Background : This study was carried out to provide the basic data for selection of excellent resources and true seeds of southern medicinal plant (Camellia japonica). Methods and Results : The germination rate at room temperature and 4℃ dry storage did not show a tendency according to seed weight. The germination rate of 4℃ wet sand storage increased with seed weight but showed very low germination rate at 120 days of storage. The germination rate at 4℃ wet filter paper storage was higher than 80% in 60 days, 90 days and 120 days storage, and there was no difference in germination rate with seed weight. The mean number of germination days was about 30 days in average at room temperature and 4℃ dry storage, but wet storage (sand, filter paper) was short as about 13 days. Conclusions : The seeding of Camellia japonica seeds (last autumn harvest) in the spring of the next year was evaluated as the most efficient way to 4℃ wet filter paper storage

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relation of internal factors and to build a foundation for SWOT Matrix strategy of horticulture therapy in the domestic. 438 master’s and doctorate degree dissertations on horticultural therapy from 1998 to 2015 were analyzed with years, school groups, degree classifications and regional groups. Master’s and doctorate degree dissertations published 438 studies in 1998 (1), 2002 (13), 2007 (32), and 2012 (44) have increased continuously. Among all the 211 Korean schools, 82 published dissertations related to horticultural therapy. The schools that have published more than 10 theses are as follows. Konkuk university has published the most 67 theses. The dissertations were followed by Korea univ. (50), Dankook univ. (44), Catholic univ. of Daegu (40), Seoul national univ of education (21), univ. of seoul (15), Mokpo national univ. (12), Jeju national univ. (11), Chungnam univ. (11), Daegu univ. (10), Chosun univ. (10). In the frequency analysis of academic degree types related to 438 theses, agricultural science (39.3%) accounted for the largest percentage. The next was followed by natural science (17.6%), education (16%), social welfare (8.4%), health science (5.7%), art plastic (2.3%), literature (2.1%), special education (2.1%), engineering (1.8%), science of nursing (1.1%), design (1.7%), theology (0.7%), psychology (0.7%), natural therapy (0.7%), etc (0.9%). According to the frequency analysis of regions where 438 dissertations were published in 15 cities/provinces in South Korea except Ulsan city. The results of this study confirmed that horticultural therapy satisfied the internal environment to become a field of complementary and alternative medicine.

Heading time is important element for yield and quality in crops. Among day length and temperature which influence on heading, temperature effect has not been investigated well. To investigate temperature effect on heading, heading date and plant growth characters were checked under the low and high temperature conditions in short day length. Analyzing heading date of six Korean varieties under the high and low temperature condition, heading date of varieties were delayed under low temperature. In the low temperature condition, dry weight and area of leaf were reduced. Varieties showing more delay of heading under low temperature also showed more reduction in leaf area. After selecting three varieties showing significant difference in leaf growth and heading date under different temperature conditions, nutrient contents of plant were analyzed. Nitrogen content was reduced in leaf and shoot under the low temperature condition. OsNRT2.3, nitrate transporter, was significantly down regulated in varieties showing more heading delay. Available phosphate content was decreased in leaf, but increased in shoot due to reduction of phosphate mobility. OsPT1, phosphate transporter regulating phosphate uptake, was more down regulated in varieties showing more heading delay. OsPT6, phosphate transporter regulating phosphate transport in plant, was also significantly down regulated in those varieties. With these data, we expected that active nitrogen and available phosphate uptake and transport in plant would increase leaf growth then might reduce heading delay under the low temperature condition.

As described in the previous paper (Park et al. 2013), the detector subsystem of optical wide-field patrol (OWL) provides many observational data points of a single artificial satellite or space debris in the form of small streaks, using a chopper system and a time tagger. The position and the corresponding time data are matched assuming that the length of a streak on the CCD frame is proportional to the time duration of the exposure during which the chopper blades do not obscure the CCD window. In the previous study, however, the length was measured using the diagonal of the rectangle of the image area containing the streak; the results were quite ambiguous and inaccurate, allowing possible matching error of positions and time data. Furthermore, because only one (position, time) data point is created from one streak, the efficiency of the observation decreases. To define the length of a streak correctly, it is important to locate the endpoints of a streak. In this paper, a method using a differential convolution mask pattern is tested. This method can be used to obtain the positions where the pixel values are changed sharply. These endpoints can be regarded as directly detected positional data, and the number of data points is doubled by this result.

