Poor germination and labor intensive thinning of seedling after sowing are major deterrents in Setaria viridis production. Seed priming has the potential to improve the seedling emergence and economic feasibility by combined with seed coating for optimizing mechanized growing technologies to small cereal crops. The objective of this study was to determine the effective seed priming conditions on the improved germination in the laboratory. Seeds were hydro primed with distilled water for 6, 12, 24 hours and osmoprimed with PEG8000 (-0.15 MPa and -0.3 MPa), KCl (1% and 2%), KH2PO4 (0.5% and 1.0%), KNO3(1.0% and 3.0%), CaCl2 (1.0% and 3.0%) solutions for 6, 12, 24 hours at 15℃. Our results demonstrate that treating S. viridis seeds with PEG -0.3 MPa solution for 12h increased to maximum germination percentage to 97%, whereas the lowest germination percentage observed in seeds which treated with by CaCl2 1.0% for 24h and KCl 1% for 6h. Priming reduced the mean germination times (MGT) of all priming treated seeds statistically comparing to control. There was significant interaction between treatment and time. Further studies for field performance of primed seeds are needed.

This study was conducted to affirm the potential of seed priming techniques for optimizing mechanized growing technologies to maintain production of sustainable small cereal crops. Seed priming conditions were preliminary tested in laboratory. Sorghum seeds were hydroprimed and osmoprimed comprising a total of 33 treatments of different priming combination along with control. Seed primed in aerated solution of distilled water, PEG8000 (-0.15 MPa and –0.3 MPa), KCl(1% and 2%), KH2PO4 (0.5% and 1.0%), KNO3 (1.0% and 3.0%), CaCl2 (1.0% and 3.0%) solutions for 6, 12, 24 hours at 15℃. Maximum seed germination percentage, germination rate and reduced mean germination times (MGT) were observed when the seeds primed by CaCl2 1.0% for 24 h, whereas the lowest germination percentage observed in seeds which treated with KNO3 3% solution. Priming improved the MGT, germination index, and germination rate of all primed seeds statistically comparing to control. The MGT reduced by increase of treatment time. Further studies for field performance of primed seeds are needed.

Tissue-specific promoters are a very useful tool for manipulating gene expression in a target tissue or organ; however, their range of applications in other plant species has not been determined, to date. In this study, we identified two late pollen-specific rice promoters (ProOsLPS10 and ProOsLPS11) via meta-anatomical expression analysis. We then investigated the expression of both promoters in transgenic rice (a homologous system) and Arabidopsis (a heterologous system) using ProOsLPS10 or ProOsLPS11::GFP-GUS constructs. As predicted by microarray data, both promoters triggered strong GUS expression during the late stages of pollen development in rice, with no GUS signals detected in the examined microspores and sporophytic tissues. Interestingly, these promoters exhibited different GUS expression patterns in Arabidopsis. While in Arabidopsis, the OsLPS10 promoter conferred GUS expression at the uni- and bi-cellular macrospore stages, as well as at the shoot apical region during the seedling stage, the OsLPS11 promoter was not active in the pollen at any stage, or in the examined sporophytic tissues. Furthermore, by performing a complementation analysis using a sidecar pollen (scp) mutant that displays developmental defects at the microspore stage, we found evidence that OsLPS10, which can be an applied promoter expressed in Arabidopsis, is useful for directing gene expression in the early stages of pollen development. Our results indicate that the OsLPS10 and OsLPS11 promoters can drive the expression of target genes during the late stages of pollen development in rice, but not in Arabidopsis. Our results also emphasize the necessity of confirming the applicability of an established promoter to heterologous systems.

