Here, we investigated antioxidant defense mechanism in the spermatheca of A. mellifera queens via RNA-seq analysis of spermathecae in both mated and virgin queens. We identified the genes encoding antioxidant proteins, which were differentially expressed in the spermatheca of mated queens. The concentrations of antioxidant proteins, such as superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GTPX), and transferrin (Tf) together with the levels of ROS, H2O2, and iron were higher in the spermathecal fluid of mated queens as opposed to those in the spermathecal fluid of virgin queens; this indicated that increase in antioxidant protein concentration is an antioxidant defense mechanism occurring in the spermathecal fluid of mated queens against ROS; this mechanism involves conversion of ROS using antioxidant enzymes and Tf-mediated inhibition of the Fenton reaction occurring between Fe2+ and H2O2. Our data indicate that an increased expression of antioxidant proteins could facilitate prolonged storage and survival of sperms in the spermatheca of mated queens, suggesting the role of antioxidant proteins in antioxidative defense against ROS.

The baculovirus expression system is a very useful tool widely used for expression of foreign proteins. To use the baculovirus expression system, a recombinant baculovirus must be prepared. The development of the Bac to Bac system has reduced the time and effort required to produce recombinant baculovirus. But, it will take at least two weeks. Further, it takes more time to measure the activity of recombinant baculovirus. In order to overcome this problem, a virus inducible expression system is being studied recently. Although baculovirus is able to rapidly express foreign proteins, it still has a low expression level. Thus, in this study, we aimed to construct a novel baculovirus inducible expression vector that not only shortens the production time of protein but also can express at a high level. The novel baculovirus inducible expression vector has been evaluated using EGFP and is expected to be a very useful tool for production of various proteins.

2017년부터 2018년까지 전북지역 오디 생산용 뽕나무에 발생하는 주요 해충의 발생 양상과 유기농업자재에 의한 뽕나무이 방제 효과를 조사하였다. 부안과 익산지역을 중심으로 수확 전 발생하는 주요 해충은 뽕나무이, 미국흰불나방, 뽕나무명나방, 노린재류, 꽃매미 6종이었으며 수확 후에는 미국흰불나방, 뽕나무명나방, 총채벌레, 미국선녀벌레, 노린재류 등 5종이 발생하였다. 또한 오디 생산용 뽕나무 재배시 가장 문제가 되는 병해충인 균핵병과 뽕나무이를 동시에 친환경적으로 관리하기 위해서는 데리스 추출물(데리스 90%) 250배와 황토유황 500배를 혼합하여 처리하는 것이 방제효과 97.6%로 효과적이었다. 선발된 유기농업자재에 효과적인 처리시기는 4월 상·중순이며, 7일 간격으로 3회 방제하면 94% 이상의 방제효과가 있고 약해도 발생하지 않아 유기농업자재를 이용한 뽕나무이의 친환경방제가 가능할 것으로 판단되었다.

우리나라에서 흰등멸구는 매년 해외로부터 비래, 정착한 후 2~3세대를 경과하며 벼의 생육 및 품질 저하에 영향을 미치는 벼의 중요 해충 중 하나이며, 비래해충의 경우 비래 후 세대에 따른 변화 양상을 정확하게 예측하는 것은 방제시기와 방제수단을 결정하는데 중요하다. 공시충은 2018년 사육실에서(25±2 ℃, 60±5% RH, L:D=16:8) 누대사육하여 사용하였다. 흰등멸구가 국내에 비래 후 3세대까지 세대증식하면서 피해를 주는 것으로 가정하여 1세대와 3세대 간의 발육과 산란 등을 조사하였으며 얻어진 결과를 토대로 생명표를 작성하였다. 약충기간은 1세대와 3세대에서 각각 14.5일, 13.6일, 암컷 성충기간은 각각 17.2일, 11.8일로 나타났으며, 우화율은 98.3%, 85.0%로 조사되었 다. 산란기간은 각각 6.8일, 6.0일이었으며 산란수는 47.5마리, 122.6마리로 세대가 늘어나면서 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 생명표 분석 결과, 순증가율, 내적자연증가율이 각각 5배, 1.7배 증가한 것으로 나타났다.

