects was measured by the standardization personality inventory test before and after gardening. As results, pet plant gardening showed the effects of decreasing depression feeling of all participants, and the effects was significant in female than male. Pet plants gardening led to change females' personality more actively and more leadingly. Therefore, this data verified the positive effects in psychologically and induced personality showed pet plants gardening induced the positive effects the aspects of psychology and personality.

We investigated vascular plants of Jindo Island in Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do, Korea. A total of 22 field trips were carried out over the course of 48 days from May 2012 to October 2014. As a result, 782 taxa belong to 134 families, 437 genera, 704 species, 11 subspecies, 60 varieties and 7 forms were identified. These include the following: 2 taxa (Drosera peltata var. nipponica, Cleisostoma scolopendrifolium) of Endangered Wildlife Class II under the Act on Wildlife Protection and Management Law. 14 taxa of Korean endemic plants, 53 taxa of floristic regional indicator plants in the third to fifth degrees. In all, 73 taxa of naturalized plants were recorded with the naturalization rate of 9.3%.

This study was carried out to investigate the flora of Deokjeongsan Mt. (Ganghwa-gun) from March to October 2016. The vascular plants identified during the 8 round field surveys were a to total of 484 taxa: 107 families, 305 genera, 423 species, 8 subspecies, 48 varieties, 4 forms and 1 hybrid. The plant formation of Deokjeongsan Mt. is the deciduous broad-leaved and conifer mixed forest which is the common one in the middle part of Korean peninsula. All most mountain covered with young secondary forest which is mainly composed of Pinus and Quercus. The plant species diversity largest families were Asteraceae (62 taxa, 12.7%), Poaceae (48 taxa, 9.9%), Cyperaceae (27 taxa, 5.6%), Fabaceae (23 taxa, 4.7%), and Lamiaceae (21 taxa, 4.3%). The four taxa of Korean endemic plants such as Clematis brachyura Maxim., Salix koriyanagi Kimura ex Goerz, Carex brevispicula G. H. Nam & G. Y. Chung, and Hemerocallis hakuunensis Nakai were collected. The vascular plants on the red list according to IUCN evaluation basis were found to be five taxa: Near Threatened (NT) species of Senecio argunensis Turcz., Least Concern (LC) species Pseudoraphis ukishiba Nakai, and Not Evaluate (NE) species of Thladiantha dubia Bunge, Cirsium lineare (Thunb.) Sch. Bip., and Scorzonera austriaca ssp. glabra Lipsch. & Krasch. ex Lipsch., respectively. The floristic regional indicator plants found in this area were 26 taxa comprising one taxa of degree V, two taxa of degree IV, four taxa of degree III, eight taxa of degree II, and 11 taxa of degree I. In addition, the alien plants were identified as 46 taxa and the percentage of naturalized index (NI) was 9.5%, and urbanization index (UI) was 14.3%, respectively

This study was aimed at evaluating the antifungal potentials of twelve plant extracts (Terminariae Fructus, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Cinnamomi Cortex, Taraxacum Platycarpum, Rubi Fructus, Caesalpiniae Lignum, Myristicae Semen, Caryophylli Flos, Sanguisorbae Radix, Alpiniae Katsumadaii Semen, Scutellariae Radix, Astragalus membranaceus) in preventing storage rot symptoms in ginger (Zingiber officinale). Samples were collected from ginger that had been stored for 120 days at 10-12 . A total of ten fungi were isolated from stored non-spoiled and spoiled ginger and identified using internal transcribed spacer gene sequencing as Hypocrea virescentiflava, Fusarium oxysporum, Acremonium strictum, Fusarium solani, and Cadophora fastigiata. The causal fungus of storage rot was identified as F. oxysporum by pathogenicity test. Twelve candidate plant extracts were screened for antifungal activity against F. oxysporum isolated from spoiled ginger by using the disk diffusion method. In minimal inhibitory concentration (MICs) test, all ethanolic extracts of Cinnamomi Cortex, Taraxacum platycarpum, and Caryophylli Flos exhibited higher antifungal activity against F. oxysporum than other plant extracts. The MIC value of Cinnamomi Cortex and Caryophylli Flos were determined to be 10 ìg/disc. The MIC of T. platycarpum, 2.5 ìg/disc, was the lowest. Based on the results, it was concluded that Cinnamomi Cortex, T. platycarpum, and Caryophylli Flos have potential to serve as effective treatments to prevent storage rot of ginger.

