Background : To select potential plant resources as natural antioxidants and functional materials, e valuation of N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin (CS) and N-feruloylserotonin (FS) in 43 safflower accessions collected from South Asia was conducted. Method and Results : CS and FS were analyzed by using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC). Total phenolic content (TPC) was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method and antioxidant activities were estimated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activities, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and reducing power (RP). The mean CS content was 32.74 ㎎/g dried extract (DE) with a range from 3.44 to 83.30 ㎎/g DE, and the FS content ranged from 1.43 to 34.53 ㎎/g·DE with a mean of 12.69 ㎎/g DE. The mean of TPC of 43 safflower accessions was 55.22 ㎍ GAE/㎎·DE. The average values of antioxidant activities based on DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and RP assay showed 48.77 ㎍ ASC eq/㎎ DE, 97.62 ㎍ ASC eq/㎎ DE, 70.22 ㎍ ASC eq/㎎ DE, and 50.01 ㎍ ASC eq/㎎ DE, respectively. The 43 safflower accessions were classified into two groups based on the complete linkage cluster analysis using their CS, FS, TPC, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and RP. Group Ⅱ showed higher CS, FS and antioxidant activity than Group Ⅰ (p < 0.05). K185245 and K185247 were included in Group Ⅱ, K185245 had the highest CS and FS, and K185247 was the highest in TPC, DPPH, and ABTS. CS had significant positive correlation with FS (r = 0.849**). Significantly high correlation coefficients were recorded between TPC and antioxidant assays including DPPH, ABTS, and RP. The first two principal components had accounted for the 80.46 % of the total variance. Conclusion : These results showed that K185245 and K185247 could be used as a source of valuable natural antioxidant materials and could be useful to develop new functional materials.

Background : Carotenoids are pigments that are found in plants, fruits, bacteria, and fungi. β -carotene and canthaxanthin are orange pigments among thousands of carotenoids that possess potent antioxidant activity. The objective of this study was to determine β-carotene and cantaxanthin in 55 Kimchi cabbage germplasm using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method. Method and Results : 55 Kimchi cabbage accessions were sown in plug trays in the end of August, 2016. All the tissue samples were freeze-dried for 1 week and ground into fine powder and stored at -20℃ until analysis. Crude carotenoids from freeze-dried materials (100 mg) were extracted using 1 ㎖ of 100% (v/v) hexane in 10 minutes by using sonication bath followed by centrifugation. The average β-carotene contents was 1.43 ㎎·㎏-1 and ranged from 0.76 (IT 120045) to 2.25 ㎎·㎏-1 (IT 100378). The average canthaxanthin content in the entire domain of sample was 0.59 ㎎·㎏-1 with a range between 0.36 (IT 32746) and 1.08 ㎎․㎏-1 (IT 100386). Canthaxanthin content was significantly positively correlated with β-carotene (r = 0.65**) and leaf length (r = 0.63**). However, canthaxanthin was negatively correlated with cotyledon color (r = -0.41**). Principal component analysis results of the first two components (PC1 and PC2) explained 44.53% of the point variability. Conclusion : The resources with the highest β-carotene and canthaxanthin content are IT 100378, 100386, 100391, and 110828. This study could be useful to select a potential sources of health beneficial carotenoids (β-carotene and canthaxanthin) in Kimchi cabbage germplasm in nutraceutical formulations and for further applications as a breeding material and other research activities.

