Earthworms, especially Eisenia andrei, are cultivated for a variety of purposes including waste disposal and compost production. In this study, bacteria from earthworm gut were cultured and the dominant species identified. Subsequently, we isolated bacteriophages able to lyse the isolated gut bacteria. Two dominant genera of gut bacteria, Aeromonas sp. and Citrobacter sp. were identified by using MALDI-TOF MS analysis and a library was constructed to find lytic phages. Phage EF1 showed lytic activity for C. freundii and two Citrobacter isolates, C. braakii and C. murliniae. These 3 species have similar sensitivities to EF1. Several aspects of the life cycle of EF1 were investigated by using C. freundii under optimal growth conditions. EF1 infects C. freundii with a moderate latent period, approximately 25 min, and a large burst size averaging 5 × 109 per infected cell. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of EF1 was well maintained under diverse conditions including a broad temperature range of 40°C to 50°C and a wide pH range of 4 to 11. In conclusion, the results indicate that earthworm casting contain a wide range of bacteria species, for which there are various corresponding bacteriophages.

Background : Platycodon grandiflorum radix used as a therapeutic agent for lung and respiratory diseases in traditional Korean medicine. The saponin and sugar content in P. grandiflorum root is dependent on the drying temperature and method. In this study, we investigated saponins and antioxidant contents in dried P. grandiflorum roots either not cut or cut to different lengths. Methods and Results : P. grandiflorum roots were either cut to 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 ㎝ in length or left uncut. They were dried at 45℃ and the effect of antioxidant substances, antioxidant ability, and saponin content were investigated. P. grandiflorum roots rapidly dried out when cut to short lengths. The saponin contents (platycodin D, polygalacin D, and deapioplatycodin D) was highest in the uncut P. grandiflorum roots. When the cut lengths were long, the levels of polyphenolic compound increased. However, 2,2'-azinobis- 3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities were higher in the samples cut to shorter lengths. Conclusions : These results suggested that the saponin and antioxidant content of P. grandiflorum roots could be maximized by controlling the drying rate of the roots via adjustments to the root cutting length.

This experiment was designed to assess changes in yield difference between waxy (IWR) and non-waxy (INWR) near isogenic rice by evaluating the translocation and accumulation of assimilates in different parts of the rice plants after heading stage under different fertilizer application. Nitrogen content of culm in both IWR and INWR decreased rapidly from 35 days before heading to flowering time and after then it was maintained constantly, while the nitrogen content of leaf blade was continually reduced. Sugar content of leaf blade in IWR decreased steadly by 10 days after heading, but that in INWR increased 20 days after heading. There was no difference in starch content of culum between IWR and INWR from 35days before heading to heading, but that of culm of IWR increased again after heading. Dry weight of IWR plant was less reduced during ripening as compared with INWR. The dry weight of culm was not significantly different between two isogenic lines.

Uptake, assimilation and translocation of nitrogen and dry matter assimilation and translocation in ten rice cultivars were observed in no-till direct-sown rice-vetch cropping system. There was a large degree of variation in N-uptake, grain yield, nitrogen translocation efficiency and dry matter assimilation and translocation in tested rice cultivars. Forty kg N/ha base, as compound fertilizer (21-17-21% of N-P-K) three weeks after sowing and 30 kg N/ha top-dressed at panicle initiation stage as in the form of (NH4 )2 CO2 was applied. ‘Newbounet’, ‘Daesanbyeo’, and ‘Hwayeongbyeo’ showed higher translocation efficiency. The contribution of pre-heading dry matter assimilates to grain ranged from 33% to 99% of dry grain weight. Dry matter of ‘Calrose 76’ was lower than Newbounet but N content was higher in Calrose 76 than Newbonnet. By maturity, N content in vegetative parts declined considerably more than dry matter, vegetative and reproductive parts, N translocation efficiency, and N harvest index. Nitrogen translocation efficiency was greater in ‘Nonganbyeo’, Daesanbyeo, and Newbounet. Grain N concentration was positively correlated with N concentration or N content of the vegetative parts at heading in Nonganbyeo, ‘Dasanbyeo’, ‘Dongjinbyeo’, and Newbonnet. These results indicated that the greater amount of dry matter and N accumulated before heading stage, the higher translocation rates of dry matter to grain and the greater net losses at maturity.