Gene expression profiles can serve as a valuable reference for deciphering gene functions. We exploited the potential of whole genome microarrays to measure the temporal expression profiles of rice genes in 13 stages of reproductive development. We could profile expression of 17,676 genes in at least one of the tissues. Differential expression analysis with compare to leaf and preceding stages of development revealed reproductive stage-preferential/-specific genes. we identified 35 genes expressing specifically during panicle and seed development. The metabolic/hormonal pathways and transcription factor families playing key role in reproductive development were elucidated after overlaying the expression data on the public databases and manually curated list of transcription factors, respectively. During floral meristem differentiation (P1cm) and male meiosis (P5cm), the genes involved in jasmonic acid and gebbellin biosynthesis were significantly upregulated. F11DAP stage of seed, containing enlargement organ, exhibited enrichment of transcripts involved in starch or sucrose biosynthesis. Genes regulating auxin biosynthesis were induced during early seed development. We validated the stage-specificity of regulatory regions of two panicle-specific genes, AK072471, Os08g0538700, and AK121412, an early seed-specific gene, in transgenic rice. The data generated here provides a snapshot of the underlying complexity of the gene networks regulating rice reproductive development.

Although it is known that the composition of high-molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GSs) and low-molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GSs) are important factor for bread, noodle and cookie, it is still not clear which HMW-GSs and LMW-GSs confer improved processing properties and how those HMW-GSs and LMW-GSs interact each other. In this study, to investigate distinctive glutenin proteins for characteristic processing properties for noodle, glutenins extracted from seeds of several Korean and Chinese wheat cultivars were focused in IPG gel strip and subjected to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Differential protein expression level was analyzed using image master platinum 6. Then to characterize the HMW-GSs of Korean cultivar Uri, extracted glutenin proteins were separated by two dimensional gel electrophoresis. Nine spots digested with trypsin resulting peptide fragmentation were identified by LC ESI-MS/MS and MASCOT database. We also separated HMW-GSs from wheat cultivar Uri by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) withResource Phe column using gradient buffer condition with 4M Urea and 0.45M ammonium sulfate.Each single band of 1Dx 2.2, 1Bx7 and double bands of 1Dy8 and 1By12 were separated.

NABIC(National Agricultural Biotechnology Information Center) established integrated management system of agricultural omics information to achieve the agricultural bio-information resources of Korea. The amount of bio-information is enormously increasing due to emergence of NGS(Next Generation Sequencing) technology. We has building, maintaining and providing agricultural bio-information databases and information services. Various data type for submission is available such as genome, proteome, transcriptome, metabolome, molecular marker, etc. We issue the submission confirmation which is available for research achievement. Currently, the amount of data submitted on our system is 4.3Tb. We are planning to integrate genome annotation system and NGS analysis system this year. The Agricultural Omics Information Submission System is available through web site(http://nabic.naas.go.kr/submission).

The rice water weevil (RWW), Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus are major pests of aquatic rice plant in Korea as well as throughout the country. Larvae of RWW sucking the nourishment on roots, causes a stunted root system and reduces grain yields. To prevent these damages, we constructed various plant expression vectors, which were harbored by insecticidal genes, cryBP1 and cryIIIa, and fused with the actin promoter and/or the modified RCg2 root-preferential promoters for expressing the insect-toxic genes in leaves and roots. A cryBP1 was cloned from Bacillus popilliae, producing crystal toxin against Japanese beetle, and CryIIIa was modified from the δ-endotoxin gene of Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. tenebrionis, encoding the coleoptera-specific toxin. The vectors containing the insecticidal genes were transferred into Oryza sativa japonica cultivar, Nakdong, by Agrobacterium -mediated transformation method. Several independent transgenic lines were selected by Southern blotting and Western blotting, confirming that cryBP1 and cryIIIa genes were stably integrated into the plant genomes and were expressed in transgenic plants. Upon insect bioassay using RWW, the mortality of insect larvae on cryBP1 and cryIIIa transgenic rice lines recorded up to 41% and 34%, respectively. These results suggested that the transgenic lines can be used to develop Coleoptera-resistant cultivars and could be valuable for later application in crop breeding for insect resistance.

The world’s first geostationary ocean color imager (GOCI) is a three-mirror anastigmat optical system 140 mm in diameter. Designed for 500 m ground sampling distance, this paper deals with on-orbit modulation transfer function (MTF)measurement and analysis for GOCI. First, the knife-edge and point source methods were applied to the 8th band (865 nm) image measured April 5th, 2011. The target details used are the coastlines of the Korean peninsula and of Japan, and an island 400 meters in diameter. The resulting MTFs are 0.35 and 0.34 for the Korean East Coastline and Japanese West Coastline edge targets, respectively, and 0.38 for the island target. The daily and seasonal MTF variations at the Nyquist frequency were also checked, and the result is 0.32 ± 0.04 on average. From these results, we confirm that the GOCI on-orbit MTF performance satisfies the design requirements of 0.32 for 865 nm wavelength.