Background : The purpose of the present investigation is to enhance extracellular acidic protease production by subjecting a protease producing strain Cordyceps pruinosa DK-01 to random mutagenesis by UV irradiation after ethidium bromide treatment. Methods and Results : Mutants were screened as protease producers on the basis of zone of clearance and relative proteolytic activity (RPA) on skimmed milk agar plates. In addition, mutants showed strong pink-red color intensity and different RAPD profiling compared with wild type control. Four mutants were randomly selected and their extracellular enzyme activities were investigated. In liquid culture without casein, 2.2-, 2.9-, 5.2- and 4.4-fold higher acid protease activity was achieved from mutants DK-m9, -m11 and -m12, respectively, than that of wild type strain (11.13 ± 1.60 U/ml). In liquid culture with casein, 1.1-, 1.3-, 1.3 and 1.3-fold higher acid protease activity was achieved with those mutants were found to produce, respectively, than that of wild type strain (93.95 ± 12.84 U/ml). Maximum acid protease activity was noticed from a mutant DK-m11 in liquid culture with casein (121.18 U/ml) and without casein (57.65 U/ml). The extracellular acid protease produced from DJ-m11 that was active in the pH range 4.5-6.5 and optimum temperature for the activity was 37°C. Furthermore, we found a deformed, shorten structure of setae on the elytron surface of dynastid beetles treated with culture supernatant of the DK-m11. Conclusion : These findings have more impact on enzyme economy for biotechnological and insecticidal applications of fungal proteases.

Background : With the increasing demand of the mistletoe in larger quantities for cancer therapy, it has been depleted from its natural habitat in the Far East countries including Korea because of overharvesting for high-value products (e.g., lectins and viscotoxins). The rapid multiplication of mistletoe by tissue culture can help this problem and provide the benefits in the phamaceutical industry. Methods and Results : Mistletoe plants growing on oak trees were collected and their leaf and stem segments were inoculated on MS basal medium supplemented with various concentrations of growth regulators. Calli were induced only from stem explants on MS medium containing 2,4-D and transferred onto MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of 2,4-D, NAA and BAP, respectively, for their propagation. The best callus multiplication rate of more than 15 folds (759 mg) was obtained in treatment of 2,4-D (4 mg/L) that produced yellowish-green, white and friable callus on this medium. To compare biochemical characterization, lectins were partially purified from natural mistletoe plants (nML) and in vitro cultured mistletoe calli (cML), respectively. The former was purified by lactose-agarose affinity chromatography and the latter was done by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed Sephadex G-25 chromatography. Both nML and cML showed similar molecular weight on SDS-PAGE and Western blot analyses. In addition, they showed similar carbohydrate-binding specificities and hemagglutination activities. Conclusion : From the above results, we may suggest that nML and cML showed the similarity in biochemical characters.

Background : Lectins were individually isolated from natural Korean mistletoe (nML) and its in vitro cultured calli (cML). Both of the lectins showed the difference in bioactivities such as cytotoxicity and cytokine induction. Methods and Results : Target cells (1 x 104 cells/well) were seeded independently into each well of a 96-well culture plate and incubated with different concentrations of each lectin. Survivability of target cells was determined by CCK-8 kit (Sigma, USA) according to manufacturer’s directions. The nML showed 46, 34 and 5.5 times stronger than cML in cytotoxicity (IC50) to human melanoma cell line (SK-MEL-28), human carcinoma cell line (NCI-H1650) and murine macrophage (RAW 264.7), respectively. In addition, respective lectins directly stimulated macrophage RAW 264.7 but they showed the difference in enhanced productivity of some inflammatory cytokines. Compared with cML, the nML induced both TNF-α and IL-1β at its low concentration. Administration of two kinds of lectins (10-1000 μ g/kg body weight) to ICR mouse did not show any significant changes on the level of alanine transaminase (ALT), glutamate-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in sera. Conclusion : From the above results, we may suggest that nML and cML showed differences in cytotoxic effects and cytokine production due to the difference in amounts from sources.

