To increase thennotolerance of forage crops, transgenic rice plants as a model for transformation of monocots were generated. A cDNA encoding the chloroplast-localized small heat shock protein (small HSP) of rice, Oshsp21, was introduced into rice plants

Steel structures with added viscoelastic dampers are analysed to investigat their behavior under earthquake excitation. The direct integration method, which produces exact solution for the non-proportional or non-classical damping system, is used throughout the analysis. The results from modal strain energy method are also provided for comparison. Then a new analytical a, pp.oach, based on the rigid floor diaphragm assumption and matrix condensation technique, is introduced, and the results are compared with those obtained from direct integration method and modal strain energy method. The well known phenomenon, that the effectiveness of the viscoelastic dampers depends greatly on the location of the dampers, is once again confirmed in the analysis. It is also found that the modal strain energy method generaly underestimates the responses obtained from the direct integration method, especially when the dampers are placed in only a part of the building. The proposed method turns out to be very efficient with considerable saving in computation this and reasonably accurate considering the reduced degrees of freedom.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate total phenolic content (TPC) and individual phenolic compounds in leaves of perilla genetic resources, assess whether they could be used as distinguishing factor among germplasms, and evaluate their relationship with some quantitative and qualitative morphological characters. TPC and individual phenolic compounds were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu method and UPLC-PDA system, respectively. Wide variations in TPC (7.99 to 133.70 ㎎GAE/g DE), rosmarinic acid (ND to 21.05 ㎎/g DE), caffeic acid (ND to 1.17 ㎎/g DE), apigenin- 7-O-diglucuronide (ND to 2.21 ㎎ luteolin equivalent (㎎LUE)/g DE), scutellarein-7-O-glucuronide (ND to 5.25 ㎎ LUE/g DE), and apigenin-7-O-glucuronide (ND to 2.81 ㎎ LUE/g DE) were observed. Intensities of green pigment at abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces were positively correlated with phenolic compounds whereas leaf length and width had negative correlation. Purple pigmented accessions were shorter in leaf length and width but exhibited higher amount of phenolic compounds compared to green pigmented accessions in most cases. Leaf shape was not related with content of phenolic compounds, color of leaves, and length/width of leaves. TPC and individual phenolic compounds along with morphological characters could be useful distinguishing factors for perilla genetic resources.

장 건강에 유익한 프리바이오틱스 소재를 개발하기 위하여 배변을 촉진하는 효능을 지닌 붉은팥을 식품 발효에 이용되는 Bacillus subtilis KCCM 11965P로 발효하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 붉은팥의 일반성분은 회분 3.35±0.04%, 조단백질 21.1±0.19%, 조지방 0.35±0.02% 함 유되었다. 붉은팥 원물 1%, 3%, 5%와 Bacillus subtilis KCCM 11965P 3% (v/v)를 접종하여 0, 24, 48, 72시간 배양 하였다. 배양액의 총균수를 측정한 결과 붉은팥 원물을 3% 첨가한 후 72시간 배양군에서 Bacillus subtilis KCCM 11965P 발효가 가장 적합하였다. 발효 시간에 증가함에 따라 총 폴리페놀 함량과 DPPH 라디칼 소거활성이 증가하였다. Protease 활성은 붉은팥 원물 5% 첨가한 후 72시간 배양한 군(2.69±0.003 unit/mL)에서 활성이 가장 높았다. 발효시간과 붉은팥 원물 첨가 농도가 증가함에 따라 α -amylase 활성도 증가하였으며, 붉은팥 원물 5% 첨가한 후 72시간 배양한 군에서 0시간 배양군(1.0±0.1 unit/mL) 보다 26.0±0.2 unit/mL로 증가하였다. Bacillus subtilis KCCM 11965P로 72시간 배양한 후 유리아미노산을 측정한 결과 leucine은 붉은팥 원물 5% 첨가한 0시간 배양군 5.22 mg/L 에서 67.59 mg/L로 증가하였으며, 비필수아미노산인 tyrosine은 5% 첨가 0시간 배양군 10.08 mg/L에서 259.35 mg/L로 증가하였다. 이와 같이 Bacillus subtilis KCCM 11965P로 붉은팥을 발효하면 항산화 활성, protease 효소활성, 및 α-amylase 효소 활성이 증가하였으며, 유리아미노 산과 유기산이 증가하였다. 붉은팥을 발효하는데 Bacillus subtilis KCCM 11965P가 적합할 것으로 판단되며, 붉은팥은 프로바이오틱스를 활성화시켜 장 건강을 증진시킬 수 있는 프리바이오틱스 소재로 개발할 수 있는 가능성을 시사 하였다.