Background : Alpha-linolenic acid is a type of omega-3 fatty acid and has been reported to be found at a remarkably high content in seeds of perilla (Perilla frutescens). The purpose of this study was to investigate the fatty acid compositions in 45 perilla accessions collected from Russia and recommend the potential genetic resources related to their fatty acid compositions. Methods and Results : The 45 accessions of perilla seeds which were collected from Russia were used for the study. Perilla seed oil was recovered using hexane in a soxhlet extraction method. The fatty acid compositions were analyzed using gas chromatography. The total oil content was ranged between 28.39 and 46.89%. The compositions of palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid ranged from 5.57 to 7.09%, 1.16 to 2.27%, 11.83 to 19.55%, 11.92 to 16.71%, and 59.19 to 67.28%, respectively. Cultivars 'Dayu', 'Daeyu' and 'Anyu' showed lower linolenic acid composition compared to the average value of linoleic acid in perilla germplasms collected from Russia. Cluster analysis based on the fatty acid composition of the 45 perilla accessions segregated into three groups. Group Ⅰ characterized as higher palmitic, stearic and oleic acid compositions compared to other groups. Group Ⅱ which contained 12 accessions had high total oil and linoleic acid composition. Group Ⅲ characterized as a higher linolenic acid composition compared to other groups (p < 0.001). Oleic acid showed a significant negative correlation (r = -0.825) with linolenic acid. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the first two principal components together explained 74.4% total variation. Conclusion : Our results indicated that accessions IT235818, IT235820, IT226739 which exhibited high linolenic acid composition could be useful to develop new functional vegetable oil materials.

Background : Sclerotinia rot, caused by a fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is one of the serious and unpredictable yield losses in perilla (Perilla frutescens) leaf production in Korea. Screening disease resistant genetic resources is necessary to develop disease-resistant cultivars and conduct related research. Methods and Results : A Total of 150 perilla accessions, including 123 Korean landraces and 27 cultivars developed in Korea, were evaluated for resistance to Sclerotinia rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) using detached leaf inoculation technique. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum isolate KACC40457 was inoculated at the seedling stage (five to six leaves). For detached leaf method, a mycelial plug was placed fungus-side down on the main leaf vain and incubated at 22 ± 1℃ on moistened paper towel in a plastic box. Three Korean landraces, including IT117036, IT117106, and IT117110, and cultivar IT229431 showed 100% of resistance ratio (no. of plants showed below 1 ㎝ of lesion size/total evaluated plants × 100). Seven accessions including five landraces, IT117080, IT117107, IT117048, 117042, 117029, and two cultivaers, IT276225 and IT213781, showed high level of resistance that is higher than 80% of resistance ratio Conclusion : 11 accessions which showed strong and moderate level of resistance to Sclerotinia rot could be possibly used by breeders, farmers, and researchers to produce new disease resistant cultivars and use them commercially. However, research related to the exploration of appropriate materials (accessions) for breeding cultivars with good quality, high functional components, high consumer acceptability, etc. should be continued, considering pathogenicity test was conducted in young stage.

Background : Perilla (Perilla frutescens) seed oil is known to contain high omega-3 fatty acid than other plant oils. This study was aimed to investigate the fatty acid composition in seeds of 255 perilla accessions from South Korea and recommend the potential genetic resources rel ated to their fatty acid composition. Method and Results : Total oil was extracted by soxhlet extraction apparatus and the fatty acid compositions were analyzed by gas chromatography (GCMS QP2010 ULTRA, SHIMADZU, JP). Total oil contents ranged from 22.41 and 47.62% with an average content of 34.20%. Palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acid contributed 4.46 to 7.67%, 1.64 to 4.11%, 9.15 to 26.39%, 11.89 to 28.76%, and 50.24 to 64.16% to the total oil content, respectively. Seeds from Jeollabuk-do showed the highest average total oil content (41.14%) compared to other regions (p < 0.05), while the linolenic acid composition was the highest in the samples from Chungcheongnam-do (59.48%) (p < 0.05). The cluster analysis segregated the perilla seed accessions into two major clusters. ANOVA revealed that there was a significant difference between group Ⅰ and group Ⅱ (p < 0.05). Group Ⅰ (86 accessions) characterized as higher palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linolenic acid compositions than group Ⅱ (169 accessions). The highest content of linolenic acid were recorded in accessions K126190, K135903, and IT283646 from group Ⅰ, and accessions IT108680, IT208894, and IT111050 from group Ⅱ had high total oil content. Linoleic acid content showed a strong negative correlation with palmitic acid (r = -0.726*) and oleic acid (r = -0.678*) content. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the first two principal components together explained 68.75% total variation. Conclusion : Our results showed that accessions K126190, K135903, IT283646 which exhibited high linolenic acid composition and accessions IT108680, IT208894, IT111050 which exhibited high total oil composition, could be useful to develop new functional oil materials.