Vegetation has a great importance in erosion control and slope stabilization, protecting and restraining the surface soil and increasing the strength and competence of the soil mass. However, normal green soil have poor adhesion to slopes. In order to enhance the adhesion, therefore, the vegetation effect of green slope soil mixed with cement materials was investigated in this study.

Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes)는 여드름의 주요 병원성균으로 염증성 질환에 관련된 미생물 중 에 하나이다. 본 연구에서는 여드름 주요 유발 균주인 P. acnes에 대하여 70% Ethanol로 추출한 제주 자생 식물 추출물의 항균활성을 disc diffusion test 실험을 이용하여 측정하였다. 실험 결과 61개의 제주 자생 식물 추출물 중에서 45개 추출물의 항균 활성이 검출되었으며, 16개의 추출물은 항균 활성이 검출되지 않았다. 그중 에서 여우 구슬(Phyllanthus urinaria L.) - 줄기⋅잎 추출물이 18.96 ± 0.69 mm로 가장 높은 항균 활성을 나타내었고, 참당귀(Angelica gigas Nakai) - 뿌리, 돌외(Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino), 참당귀(Angelica gigas Nakai) - 잎⋅줄기, 산박하(Isodon inflexus (Thunb.) Kudo), 차나무(Camellia sinensis L.) - 꽃, 그리고 로즈마리(Rosmarinus officinalis L.) - 줄기 추출물 순으로 높은 항균 활성을 나타내었다. 이러한 결과는 제주 자생 식물 추출물이 여드름 치료⋅예방의 항균제 및 기능성 화장품 천연 원료로써의 이용 가능성을 제안한다.

The cultivation area of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) has been increased for oil production and landscaping purpose in Korea. However, as the color of rapeseed flower is very simple, diversified flower color is necessary to improve landscape effect. Interspecific and intergeneric crosses between rapeseed (Brassica napus) and three Cruciferae crops were performed in order to grow diverse flower color of rapeseed. The silique formation rate of interspecific cross rapeseed with cabbage (B. oleracea L) was relatively high (65.8%) and higher than intergeneric cross with rapeseed and radish (Raphanus sativus L.), rapeseed and Orychophragmus, respectively. During silique developing period after artificial pollination, there were many siliques without seeds due to the failure of fertilization. The average number of seed per silique obtained from cross rapeseed and cabbage, rapeseed and radish, rapeseed and O. violaceus were 0.12, 0.4 and 0.12, respectively. The phenotypes of F1 hybrid plants from cross rapeseed and Cruciferae crops were mostly similar to maternal line, but leaf length and leaf width were increased. The interspecific cross of rapeseed and cabbage generated ivory color of flower which is the medium color of parents, and intergeneric cross of rapeseed and O. violaceus created entities with larger flowers which seems to enhance landscape effect. The fatty acid composition of most hybrid seeds intermediated of the two parents for oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid, content. Whereas hybrid of rapeseed and radish produced less erucic acid than radish parent.

This study was carried out to investigate the vascular plants of Mt. Bulmyeongsan in Jeollabuk-do from April 2015 to October 2016. The vascular plants were summarized as 433 taxa, including 100 families, 290 genera, 382 species, 4 subspecies, 38 varieties and 9 forms. Among the investigated 433 taxa, 5 Korean endemic plants and 4 rare and endangered plants were included. The floristic regional indicator plants found in this area were 1 taxa of grade IV, 10 taxa of grade III, 3 taxa of grade II and 19 taxa of grade I. Naturalized plants consisted of 28 taxa that made up 6.5% of the total vascular plants in this area.