Background : The organic matter content of land clearing or soil brought from an other place is very low, less than 0.5%. However, the organic matter content of natural habitat soil and leader farmhouse soil was two to three times higher than that of general farmhouse soil. As a result, the yield of Gastrodia elata was higher than that of general farmhouse. Therefore, this experiment was carried out to investigate the yield of G. elata according to the application of green manure crops (GMCs). Methods and Results : This experiment was carried out in a soil with organic matter content of 0.5% in rain shelter greenhouse. The kind of GMCs are corn, Sudan grass, sorghum and oats, and the throughputs per 10 a were 2,000 ㎏, 2,200 ㎏, 1,500 ㎏ and 700 ㎏ of each. The soil preparation was carried out after treated of GMCs at least one month before G. elata was formally planted. As the results of these experiment, organic matter content in soils increased 4 - 5 times compared with before treatment. As a result, the yield of G. elata increased by 21 - 41% in all treatments of GMCs. In addition, there was 2 - 5% more G. elata of good merchantable quality. However, the soil temperature in the summer season period of 2016 (7.1 - 8.31) was 1.2 - 1.6℃ higher than the previous year. The day when the outside temperature was above 30℃ was 41 days. It doubled from the previous year. Soil moisture content showed similar tendency according to treatments. As a result, 20 - 30% of high temperature damage and 20 - 50% of putrefaction occurred, and the total yield also decreased by 20 - 30% compared to normal year. Conclusion : In conclusion, some organic matter is needed for cultivation of G. elata. Therefore, it is considered that it would be better to keep the organic matter content at 2 - 3% when the destination are managed, and to use corn or Sudan grass as the GMCs.

As a result of inquiring into the analysis consequent on a symptom by research subject, it was found that there were 1 paper (1.5%) which did research for the purpose of rehabilitation of the general public, 26 papers (38.8%) targeting diagnosis-related groups (DRG), and 40 papers (59.7%) targeting social consideration subject. Also, as a result of the inquiry about the frequency & number of times of horticultural therapy program implementation, it was found that 49 papers (73.1%) implemented one time a week, and 45 papers (67.2%) were surveyed as the highest by conducting a total of 11~20 sessions of horticultural therapy programs, In the analysis of horticultural therapy activities by type, plant cultivation activity was found to be the most 506 times, accounting for 41.5%, followed by 297 time crafts activity (24.4%), 213 time floral decoration activity (17.5%), and 203time others activities (16.7%). In cultivation activity, soil-using cultivation activity (25.1%) was found to be lower than the proportion (74.9%) of soiless cultivation (16.4%), crafts activity (24.4%), floral decoration activity (17.5%) and other activities (16.7%). The most used plants in a restricted place like a hospital were found to be in the order of Hedera helix, Chamaedorea elegans, Succulent plant, Syngonium podophyllum, Neofinetia falcata HU, Hoya carnosa (L.f.) R.Br.), Rosmarinus officinalis, and Spathiphyllum spp.

