Buckwheat sprout is used as vegetable, and also flour for making noodles, and so on. Currently, information about tissue culture in buckwheat is limited and restricted to micropropagation. We carried out somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration using hypocotyl segments as explant of the cultivated buckwheat species Fagopyrum esculentum, differs from existing studies in the growth regulator combinations used. Maximum callus regeneration was induced on MS medium containing 2,4-D(2.0 mg/L) and benzylaminopurine BAP (1.0 mg/L) and 3% sucrose. Friable callus was transferred to solidified MS media containing BAP (1.0 mg/L) and at various concentrations for the induction of embryogensis. The optimum concentrations of additives were IAA (2 mg/L), KIN(1.0 mg/L), BAP (1.0 mg/L), and 3% (w/v) sucrose. Only 2,4-D did not show any significant effect on callus induction or embryogenesis. Regeneration of embryonic callus varied from 5 % to 20%. Whole plants were obtained at high frequencies when the embryogenic calluses with somatic embryos and organized shoot primordia were transferred to MS media with 3% sucrose. Regenerated plants after acclimation will transfer to green house. The main objective of this research was to develop a efficient protocol for plant regeneration for common buckwheat, and to apply in future for genetic transformation.

This study was conducted to examine the variations of seed hull color characteristics, the oil contents and fatty acid composition in 275 sunflower germplasms. The seed hull of sunflower germplasms were classified into 4 colors of white, black, grey, and brown. The grey color of seed hull was the highest percentage of 33.8%, whereas the white color of seed hull was the lowest percentage of 5%. Average oil content was 22.5% with a range from 11.7% to 45.5%. Average saturated fatty acid contents were 6.9%, while average content of unsaturated fatty acid was 93%. The average contents of fatty acids such as palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid were 4.7%, 2.2%, 55.2%, and 38%, respectively. Comparing the oil contents and fatty acids among different seed hull colors, the highest content of oil was with grey seed hull color and the lowest with white seed hull color. Saturated fatty acid were higher in brown seed hull color. Unsaturated fatty acids were higher in grey and black seed hull colors. It could be observed that there was significant negative correlation(r=-0.998**) between linoleic and oleic acid content, and also L-value(Lightness of seed hull color) showed significant negative correlations with oil content, oleic acid content and linoleic acid content.

To better understanding the function of the luminal sub-organelles within the thylakoid network, we have carried out a systematical analysis and identification of the lumenal proteins in the thylakoid of wheat by using Tricine / 1D-PAGE, and LTQ-ESI-FTICR mass spectrometry followed by SWISS-PROT database searching. We isolation and fractionation these membrane from fully developed wheat leaves using a combination of differential and gradient centrifugation couple to high speed ultra-centrifuge. After collecting all proteins to eliminate possible same proteins, we estimated that there are 407 different proteins including chloroplast, chloroplast stroma, lumenal, and thylakoid membrane proteins excluding 20 proteins, which were identified in nucleus, cytoplasm and mitochondria. A combination of these three programs (PSORT, TargetP, and TMHMM) was found to provide a useful tool for evaluating chloroplast localization, transit peptide, transmembranes, and also could reveal possible alternative processing sites and dual targeting. Finally, we report also sub-cellular location specific protein interaction network using Cytoscape software, which provides further insight into the biochemical pathways of photosynthesis. The present work helps understanding photosynthesis process in wheat at the molecular level and provides a new overview of the biochemical machinery of the thylakoid in wheat.

Eating quality is critical for consumers who take rice as staple food. Here we present the development and identification of high eating quality rice lines. The identification of positive transgenic lines, physicochemical properties of transgenic rice, mRNA expression and enzyme activity were analyzed. OsSbe1 was introduced into Gopumbyeo seeds using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, and 1,005 out of 1,065 T1 plants were shown positive. The apparent amylose contents in T2 brown rice ranged from 11% to 25% in 890 favorable lines (Gopumbyeo was used as a reference with 18% of AAC). The activity of starch branching enzyme including three isoforms (SBE1, SBE3, and SBE4) in endosperms of T3 lines was higher than that of Gopumbyeo. Physicochemical properties related to eating quality for T3 polished rice were detected using 52 favorable lines out of 500 lines selected according to AAC. The Toyo taste meter value in 52 T3 lines ranged from 61.1 to 72.6, whereas 70.4 in Gopumbyeo. Of them, eleven lines displayed the higher palatability score than Gopumbyeo. Moreover, these elite lines produced higher yields (607.9~695.8 kg/10a) than Gopumbyeo (602.7 kg/10a). These results indicated the possibility of developing new high quality rice varieties in the future.

Buckwheat is one of the traditional crops and has become a renewed target of interest or a popular crop as a healthy foodstuff, because it is a good source of cereal protein which is rich with essential amino acids. However, what is critical to our health is that buckwheat contains proteins which cause a allergy. Buckwheat allergy resulting from ingestion is caused by the storage proteins in the grain with molecular weights ranging from 15, 22, 35, 39 and 50 kDa proteins of the inner fractions to low, and there were clear differences in the protein compositions between the inner and outer buckwheat flour fractions. A major allergenic protein of buckwheat is Fag e 1 with molecular weight 22 kDa (BW22KD). Buckwheat allergy is an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated hypersensitive response capable of causing anaphylactic shock. Buckwheat seeds were dissected to endosperm and embryo. From each fraction we extracted proteins and analyzed extracts by SDS-PAGE and 2-DE. On electrophoregrams of endosperm proteins, 6 intense bands were detected. The most intense corresponded to molecular weights ranging from 54 to 65 kDa. These proteins have been reported not to be allergenic. We show here that the allergenic buckwheat seed proteins are found only among embryo proteins. No allergenic proteins were found in the buckwheat endosperm. The results presented here lead to the proposal that patients with hypersensitivity to buckwheat flour should use only fine flour from buckwheat endosperm, as this fraction contains no allergenic proteins. At present, specific protein spots will be selected and in-gel digested for MALDI-TOF-TOF/MS analysis.