An unrecorded alien species plant, Phalaris paradoxa L. (Poaceae) was found in Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju island, Korea. It is native to the Mediterranean region of Europe, and it is currently found worldwide. Phalaris paradoxa is distinguishable from related taxa (P. arundinacea, P. canariensis, P. minor and P. arundinacea var. picta) in Korea by the following combination of characterstics: spikelets in clusters (the upper central fertile spikelet surrounded by six lower sterile spikelets), wing of the keel. This taxon was named ‘Nal-gae-ca-na-ri-sae-pul’ in Korean based on its character. We provide its description, illustrations, photographs and a key of related taxa in Korea.

Background: Allergic diseases like such as atopic dermatitis, asthma, and rhinitis have recently increased both domestically and globally. The present study was undertaken to select candidates with anti-allergic activity from plant resources. Methods and Results: Fifty-six plant extracts at 20㎍/㎖ were screened against β-hexosaminidase production and interleukin (IL)- 4 release in degranulated rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 cells. The anti-allergy activity of three plant extracts selected from the preliminary screening experiment, Polygonatum sibiricum F. Delaroche (root), Pyrus pytifolia var. culta (Makino) Nakai (leaf), and Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex Steud (root) were measured at concentrations of 2 - 250㎍/㎖ in three cell lines as RBL- 2H3, HaCaT and Jurkcat T cells. The assay showed the root extract of R. glutinosa to have an inhibitory activity of 4.2% - 28.6% on β-hexosaminidase production from IgE-sensitized RBL-2H3 cells. Each extract of P. sibiricum and R. glutinosa reduced IL-4 release in IgE-sensitized RBL-2H3 cells, respectively. The leaf extract of P. pyrifolia var. culta showed a significantly potent suppressive effect of 10.2% - 74.7% on the mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in HaCaT cells sensitized with TNF-a and INF-g, and showed inhibitory effect of –8.6% - 90.9% on the mRNA expression of IL-2 in Jurkat T cells sensitized with PMA and A23187. Conclusions: The results showed that the root of R. glutinosa and leaf of P. pyrifolia var. culta could be useful candidates as antiallergy materials.

Molecular phylogenetic analysis was conducted to evaluate the taxonomic relationships of genus Arisaema L. distributed in Korea and the molecular phylogenetic characteristics of three authentic Arisaema species for the herbal medicine Arisaematis Rhizoma (the rhizomes of A. amurense, A. heterophyllum, and A. erubescens). The sequences of three DNA barcodes (rDNA-ITS, matK, and rbcL) were analyzed using 50 samples of nine taxa consisted of eight Korean and one Chinese Arisaema with one outgroup (Dracunculus vulgaris). Both individual and combined phylogenetic analyses of three DNA barcode sequences revealed that the treated nine taxa are independently classified into six distinct clades (Clade I, A. amurense f. amurense and A. amurense f. serratum; Clade II, A. serratum and A. takesimense; Clade III, A. ringens; Clade IV, A. erubescens; Clade V, A. heterophyllum; Clade VI, A. thunbergii subsp. thunbergii and A. thunbergii subsp. geomundoense). These six clades were reasonably divided into three individual sections, Pedatisecta, Sinarisaema, and Tortuosa. Futhermore, the results of comparative DNA barcode sequences analyses provided a significant information for the taxonomic reconsideration of Arisaema L. at the specific and intraspecific level. However, we could not confirm the taxonomic characteristics or identity among the three authentic medicinal species through the molecular phylogenetic analyses of genus Arisaema L. for Arisaematis Rhizoma.

An unrecorded cactus species, Opuntia monacantha Haw. (Cactaceae), is newly reported in Korea. It was found growing on the coast of Jeju Island. It is distinguished from other Opuntia species by the following morphological characteristics. It is an erect succulent tree, commonly 2~3 m, but can reach 4 m. It is highly branched at the top and has drooping upper branches. The cladodes are oval to obovate, narrowing basally, and glossy green. It has yellow outer tepals with a reddish median stripe on the back. It produces purple fruit with yellowish green juicy pulp, which contains several rudimentary seeds and very few mature seeds (<2). The Korean name “Wang-seon-in-jang” is given to the species, based on the height of the plants and the large cladodes.