In the cement industry, a large amount of CO2 is emitted from the first production step, and moreover the most of secondary products go through a variety of curing processes in which fossil fuels are used, causing additional CO2 emissions. Thus there is need for developing technology so that the secondary cement products are to be processed with no or less frequent curing in the manufacturing stage, helping not only reduce CO2 emissions but also improve the economical efficiency. Thus, this study seeks to make a comparative analysis of the engineering characteristics of extruded panels which are manufactured using CSA, calcined kaolins and CAMC inorganic binder, and those of traditional extruded cement panels, and then to use the results as basic data for developing LEC extruded panels. The experiment results showed that unit weight and density of extruded panels were similar to those of the traditional mix of ordinary Portland cement, and that the ratios of the former’s water content and water absorption were 2~3% higher than those of the latter. On a material age basis of 28 days, the compressive strength was shown to be about 4.5 N/mm² more with 64.6 N/mm² for the 35 mm thickness, and 24.9 N/mm² more with 84.2 N/mm² for thr 50mm thickness, while the flexural strength was shown to be 2.4 N/mm² less with 14.1 N/mm² for the 35 mm thickness and 1 N/mm² less with 13.9 N/mm² for the 50 mm thickness compared to the traditional mix. These conflicting results in the cases of the compressive and flexural strength are though to have been due to the fact that the LEC binder had caused the greater volume expansion of the hydration products resulting from the hydration of the binder under the closely-knit structures thanks to the vacuum extrusion, necessitating future observation of the length changes and the fine structure. In addition, there were some cases where the 35 mm thickness had 1.0 N/mm² more than the 50mm thickness depending on the thickness of the panel. This is thought to be due to the difference in the hydration ratios incurred by the different caloric values per unit area depending on the thickness of the panel when going through a short period of curing process.

The present study aims to investigate the effect of BPA on sperm functions, fertilization and to evaluate their association with the activity of fertility related proteins in spermatozoa. We used a comprehensive in vitro test system to evaluate the effect of various concentrations of BPA (0.0001, 0.01, 1, and 100 μM) on mouse spermatozoa following 6 h of incubation. Our results showed that high concentration of BPA inhibited sperm motility and motion kinematics by significantly decreasing ATP levels in spermatozoa. Simultaneously, exposure of spermatozoa to high concentrations of BPA increased the tyrosine phosphorylation of sperm proteins involved in PKA-dependent regulation and induced a robust AR, ultimately results in poor fertilization and compromised embryonic development. Finally, BPA effects on selected group of fertility related proteins in spermatozoa, such as it degraded the β-actin, whereas the levels of peroxiredoxin-5, glutathione peroxidase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and succinate dehydrogenase were increased. Based on these results, we propose that high concentration of BPA may alter overall sperm functions, fertilization and embryonic development, in association with degradation and/or phosphorylation of fertility related proteins in spermatozoa.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a major disease problem on wheat and barley around the world. F. graminearum produces trichothecenes mycotoxins such as nivalenol (NIV), deoxynivalenol (DON), and zearalenone (ZEA). The objectives of this study were to survey the natural occurrence of FHB and mycotoxins of 32 Korean wheat cultivars grown in 2011-2012 seasons at the National institute of crop science, Iksan, Korea. There was great deal of rainfall and high humidity during flowering time in May 2011. FHB incidence was counted by Fusarium infected spikes per square meter. The samples of 32 wheat cultivar were collected. The grain and flour samples were to analysis for DON and NIV by gas chromatography and ZEA by high performance liquid chromatography. The result showed that the average of FHB incidence(%) per square meter in 2011 and 2012 were 4.2%, 0.5% respectively. There were significant cultivar differences for FHB incidence ranged from 0% to 24% in 2011. All of 32 wheat cultivars contained 9-2088 ng/g for NIV and ten wheat cultivars contained 5.7-8.5 ng/g for ZEA. In addition, DON concentration of Tapdong, Shinmichal1, and Hanbaek were 217, 35 and 683 ng/g respectively. However, the grain and flour sample harvested in 2012 showed that lower FHB incidence and NIV concentration. These results showed that the 32 wheat cultivars harvested in 2011 were heavily contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins (NIV, DON, ZEA).