Most soybean cultivars have ovate leaflets, although a few cultivars have narrow or lanceolate leaflets. Narrow leaflet cultivars tend to have more seeds produced per pod than ovate leaflet cultivars, suggesting that the narrow leaflet trait is tightly linked to or cosegregating with the trait controlling number of seeds produced per pod (nspp). The objective of this study was to construct a high resolution map of a chromosomal region controlling narrow leaflet trait and nspp in soybean. A BC3F2 population from a cross between 'Sowonkong' and 'V94-5152' was used. Sowonkong have narrow leaflet and 4-seeded pod and V94-5152 have ovate leaflet and do not have 4-seeded pod. The plants of F2 populations showed a segregation ratio of 3:1 of ovate leaflet to narrow leaflet and then leaflet genotypes were obtained from F2:3 population of each F2 individual. The narrow leaflet-containing plants showed Sowonkong-like pod trait and the ovate leaflet-containing plants V94-5152-like pod trait. The results suggested that, in our mapping population, a single gene controls inheritance of the narrow leaflet character and the narrow leaflet trait is tightly linked to or co-segregating with the trait controlling nspp. Subsequently, we mapped the narrow leaflet locus near Sat_105, Satt270 and SM315 on soybean linkage group I that corresponds with the previously known ln locus. Work is ongoing to construct a fine molecular genetic linkage map on this MLG I region and to find a linkage relationship between ln and nspp. Our results should facilitate further elucidation for the relationship between ln/nspp and yield.

This study was conducted to obtain basic information on mainstem, branch and leaf characteristics related to canopy for development of high yielding cultivar using 70 Korean soybean cultivars developed from 1913 to 2000. Variations of canopy width, branch length, and canopy width/length ratio were higher compared to other characteristics among 12 mainstem and branch characters. Variations of petiole angle, leaflet width/length ratio and compound leaf dry weight were higher than other characteristics among eight leaf characters related to plant canopy. Three classifications of soybean cultivars were used based on usage: I)soy sauce and tofu, II)bean sprout, and III)cooking with rice. Canopy width/length ratio was higher in group III, cooking with rice than group I, soy sauce and tofu, and group II, bean sprout, and there was no difference between the two, group I and group II. The total branch length/main stem height ratio was higher in group II, bean sprout and group III, cooking with rice than group I, soy sauce and tofu. Mainstem and branch characteristics related to plant canopy were classified into four groups by ratio of canopy width/length and total branch length/main stem length, respectively. Soybean cultivars with narrow canopy and high dependence of mainstem were Danweonkong, Keumkangkong, Shelby, and Shinpaldalkong. Soybean cultivars with broad canopy and high dependence of mainstem were Kanglim, Keumkangdaelip, and Jinyulkong, and a cultivar with broad canopy and high dependence of branch were Geomjeongkong 2. Leaflet length/width ratio was lowest in cooking with rice and there was no difference between soy sauce and tofu and bean sprout. Compound leaf area was largest in cooking with rice and smallest in bean sprout. Leaf petiole length was short in bean sprout and there was no difference between soy sauce and tofu and bean sprout. Leaf petiole angle was highest in cooking with rice and lowest in bean sprout. Leaf type was classified into four groups based on leaflet width/length ratio and compound leaf area, respectivly. Buseok and Taekwangkong had an oval leaflet and largest area of compound leaf. Eunhakong and Sohokong had extreme narrow leaflet and smallest area of compound leaf. Leaf petiole type was classified into three and four groups based on leaf petiole length and angle, respectively. A soybean cultivar with the shortest petiole length and smallest petiole angle was Eunhakong and cultivars with short petiole length and large petiole angle were Alchankong, Muhankong, and Pureunkong. A soybean cultivar with long petiole length and small petiole angle was Sinpaldalkong 2. Among a total of 70 Korean soybean cultivars, Eunhakong had an extreme narrow type in leaf, smallest compound leaf area, shortest petiole length, and smallest petiole angle of compound leaf.

An attempt was made to link rice embryo proteins to DNA sequences and to understand their functions. One hundred of the 700 spots detected on the embryo 2-DE gels were microsequenced. Of these, 28% of the embryo proteins were matched to DNA sequences with known functions, but 72% of the proteins were unknown in functions as previously reported (Woo et al. 2002). In addition, twenty-four protein spots with 100% of homology and nine with over 80% were matched to ESTs (expressed sequence tags) after expanding the amino acid sequences of the protein spots by Database searches using the available rice EST databases at the NCBI (http://www/ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) and DDBJ (http://www.ddbj.nig.ac.jp/). The chromosomal location of some proteins were also obtained from the rice genetic map provided by Japanese Rice Genome Research Program (http://rgp.dna.affrc.go.jp). The DNA sequence databases including EST have been reported for rice (Oryza sativa L.) now provides whole or partial gene sequence, and recent advances in protein characterization allow the linking proteins to DNA sequences in the functional analysis. This work shows that proteome analysis could be a useful tool strategy to link sequence information and to functional genomics.