The study was conducted to understand the relationship among university students’ interest in horticulture, psychological well-being and social development and the influence of measured variables. In order to collect data, the surveys were executed by convenience sampling on university students attending four-year universities in Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions of South Korea during the period from July 3 to July 17, 2016. A total of 307 survey results which measured the university students’ interest in horticulture, psychological well-being and social development were analyzed. The results showed that there are differences in the interest in horticulture, psychological well-being, and social development depending on the students’ general characteristics. According to the results analyzed by t-test and one-way ANOVA, the interest in horticulture depending on gender, religion, academic marks, family life satisfaction and school life satisfaction had significant differences showing high interest for the students with religion, good academic marks, high family life satisfaction and school life satisfaction as well as female students. Psychological well-being showed significant differences in academic marks, family life satisfaction and school life satisfaction, while social development displayed significant differences in gender, grade, academic marks, family life satisfaction and school life satisfaction. According to the results analyzed by correlation analysis, there was a significant correlation among university students’ interest in horticulture, psychological well-being and sociality development. Furthermore, regression analysis verified that university students’ interest in horticulture has a positive influence on psychological well-being and social development. The results of this study implies that university students with a higher interest in horticulture have higher levels of psychological well-being and social development.

Background : Five medicinal herbs have been selected from the preliminary screening for in vitro anti-allergy activity (in RBL-2H3 cells). The present study is conducted to investigate the inhibitory effects of the medicinal herbs on allergic inflammation in other kind of cells. Methods and Results : Cells treated with five extracts prepared from Betula costata Trautv. (aerial part), Camellia sinensis L. (aerial part), Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim. (root), Pyrus pyrifolia var. culta (Makino) Nakai (leaf), and Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex Steud. (root) were measured for mRNA levels of TNF-α on HaCaT keratinocytes stimulated by TNF-α /INF-γ and for mRNA levels of IL-2 in Jurkat T cells mediated by PMA/A23187. Pre-treatment with the five extracts reduced the mRNA levels of TNF-α in HaCaT cells and mRNA levels of IL-2 in Jurkat T cells. In particular, the leaf extract of Pyrus pyrifolia var. culta (Makino) Nakai significantly and dose-dependently decreased the mRNA levels of TNF-α and IL-2. To determine the toxicity of the extracts from the selected medicinal herbs to HaCaT cells and Jurkat T cells, the viabilities of the cells treated with several concentrations of the five extracts were measured by MTT assay. Extracts of Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim. (root), Pyrus pyrifolia var. culta (Makino) Nakai (leaf), and Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex Steud. (root) (up to 250 ㎍/㎖) did not show cytotoxic effects on HaCaT cells and Jurkat T cells. On the other hand, 250 ㎍/㎖ of extracts of Betula costata Trautv. (aerial part) and Camellia sinensis L. (aerial part) reduced cell viability in both cells. Conclusion : These results demonstrate that the leaf extract of Pyrus pyrifolia var. culta (Makino) Nakai has an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. Therefore, the leaf of Pyrus pyrifolia var. culta (Makino) Nakai can be a useful resource for the development of anti-allergy/anti-inflammatory materials.

Background : Schizandra chinensis Baillon have five tastes and lately it is using a beverage broadly. Schizandra chinensis is one of the top producing medicinal plant in Korea. Mungyeong of Gyongbuk province produce almost of Schizandra chinensis. Maturity of Schizandra chinensis get 3 years and proliferation of Schizandra chinensis was not a manual. It is needed that a new cultivar has a big fruit and high quality chracteristics using processed food and beverage. Methods and Results : 105 lines of Schizandra chinensis were collected on Mungyeong, Yeongwol, Jinan. It were studied it’ characteristics especially it’s fruit trait. Fruit traits of Schizandra chinensis were researched on fruit length, fruit weight, maturity, number of fruit, male and female ratio, powdery mildew. Fruit length of Schizandra chinensis is relation of fruit weight. It were founded 15 lines of long fruit length. 5 lines were studied high fruit weight and it’s weight were 32 to 41g. Number of fruit has relation with fruit weight and high fruit weight gets many fruits. it’s numer of fruits were 3 to 41. Male and female ratio were very impotant characteristic. High level of female ratio has quantity of fruit. High level of female ratio were founded 2 lines. Finally It was selected 3 good breed lines of Schizandra chinensis. Conclusion : 105 lines of Schizandra chinensis Baillons were collected on Mungyeong, Yeongwol, Jinan. It were founded 15 lines of long fruit length and 5 lines were studied high fruit weight. High level of female ratio were founded 2 lines. 3 good breed lines of Schizandra chinensis were selected.