With the object of examining the effects of horticultural therapy based on structural recall by developmental stage on cognitive, emotional, and hand functions of institutionalized elderly, this study executed a horticultural therapy program once a week and through a total of 14 sessions during the period from May 2 to December 5, 2013. The subjects of this study were 34 elders admitted to S Geriatric hospital for geriatric diseases, and they were divided into a control group and an experimental group. Because the program was designed for institutionalized elders who were able to do only indoor activities, it provided various seasonal horticultural activities that could be done even in a limited space by giving materials and subjects that could be recalled by developmental stage. The results of this study are as follows. As to changes in cognitive functions (MSQ) after the horticultural therapy program, the control group showed a decrease as having more negative ranks, and the experimental group showed an increase as having more positive ranks, but such changes in the control and experimental groups were not significant. As to changes in emotional functions after the horticultural therapy program, the control group showed a decrease but without significance in ego integrity as having more negative ranks, and the experimental group showed an increase with significance as having more positive ranks (P=0.020). As to the experimental group’s changes in the sub factors of ego integrity, positive ranks increased in all the sub-factors and the increase was particularly significant in satisfaction with present life (P=0.038). As to changes in life satisfaction, the control group showed increased positive ranks but without significance, and the experimental group showed significantly increased positive ranks (P=0.022). As to the experimental group’s changes in the sub-factors of life satisfaction, changes in denial of the past (P=0.029) and denial of the future (P=0.016) were particularly significant. As to changes in hand functions, both the control and experimental groups showed some improvement in pinch after the horticultural therapy program but the changes were not significant. Grip strength did not change in the control group, and in the experimental group right-hand grip strength was improved slightly more than left-hand one, the difference was not significant. The results of this study suggest that horticultural therapy based on structural recall by developmental stage is effective in improving institutionalized elders’ emotional functions and, consequently, can contribute to higher quality of life, which is the ultimate goal of elders.

This experiment was carried out to enhance plantlet conversion and ex vitro survival of encapsulated somatic embryos of Siberian ginseng. Cotyledonary somatic embryos were encapsulated with 3.0% sodium alginate and 96% of conversion rate in terms of plantlet with well-developed epicotyl marked when the encapsulated embryos were placed on perlite soils wetted with sucrose solution as for carbon source. However, post-germinative growth of encapsulated embryos was suppressed in case of sucrose did not added. Instead of sucrose alone, the addition of both sucrose and starch to the sodium alginate enhanced the post-germinative growth of the embryos. In sodium alginate matrix with 2% sucrose, the survival rate of the encapsulated embryos was more than twice (23.5%) that of ones without sucrose (10.0%). Embryos encapsulated with both 2% sucrose and 1% starch showed the highest percentage (42.1%) of survival rate was shown. In analysis of Iodine staining and starch content in the sodium alginate matrix, the starch component was decomposed when the embryos started to germinte. This result indicated that the carbohydrate treatments (starch and sucrose) in the encapsulation matrix enhanced the survival rate of post-germinative growth of encapsulated embryos in Siberian ginseng.

Forbush Decreases (FD) are transient, sudden reductions of cosmic ray (CR) intensity lasting a few days, to a week. Such events are observed globally using ground neutron monitors (NMs). Most studies of FD events indicate that an FD event is observed simultaneously at NM stations located all over the Earth. However, using statistical analysis, previous researchers verified that while FD events could occur simultaneously, in some cases, FD events could occur non-simultaneously. Previous studies confirmed the statistical reality of non-simultaneous FD events and the mechanism by which they occur, using data from high-latitude and middle-latitude NM stations. In this study, we used long-term data (1971-2006) from middle-latitude NM stations (Irkutsk, Climax, and Jungfraujoch) to enhance statistical reliability. According to the results from this analysis, the variation of cosmic ray intensity during the main phase, is larger (statistically significant) for simultaneous FD events, than for non-simultaneous ones. Moreover, the distribution of main-phase-onset time shows differences that are statistically significant. While the onset times for the simultaneous FDs are distributed evenly over 24- hour intervals (day and night), those of non-simultaneous FDs are mostly distributed over 12-hour intervals, in daytime. Thus, the existence of the two kinds of FD events, according to differences in their statistical properties, were verified based on data from middle-latitude NM stations.

