This study was conducted, using 10 high-quality rice varieties, at 24 experimental sites in 2013 and 2014 to analyze the comparative relationship among head rice yield (HRY), its attributes and sub-attributes. In the data set pooled across sites, years and varieties, where regional and varietal variations were combined, HRY was associated with milled rice yield (MRY) more closely than percentage of head rice (PHR) although both MRY and HRY demonstrated significant relationship with HRY. In the PHR higher than 80%, compared to 80% or less, fitness of the regression between PHR and HRY decreased. MRY and PHR, the two attributes of HRY, were not significantly associated with each other. Regional variation of HRY was associated only with MRY while varietal variation of HRY was related to both MRY and PHR. HRY and MRY showed regional variation greater than varietal variation meanwhile PHR demonstrated regional and varietal variations in a similar range. In the data set pooled across sites, years and varieties, MRY demonstrated relationship with spikelets per square meter (SPIK) in a higher significance than percentage of grain filling (PGF) and 1000-brown rice weight (TBRW). Both regional and varietal variations of MRY showed significant relationship only with SPIK, neitherwith PGF nor TBRW. It is concluded that regional variation of HRY was affected by MRY, varietal variation by both MRY and PHR, and region-variety combined variation mainly by MRY.

We analyzed molecular and enzymatic properties of three cholinesterases (ChEs; ClAChE1, ClAChE2 and ClSChE) from Cimex lectularius. The ClAChE1 and ClAChE2 were generally present as a membrane-anchored dimeric insoluble form in the brain and ganglia. In the case of ClSChE, monomeric and dimeric soluble forms were observed. To investigate enzymatic properties, three ChEs were functionally expressed using baculovirus expression system. ClAChE1 revealed a significantly higher activity than ClAChE2 to acetylthiocholine iodide (ATChI) substrate. Kinetic analysis using two choline substrates (ATChI and butyrylthiocholine iodide) demonstrated that ClAChE2 had higher catalytic efficiency but lower substrate specificity than ClAChE1. Inhibition assay was conducted by using three inhibitors (BW284C51, eserine, Iso-OMPA) and two insecticides (chlorpyrifos-methyl and carbaryl). Two ClAChEs revealed high sensitivities to BW284C51, eserine, chlorpyrifos-methyl and carbaryl, but were not sensitive to Iso-OMPA. This inhibition profile confirmed that both ClAChEs are categorized as ChEs. Interestingly, the salivary specific cholinesterase did not show any measurable activities to choline substrates, confirming its non-synaptic function in C. lectularius

Relationship between grain quality-related traits and daily mean temperature/sunshine hours during grain filling stage was analyzed using eleven high quality rice varieties at 24 experimental sites through eight provinces of Korea in 2013~2014. In the data set pooled across varieties, experimental sites and years, grain quality-related traits such as percentage of head rice (PHR), head rice yield (HRY), protein in milled rice (PRO) and Toyo Mido Meter glossiness value (TGV) were higher at the temperature lower than 22.6℃ for 40 days after flowering (DAF), which was optimum for percentage of grain filling in this study. Optimum sunshine hours for 40 DAF were 6.0~6.1 hr d -1 when considered PHR, HRY and TGV. PRO was associated with daily mean temperature and sunshine hours for 40 DAF in more varieties than the other traits. PRO was closely correlated with daily mean temperature during early filling stage and sunshine hours during early to mid filling stage, compared to other stages during grain filling. It is concluded that general trend in the variation of grain quality-related traits could be explained by the changes in daily mean temperature and sunshine hours during grain filling. In addition, climate conditions during early grain filling stage played important roles to enhance grain quality.