This study was aimed to investigate the difference for carbohydrate accumulation in both the red skinned tuber and white skinned tuber of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.), and to evaluate their tuber yield of seven lines collected from Korea. Jerusalem artichoke tubers were divided into two groups regarding to their skinned colors. Red skinned tuber collected from Euisung region showed the lowest tuber yield as 3,100 kg per 10a, otherwise white skinned tuber collected from Imdong region resulted in the highest tuber production as 6,300 kg per 10a among the six kinds of white skinned tubers. Yield of white skinned tuber was higher than that of red skinned tuber. It was inferred from the result that carbohydrate accumulation in white skinned tuber was highly increased compared to red skinned tuber since after early tuber enlargement.

Recent consumption of germinated brown rice is increasing due to its health-beneficial effects. To clarify germination-dependent changes in functional compounds, 5 different types of (ordinary, glutinous rice, green-kerneled, red-colored and black-colored) rices were selected and pre- and post-germination vit E (α-, β-, γ-tocopherols and α-, γ-, δ -tocotrienols), squalene, and phytosterols (campesterol, stigmasterol, sitosterol) contents were evaluated. In the case of vit E generally decreasing tendency were observed in most cases, except for δ-tocopherol which increased by 8 to 28% in all types of rices. Significant increase in squalene contents were observed only in glutinous rice (by 31%), while other types of rices exhibited no changes or slight reduction after germination. In all tested rice types, germination significantly increased stigmasterol by 5 to 27%, while no changes or slight reductions in campesterol and sitosterol were observed. In conclusion most of tested functional compounds exhibited statistically not significant or slight changes except for stigmasterol which were increased by the process of producing germinated brown rice.

Iris nertschinsk has been used generally as a decorative plant. However, it has been almost used as a medicine for therapy on various human diseases. In this study, we demonstrate the anti-tumor effect of Iris nertschinsk on human breast cancer cells. Firstly, we found that Iris nertschinsk dose-dependently induced cell death in human breast cancer cell lines, MCF7 and MDA-MB231. Moreover, phosphorylation of p53 was induced after Iris nertschinsk treatment in MCF7 cells, which has a functional p53, but not in MDA-MB231 cells, which has a dysfunctional p53. We next examined whether Iris nertschinsk induces caspase-dependent cell death. Caspase-7 was cleaved after Iris nertschinsk treatment in MCF7 cells. Interestingly, either caspase-3 or caspase-7 was cleaved in MDA-MB231 cells that p53 had been phosphorylated by Iris nertschinsk treatment, indicating that Iris nertschinsk induces apoptosis through the cleavage of caspase-3, -7 in human breast cancer cell lines, MCF7 and MDA-MB231, but related to the status of p53. Therefore, these results suggest that Iris nertschinsk could be used as a treatment for human breast cancer. This research is supported by National Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology research grant.

The adverse effects of salinity and drought on soybean cultivar Hwangkeumkong were also investigated. Endogenous bioactive gibberellins GA1 and GA4, jasmonic acid (JA), abscisic acid (ABA) and salicylic acid (SA) content and pertinent changes in response to basic and double NaCl (70 mM & 140 mM) and PEG (8% & 16%) were examined. We found that plant growth and yield components significantly reduced with the application of NaCl and PEG during pre-flowering and post-flowering growth periods. The endogenous bioactive GA1 and GA4content decreased under elevated salt and drought stress. However, an insignificant increase in GA4level was noted with 8% PEG, applied during post-flowering growth stage. JA levels significantly increased with NaCl and PEG applications, but declined with elevated PEG applied during post-flowering period. SA level drastically reduced with NaCl, while insignificantly reduced with PEG. Endogenous ABA contents of leaves increased with elevated NaCl and PEG application. The endogenous bioactive GA1 and GA4, JA and ABA content of soybean leaves were analyzed through chromatograph/ mass spectrometer (GC/MS) in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode, while SAcontent was quantified with HPLC.

Agricultural productivity is subjected to enormous environmental constraints, particularly to salinity and drought due to their higher magnitude of adverse impacts and worldwide distribution. Silicon (Si) was found to play a favorable role in salinity and drought stress alleviation of soybean cultivar Daewonkong. All growth attributes insignificantly improved with Si nutrition. The endogenous bioactive GA1 and GA4 content increased with the application of elevated Si level both under normal and stressful condition. JA contents sharply increased with NaCl and PEG application but decreses with Si added to salt and drought stress treatments. SA level increased with NaCl and PEG and was further enhanced with Si in the salt treated plants, but reduced with the combined application of Si and PEG. The endogenous bioactive GA1 and GA4, JA and ABA content of soybean leaves were analyzed through chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode, while SA content was quantified with HPLC.

