Manganese () is a trace element that is essential for normal physiology, and is predominantly obtained from food. Several lines of evidence, however, demonstrated that overexposure to exerts serious neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity and developmental toxicity, particularly in male. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of 0, 1.0, 3.3, and 10 mg/kg/day doses of on the reproductive organs in the immature female rats. Rats (PND 22; S.D. strain) were exposed to () dissolved in drinking water for 2 weeks. The animals were sacrificed on PND 35, then the tissues were immediately removed and weighed. Histological studies were performed using the uteri tissue samples. Serum LH and FSH levels were measured with the specific ELISA kits. Body weights of the experimental group animals were not significantly different from those of control group animals. However, ovarian tissue weights in 1 mg and 3.3 mg dose groups were significantly lower than those of control animals (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Uterine tissue weights of 3.3 mg dose groups were significantly lower than those of control animals (p<0.01), while the 1 mg dose and 10 mg dose failed to induce any change in uterine weight. Similarly, only 3.3 mg dose could induce the significant decrease in the oviduct weight compared to the control group (p<0.05). Non-reproductive tissues such as adrenal and kidney failed to respond to all doses of exposure. The uterine histology revealed that the exposure could affect the myometrial cell proliferation particularly in 3.3 mg dose and 10mg dose group. Serum FSH levels were significantly decreased in 1mg dose and 10 mg groups (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). In contrast, treatment with 1 mg dose induced a significant increment of serum LH level (p<0.05). The present study demonstrated that exposure is capable of inducing abnormal development of reproductive tissues, at least to some extent, and altered gonadotropin secretions in immature female rats. Combined with the well-defined actions of this metal on GnRH and prolactin secretion, one can suggest the might be a potential environmental mediator which is involved in the female pubertal process.

Fusarium head blight (FHB), also known as scab, caused mainly by Fusarium graminearum is a devastating disease of wheat in regions that are warm and humid during flowering. In addition to significant yield and quality losses, the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol produced by the pathogen in infected wheat kernels is a serious problem for food and feed safety. Twenty- three Korean cultivars and "Sumai 3", which is a FHB-resistant Chinese cultivar were tested for Type I, Type II resistances of FHB. Three cultivars were identified as resistant in Type I assessment, and two cultivars were resistant in Type II assessment. Genetic variation and relationship among the cultivars were evaluated on the basis of 11 Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) and 29 Sequence Tagged Site (STS) markers that were linked to FHB resistance Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) on chromosome 3BS. One SSR and 7 STS markers detected polymorphisms. Especially, using a STS marker (XSTS3B-57), 32.4% of the variation for Type II FHB resistance could be explained. Genetic relationship among Korean wheat cultivars was generally consistent with their released year. These markers on chromosome 3BS have the potential for accelerating the development of Korean wheat cultivars with improved Fusarium head blight resistance through the use of marker-assisted selection.

A new light pink colored standard rose (Rosa hybrida Hort.) cultivar, 'Top Pink' was developed by the cross between 'Nobless' and 'Belami' at the Jeollanamdo Agricultural Research and Extention Services (JARES) through seedling and line selection in 2003, and characteristic evaluation during 2004-2006. 'Top Pink' shows a Red group color (RHS No. 49A), strong fragrance, and standard flower with good harmony between ray florlet and flower center, and straight stem. The yield was 131 stems/m2 averaged over three years (2004-2007). It showed 10 days vase life and was resistant to powdery mildew. This cultivar was registered as a commercial cultivar in 2007. It can be cultured in greenhouses in Korea and will be released to farmers in 2009.

“Saesangjubyeo” is a japonica rice cultivar developed from the cross between “Junghwabyeo” and “Sambaegbyeo” at the Sangju Substation of National Yeongnam Agricultural Experiment Station, R.D.A in 2001. “Saesangjubyeo” is early matured with July 28 at the

This study was carried out to develop a prom ising japonica rice variety resistant to brown planthopper(Bph) through marker-assisted selection(MAS) and backcross breeding methods. 'Milyang 64' which is known as resistant japonica variety to Bph used as a

This japonica cultivar was developed from a cross between two F₁ hybrids of YR13168 (Milyang 95/Iri390) and YR13198 (Milyang101/Iri390) using anther culture. It has about 104 days of growing duration from seeding to heading and relatively short

Nonghobyeo', was derived from a mutant of Milyang 95, by pure line selection method, which was developed from the single cross between Chukei 1016 and Milyang 79, by the rice breeding team of National Yeongnam Agricultural Experiment Station (NYAES) in 19

Mananbyeo was developed from a three way cross ilyang110/Yeongdeog7//Milyang110 in 1999. It has short growing duration about 71 days from seeding to heading and short culm length of 75 cm. It has almost similar number of panicles per hill , spikelets per

Sujinbyeo', a new mid-late maturing japonica rice variety (Oryza sativa L.), was developed by the rice breeding team of National Yeongnam Agricultural Experiment Station (NYAES) in 1999 and released in 2000. This variety originated from a three way cross