고온기 화색발현이 우수하고 연중생산이 가능한 수출용 스프레이국화 신품종을 육성하기 위하여 충남농업기술원 화훼 연구소에서 2010년 분홍색의 모본 ‘Borami’를 방임수분하였다. 2011년에 종자를 파종하였고, 이중 화형과 화색이 우수한 개체를 선발하여 ‘SP11-148-01’로 계통명을 부여하였다. 2011년부터 2013년까지 주년 생산성을 위해 전조, 자연, 차광재배로 특성을 각각 검정하였고, 생육 및 개화특성은 화형과 화색이 비슷한 자주색 스프레이국화인 ‘Kingfisher’를 대조품종으로 조사하였으며, 2013년 ‘Yes Ruby’로 품종등록 출원하였다. ‘Yes Ruby’는 자주색의 설상화와 연녹색의 통상화로 가을 작형 개화기는 10월 24일로, ‘Kingfisher’의 10월 29일에 비해 빨랐다. ‘Yes Ruby’의 초장과 줄기굵기는 각각 94.9cm와 7.7mm로 ‘Kingfisher’의 89.2cm와 6.4mm보다 컸다. ‘Yes Ruby’의 꽃 직경은 6.2cm로 ‘Kingfisher’의 5.0cm보다 컸으며, 꽃잎수도 ‘Yes Ruby’가 25.7개로 ‘Kingfisher’의 23.3개보다 많았다. 착화수는 두 품종 모두 비슷하였으며, 흰녹병 저항성은 ‘Yes Ruby’가 2단계, ‘Kingfisher’는 3단계의 감염 정도를 나타내어 흰녹병에 대한 저항성이 높은 것으로 나타났다. 재배상 유의사항은 ‘Yes Ruby’는 겨울철 균일한 개화가 이뤄지지 않아 겨울철 야간온도를 18℃ 이상으로 관리해줌으로써 균일개화를 유도할 수 있다. 또한 생장억제제인 Daminozide을 처리함으로써 설상화수를 늘려 볼륨감 높은 꽃봉오리를 형성할 수 있어 고온기에도 화색발현이 우수하고 연중생산이 가능하여 안정적 수출을 통한 농가소득 증대에 기여할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

Recently, the importance of on-site detection of pathogens has drawn attention in the field of molecular diagnostics. Unlike in a laboratory environment, on-site detection of pathogens is performed under limited resources. In this study, we tried to optimize the experimental conditions for on-site detection of pathogens using a combination of ultra-fast convection polymerase chain reaction (cPCR), which does not require regular electricity, and nucleic acid lateral flow (NALF) immunoassay. Salmonella species was used as the model pathogen. DNA was amplified within 21 minutes (equivalent to 30 cycles of polymerase chain reaction) using ultra-fast cPCR, and the amplified DNA was detected within approximately 5 minutes using NALF immunoassay with nucleic acid detection (NAD) cassettes. In order to avoid false-positive results with NAD cassettes, we reduced the primer concentration or ultra-fast cPCR run time. For singleplex ultra-fast cPCR, the primer concentration needed to be lowered to 3 μM or the run time needed to be reduced to 14 minutes. For duplex ultra-fast cPCR, 2 μM of each primer set needed to be used or the run time needed to be reduced to 14 minutes. Under the conditions optimized in this study, the combination of ultra-fast cPCR and NALF immunoassay can be applied to on-site detection of pathogens. The combination can be easily applied to the detection of oral pathogens.

Cryopreservation of bovine embryos is used to efficiently implant surrogate mothers. It has been widely accepted that high lipid content in the oocyte interrupts its survival during freeze-thaw cycles. Serum component in the culture medium is thought to increase the embryo`s lipid contents. Conversely, L-carnitine stimulates lipid metabolism by transporting long chain fatty acids into the mitochondria. Objective of this study was to analyze the effect of L-carnitine supplementation in IVM medium and defined IVC medium on the development, lipid contents and the cryosurvival of bovine IVF embryos. 0.0, 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 mM L-carnitine was supplemented in IVM medium, respectively (IVM-LC 0.0, LC 1.5, LC 3.0 and LC 6.0). Development rate from the 2cell to the morula stages was higher in IVM-LC 3.0 groups than those of IVM-LC 6.0 (p<0.05). But there were no significant differences among the other groups in the blastocyst rates and lipid content results. When 0.0, 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 mM L-carnitine were supplemented in IVC medium (IVC-LC 0.0, LC 1.5, LC 3.0 and LC 6.0), development competence was not significantly different between those embryos. Lipid contents of embryos treated L-carnitine (IVC-LC 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0) were significantly lower than embryos of non-treated group. L-carnitine was supplemented 0.0, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0 mM during IVM and 3.0 mM during IVC (LC 0.0 - 3.0, LC 1.5 – 3.0, LC 3.0 – 3.0, LC 6.0 – 3.0) and cryosurvival of blastocysts confirmed after freezing-thawing. There were no significant differences on development, but LC 3.0 – 3.0 was significantly lower lipid contents than other groups. And LC 3.0 – 3.0 had better survival rates and hatched rates of blastocysts than LC 0.0 – 0.0. In conclusion, supplementation of L-carnitine in defined IVC medium decreases lipid contents. And L-carnitine supplementation improves cryosurvival and developmental ability of bovine IVF embryos.