This experiment was carried out to clear optimum planting time for yield enlargement by comparing yield with dry matter at Miryang from 2005 to 2006. Variety used were Daewon, Daepung, Daol and Cheongja 3. Seeding was performed on April 30 to June 30 with 20day intervals and planting density was 142,857 palnts/ha (70×20㎝, 2plants per hill) with black vinyl mulching. In R2～R4 stages, crop growth rate(CGR) was largest on June 10 seeding. Although net assimilation rate(NAR) increased as seeding date was delayed, NAR on June 10 seeding was the highest throughout the growth period. Positive relationships were observed between NAR from R2 to R4 the ratio of pod to total dry matter weight. The LAI and total dry matter weight at the R4 stage was higher at earlier seeding date. In the case when seeding date was delayed, the ratio of leaf(source) and pod(sink) increased. From the comparison of all factors such as dry weight, optimum LAI, and of source to sink, the optimum planting date for high seed production was June 10. The highest yield was recorded with on June 10 seeding. Also, this seeding date showed high ratio of seed yield to dry matter in R2 stage. Difference between surveyed pod no. and theological pod no. which was calculated by dry matter ratio compared with standard seeding date(June 10) at R2 stage was the smallest in June 10 seeding.

This study was carried out to obtain general agronomic characteristics and identify its relationship with seeding date for high quality soybean seed production. One hundred(100) domestic soybean varieties were used and seeding date were scheduled at April 30 and May 30. This experiment was carried out at YARI, NICE situated at Miryang from 2005 to 2006. Maturity Group(MG) was classified by Kweon et al's method (1974). Correlation analysis of major agronomic characters showed positive relationship between days to flowering and growth days, seed weight and lodging in MG ,seed crack and growth days in Ⅳ～Ⅴ MG0～Ⅲ,seed crack and days to flowering in MGⅣ～Ⅴ and MGⅥ～Ⅶ, seed crack and lodging in MGⅣ～Ⅴ and MGⅥ～Ⅶ, seed crack and seed weight in MGⅣ～Ⅴ and MGⅥ～Ⅶ, purple seed and growth days in MGⅣ～Ⅴ , purple seed and seed weight in MGⅥ～Ⅶ, phomopsis and growth days in MGⅣ～Ⅴ and MGⅥ～Ⅶ, and phomopsis and purple seed in MGⅣ～Ⅴ and MGⅥ～Ⅶ. In contrast, a negative relationship was observed between seed weight and lodging in MG0～Ⅲ. Correlating yield and major characters revealed negative relationship between days to flowering and growth days in MG0～Ⅲ and MGⅣ～Ⅴ, whereas positive relationships were obtained on MGⅥ～Ⅶ seeded on April 30. Lodging, seed weight and seed crack were all negatively correlated with yield in MGⅣ～Ⅴ and MGⅥ～Ⅶ

This experiment was carried out to examine seed quality as affected by enviromental cutivation for the production of high quality domestic soybean variety at Miryang (altitude : 12m) and Muju(altitude : 600m). Variety used were Daewon, Daepung, Daol and Cheongja 3. Seeding was performed on April 30 to June 30 and planting density was 142,857 palnts/ha. Seed weight across regions was lighter as seeding date was delayed. Opposite trends between seed crack and seed weight was obtained. Seed crack decreased as seeding date was delayed and have higher occurrence in Miryang than in Muju. Perple seed and phomopsis decayed seed decreased as seeding date was delayed. There was a significant negative correlation between seed weight and mean temperature from R2 to R4 stages in all variety. Seed weight increased as mean temperature from R2 to R4 stage decreased to 22.0℃, which was greatly manifested on Daewon variety. At maturity time, Daewon variety had an average increase of 1.79g as mean temperature decreased by 1℃. Seed weight of Daewon obtained a significant negative correlation with mean temperature at R4～R6 stage and on rainfall at R4～R6 stage. Mean temperature and rainfall were able to estimate 100 seed weight of Daewon and Daepung variety with 98.1% and 96.6% probability, respectively. Phomopsis occurrence in late maturity type was closely related to rainfall during the R4～R6 stages.

This study was carried out to classify Korean soybean varieties based maturity group. One hundred (100) domestic soybean varieties ( 56 for fermentation, 26 for sprouting, 17 for mixed with rice) were used and seeding date was scheduled at April 30. This experiment carried out at Yeongnam Agricultural Research Institute, NICE situated at Miryang from 2005 to 2006. Classification of maturity group in 100 soybeans was followed by Kweon et al's method (1974) The main difference between this experiment and that of Kweon et al's method (1974) were the planting region and planting date. This experiment was conducted on April 30 at Miryang while Kweon et al. was conducted on May 23 in Seoul. Results of maturity grouping of Korean soybean varieties showed that Keunol, which was represented among 3 varieties, belonged to Group 0, Seonnok and Danmi in GroupⅡ, Shinrok in GroupⅢ, Seonyu, represented by 17 cultivars, in GroupⅣ, Taekwang, having 44 cultivars in GroupⅤ, Daewon, represented by 25 cultivars in GroupⅥ, and Kwangdu and Keumdu in GroupⅦ.