Background : The objective of this study was to determine the antioxidant activities of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed extracts using various solvents. Method and Results : The safflower seed extracts was obtained using methanol (50, 75, 100%), ethanol (50, 75, 100%) and water. Total phenolic content (TPC) w as determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method and antioxidant activities w ere estimated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activities, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and reducing power (RP). Average TPC of safflower seed extracts were 72.03 ㎍·GAE·㎎-1 DE in methanol, 50.16 ㎍·GAE·㎎-1 DE in ethanol, and 28.47 ㎍·GAE·㎎-1 DE in water. TPC were significantly different (p < 0.05) between the solvents. DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and RP a average activities of methanol extracts showed the highest antioxidant activity, with value of 62.95 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, 123.48 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, 171.68 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, and 76.07 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, respectively. Values of Ethanol extracts showed DPPH 32.26 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, ABTS 81.02 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, FRAP 159.24 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, and RP 34.83 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE. There was no significant difference between extracts of ethanol and methanol in FRAP value. The 75% ethanol extracts showed higher antioxidant activity than 50% and 100% ethanol extracts (p < 0.05). The 75% ethanol extracts had TPC 68.98 ㎍·GAE·eq/㎎ DE, DPPH 70.07 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, ABTS 166.59 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, FRAP 208.78 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, and RP 82.16 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE. Conclusion : Although ethanol extracts had lower antioxidant activity compared to methanol, it was suggested to be more suitable for further studies as it is less toxic and a recommended food grade solvent. It is estimated that the bioactive substance is extracted extensively from 75% ethanol with high antioxidant activity.

Background: To obtain useful safflower resources for breeding and research of functional materials, the present study was conducted to determine fatty acid compositions and antioxidant activities of 281 safflower accessions collected from East Asia including South Korea. Methods and Results: Lipid contents and fatty acids compositions were evaluated using soxhlet extraction and gas chromatography, respectively. A antioxidant activities were analyzed using a spectrophotometer. The evaluation range of safflower accessions showed very wide variation. In terms of lipid contents, the China accessions were higher than the collection from other regions, whereas antioxidant activities did not differ among regions. The result of the principal component analysis showed that the first and second principal component cumulatively explained 90.6% of the total variation. In clustering the safflower accessions, the tree showed four major clades. Group II (16 accessions) was high in lipid content, oleic acid and linoleic acid, whereas group III (50 accessions) exhibited higher antioxidant activities than other groups. Conclusions: It was recommended that the China collections be utilized as a useful resource for research on functional oil materials. These results provided valuable information for safflower breeders and researchers of functional food.

We estimated the orbit of the Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite (COMS), a Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite, through data from actual optical observations using telescopes at the Sobaeksan Optical Astronomy Observatory (SOAO) of the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI), Optical Wide field Patrol (OWL) at KASI, and the Chungbuk National University Observatory (CNUO) from August 1, 2014, to January 13, 2015. The astrometric data of the satellite were extracted from the World Coordinate System (WCS) in the obtained images, and geometrically distorted errors were corrected. To handle the optically observed data, corrections were made for the observation time, light-travel time delay, shutter speed delay, and aberration. For final product, the sequential filter within the Orbit Determination Tool Kit (ODTK) was used for orbit estimation based on the results of optical observation. In addition, a comparative analysis was conducted between the precise orbit from the ephemeris of the COMS maintained by the satellite operator and the results of orbit estimation using optical observation. The orbits estimated in simulation agree with those estimated with actual optical observation data. The error in the results using optical observation data decreased with increasing number of observatories. Our results are useful for optimizing observation data for orbit estimation.