The legume family is the third largest group, including approximately 650 genera and 18,000 species, in the flowering plants and the second important crops to the Poaceae in the agricultural economy. Comparative analysis is a useful tool to understand cross-species genomic structure and alterations during organism’s evolutionary history. In this study, we constructed a composite comparative map of ten legume species, including Medicago truncatula, Medicago sativa, Lens culinaris, Pisum sativum, Lotus japonicus, Cicer arietinum, Vicia faba L, Vigna radiata, Phaseolus vulgaris and Glycine max. Of these species, M. truncatula, which is a representative model system, played a central role to develop the cross-genome amplifiable PCR gene markers for the purpose of transferring them to other related legume species. A total of 140 cross-species core markers were employed to analyze genomic colinearity across this broad array of legume species. The comparative map demonstrates a diverse array of evolutionary events, such as duplications, inversions and reciprocal translocations. It is anticipated that resulting maps would provide a broader insights into the lineage-specific genomic organization of these glalegoid/phaseoloid legumes, which are two clades containing almost all crop legumes of economic importance, and can further used for the molecular breeding through translating genomic information into other orphan legumes.

Comparative analysis is a typically useful tool for translating genomic information from one species to another. However, currently available softwares are relatively difficult to directly use for researchers that are not familiar with use of bioinformatic tools. Therefore, we intended to develop a new platforms and/or interface through which one can use in more comfortable way, based on the concept of interactive comparative analysis. Towards this direction, we, firstly, constructed relational database to store the information on abiotic stress genes identified from multiple plant species using various resources, such as the TAIR (http://www.arabidopsis.org), gene expression profiles and relevant literatures, and linked with comparative analysis interface. For purposes of comparative analysis and identification of synteny blocks, cross-species orthologous genes were determined using a combination of tBlastX and BlastP homology searches. We adapted and developed a Circos-like format to present resulting comparative maps. Users can readily choose analysis parameters, for example individual genes and specific chromosomes for chosen species, in the pane of analysis DB, which is useful feature to avoid complexity of comparative genomic analysis. This DB-associated comparative analysis tool, developed in this study, will be able to provide customer-friendly interface for comparative analysis and extend its utility across a broader range of plant genomes.

Susceptible Vitis vinifera responds to Xylella infection with a massive redirection of gene transcription. This transcriptional response is characterized by increased transcripts for phenlypropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis, ethylene production, adaptation to oxidative stress, and homologs of pathogenesis related (PR) proteins, and decreased transcripts for genes related to photosynthesis. In addition, the results suggest that susceptible genotypes respond to Xylella infection by induction of limited, but inadequate, defense response. We also compared the transcriptional and physiological response of plants treated by pathogen infection, low or moderate water deficit, or a combination of pathogen infection and water deficit. Although the transcriptional response of plants to Xylella infection was distinct from the response of healthy plants to moderate water stress, we observed synergy between water stress and disease, such that water stressed plants exhibit a stronger transcriptional response to the pathogen. This interaction was mirrored at the physiological level for aspects of water relations and photosynthesis, and in terms of the severity of disease symptoms and pathogen colonization, providing a molecular correlation of the classical concept with the disease triangle.

Comparative analysis is a typically useful tool for translating genomic information from one species to another. However, currently available softwares are relatively difficult to directly use for researchers that are not familiar with use of bioinformatic tools. Therefore, we intended to develop a new platforms and/or interface through which one can use in more comfortable way, based on the concept of interactive comparative analysis. Towards this direction, we, firstly, constructed relational database to store the information on abiotic stress genes identified from multiple plant species using various resources, such as the TAIR (http://www.arabidopsis.org), gene expression profiles and relevant literatures, and linked with comparative analysis interface. For purposes of comparative analysis and identification of synteny blocks, cross-species orthologous genes were determined using a combination of tBlastX and BlastP homology searches. We adapted and developed a Circos-like format to present resulting comparative maps. Users can readily choose analysis parameters, for example individual genes and specific chromosomes for chosen species, in the pane of analysis DB, which is useful feature to avoid complexity of comparative genomic analysis. This DB-associated comparative analysis tool, developed in this study, will be able to provide customer-friendly interface for comparative analysis and extend its utility across a broader range of plant genomes.