Background : Codonopsis is a flowering plants belong to the family Campanulaceae, and has many kinds of medicinal properties. As currently recognized, two other groups, Campanumoea and Leptocodon, are included in the Codonopsis. The enlarged genus Codonopsis is distributed in Eastern, Southern, Central, and Southeastern Asia. C. lanceolata, C. clematidea and C. pilosula has many kinds of medicinal properties and this plants are used as medicinal and edible plants. C. ovata and C. mollis are distributed in Pakistan Kashmir and Himalaya mountains at an altitude of about 3,000 m, and flowers bloom in July to August. Methods and Results : In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity of 5 Codonopsis species using 8 SSR markers base on C. lancelolata genomic sequences. Samples were obtained from fresh leaves of 5 plants from each species and genomic DNA was extracted using CTAB method. PCR was performed in total 20μl reaction volume containing 20 ng of DNA template and 5 pmole of primers. PCR conditions composed pre-denaturation at 95℃ for 5 min, then 35 cycles of 95°C for 30 sec, 60°C for 30 sec and 72°C for 30 sec, and a final extension at 72℃ for 30 min. The amplified band sizes ranged from 74 to 301 bp and clearly showed single or doble bands in eletrophoresis. From the phylogenetic analysis, C. lanceolata was grouped together, but the others were not grouped together according to the species. Conclusion : We concluded that C. lanceolata cultivated in Korea is different from the other species, and the eight SSR markers used in this study are able to distinguish C. lanceolata from the other species.

Background : This study was development of moisture tolerance and high-yielding Rehmannia glutinosa cultivar. Methods and Results : Segang is developed by the medicinal crop breeding team of National Institute of Horticulture and Herbal Science(NIHHS), Rural Development Administration(RDA), during the period from 2005 to 2015. The reproduction of Rehmannia glutinosa has been accomplished mainly by vegetative propagation with its seedlings have many variants. The cultivar was selected from seedling of Jihwang 1(check variety). The plant type of Segang is some rising from ground. Regional yield trials conducted at three site from 2014 to 2015. The root yield of Segang was 21.1ton per hectare, which was increased 12% compared with Jihwang 1. Also, Segang has higher catalpol content and dried root ratio compared with Jihwang 1. Conclusion : Segang is a moisture tolerance and high-yielding Rehmannia glutinosa cultivar.

Assessing genetic diversity, population structure, and linkage disequilibrium is important in identifying potential parental lines for breeding programs. In this study, we assessed the genetic and phenotypic variation of 174 normal maize (Zea mays) inbred lines and made association analyses with respect to nine agronomical traits, using 150 simple sequence repeats (SSR). From population structure analysis, the lines were divided into three groups. Association analysis was done with a mixed linear model and a general linear model. Twenty one marker-trait associations involving 19 SSR markers were observed using the mixed model, with a significance level of P<0.01. All of these associations, as well as 120 additional marker-trait associations involving 77 SSR markers, were observed with the general model. Two significant marker-trait associations (SMTAs) were detected at P ≤ 0.0001. In the mixed linear model, one locus was associated with water content, two loci were associated with 100-kernel weight, setted ear length, ear thickness and stem thickness; three loci were associated with ear height, four loci were associated with total kernel weight and five loci were associated with plant height. These results should prove useful to breeders in the selection of parental lines and markers.