Beta-carotene producing transformants were produced in the background of 'Nagdongbyeo', a Japonica rice cultivar. Introgression of the carotenoid locus in the transformant, PAC4-2 into the elite cultivar 'Ilpumbyeo' was started. To initiate a backcrossing program, we surveyed 220 SSR markers and found that 38% of them were polymorphic between 'Ilpumbyeo' as a recurrent parent and the PAC4-2 as a recipient parent. The selection strategy comprising foreground and background selection was employed. First, foreground selection was practiced in BC1, BC2, and BC3 generations using the transgene specific PCR-based marker in addition to visual scoring of the seed color. Marker-based background selection combined with phenotypic selection was employed from BC3F2 to BC3F4 generations. Blast search indicated that the transgene PAC4-2 was located between SSR markers, RM6 and RM482. 240 BC3F3 and 63 BC3F4 lines were evaluated for four agronomic traits including days to heading. Most of the lines were similar to Ilpumbyeo in agronomic traits evaluated. The percentage of PAC4-2 genome ranged from 4% to 21% with a mean of 12.5%, which was higher than the expected for an unselected BC3 backcross population. This could be explained by the fact that two genes for beta-carotene and the stripe virus resistance were targeted in this study. We selected 10 representative BC3F5 lines from 63 BC3F4 lines based on agronomic traits and carotenoids content. The selection strategy would be appropriate for the introgression of beta-carotene gene in a breeding program.

Brown planthopper (BPH) is a serious insect pest of rice crop throughout rice growing countries, and yield loss due to its infection can be up to 60%. This study aimed to evaluate efficiency of molecular markers for screening BPH resistance accessions among 86 aromatic rice germplasm Eighty-six accessions of aromatic rice germplasm included two accessions of Tongil type (bred in Korea), 28 accessions of japonica type and 56 accessions of indica type. We applied eight STS markers (pBPH9, pBPH19, pBPH20, pBPH21, AJ09-b, RG457L, RG457B, and 7312.T4A) which were linked to four of BPH resistance genes, Bph1, Bph13(t), Bph10, and Bph18(t) respectively. One japonica type accession, 415XIr352, and six indica type accessions possessed one or four positive bands when tested with four STS markers linked to Bph1 gene. One indica type aromatic rice, Basmati9-93, showed the target bands linked to the Bph10 gene. The other accessions did not show same fragments as the respective resistant lines. Bph13(t) is the most widely introduced resistance gene and only one accession showed positive bands implying that this accession might harbor Bph10 and Bph18(t) genes. Three aromatic accessions, Domsiah, Khao Dawk Mali 105 and 415XIr352 showed gene pyramiding of Bph1 and Bph13(t). Two indica aromatic rice, Ds 20 and Basmati 9-93, possessed at least two BPH resistance genes, Bph1, Bph18(t) and Bph13(t), Bph18(t), respectively. These results indicates that aromatic rice germplasm have narrow diversities of BPR resistance genes.

Rice is a staple food for more than 50% of the world's population. Embryo comprises only 2 to 3% of the weight distribution of the entire pericarp but has higher concentration of vitamins, proteins, and essential fatty acids than the other parts of grains. Moreover, α-tocoperol, γ-oryzanol, phytic acid and γ-aminobutric acid that have nutraceutical value are abundant. Increasing the volume of embryo assures the fortification of nutritional value of rice grain. We developed new black waxy giant embryo rice, Milyang 263 by crossing Josaengheugchal, a black waxy rice variety, and get, a giant embryo mutant generated by tissue culture. The nutrient contents and physical properties of Milyang 263 were compared with several giant embryo mutants and normal embryo rice varieties. Changes in the nutrient properties after germination were also observed. Results indicated that this new black waxy giant embryo rice, Milyang 263, offers a promising source for improving nutritional quality of rice especially anthocyanin, essential minerals, and GABA.

Soybean seeds contain many biologically active secondary metabolites, such as proteins, saponins, isoflavones, phytic acids, trypsin inhibitors and phytosterols. Among them, saponins in soybeans have attracted considerable interest because of their health benefits. Soyasaponin A and B are the most abundant types of saponins found in soybeans along with soyasapogenol (aglycone), which is a precursor of soyasaponin. The main purpose of this experiment was to determine the concentration of soyasapogenol in soybean seeds and sprouts as a function of seed size, usage, seed coat color and seed cotyledon color. The 79 Korean soybean varieties were cultivated at Yesan of Chungnam in 2006 for the analysis of soyasapogenol using HPLC with Evaporative Light Scattering Detection (ELSD). The total average concentration of soyasapogenol was 1313.52~mug~;g-1 in soybean seeds and 1377.22~mug~;g-1 in soybean sprouts. Soybean sprouts were about 5% higher than soybean seeds in average total soyasapogenol concentration. In the process of sprouting, the average soyasapogenol A content decreased by approximately 1.6%, but soyasapogenol B and total soyasapogenol increased by 8.31% and 4.88%, based on the content of soybean seeds. When classified according to the size of seeds, the total soyasapogenol concentration of soybean seeds were not significantly different (p<0.05) On average, small soybean seeds were increased by as much as 103.14~mug~;g-1 in sprouting process. As a function of the use of the seeds, The total soyasapogenol in soybean seeds were significantly different (p<0.05). While, the soybean sprouts were not significant different (p<0.05). Altogether, sprout soybean seeds show the greatest change in content during the germination process. When seeds with different coat colors were compared, the total soyasapogenol concentration of soybean with yellow seed coats (1357.30~mu g~;g1 ) was slightly higher than that of soybean with black (1260.30~mug~;g-1 ) or brown (1263.62~mug~;g-1 ) seed coats. For the color of the cotyledon, the total soyasapogenol concentration was significantly increased in green cotyledon during the germination and seedling process. The results of this study suggest the functional characteristics of soybeans through quantitative analysis of soyasapogenol. In addition, the concentration of soyasapogenol exhibited a change during the germination process, which was evaluated by the nutritional value of the soybean sprouts.