A field experiment was conducted to investigate effects of application time and rate of biofertilizer alone and in combination with chemical NPK fertilizer on growth, yield and quality of rice. The biofertilizer used composted food waste as substrate and added with effective microorganism. The treatments included recommended NPK fertilizer(RF, 11-5.5-4.8kg~;10a-1 ), half recommended NPK fertilizer(HRF, 5.5-2.8-2.4kg~;10a-1 ), half recommended NPK fertilizer plus 250kg~;10a-1 biofertilizer(HRF+Bio 250) and 500kg~;10a-1 biofertilizer(HRF+Bio 500). The biofertilizer treatments were applied at 0, 5 and 10 days before transplanting(DBT). Grain yield of HRF+Bio 250 at 5 DBT(648.4kg~;10a-1 ) was statistically similar to the highest obtained in the RF(654.1kg~;10a-1 ). Tiller numbers at HRF plus biofertilizer treatments were already high during the maximum tillering stage, and were similar with that of the RF and higher than that of the HRF during heading stage. Likewise, ripening ratio at HRF plus biofertilizer treatments was similar with that of the RF and higher than that of the HRF. Furthermore, all the biofertilizer treatments improved protein content but reduced the amylose content and palatability compared to treatments with chemical NPK fertilizer alone. Thus, HRF+Bio 250 at 5 DBT can be used to save 50% chemical NPK fertilizer and at the same time obtain an improved rice grain yield and quality.

A new black seed coat soybean variety, “Socheong” was developed at the Yeongnam Agricultural Research Institute (YARI) in 2006. The goal to breed the black seed coat soybean is to develop the cultivar with high yield, lodging tolerance, resistant to disease such as soybean mosaic virus (SMV), and bacterial pustule and seed size. Socheong was selected from the cross between Milyang 78, which was late maturing, susceptible to lodging and SMV and with large seed size and green cotyledon, and Peking which was tolerant to lodging and with small seed size. The preliminary, advanced and regional yield trials for evaluation and selection of this variety were carried out from 2002 to 2006. It has determinate growth habit, white flower, brown pubescence, brown pod color, black seed coat, green cotyledon, elongated flattened seed shape, oval leaf shape and small seed size (15.7 grams per 100 seeds), and it was 3 days later in maturity than the check cultivar Cheongjakong. Socheong was higher, in the seed quality of sucrose and total sugar contents (6.8 and 8.2%) and isoflavone contents (1,754 ㎍/g) than the check cultivar. Futhermore, it has good characteristics for mechanical harvest, such as lodging tolerance, pod shattering and stem diameter. It also has been identified to have resistance to soybean mosaic virus symptom which was the troublesome soybean diseases. The average yield of Socheong was 2.21 ton per hectare in the regional yield trials carried out in four locations of Korea among seven locations from 2004 to 2006, which was 5 percent lower than the check cultivar Cheongjakong.

A new black seed coat soybean cultivar, “Heugmi” was developed at the Yeongnam Agricultural Research Institute (YARI) in 2006. The goal to breed the black seed coat soybean is to develop the cultivar with high yield, lodging tolerance, resistant to disease such as soybean mosaic virus (SMV), and bacterial pustule and seed size. Heugmi was selected from the cross between Milyang 78, which was late maturing, susceptible to lodging and SMV and with large seed size and green cotyledon, and Milyang 68, which was middle maturing, resistant to lodging and SMV and with middle seed size and yellow cotyledon. The preliminary, advanced and regional yield trials for evaluation and selection of this cultivar were carried out from 2001 to 2006. It has determinate growth habit, purple flower, brown pubescence, black pod color, black seed coat, green cotyledon, spherical seed shape, oval leaf shape and middle seed size (24.8 grams per 100 seeds), and it was 2 days earlier in maturity than the check cultivar Cheongjakong. Heugmi was better in the seed quality of crude protein contents, sucrose and total sugar contents than the check cultivar. It also has been identified to have resistance to SMV which was the troublesome soybean diseases. The average yield of Heugmi was 2.53 ton per hectare in the regional yield trials carried out in seven locations of Korea from 2004 to 2006, which was 8 percent higher than the check cultivar Cheongjakong.

The effect of biofertilizer in enhancing nutrient quality and antioxidant property of rice grain was investigated. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications and 7 treatments namely : RF = N-P2O5-K2O(11-5.5-4.8kg~;10a-1); half of the recommended fertilizer rate, HRF=N-P2O5-K2O(5.5-2.75-2.4kg~;10a-1): HRF+Bio 250=HRF combined with 250 kg Biofertilizer 10 a-1 ; HRF+Bio 500=HRF combined with 500 kg Biofertilizer 10 a-1; Bio 250=250 kg Biofertilizer 10 a-1; Bio 500=500 kg Biofertilizer 10 a-1; and NF=No Fertilizer. Results showed that HRF+Bio 500 obtained a significantly higher protein content but a significantly lower amylose content compared with RF and NF treatments. Highest phytic acid content was recorded in NF treatment while the lowest was observed in HRF+500 treatment. The highest values in both electron donating ability and reducing power were obtained in HRF+Bio 500 treatment. All treatments obtained higher reducing power than that of the RF treatment and that NF treatment showed comparable values in both electron donating ability and reducing power with those of the treated plots. Highest antimutagenicity property was also observed in HRF+Bio 500 treatment followed by Bio 500 treatment. This study showed the possibility of using biofertilizer to enhance nutritional quality and antioxidant property of rice.