Barley Yellow Mosaic Virus (BaYMV) caused significant reduction in barley yield and is difficult to control due to alive parasitic soil-borne fungus, Palmyra gamines that transmits the, virus. Previous studies have indicated that a virus-free soil could be infested by using virus-contaminated farming machineneries and implements. For the further confirmation of this finding, different proportions of BaYMV-infested soil were mixed into virus free soil. Three barley varieties (Hordum vulgarae, cv "Olbori", "Baegdong" and "Sacheon 6") were sown in pots treated with different rate of P. graminis-infested soil ranging from 0% to 100% in October 20, 2001. Results showed that BaYMV infection increased as the rate of infested soil increased. Initial symptoms were observed in a pots treated with 10% infested soil in all the 3 varieties of barley. "Olbori" had about 5% infection in 20% infested soil and about 10% infection in 40% or 50% infested soil and about 20% infection in 60% infested soil. In "Baegdong", the trend of BYMV occurrence was similar with "Olbori" but the time of severe infection was earlier than "Olbori". BaYMV infection in "Sacheon 6" was even earlier than "Baegdong" with much more severe symptoms than "Baegdong". The growth rate of barley was affected by about 19-22% when grown in 20% infested soil. As the rate of BaYMV infested soil increased the heading date was delayed but the maturing date was early in "Olbori" and "Sacheon 6". Also, reduction rate of culm length in 3 varieties increased with increase of infested soil content. However, "Olbori" showed the highest reduction. "Sacheon 6", have been characterized with long spike length, however was significantly reduced as the infested soil increased. On the other hand, spike length of "Olbori" was not significantly affected despite of increased of infested soil. The reduction rate of 1000 kernel weight was higher in large kernel size cultivar "Sacheon 6" and "Olbori" than small kernel size "Baegdong" as increase of BaYMV-infested soil content.

Phytochemical investigation of the sesame dregs of Sesamum indicum was conducted by open column and prep-HPLC chromatography. Two phytosterols (1 and 2) and two lignans (3 and 4) were isolated from the MeOH extracts of sesame dregs, and identified as β-sitosterol (1), daucosterol (2), sesamin (3), and sesamolin (4) by spectral analysis. Although these compounds were already isolated from sesame, it is important that they were still main phytochemical components in the sesame dregs.

Knowledge of genetic diversity and of the genetic relationships among elite breeding materials has had a significant impact on the improvement of crops. In maize, this information is particularly useful in i) planning crosses for hybrid and line development, ii) in assigning lines to heterotic groups and iii) in plant variety protection. We have used the SSR technique to study the genetic diversity and genetic relationships among 76 Korean waxy corn accessions, representing a diverse collection from throughout Korea. Assessment of genetic diversity among members of this group was conducted using 30 microsatellite markers. Among these 30 microsatellite markers, we identified a total of 127 alleles (with an average of 4.2 and a range of between 2 and 9 alleles per locus). Gene diversity at these 30 microsatellite loci varied from 0.125 to 0.795 with an average of 0.507. The cluster tree generated with the described microsatellite markers recognized two major groups with 36.5% genetic similarity. Group I includes 63 inbred lines, with similarity coefficients of between 0.365 and 0.99. Group II includes 13 inbred lines, with similarity coefficients of between 0.45 and 0.85. The present study indicates that the 30 microsatellite loci chosen for this analysis are effective molecular markers for the assessment of genetic diversity and genetic relationships between Korean waxy corn accessions. Specifically, this study's assessment of genetic diversity and relationships between a set of 76 Korean waxy corn inbred lines will be helpful for such activities as planning crosses for hybrid and line development and association mapping analyses of maize breeding programs in Korea.

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the agronomic stability of North Korean rice varieties using the statistical model developed by Grafius, Finlay, and Ever hart. The lowest yearly variation based on coefficients of variation was found in Hannam 29 for number of panicles per hill, in Sijoong 9 for number of grains per panicle, in Pyeongyang 3 for ripened grain ratio, in Sijoong 16 for 1,000 grain weight, and in Yeomju 1 for grain yield. By Grafius's model, Pyeongbook 3, Weonsan 66 in early maturing groups and Seohaechalbyeo in medium maturing groups show stable for 3 years. Weonsan 66 in early maturing groups and Seohaechalbyeo in medium maturing groups were found to be highly stable as analyzed by both Finlay and Wilkinson's model and Everhart & Russell's model. With reference to three models, Weonsan 66 was highly stable for 3 years with showing more yield than Odaebyeo in early maturing groups while Seohaechalbyeo was highly stable for 3 years with showing high yield than Hwaseongbyeo in medium maturing groups above 5~;t~;ha-1 of milled rice respectively.

The aim of this study was to isolate chicken feather-degrading bacteria with high keratinolytic activity and to investigate cultural conditions affecting keratinolytic enzyme production by a selected isolate. A chicken feather-degrading bacterial strain CH3 was isolated from poultry wastes. Isolate CH3 degraded whole chicken feather completely within 3 days. On the basis of phenotypical and 16S rDNA studies, isolate CH3 was identified as Bacillus thuringiensis CH3. This strain is the first B. thuringiensis described as a feather degrader. The bacterium grew with an optimum at pH 8.0 and 37℃, where maximum keratinolytic activity was also observed. The composition of optimal medium for keratinolytic enzyme production was feather 0.1%, sucrose 0.7%, casein 0.3%, K2HPO4 0.03%, KH2PO4 0.04%, MgCl2 0.01% and NaCl 0.05%, respectively. The keratinolytic enzyme had a pH and temperature optima 9.0 and 45℃, respectively. The keratinolytic activity was inhibited ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, and metal ions like Hg2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+. The enzyme activated by Fe2+, dithiothreitol and 2-mercaptoethanol.

The removal of nitrogen compounds from a wastewater is essential and it is often accomplished by biological process. An aerobic nitrate-removing bacterium was isolated from a municipal sewage treatment plant and soil. On the basis of its morphological, cultural and physiological characteristics and 16S rRNA sequencing data, this strain was identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens, and named as P. fluorescens K4. The optimal conditions of the initial pH and temperature of media for its growth were 7.0~8.0 and 30℃, respectively. P. fluorescens K4 was able to remove 99.9% of nitrate after 24 h in a culture. The strain could grow with a nitrate concentration up to 800 mg/l and was able to remove 99.9% of nitrate after 104 h of incubation. The optimal electron donor was sodium citrate for a nitrate removal. The strain K4 showed a capability of a complete nitrate removal when the initial C/N ratio was 1.0. An effect of the initial seed concentration was observed for a cell of 10% (v/v) for a nitrate removal. Especially P. fluorescens K4 could completely remove 200 mg/l ammonium for 3 days.