Mungbean (Vigna radiata) is a fast-growing, warm-season legume crop that is primarily cultivated in developing countries of Asia. We constructed a draft genome sequence of mungbean to facilitate genome research into the subgenus Ceratotropis and to enable a better understanding of the evolution of leguminous species. The draft genome sequence covers 80% of the estimated genome, of which 50.1% consists of repetitive sequences. In total, 22,427 high confidence protein-coding genes were predicted. Based on the de novo assembly of additional wild mungbean species, the divergence of what was eventually domesticated and the sampled wild mungbean species appears to have predated domestication. Moreover, the de novo assembly of a tetraploid Vigna species (Vigna reflexo-pilosa var. glabra) provided genomic evidence of a recent allopolyploid event. To further study speciation, we compared de novo RNA-seq assemblies of 22 accessions of 18 Vigna species and protein sets of Glycine max and Cajanus cajan. The species tree was constructed by a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo method using highly confident orthologs shared by all 24 accessions. The present assembly of V. radiata var. radiata will facilitate genome research and accelerate molecular breeding of the subgenus Ceratotropis.

Capsicum diversity is getting lower in modern crops because of the genetic erosion. In Capsicum, breeders have been mainly focused on agriculturally important traits such as disease resistances, high yield and pungency. However, this narrow breeding pool hampered to develop improved cultivars. It has become a hot issue to conservation of genetic diversity and exploitation of wild germplasm in Capsicum. Analysis of genetic diversity and construction of core collection is the first step to make efficient use of germplasm. Although there have been several attempts to construct core collections in Capsicum, most of these works were limited due to handling small number of samples, relying mainly on the characterization of morphological traits or focusing only C. annuum species. To expand understanding of the structure and genetic diversity of germplasm in Capsicum, we need to have a highly efficient genotyping tool to handle large number of samples. Toward this end, we are analyzing 3,599 germplasm accessions including other cultivated species and wild species in Capsicum with 48 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers.

In pepper, investigation of important traits such as disease resistances, high yield and pungency were mostly focused on a cultivated species, Capsicum annuum. This narrow breeding pool hampered to develop improved cultivars. Exploitation of wild germplasm in Capsicum has been recognized as an important issue. The construction of core collection and analysis of genetic diversity in Capsicum is the first step to make full use of germplasm. Although there have been several attempts to construct core collections in Capsicum, most of the works were limited due to handling small number of samples, relying mainly on the characterization of morphological traits and focusing on C. annuum species. Therefore, the comprehensive studies for genetic diversity and structure of Capsicum including phenotypic data, molecular marker patterns and evaluation of useful alleles are very necessary to understand the structure and patterns of genetic diversity in Capsicum. We are developing for a core collection set in Capsicum using molecular markers and phenotypic data with over 3,000 germplasm accessions.

　“reen King”is a new mini kiwifruit variety developed at the National Institute of Subtropical Agriculture (NISA), RDA in 2005, which was an edible fruit without peeling. This variety was selected from seeds obtained from the cross breeding between Actinidia chinensis cv. “pple Sensation”and A. arguta in 1998. Seedling and line selections were conducted from 1999 to 2002, and characteristic trials were carried out from 2003 to 2004. The branch of “reen King”sprouts strongly and the color of leaf is slightly dark green. The shape of fruit is cylindric and the color of peel is green or yellowish green without hair. The average weight of fruit is 15.9 g. The core is small and soft, the pericarp is light green. Soluble solids concentration is 15.4 oBrix. The fruit is sweet with slightly acid taste, containing total acid 1.3%, and the yield is higher over twice than that of A. arguta. The content of vitamin C is higher than that of A. arguta. The harvesting time is from middle October. This variety can be planted in the central and southern region of Korea.