For understanding the genetic diversity and genetic relationship between cultivated and weedy types, we evaluated genetic variation of 80 accessions of rice (O. Sativa). This included 42 cultivated accessions and 38 weedy accessions with the help of AFLP and CACTA-TD. A total of 542 loci were analyzed (255 for AFLP and 287 for CACTA-TD) of which AFLP markers exhibited 75% of polymorphism and transposon based CACTA-TD markers exhibited 93% of polymorphism. The average genetic diversity value for all 80 accessions, using AFLP markers was 0.226 (Cultivated – 0.210; Weedy 0.241) and based on CACTA-TD markers was 0.281 (Cultivated – 0.294; Weedy 0.269). A UPGMA phylogenetic tree revealed three major groups for both the marker system. The average polymorphic content value obtained with AFLP and CACTA-TD markers were 0.21 and 0.232, Effective multiplex ratio (AFLP – 47.50; CACTA-TD – 66.75), Marker Index (AFLP – 9.94; CACTA-TD – 21.13) and Resolving power (AFLP – 19.53; CACTA-TD – 34.62) indicated that the CACTA-TD markers were relatively efficient than AFLP markers.

‘Clara’ 품종은 국립원예특작과학원에서 2005년도에 육성한 포인세티아 품종으로 초장이 작고 컴팩트한 수형으로 포엽의 형태는 난형이며 엽맥 사이 주름의 정도는 약하다. 포엽의 길이와 폭, 잎몸의 길이와 폭, 엽병의 길이는 짧으며 단일처리 후 약 9주일이 경과하면 충분히 착색되어 출하가 가능한 품종이다. 2008년 5월과 10월 ‘Clara’ 품종의 캘러스가 형성된 삽수에 100Gy의 감마선을 24시간 동안 처리하여 유기한 돌연변이를 이용하여 2010년과 2013년에 국립원예특작과학원에서 ‘Clara Pink’와 ‘Clara White’품종을 육성하였다. 이 두 품종들은 포엽의 색이 완전히 변한 변이주를 선발하여 계통화 하였으며 2008년 5월에 감마선을 처리한 삽수들 중 포엽의 색이 분홍색인 변이지를 선발하여 2009년에 2차에 거쳐 특성검정을 실시하였다. 2010년에 ‘원예 D5-2’를 육성한 후 3차 특성검정과 품종평가회를 실시하여 최종선발하였으며, 농작물 직무육성 신품종선정위원회를 거쳐 ‘Clara Pink’로 명명하였다. 2005년 10월에 감마선을 처리한 삽수들중에서는 포엽의 색이 연황색인 변이주를 선발하여 계통화 하였으며, 2012년과 2013년에 1,2차 특성검정을 실시하였다. 2013년에 ‘원예 D5-34’를 육성하여 특성검정과 품종평가회를 실시하고 농작물 직무육성신품종선정위원회를 거쳐 ‘Clara White’로 명명하였다. ‘클라라 핑크’와 ‘클라라 화이트’ 두 품종 모두 ‘클라라’ 품종과 같은 소형으로 적심하지 않은 상태에서도 분지가 많이 발생하는 컴팩트한 수형이다. 포엽의 형태는 결각이 없는 난형이며, 엽맥 사이에 약한 주름이 있고 단일처리 후 약 9주일 경과하면 완전히 착색된다. 잎몸의 모양은 난형이며, 엽병의 길이는 짧다. 그러나 ‘클라라 핑크’와 ‘클라라 화이트’ 품종의 포엽과 엽맥의 안토시아닌 발현에 차이를 나타내었다. ‘클라라 핑크’ 의 포엽은 분홍색이며, ‘클라라 화이트’의 포엽은 연황색이다. 또한 ‘클라라 핑크’ 와 ‘클라라 화이트’ 품종은 ‘클라라’ 품종과 비교해서 잎자루 윗면의 안토시아닌 발현 정도가 약하였으며, 잎몸 윗면의 가운데 맥의 색이 ‘클라라’ 품종은 녹색과 빨강색이 함께 발현되었으나, ‘클라라 핑크’ 와 ‘클라라 화이트’ 품종은 녹색만 발현되었다.