This study was conducted to evaluate natural plant extracts for methane gas reduction in ruminants. Rumen fluid was collected from cannulated Hanwoo cow (450±30 kg) consuming 400 g/kg concentrate and 600 g/kg timothy. The 15 ml of mixture comparing McDougall’s buffer and rumen fluid in the ratio 2 to 1, was dispensed anaerobically into 50 ml serum bottles. Rumen fluid contents were collected and in vitro fermentation prepared control (timothy, 300 mg), ginseng, balloon flower, yucca plant, camellia, tea plant and ogapi extracts were added at the level of 5% against 300 mg of timothy as a substrate (v/w) and incubated for 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h. In vitro pH values range 6.55~7.41, this range include rumen titration. The dry matter digestibility was not differ between all treatments and control. Total gas emission was significantly higher (p<0.05) in ginseng and balloon flower treatments on 24 h than in control. Carbon dioxide emission was not differ all treatments on 9 h than in control and significantly higher (p<0.05) yucca plant, camellia and tea plant treatments on 12 h than control. Methane emission was not differ all treatments on 6 h than in control. The rumen microbial growth rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in ginseng, balloon flower on 12 h and significantly higher (p<0.05) in ginseng, yucca plant, tea plant and ogapi treatments on 24 h than in control. Total VFA was significantly higher (p<0.05) in tea plant and ogapi treatments on 12 h than in control and significantly higher (p<0.05) in ginseng, balloon flower treatments on 48 h than in control. Acetic acid was significantly lower (p<0.05) in ginseng and balloon flower treatments on 24 h than in control. Propionic acid was significantly higher (p<0.05) in ginseng and balloon flower treatments on 48 h than in control. As a results, sixth natural plant extracts had no significant effect dry matter digestibility and negative on rumen fermentation, but not effect methane reduction.

This research was conducted to evaluate methods of enhancing the waterlogging resistance of soybean plant. Thus, we applied seven types of plant growth regulators (PGRs) to soybean plants and exposed them to waterlogged conditions for a total of 14 days. To evaluate stress resistance, we monitored plant growth characteristics data such as height, chlorophyll content, and chlorophyll fluorescence for 28 days after the initial waterlogging (14 days under waterlogging conditions and 14 days after waterlogging). According to the results, plant height was significantly increased by gibberellin A4 (GA4) treatment compared to the control treatment and waterlogging-only treatment. However, we could not detect plant height owing to plant death when we applied abscisic acid (ABA). Except for GA4 and ABA treatments, plant heights slightly decreased in all treatments compared to the waterlogging-only treatment. The chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence showed a similar tendency among PGR treatments. The chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence were significantly increased by ethephon and kinetin treatments 28 days after waterlogging compared to the waterlogging-only treatment. Consequently, kinetin and ethephon treatments induced more resistant phenotypes in soybean plants during or after exposure to waterlogging conditions.

APETALA2/ethylene response factor (AP2/ERF) transcription factors are involved in biological and abiotic stress response, plant development, and growth. AP2/ERF genes are classified into five families (AP2, DREB, ERF, RAV, and soloist), and most genes belong to DREB and ERF families. So far, genomic analysis of DREB and ERF family genes of various plant species has been performed, and classifications based on the homology of AP2/ERF-specific DNA binding domain, arrangement of exons and introns, and similarity of group-specific conserved motifs have been conducted. These classifications provide plausible information for the prediction of AP2/ERF gene function. In this paper, an overview of the classification, structure, evolution, and function of AP2/ERF genes is described, and the functional properties and regulatory mechanisms of ERF family genes that have been identified are summarized by group according to the functional classification of Arabidopsis ERF family genes. This shows that group-specific conserved motifs of Arabidopsis ERF family genes are closely linked with group-specific functions and regulatory mechanisms, indicating that the effective functional prediction of ERF family genes through such a classification scheme can be usefully applied to the trait improvements of various plants.