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) is one of molecular marker technique based on DNA and is extremely useful in detection of high polymorphism between closely related genotypes like Korean wheat cultivars. Six Korean wheat cultivar specific marker sets have been developed from inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analysis and we can identify the 13 Koran wheat cultivars form other cultivars using six that (Son et al., 2013). We used four combinations of primer sets in our AFLP analysis for developing additional cultivar specific markers in Korean wheat. Twenty-one of the AFLP bands were isolated from ACG/M-CAC primer combination and 19 bands were isolated from E-AGC/M-CTG primer combination, respectively. We used forty bands to design sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) primer pairs for Korean wheat cultivar identification. Only one of 40 amplified primer pairs, C2, were able to use for wheat cultivar identification. The DNA band of 215bp length was amplified by C2 primer pairs in ten cultivars, Eunpa, Olgeuru, Gobun, Saeol, Milsung, Sinmichal, Jokyung, Sugang, Goso, and Joah. Then C2 primer was applied to these primer sets as newly SCAR marker, six cultivars are identifying from other cultivars, additionally. Finally, to use the C2 and six primer sets, 19 Korean wheat cultivars are identified.

비동형분열을 포함한 식물화분 발달과정에 관여하는 유전자를 탐색하기 위하여, Activation tagging vector를 이용 하여 조성된 3,500여개의 애기장대 T1세대 약 3,500개의 형질전환체 집단으로부터 4종의 화분 변이형을 보이는 돌 연변이체를 선발하였다. 4종의 변이체들은 20-40% 빈도의 성숙화분 변이표현형을 보였다. 변이체에서는 정상적 인 화분으로 발달하지 않은 aborted pollen type, 한 개의 핵만이 관찰되는 tio type, 비정상적으로 분열된 gemini type 등 다양한 변이표현형들이 관찰되었다. TAIL-PCR을 통하여 T-DNA의 삽입부위의 염색체 부위를 동정하여, co-segregation분석을 수행한 결과, 4종 모두 T-DNA삽입과 무관한 자연발생적 돌연변이로 밝혀졌으며, 현재 map-based cloning방법에 의해 변이유발 유전자를 탐색중이다. 이들 유전자들은 향후 식물의 화분발달에 핵심적 인 역할을 하는 유전자를 발굴하고 이를 이용한 기작을 이해하는데 매우 유용한 정보를 제공할 것으로 판단된다.

The perturbation of the steady state of reactive oxygen species due to biotic and abiotic stresses in a plant could lead to protein denaturation through the modification of amino acid residues, including the oxidation of methionine residues. Methionine sulfoxide reductases (MSRs) catalyze the reduction of methionine sulfoxide back to the methionine residue. To assess the role of this enzyme, we generated transgenic rice using a pepper CaMSRB2 gene under the control of the rice Rab21 promoter with/without a selection marker, the bar gene. A drought resistance test on transgenic plants showed that CaMSRB2 confers drought tolerance to rice, as evidenced by less oxidative stress symptoms and a strengthened PSII quantum yield under stress conditions, and increased survival rate and chlorophyll index after the re-watering. The results from immunoblotting using a methionine sulfoxide antibody and nano-LC-MS/MS spectrometry suggest that porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD), which is involved in chlorophyll synthesis, is a putative target of CaMSRB2. The oxidized methionine content of PBGD expressed in E. coli increased in the presence of H2O2, and the Met-95 and Met-227 residues of PBGD were reduced by CaMSRB2 in the presence of dithiothreitol. An expression profiling analysis of the overexpression lines also suggested that photosystems are less severely affected by drought stress. Our results indicate that CaMSRB2 might play an important functional role in chloroplasts for conferring drought stress tolerance in rice