Chemoresistance is one of the main problems to treat different kinds of cancers or cancer cells. Therefore, it is necessary to find out the strategies to make the cancer cells sensitive to chemotherapy along with optimal dosage of drugs. We examined sensitivity of MCF7 cells through pretreating with an epigenetic modulator, azacytidine (AzaC) to doxorubicin (Dox). The cells were treated with 5 and 10 mM of AzaC for a week, subsequently with 50, 100 and 500 nM of doxorubicin for 24 and 48h. It was found that pretreatment of AzaC significantly enhance the sensitivity of MCF7 cells to Dox, inducing cell death. After 24h 15% cells underwent apoptosis in 500 nM dox treatment group while 23.4% cells death occurred in AzaC pre treatment group. After 48h MCF7 cells treated with Dox showed 19.0% cell death while AzaC sensitized cells showed 50.0% cells death when exposed to 500 nM of Dox for 48h. Western blot analysis showed the upregulations in the expression of bax, caspase-3, caspase-9 and p53 in AzaC-sensitized MCF7 cells treated with Dox as compared to those treated with only Dox. There was no clear indication for pro-apoptosis genes in the cells treated with individual drugs. These results showed that pretreatment with the epigenetic modulator significantly increased the sensitivity of MCF7 cells to Dox. Therefore it is concluded that demethylation event might enhance the activity of DNA intercalating agents to induce DNA damage in breast cancer cells.

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is one of the most economically important cucurbitaceous crop over the world. Anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum orbiculare, result to severe damage to cucurbits worldwide. Anthracnose is a typical plant disease which significantly affecting the yield of cucurbit crop. Pathogeneis-related (PR) proteins are well-known plant defense proteins against pathogens. Therefore, we observed PR genes expression patterns when watermelon got anthracnose disease. We did RT-PCR experiment to evaluate differences of PR genes expression pattern among Au-Producer(R), one of the representative of resistance watermelon varieties against anthracnose, and 920533(S), one of the representative of susceptible watermelon varieties against anthracnose. As a result, there were differences of the expression of several PR genes between the R and S watermelon. Analysis of the function of these genes is expected to perform in the future.

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is one of the most economically important cucurbitaceous crop over the world. Screening of proper reference genes was needed to reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and it is bausic step of many researches including gene expression analysis. However, the reference genes on watermelon has not yet been reported systematically. Therefore, eight candidates of reference genes were selected with reference to Arabidopsis or cucumber papers. They are β-Actin, elongation factor 1-α, glyceraldehy-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase, NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase, leunig, polypyrimidine tract-binding protein1, ubiquitin-conjugating eznyme E2, and 18S ribosomal RNA. The expression levels of genes were evaluated by qRT-PCR under biotic stress (Colletotrichum orbiculare treatment), plant hormone treatment (100 μM ABA), and abiotic stresses such as drought, cold (4℃), salt (250 mM NaCl) stresses. We founded appropriate reference genes which did not induce or reduce gene expression levels under broad spectrum of stresses by qRT-PCR analysis. These results may provide proper information for the use of appropriate reference genes for gene expression studies in watermelon qRT-PCR analysis.