To elucidate the physiological responses of rice plants to the essential mineral silicon (Si), we assessed the effects of treatments with Si, nitrogen (NH4NO3; ammonium nitrate), and calcium (CaCl2; calcium chloride), independently or in combination on mineral uptake rates and levels of the hormones abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellin (GA1) and jasmonic acid (JA). We found that nitrogen and calcium uptake was inhibited by Si application. However, solo application of nitrogen or calcium did not affect Si uptake. Compared to the untreated plants, the application of Si, NH4NO3 or CaCl2 increased the endogenous hormone levels in treated plants. In particular, the concentrations of GA1 and JA increased significantly after the application of Si or NH4NO3. The level of GA1 observed after a treatment (solo or combine) with Si, and NH4NO3 was higher than that of the control. By contrast, independent application of CaCl2 or a combined treatment with Si and CaCl2 did not alter GA1 levels. The highest level of GA1 was present in plants given a combination treatment of Si and NH4NO3. This effect was observed at all time points (6 h, 12 h and 24 h). Endogenous JA contents were higher in all treatments than the control. In particular, a combination treatment with Si and NH4NO3 significantly increased the JA levels in plants compared to other treatments at all time points. A small increase in JA levels was observed after 6 h in plants given the CaCl2 treatment. However, JA levels did not differ between plants given a CaCl2 treatment and controls after 12 h or 24 h of exposure. We conclude that treatment with CaCl2 alone does not affect endogenous JA levels in the short term. Endogenous ABA contents did not show any differences among the various treatments.

본 연구는 고 에너지 X-선을 조사한 새싹식물 종자를 파종 및 재배하여 산도, 염도, 당도, 당산비의 변화 를 분석하고 식물의 생장에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 하였다. 새싹식물 6종의 종자에 각 종자별로 대조군 1개군과 실험군 4개군을 구성하여 6MV X-선을 0, 2, 5, 8, 10 Gy 각각 조사하였다. 조사된 종자들을 파종하고 재배하여 식물의 액을 추출 및 성분분석을 실시하였다. 무 순과 적무의 산도는 모두 증가하였고, 청경채와 메밀은 산도가 평균적으로 감소하였다. 다른 종자의 실험 군은 대조군과 비슷한 산도로 분석 되었다 새싹식물의 염도, 당도는 평균적으로 감소하였으나, 적무의 염도는 2배 증가하였고, 수분 함량이 높은 콩 나물은 당도가 모두 증가하였다. 따라서 고 에너지 X선은 식물의 성분에서 염기성 이온을 생성하고, 수분 함량이 높은 식물은 방사선 감수성이 높아 생장에 영향을 받아 과산화물이 생성되어 식물의 성분 변화에 영향을 미친다고 판단된다. 향후 고 에너지 방사선의 조사에 따른 식물성분의 변화 원인을 알아내기 위한 지속적인 유전학적 연구가 필요할 것이다.

자두와 살구의 종간 교잡 과종인 플럼코트 ‘Harmony’ 품종의 생산성 향상을 위해 재식거리 6×3 m 조건에서 덕이 없는 Y자 수형, Y자 팔메트 수형으로 재배하고 수체 생장, 과실 특성, 과실 수확량을 비교하였다. 재식 5년차의 조사 결과에 의하면, 덕이 없는 Y자 수형, Y자 팔메트 수형에서 수체 생장량은 유사하였으나 수관 점유율은 Y자 팔메트 수형에서 높았고, 주당 수확 과실수 및 수확량도 Y자 팔메트 수형에서 높았다. 과실의 과중과 가용성고형물 함량은 수형간에 차이가 미미하였으며 덕이 있는 Y자 수형에서 과실 낙과율이 낮은 경향이었다. 재식 4~5 년차의 결과로 보아 Y자 팔메트 수형은 덕이 없는 Y자 수형에 비해 수관점유율 확대가 빠르며, 과실 착과량이 증가하고, 과실 낙과율을 경감하여 수확량 증대에 기여할 것으로 예상된다.