OsLPS is pollen specific gene that express at late stage of pollen development in rice. Based on microarray database, promoter region of two genes Os03g0106900 and Os03g0106500 were identified. The sequence of 2287bp and 2468bp upstream region of these genes were amplified and designated as OsLPS10 and OsLPS11. These promoters were fused with GUS-GFP reporter gene in a destination vector, pKGWFS7 and introduced into rice (Dongjin cultivar) and Arabidopsis (Col-0). The results of GUS assay showed different pattern of gene expression in pollen of rice and Arabidopsis. In Arabidopsis, the OsLPS10 gene strongly activated in young anther and not expressed in mature pollen. Pollen development analysis revealed GUS expression was detected at unicellular stage and strongest at the bicellular pollen developmental stage. No GUS signal was recorded in mature pollen. In case of OsLPS11, no GUS signal was detected in during pollen development of inflorescent. By contrast, in rice, the GUS expression pattern of OsLPS10 and OsLPS11 exhibited similar. GUS expression was first detectable in the anthers of spikelets at the bicellular stage and intensity increased in tricellular and mature pollen. The GUS signal was not detected in the anthers in unicellular microspores in both genes, OsLPS10 and OsLPS11. The results suggested that these genes were different activity in heterologous plant system, monocot and dicot. Complementation analysis and Cis-regulatory elements will be examined to illuminate the characteristic of these genes

Based on the results of microarray analysis we selected ten candidate genes that express in pollen at the early pollen developmental stage. By PCR amplification, the promoter region of these genes were amplified from rice genomic DNA (Nipponbare) and cloned into the destination pKGWFS7 vector via an entry vector, pDONR201. The characteristic of promoters were evaluated in Arabidopsis thaliana (Col-0) through GUS expression analysis. Fifty T2 plants respectively from each promoter were tested. Whole inflorescence of individual plant was stained with 1mM X-Gluc solution to observe tissue-specific GUS expression patterns. The results showed that all 10 promoters activated in pollen tissues. Among them six promoters expressed at the early developmental stage (unicellular) of pollen and the others expressed at both early (unicellular) and late pollen developmental stage (mature pollen). The results indicated that these promoters would be potential applicable for the studies of pollen function. Currently, we are performing these promoters analysis in rice transgenic plants as well as molecular characterization.

There is a great consideration on rice eating quality aside from improving its tolerance to various stresses. High yielding and pest and disease tolerant rice is highly desirable but it is more commercially important if it also has a high eating quality. There are various factors contributing to the good eating quality of rice. This study focuses on modifying the expression of GBSS1 genes which are responsible for amylopectin and amylose synthesis in rice by using RNAi and antisense techniques. We have developed 40 transgenic plants with RNAi-GBSS1 gene and 60 transgenic lines with antisense-GBSS1 gene. The transgenic plants show diverse amylose contents in rice seed. We selected candidate lines according to PCR, RNA expression and amylose contents. A semi-quantitative RT-PCR was carried out to measure the expression level of GBSS1 gene at several time points after the flowering of transgenic plants. The expression level of GBSS1 gene in rice grains decreases over time and the mRNA expression among the transgenic plants were lower compare to its wild type. In the SEM analysis, the starch granule of wild type Gopumbyeo has very large structures accompanied with small ones around the area. However, the starch structures in transgenic plants were smaller and more uniform in size and shape throughout the viewing area

An increasing preference for good eating quality of rice among consumers has become one of the important considerations in rice breeding. Amylose content of starch is one of the important factors of rice eating quality. Amylose composition is determined by the relative activity of soluble starch synthase (SSS) and granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS). This study focuses on modifying the expression of SSS1 gene which is responsible for amylopectin and amylose synthesis in rice by using RNA interference (RNAi) and antisense technology. The transgenic rice plants showed various amylose content (9-17%) in rice seed. Candidate rice lines were selected according to PCR, RNA expression and amylose contents analyses. A semi-quantitative RT-PCR was carried out to determine the expression level of SSS1 gene at several time points after the flowering of transgenic plants. Downregulation of SSS1 gene in transgenic rices was evident in the decreasing expression in rice grains over time. Accordingly, SEM micrographs analysis revealed uniform size with smooth curves starch granules in downregulation rice lines, in contrast with the non-uniform granules in wild type.

