The rice blast disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae) is one of the most serious diseases of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) in most rice-growing regions of the world. In order to investigate early responsible genes in rice in response to M. oryzae, we analyzed transcriptomics analysis using 300 K tilling microarray chip. The quality of RNA samples was initially validated by 4 defense related genes and phytoalexins measurement using RT-PCR and HPLC, respectively, which are well known defense markers. We determined that accumulation of 608 genes showed statistically significant changes in the level of transcription (>2 fold change, P<0.05). Among them, 261 genes were more up-regulated in incompatible interaction than that of compatible one. We further analyzed GO enrichment analysis of the 41 and 231 which were 2 fold up-regulated genes at 12h and 48h in incompatible interaction, respectively, using Rice Oligo nucleotide Array Database (http://ricearray.org). Furthermore, MapMan analysis (http://mapman.gabipd.org/) revealed that 21 and 85 genes including 18 receptor-like genes which were more induced in incompatible interaction compared to compatible interaction were found to be involved in biotic stress. Thus, this study suggests that early inducible genes including receptor-like protein kinases in incompatible interaction may play a key role in disease resistance against M. oryzae attacks.

Here, we first demonstrate that identification of rice brown spot disease fungus (Cochliobolus miyabeanus, C. miyabeanus) proteins is possible in infected tissues using in planta apoplastic proteome with non-destructive tissues. In planta apoplastic proteins from rice leaves inoculated with C. miyabeanus, CM2 (compatible race), were isolated by vacuum infiltration with CaCl2/Na-acetateextractionbuffer, separated by SDS-PAGE, and identified by MudPIT. Of the 529 proteins that were identified by MudPIT, a large proportion (490) was from the rice. Numerous carbohydrate metabolic process (48), oxidation and reduction (44), response to oxidative stress (20%) were identified and confirmed their expression at RNA levels using microarray. Bioinformatic analysis showed that 176 and 39 of these proteins have a signal peptide in rice and rice brown spot fungus, respectively, using Signal P. The large proportion of proteins interestingly identified from the in planta apoplast were involved inprotease, hydrophobin, and host cell wall hydrolysis (Xylanase, beta-glucosidase) derived from pathogen. Thus, we suggest that in planta rice apoplastic secretome will be an important clue to understand the rice-rice brown spot fungus interactions.

Plant biomass is a huge carbon-complex that has potential as a nutrient. Therefore we extracted and separated useful materials for plant growth from tea leaf and stem. The pre-treatment process including high temperature (200 °C) and pressure (20-40 kgf/cm2) was treated for several minutes and extracted at 120 °C for 30-60 minutes. After that the chemical compositions and ingredients were analyzed from that plantnutrient. As a result of mineral contents, calcium and magnesium concentrations are higher than other minerals. Also the result of carbohydrates analyses has shown that the sugar oligomer consists of xylose(95.3%) and glucose(4.7%), and the sugar monomer consists in the order of xylose (52.7%) > manose (22.8%) > arabinose (10.8%) > galactose (10.2%) > glucose (3.5%). Before applied to field, in vitro plant growth system and formulation were examined. To evaluate the effect of the nutrients, both strawberry green-house and persimmon fields were used in this test. The treated persimmons were heavier than controls scored at 13-22%. In addition, the storageperiod was extended in the treated strawberries. Interestingly in the treated strawberry, the contents of polyphenols were increased (38-57%). These results suggest that the plant-nutrient can afford to help for plant growth and storage, and it can be substituted for other commercial nutrients. In conclusion, this plant-nutrient may help to extend eco-friendly or organic farming in Hadong-gun area.

Purple acid phosphatase is important for phosphorus remobilization in plants, but its role in plant adaptation to low phosphorus availability is not known. The cDNA encoding O. sativa purple acid phosphatase (OsPAP1) has 1008 bp with an open reading frame of 335 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence of OsPAP1 cDNA shows of 50-51% identity with other plant purple acid phosphatases. OsPAP1 was expressed in rice plants and in cell cultures in the absence of phosphate (Pi). The expression was organ-specific with the strongest expression in Pi-deprived roots. Functional expression of the OsPAP1 gene in the transgenic Arabidopsis line was confirmed by northern and western blot analysis. OsPAP1 overexpression lines had higher phosphatase activity than wild-type. Overexpression of OsPAP1 in Arabidopsis plants resulted in increased Pi accumulation under Pi sufficient condition. These results show that the OsPAP1 gene represents more efficient Pi uptake and can be used to develop new transgenic dicotyledonous plants.

A new cultivar of Rosa hybrida “Orange Flash” was selected from the progenies of a cross between “Lora” and “Timeless” at the Gyeonggi-Do Agricultural Research and Extension Services in 2000. It was finally selected in 2004 after investigation of the characteristics for three years (2002-2004). “Orange Flash” was developed for a standard type cut flower. The major characteristics of “Orange Flash” are 107stems/m2/year in yield, 24.8 in petal number and 10.9 days in vase life. The cultivar was applied for a variety protection in 2005, and was released to commercial growers in 2006.

A new cultivar of Rosa hybrida “Pink Flash” was selected from the progenies of a cross between “Red Sandra” and “Neon” at the Gyeonggi-Do Agricultural Research and Extension Services in 2000. It was finally selected in 2004 after investigation of the characteristics for three years (2002-2004). “Pink Flash” was developed for a standard cut flower. The major characteristics of “Pink Flash” are 132stems/m2/year in yield, 57.7 in petal number and 8.0 days in vase life. The cultivar was applied for a variety protection in 2005 and was released to commercial growers in 2006.