Snails and slugs are members of the mollusk phylum. They are similar in biology and structure, except slugs lack the snail's external spiral shell. Snails and slugs feed on a variety of living plants, decaying plant matter, fruit, and flowers. They are among the most bothersome creatures on horticultural crops such as Chinese cabbage, cabbage, lettuce, ginseng, lily, and orchid (Kim et al., 1990; Kim, 1992; Sorensen, 1994). Several species of

sy-2 (Seychelles-2) is a temperature sensitive natural mutant of Capsicum chinense and native to Seychelles Island in Africa. Previously we showed that sy-2 leaves were irregularly shaped and defective in chlorophyll development at temperatures below 24℃. A segregation test revealed that the sy-2 gene is controlled by a single recessive gene. To identify the sy-2 gene, we performed a map-based cloning approach using a total 600 individual F2 plants derived from crossing sy-2 and the wild type C. chinense ‘No.3341’. Fine-mapping of the locus allowed us to position sy-2 to an approximately 170-kb region flanked by markers IN2-1-1 and SNP-3-7 on chromosome 1. Among the approximately 36 hypothetical genes in this region several candidate genes including: HSP90-like ATPase family proteins, lipid-transfer proteins, calmodulin-domain protein kinases, and zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) were identified. RT-PCR and sequencing of the hypothetical genes are under way to identify sy-2.

sy-2 (Seychelles-2) is a temperature sensitive mutant of Capsicum chinense and native to Seychelles Island in Africa. Previously we showed that sy-2 leaves were irregularly shaped and defective in chlorophyll development at temperatures lower than 24℃. A segregation test revealed that the sy-2 gene is controlled by a single recessive gene. To identify the sy-2 gene, we performed a map-based cloning approach using a total of 1,010 F2 plants derived from crossing sy-2 and the wild type C. chinense ‘No.3341’. sy-2 gene is located on chromosome 1, 0.3 cM and 0.1cM away from cosII markers C2_At4g29120 and C2_At1g09070, respectively. The tomato genome sequence between those two markers was compared with pepper genome sequence. We found three of pepper scaffold sequences in this region. We developed seven ingle nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers on the pepper scaffold sequences, among which five SNP markers were co-segregated with sy-2. To fill the gap between the scaffolds which contains co-segregating markers, we screened a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library, and end-sequences of total of 22 AC clones were i. We found that five clones were overlapped to cover the gap. We fully sequenced four AC clones and found that the physical distance between C2_At4g29120 and C2_At1g09070 is 343kb. This region contains 70 putative genes such as HSP90-like ATPase family proteins, lipid-transfer proteins, calmodulin-domain protein kinases, and zinc finger proteins (ZFPs). To identify the sy-2 gene, we performed RT-PCR and found that a ZFP-like gene is differentially expressed between WT and sy-2 leaves. This result suggests that the ZFP-like gene is a strong candidate for the sy-2 gene. We are currently characterizing this candidate gene.

Effects of Gal geun (Puerariae Radix) EtOH ext. on lipid lowering and antioxidant were investigated in hyperlipidemic rat. Concentration of FFA and triglyceride in plasma showed a tendency to decrease in Gal geun ext. groups. Concentration of plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol decreased in Gal geun ext. groups. However the concentration of HDL-cholesterol showed no significantly different in all treatment groups. Concentration of liver total cholesterol and triglyceride showed a tendence to decrease in Gal geun ext. groups. Concentration of plasma and liver TBARS showed a low values in Gal geun ext. groups. The values of GSH-Px and SOD activity showed no significantly different among all the treatment groups. However the values of SOD and CAT activity showed a high value in the Gal geun ext. groups.

The soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines Inchinoe; SCN) is a devastating pest of soybean and is responsible for significant losses in yield. The use of resistant cultivars is the effective method to reduce or eliminate SCN damage. The objective of this research is to identify AFLP markers linked to the SCN resistant genes. Bulked genomic DNA was made from resistant and susceptible genotypes to SCN and a total of 19 primer combinations were used. About 31 fragments were detected per primer combination. The banding patterns were readily distinguished in resistant and susceptible bulked genotypes. Polymorphic fragments were detected between resistant and susceptible bulked genotypes in the primer combination of CGT/GGC, CAG/GTG and CTC/GAG. In primer combinations of CGT/GGC and CAG/GTG, bulked resistant genotype produced a polymorphic bands. However, in primer of CTC/GAG, bulked susceptible genotype produced a polymorphic fragments. Three AFLP markers identified as a polymorphic fragments between bulked genomic DNA were mapped in 85 F2 population. Among them, only two markers, CGT/GGC and CTC/GAG, was linked and was mapped. Broad application of AFLP marker would be possible for improving resistant cultivars to SCN.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed weight is a important trait in cultivar development. Objective of this study was to identify and confirm quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for seed weight variation in the F2 and F2:3 generations. QTLs for seed weight were identified in F2 and F2:3 generations using interval mapping (MapMaker/QTL) and single-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA). In the F2 plant generation (i.e., F3 seed), three markers, OPL9a, OPM7a, and OPAC12 were significantly (P<0.01) associated with seed weight QTLs. In the F2:3 plant row generation (i.e., F4 seed), five markers, OPA9a, OPG19, OPL9b, OPP11, and Sat_085 were significantly (P<0.01) associated with seed weight QTLs. Two markers, OPL9a and OPL9b were significantly (P<0.05) associated with seed weight QTLs in both generations. Two QTLs on USDA soybean linkage group C1 and R were identified in both F2 and F2:3 generations using interval mapping. The linkage group C1 QTL explained 16% of the variation in seed weight in both generations, and the linkage group R QTL explained 39% and 41% of the variation for F2 and F2:3 generation, respectively. The linkage group C2 QTL identified in F2:3 generation explained 14.9% of variation. Linkage groups C1, C2 and R had previously been identified as harbouring seed size QTLs. The consistency of QTLs across generations and populations indicates that marker-assisted selection is possible in a soybean breeding program.

Molecular markers are useful to confirm the hybridity of F1 plant derived from cross of two homozygous parents with similar morphological traits. RAPD markers were used to test F1 hybrid plant obtained from cross of two homozygous soybean (Glycine max) parents. Fl plant for cross I was made from the mating of Hobbit87 (female) and L63-1889 (male) and Fl plant for cross II was obtained from the mating of H1053 (female) and L63-1889 (male). Selfing plant per each cross was also obtained. Among 20 Operon primers used, OPA04 and OPA09 show polymorphism between cross I and II parent. Band in size 1Kb of OPA04 and 2.1Kb of OPA09 primer was polymorphic band. This fragment identified Fl hybrid plant and selfing plant in cross I and II. Female parent Hobbit87 in cross I and H1053 in cross II has no this fragment (recessive allele). However, male parent L63-1889 and Fl hybrid plant in cross I and II has this size of polymorphic band (dominant allele). This indicated that Fl hybrid and selfing plants were detected by RAPD marker before phenotypic marker would be used to identify Fl hybridity. Amplification products of selfing plant for cross I and II were completely same to the those of female parent. When mature, flower color of Fl hybrid plant in cross I and II was purple and flower color of selfing plant in cross I and II was white. Purple flower is dominant trait. Fl hybridity was successfully detected at very early growth stage using RAPD marker. Therefore, RAPD marker can be used broadly to confirm Fl hybridity in many crops.