UDP-glucose 4-epimerase (UGE) catalyzes the reversible conversion of UDP-glucose to UDP-galactose. To understand the biological function of UGE from Brassica rapa, the gene hereinafter referred to as was cloned and overexpressed into Japonica rice cv. Gopum. Transcriptional profiling showed that the is specific to stem of rice plant. Morphological evaluation of the overexpression lines revealed altered phenotype characters particularly in panicle length, number of productive tillers and filled spikelets which account for an increase in yield. This remarkable agronomic performance was ascribed to higher photosynthetic rate complemented with higher CO2 assimilation. Interestingly, BrUGE1 did not only improve plant fitness under optimal condition but also under water deficit stress. The enhanced drought tolerance may be due to the induction of soluble sugar which may act as osmolyte to compensate dehydration during drought stress.

Stem rust of wheat caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. Tritici is historically one of the most important diseases of crops worldwide. The objective of this study was to screen the growth habits and yield of wheat accessions in Korea winter condition. We collected ninety stem rust resistant germplasms from USDA-Grain and planted for the characteristics of growth and yield in 2013. We measured the growth characteristics such as the plant type, leaf color, heading date, stem length, spike length, awn length, number of spikelet, number of tiller, and 1,000 kernel weight (g). Early maturity is most important wheat breeding target in double cropping system such as Korea. Heading dates of ninety cultivars ranged from May 17 to June 7. The Keumkang control cultivar headed on May 23. Heading dates of seventeen accessions had as early as Keumkang control (May 23). The numbers of semi-erect and intermediate type for growth habit were 45 and 33 respectively. The 1000 kernel weights were also measured. Mean 1000 kernel weights ranged from 16.7g (Webster) to 41.8g (123 A1C2). The average of stem length was 100.2cm and Keumkang was 58.4cm. These results showed that A4849-60P-7P-1P (Chile), MG 31492 (Ethiopia), 1338.F.6.C.3.B (Kenya), 1203 A1C2 (Kenya), and II-90-20/3-1R-1M- 3R (Mexico) were best lines for agronomic characteristic such as early heading date and grain yield

Characteristics of agronomy, especially good yield productivity is very important in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as human food crop. Development of elite cultivar having good traits is required for food stability. In 2013, a new wheat line called Iksan370 has been developed by the National Institute of Crop Science, RDA. Iksan370 has hard red winter wheat characteristics and better features like resistance to biotic, abiotic stress and higher yield ability than Keumkang. Heading and maturing date were delayed about ten days and period to flowering date was shorter three or four days than Keumkang. Culm and spike length of Iksan370 were 95cm and 15.3cm, averagely. This means that culm and spike length were longer than Keumkang (79cm and 7cm, respectively). It showed higher milling rate (75.5%), protein content (13.5%) and SDS-sedimentation volume (77.5ml) than Keumkang. Genotypes of six genes, GBSSA, B, D, PPO18, Pina and Pinb, were represented that were similar to Keumkang, respectively. Average yield of Iksan370 in the preliminary trial test was 6.61 tons/ha in upland. We expect that yield productivity and farm income were increased by Iksan370.