Cross-species translation of genomic information may play a crucial role in applying biological knowledge gained from one species to other genomes. To screen and identify a broad range of abiotic stress-responsive genes, we employed a diverse array of resources, including Arabidopsis databases (http://www.arabidopsis.org), expression profiling data and previously reported literatures. As a result, a total of 1,377 genes were identified and classified into 18 different functional criteria based on biological processes of gene ontology. The gene set was translated into M. truncatula, which is a representative model system in the Fabaceae, by identifying orthologous genes between these two genomes with a combination of tBlastx and BlastP analyses. It is shown that approximately 82% of genes were estimated to be translated between the two genomes below the E-value of 10-30. These orthologous loci were used to construct comparative maps by developing a user-friendly analysis platform, resulting in a total of 52 synteny blocks. Furthermore, to discover central genes by which control responses to the abiotic stresses, a combination of AraNet (http://www.functionanet.org) and the Cytoscape program was used for the gene network analysis. The analysis resulted in the identification of 240 potential key genes. We anticipate that these genes may impact molecular breeding programs by discovering trait-associated SNPs followed by marker development.

The legume family is the third largest group, including approximately 650 genera and 18,000 species, in the flowering plants and the second important crops to the Poaceae in the agricultural economy. Comparative analysis is a useful tool to understand cross-species genomic structure and alterations during organism’s evolutionary history. In this study, we constructed a composite comparative map of ten legume species, including Medicago truncatula, Medicago sativa, Lens culinaris, Pisum sativum, Lotus japonicus, Cicer arietinum, Vicia faba L, Vigna radiata, Phaseolus vulgaris and Glycine max. Of these species, M. truncatula, which is a representative model system, played a central role to develop the cross-genome amplifiable PCR gene markers for the purpose of transferring them to other related legume species. A total of 108 cross-species core markers were employed to analyze genomic colinearity across this broad array of legume species. The comparative map demonstrates a diverse array of evolutionary events, such as duplications, inversions and reciprocal translocations. It is anticipated that resulting maps would provide a broader insights into the lineage-specific genomic organization of these glalegoid/phaseoloid legumes, which are two clades containing almost all crop legumes of economic importance, and can further used for the molecular breeding through translating genomic information into other orphan legumes.

IPP isomerase (Iso) and Limonene synthase (Limo) are important enzymes in terpenoids biosynthesis pathway. The wild type and each metabolically engineered (Iso and Limo) transgenic spearmint (Mentha spicata Linne) plants were compared for their growth patterns and the contents of essential oil in in vitro culture media. The profile of terpenoid metabolites was obtained from the essential oil of the metabolically engineered transgenic spearmint, which was extracted using a modified SDE method, by GC-MS analysis. The growth of wild spearmint was more profuse in B5 culture medium than in other media. Significant differences in leaf and root growth patterns were observed between metabolically engineered transgenic and wild type spearmint plants. The leaves of the transgenic spearmint plants were slightly elongated but were dramatically narrower than those of wild type spearmints. The content of essential oil of transgenic spearmint was different slightly depending on the target terpenoid genes. The content of essential oils in Limo transgenic plants was higher than that of Iso, except for transgenic plant in B5 medium. The transgenic spearmint produced more terpenoids than the wild type. Iso spearmint extracts showed eleven terpenoids and a phenylpropane, while Limo spearmint extracts contained nine terpenoids. However, extracts from the wild type showed the presence of only four terpenoids.

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.

Effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) on the shoot and bulb growth of wild garlic (Allium victorialis var. platyphyllum) were studied by adopting in vitro culture. These macronutrients influenced the growth of both the shoot and bulb of garlic depending upon their application doses. A minimum of 3% potassium nitrate (KNO3) as a source of nitrogen was found to be critical for shoot elongation while higher concentrations were inhibitory. Garlic bulb growth was profuse on the usual KNO3 strength and sucrose (7%), followed by KNO3 (9.4 mM) supplement. On providing 41.22 mM ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) as nitrogen source highest shoot growth was observed while 82.45 mM NH4NO3 as a source of nitrogen supported high bulb growth. With regard to potassium a good shoot growth was observed in medium that contained 0.31 mM KH2PO4 and 3% sucrose, while bulb growth was high on 2.5 mM KH2PO4 and 7% sucrose. These experiments may thus direct the development of excellent growth conditions for the commercial production of edible wild garlic.