In the present study, we analyzed precipitation patterns and diurnal variation trends of hourly precipitation intensity due to climate change. To that end, we used the hourly precipitation data obtained from 26 weather stations around South Korea, especially Busan, from 1970 to 2009. The results showed that the hourly precipitation was concentrated on a specific time of day. In particular, the results showed the so-called “morning shift” phenomenon, which is an increase in the frequency and intensity of hourly precipitation during the morning. The morning shift phenomenon was even more pronounced when a higher level of hourly precipitation intensity occurred throughout the day. Furthermore, in many regions of Korea, including Busan, this morning shift phenomenon became more prevalent as climate change progressed.

We report on a unique case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the cecum, which presented as a subepithelial tumor. A 62- year-old woman with abdominal pain underwent a colonoscopy, resulting in detection of a subepithelial tumor measuring 2 cm in the cecum. We performed a right hemicolectomy with diagnostic and curative intent; histological examination and immunohistochemical staining of the resected tumor indicated a diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The patient achieved complete remission with combination chemotherapy.

Direct seeding of rice is increasingly being practiced in both rainfed and irrigated areas because of labor shortage for transplanting and opportunities for crop intensification. However, slow seed germination and delayed seedling establishment will become a major problem for rice production in flood-prone lowland areas as sowing method shifts from transplanting to direct seeding. Identification of anoxia-induced ethylene response factors is suggestive because genes belonging to this gene family play a crucial role in rice tolerance to submergence. In this study, genetic structure variability of three AG related genes, Sub1 (Sub1A, Sub1B, Sub1C), Sub2 (OsGAPPH) and Ramy3D were examined by using whole-genome resequencing data of 84 accessions of rice core set. Some new SNPs and InDels found in exon part of anaerobic germination related genes in the present study would be useful in developing markers to identify the submergence resistant varieties in the future molecular breeding.

Preharvest sprouting (PHS) not only causes reduction of grain yield, but also affects the quality of grains, resulting into significant economic losses. PHS is governed by multiple genes. Little is known about the large genetic variation of preharvest sprouting in rice. In the present study, genetic variations of four PHS genes, OsVP1, Osaba1, Alpha-amylase3D and OsGA20ox1 were studied by using whole-genome resequencing data of 84 accessions of rice core set. A total of haplotype groups; 27, 29, 6 and 14, for OsVP1, Osaba1, Alpha-amylase3D and OsGA20ox1, respectively, were detected among the 84 accessions. Some new SNPs and InDels were found in exon part of PHS related genes were expected to result in amino acid changes following analysis of the genetic code variations, and the germplasm or varieties which are resistant to preharvest sprouting were explored. Based on this step, phenotyping for PHS is ongoing, and the association mapping of PHS will be conducted by using SNPs resulted from the haplotyping data. The present results will be ultimately useful to the molecular breeding for the development of PHS resistant rice cultivars.

AGenome-wide association studies (GWAS) have proven a useful technique for identifying genetic loci responsible for natural variation in rice. With the fast developed next-generation sequencing technology, it is possible for people to carry out GWAS by phenotyping different traits. However, how to make full use of huge data, abandon unnecessary data, and solve the problem of data application effectively seems still an obstacle for many researchers. Taking the case of whole-genome resequencing of Korean authentic rice core set, here we present a general technological path of GWAS including: 1) a schematic view of sequencing-based GWAS in rice; 2) a user-friendly and interactive web application for GWAS in rice by the aid of experience from Arabidopsis; 3) Haplotype and association analysis of candidate genes in a certain mechanism pathway, giving 10 starch synthesis genes as example; and 4) functional validation by Trans- and Mata-Omics analysis.