In spite of the overwhelming number of cysteine proteases in plants, only a few were substantially investigated. Papain-like cysteine proteases (PLCPs) are commonly implicated to disease immunity in some key pathosystems in plants, such as in tomato – Cladosporium fulvum, potato/tomato – phytopthora infestans, and Arabidopsis – Ralstonia solanacearum, among the few others. This study demonstrates the function of cysteine protease gene cloned form Brassica rapa (BrCP) related to resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae in transgenic rice lines. The cysteine protease-encoding full-length cDNA was identified and characterized using web-based tools. The gene is 2,267 bp in size with an open reading frame of 1,365 bp that encodes predicted polypeptide of 455 amino acids. Blast analysis of the conserved domain of the gene confirmed its affinity to Peptidase_CIA family. Full-length cDNA of PLCP in Brassica rapa was then cloned and co-overexpressed in rice with HPT marker. Introgression of the gene was confirmed in the transformants through genomic PCR assay. RT-PCR analysis showed that the gene was constitutively expressed and present in all tissues. The overexpression rice lines exhibited an enhanced resistance when screened with four Korean Xoo isolates.

Fusarium head blight (FHB), primarily caused by Fusarium graminearum is a major disease problem on wheat and barley around the world. The objectives of this study were to evaluate for FHB resistance under greenhouse and filed condition in 2012 and 2013. We screened for Type I resistance in the field using spray inoculation and for Type II resistance in the greenhouse using single floret inoculation. Sumai 3 and Ning7840 were used the FHB resistant check. Five hundred and twelve lines were evaluated for resistance to initial infection (type I) and to spread of symptoms within spike (type II). The inoculum was F. graminearum (GZ3639) prepared at a concentration of 1 X 105 macroconidai/ml with Tween 20. The field screening plots were inoculated twice and mist-irrigation was applied to facilitate FHB development. FHB severity was assessed visually 21 days and determined as the percentage of symptomatic spikelets from the total of all spikelets observed in 20 spikes. Both in the greenhouse and field test, we could observe five categories of FHB severity: resistant (R: 0-20%), moderately resistant (MR: 21-40%), moderate (M: 41-60%), moderately susceptible (MS: 61-80%), and susceptible (S: 81-100%). The results showed that seventy seven lines showed the R and MR category on FHB severity. In addition, nine lines showed similar FHB severity compared to Sumai 3 (13.3%).

In Pleuronectiformes, blind-side malpigmentation (hypermelanosis) is common in cultured flatfishes, and is economically important. To understand the mechanism of blind-side hypermelanosis in flatfishes, we examined when the malpigmentation initially occurred, and studied how the symptoms proceeded during early development of the starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus. To assess quantitative pattern changes of blind-side skin, we observed morphological development of the whole body from 22 (total length [TL] 10.0±0.2 mm and body weight [BW] 8.8±0.57 mg) to 110 days (TL 23.4±0.7 mm, BW 193.6±23.3 mg) after hatching (DAH), and also examined the malpigmented area rate of blind-side skin and the malpigmented fish ratios. The experimental animals were reared in fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) tanks in water at a temperature of 18.9±1.9℃ and salinity of 32.6±0.6 psu and were fed with rotifer and Artemia nauplii from 22 to 48 DAH, and with A. nauplii and commercial feed from 49 to 110 DAH. As results, the first staining patch seen by the naked eye was observed around the area between the anus and pelvic fin or caudal edge of the trunk at 80 DAH (TL 20.6±0.5 mm, BW 112.5±8.8 mg). The pigmented area and the pigmented fish ratios were significantly increased from 80 to 110 DAH. These results indicated that malpigmentation on the blind side of starry flounder was initially observed at about 2 cm in length and 100 mg in weight, and the pigmented domain on the blind-side skin was continually broadened by the differentiation of pigmented cells (melanophores and xanthophores) with growth.

The effect of steel fiber types on the self-sensing capacity of strain-hardening fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (SH-SFRCs) was investigated. Three types of fiber, including twisted, smooth and hooked fibers, were used with a volume content of 1.5% in a mortar matrix. Although all the SH-SFRCs exhibited self damage-sensing capacity, the gauge factor, representing for damage-sensing ability, was different according to the types of fiber as follows: twisted (138.09) > smooth (99.85) > hooked (88.50). The SH-SFRC with twisted fiber produced the highest gauge factor which is very favorable for development of self damage-sensor.