Heat shock transcription factors(HSFs) are the major heat shock factors regulating the heat stress response. They participate in regulating the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs), which are critical in the protection against stress damage and many other important biological processes. In this study, a genome-wide analysis was carried out to identify all HSFs soybean genes. Twenty six nonredundant HSF genes(GmHsf) were identified in the latest soybean genome sequence. Chromosomal location, protein domain and motif organization of GmHsfs were analyzed in soybean genome. The phylogenetic relationships, gene duplications and expression profiles of GmHsf genes were also presented in this study. According to their structural features, the predicted members were divided into the previously defined classes A–C, as described in Arabidopsis. Using RT-PCR, the expression patterns of 26 GmHsf genes were investigated under heat stress. The data revealed that these genes presented different expression levels in response to heat stress conditions. Real-time (q)RT-PCR was performed to investigate transcript levels of five GmHsfs in response to multiple abiotic stresses. Differential expression of five GmHsfs implies their role during abiotic stresses. Subcellular localization using GFP-fusion protein demonstrated that GmHsf12 and GmHsf34 were restricted to the nucleus and GmHsf28 was localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm in plant. The results provide a fundamental clue for understanding of the complexity of the soybean HSF gene family and cloning specific function genes in further studies and applications.

The plant-specific NAC (NAM, ATAF, and CUC)-domain proteins play important roles in plant development and stress responses. Comparative time-course expression analyses were carried out to analyze the expression levels of 62 soybean NAC genes during drought stress in order to search for the stress-inducible NAC genes. Ten GmSNAC (Glycine max stress-inducible NAC) genes having the significant differential expression in response to the drought stress and abscisic acid (ABA) hormone application were further investigated for their expression profiles with various stresses such as drought, high salinity, cold and with ABA treatments by the quantitative real-time PCR analyses. In this research, the full-length cDNAs of eight GmSNAC were isolated for the further studies. Eight GmSNAC proteins were tested for their transcription activation in the yeast assay system. Two GmSNAC proteins showed the very high transcriptional activities and the other two GmSNAC proteins displayed moderate levels of transactivation while the remaining four GmSNAC proteins lacked transactivation in yeast. Subcellular localization of eight GmSNAC proteins was analyzed via the green fluorescent protein-GmSNAC fusion protein in tobacco plant cell. Three GmSNAC proteins with the C-terminal transmembrane domain were localized to the nucleus and cytoplasmic fractions. The other five GmSNAC proteins were targeted to the nucleus. The function of GmSNAC49 gene was further investigated using the overexpression transgenic Arabidopsis. Germination rate in transgenic plants over-expressing GmSNAC49 was delayed in the media supplemented with mannitol or ABA compared with that of wild-type (WT) plants. The 35S:GmSNAC49 transgenic Arabidopsis displayed improved tolerance to drought stress compared to the WT. The results of this systematic analysis of the GmSNAC family responsive to abiotic stress will provide novel tools and resources for the development of improved drought tolerant transgenic soybean cultivars

Comparative time-course expression analyses were carried out to analyze the expression levels of 60 soybean WRKY genes during abiotic stress in order to search for the stress-inducible WRKY genes. Five GmWRKY(Glycine max WKRY) genes having the significant differential expression in response to the drought stress and abscisic acid(ABA) hormone application were further investigated for their expression profiles with various stresses such as drought, high salinity, cold and with ABA treatments by the quantitative real-time PCR analyses. In this research, the full-length cDNAs of five GmWRKY were isolated for the further studies. Five GmWRKY proteins were tested for their transcription activation in the yeast assay system. GmWRKY3 proteins showed the very high transcriptional activities and the other two GmWRKY proteins displayed moderate levels of transactivation while the remaining two GmWRKY proteins lacked transactivation in yeast. Subcellular localization of five GmWRKY proteins was analyzed via the green fluorescent protein-GmWRKY fusion protein in tobacco plant cell and all of GmWRKY proteins were targeted to the nucleus. In order to analyze the function of GmWRKY genes in plant, 35S:GmWRKY overexpression(OE) transgenic Arabidopsis were generated. Root growth and germination rates in transgenic OE plants were investigated in the media supplemented with mannitol, NaCl or ABA compared with that of wild-type(WT) plants. The 35S:GmWRKY42 transgenic Arabidopsis displayed reduced tolerance to drought stress compared to the WT. The results of this systematic analysis of the GmWRKY family responsive to abiotic stress will provide novel tools and resources for the development of improved drought tolerant transgenic soybean cultivars