Development of transgenic plant increasing crop yield or disease resistance is good way to solve the world food shortage. However, the persistence of marker genes in crops leads to serious public concerns about the safety of transgenic crops. In the present study, we developed marker-free transgenic rice inserted high molecular-weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) gene (Dx5) from the Korean wheat cultivar ‘Jokyeong’ using Agrobacterium-mediated co-transformation method. The Dx5’s own promoter was used for protein expression. Two expression cassettes comprised of separate DNA fragments containing only the Dx5 and hygromycin resistance (HPTII) genes were introduced separately into Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA105 strain for co-infection. Each EHA105 strain harboring Dx5 or HPTII was infected into rice calli at a 3: 1 ratio of EHA105 with Dx5 gene and EHA105 with HPTII gene expressing cassette. Then, among 270 hygromycin-resistant transformants, we obtained 27 transgenic lines inserted with both the Dx5 and HPTII genes into the rice genome. We reconfirmed integration of the Dx5 gene into the rice genome by Southern blot analysis. Wheat Dx5 transcripts in T1 rice seeds were examined with semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Protein expression of the Dx5 was analyzed with Western blot using polyclonal antibody recognising x-type of glutenin subunits in T1 seeds. It was suggested that the protein-processing system was conserved between rice and wheat. Finally, the marker-free plants containing only the Dx5 gene were successfully screened at the T1 generation.

‘Subo’ is a new japonica rice variety developed by a cross breeding between HR21124-B-59 and HR19567-B-70-3 having a good Phenotype with a multi-resistance and high yield elite line. The new variety developed for direct seeding by the rice breeding team in Rice Breeding and Cultivation Research Division, Department of Rice and Winter Cereal Crop, NICS, RDA in 2012. The heading date of this variety is August 13 and earlier than that of check variety, Nampyeongbyeo, by two days. ‘Subo’ has 72cm of culm length and 104 spikelets per panicle in direct seeding cultivation. This variety showed resistance to bacterial leaf blight and rice stripe virus and have germinating ability in sumerged soil conditions. The milled rice of this variety exhibits translucent and very clear non-glutinous endosperm. ‘Subo’ has much better palatability of cooked rice than that of Nampyeongbyeo. The whole grain rate of milled rice are 86.9% and milled rice recovery of are 74.6%. The yield of ‘Subo’ in direct seeding cultivation is 5.55MT/ha in milled rice. ‘Subo’ could be adaptable to the southern part plain area of Pyeongtaek and southwestern in Korea.

‘Hyeonpum’ is a new japonica rice variety developed by a cross breeding between Iksan469 having a good canopy architecture and Sindongjin and Musashino 7 having a good eating-quality with a view to develop a new variety having high quality of grain and palatability by the rice breeding team of Rice Breeding and Cultivation Research Division, Department of Rice and Winter Cereal Crop, NICS, RDA in 2012. The heading date of this variety is August 18 and later than that of check variety, Nampyeongbyeo, by four days. ‘Hyeonpum’ has 74cm of culm length and 101 spikelets per panicle. This variety showed resistance to bacterial leaf blight and rice stripe virus, but susceptible to leaf blast and planthoppers. The milled rice of this variety exhibits translucent and very clear non-glutinous endosperm. ‘Hyeonpum’ has much better palatability of cooked rice than that of Nampyeongbyeo. The whole grain rate of milled rice and milled rice recovery of ‘Hyeonpum’ are slightly higher than those of Nampyeongbyeo as 91.8% and 75.2% respectively. The yield of ‘Hyeonpum’ is 5.6 MT/ha in milled rice. ‘Hyeonpum’ could be adaptable to the southern part plain area of Pyeongtaek and southwestern costal areas in Korea.

Bakanae disease of rice, caused by Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon, the imperfect stage of Gibberella fujikuroi, is one of the most important rice diseases worldwide, but no rice variety has been found to be completely resistant to this fungus. Cultivation of resistant cultivars is the most beneficial way of reducing quantitative or qualitative losses to for bakanae disease in rice. To facilitate the study of this disease, accurate and large scale screening methods were developed for the inoculation and evaluation of Bakanae disease. Even and large scale infection was achieved by using F. moniliforme spore in tissue embedding cassette and seedling tray. The efficiency of F. moniliforme infection with the concentration of 1×106 spore/ml caused better distribution (F-value=33.96) than 1×102 (F-value=10.69), and 1×104 spore/ml (F-value=2.63). We established new criteria of healthy and non-healthy plant, and introduced calculation of proportion of healthy plants to meet fast evaluation of resistance level of each variety. The effect of F. moniliforme strains containing different genetic background was also evaluated with rice varieties to figure out the stability of resistance level. GA3 response of rice variety was significantly correlated with bakanae disease, but it did not adequate for direct indicator of bakanae disease resistance. These results indicated that a large scale infection method developed in this study is fast and reproducible, as well as a disease evaluation system provides an accurate measurement of bakanae disease resistance of rice.