The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) extract on the inflammation of human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) and blood lipid improvement in hypercholesterolemic mice fed a high cholesterol diet. The lettuce extract (100% ethanol extract) inhibited the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in HUVEC treated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The lettuce extract suppressed the adhesion of THP-1 to TNF-α-treated HUVEC. The lettuce extract decreased the TNF-α-stimulated production of proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and chemokine monocyte chemotactic protein 1. In hypercholesterolemic mice, the lettuce extract reduced serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level, while the lettuce extract elevated high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level, resulting in the decrease of atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor level. These results suggested that lettuce extract can be an useful resource to show an anti-inflammatory effect and improve lipid metabolism

Sensory system of insect is important for their fitness in the environment. Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae) is a major pest of bean plants and some fruit trees in Korea, Japan, China, and South Asian countries. This study was conducted to investigate morphology and distribution of antennal sensilla of R. pedestris, using scanning electron microscopy. Antennae of R. pedestris was 11 and 9.84 mm in length in male and female, respectively, and consists of four segments; scape, pedicel, flagellum 1 and 2 (F1 and F2). Five types of sensilla (s.) trichodea, four types of s. basiconica, two types of s. chaetica, and one type of s. coeloconica were preliminary identified in both sexes of adult R. pedestris, based on their size, shape, presence of socket and surface structure. Three types of trichoid sensilla, four types of basiconic sensilla, one type of chaetic sensilla and coeloconic sensilla had numerous pores along the surface of the sensilla, suggesting their olfactory function. Eight types of sensilla (3 trichoid, 2 basiconic, a chaetic and a coeloconic) showed a distinct socket structure at the base of each sensillum. Different types of sensilla showed different distribution along the antennal segments. Two types of trichoid sensilla and two types of basiconic sensilla were distributed on scape, pedicel and F1 flagella subsegment. However, the distribution of eight other types of sensilla was limited to one of two flagella subsegments.

In this study, we conducted to select the promising crops for both uses in the bioethanol and forage production in Korea. The result indicated t㏊t Natsukaje (guinea grass), Gwangpyeongok (corn), Jumbo (sorghum×sudangrass hybrid), SS405 (sorghum×sorghum hybrid), Millex32 (pearl millet), Jeju barnyard grass), Alamo (switch grass) and Selection75 (klein grass) showed the production of biomass from the highest to the lowest in order. However, the order of the production of quality forage was, from the highest to the lowest, Natsukaje (guinea grass), Jumbo (sorghum×sudangrass hybrid), SS405 (sorghum×sorghum hybrid), Gwangpyeongok (corn), Millex32 (pearl millet), Selection75 (klein grass), Jeju (barnyard grass), and Alamo (switch grass). We concluded the Natsukaje (guinea grass) was the best bioethanol crop, and also the Natsukaje (guinea grass) was the best for forage production.

In this study, soy-powder yogurt (SPY) with enhanced levels of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and isoflavone aglycone was produced from sprouting high-protein soybeans (HPSs). The fermented steam-HPS sprouts (0 to 4 cm) were fermented (72 h) with Lactobacillus brevis, and the total free amino acids (FAAs) of the formed mixtures were determined to be 79.53, 489.93, 877.55, 780.53, and 979.97 mg/100 mL in the fermented HPS (FHPS), and the fermented steam-HPS with 0 cm (FSHPS-0), 1 cm (FSHPS-1), 2 cm (FSHPS-2), and 4 cm sprouting lengths (FSHPS-4), respectively. The levels of glutamic acid (GA) and GABA were observed to be the highest, 100.31 and 101.60 mg/100 mL, respectively, in the unfermented HPS (UFSHPS-1, 1 cm) and FSHPS-1 sprouts, respectively. Moreover, the total contents of the isoflavone glycoside form decreased proportionally to the increasing total levels of isoflavone aglycones after fermentation in FSHPS-0, FSHPS-1, FSHPS-2, and FSHPS-4. The levels of isoflavone aglycones were detected as 350.34, 289.15, 361.61, 445.05, and 491.25 μg/g in FHPS, FSHPS-0, FSHPS-1, FSHPS-2, and FSHPS-4, respectively. While FSHPS-1 exhibited the highest DPPH (63.28%) and ABTS (73.28%) radical scavenging activities, FSHPS-4 contained the highest isoflavone aglycone ratio (81.63%). All in all, the FSHPS-1 mixture prepared in this study exhibited high GABA content and functional prosperity, thereby making it suitable for potential applications in the soy-dairy industry.

Simultaneous removal of NH3, H2S and toluene in a contaminated air stream was investigated over 185 days in a biofilter packed with Zeocarbon granule as microbial support. In this study, multi-microorganisms including Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter for nitrogen removal, Thiobacillus thioparus (ATCC 23645) for H2S removal, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15692), Pseudomonas putida (ATCC 17484) and Pseudomonas putida (ATCC 23973) for toluene removal were used simultaneously. The empty bed residence time (EBRT) was 40-120 seconds and the feed (inlet) concentrations of NH3, H2S and toluene were 0.02-0.11, 0.05-0.23 and 0.15-0.21 ppmv, respectively. The observed removal efficiency was 85%-99% for NH3, 100% for H2S, and 20-90% for toluene, respectively. The maximum elimination capacities were 9.3, 20.6 and 17 g/m3/hr for NH3, H2S and toluene, respectively. The results of kinetic model analysis showed that there were no particular evidences of interactions or inhibitions among the microorganisms, and that the three biodegradation reactions took place independently within a finite area of biofilm developed on the surface of the Zeocarbon carrier.

The effects of the transferred green rice leafhopper (GRH) resistant gene on yield and grain quality were analyzed by using 7 near-isogenic lines (NILs) with introgressed GRH resistance gene in rice cultivar "Ilpumbyeo". The genotype analysis using SSR markers indicated that all NILs were recovered more than 95% as compared with recurrent parent "Ilpumbyeo". All NILs showed no significant differences compared to recurrent parent for grain yield. No significant differences were observed between NILs and their recurrent parent for physicochemical traits (protein content, amylose content and alkali spreading value) and eating quality. But there were significant differences for appearance of brown and milled rice and pasting properties between some NILs and their recurrent parent. It means that these grain appearance and pasting traits of NILs were very similar or more improved compared to recurrent parent "Ilpumbyeo". Thus, it could be possible to develop GRH resistant variety with high ,quality in segregating populations.

Leaflet number of soybean controlled by Lf2 locus is the important trait in photosynthesis and plant type. The objective of this research was to identity molecular markers linked to the lf2 locus. A total of 115F2 plants were derived from a cross between normal three-leaflet type Sinpaldalkong (Lf2Lf2) and seven-leaflet mutant type T255 (lf2lf2). All leaflet counts of parents and F2 individual plants were made in the field on fully expanded leaves on the main stem when terminal growth of the main stem had ceased. One-thousand 10-mer oligonucleotide RAPD primers and 664 SSR primers were used. The segregation ratios of 3 : 1 were observed in the F2 population and the Chi-square values strongly suggested that the seven-leaflet was controlled by a single recessive gene. A genetic map was constructed from the 15 segregating markers (9 RAPDs, 5 SSRs, 1 lf2 locus). OPAD03 and OPAI13 RAPD markers were linked to the lf2 locus that controlled seven-leaflet type at a distance of 20.5 and 23.5 cM, respectively. Molecular markers identified in this study linked with lf2 locus will be helpful to locate lf2 locus on the public soybean molecular linkage map and would be useful for tagging the lf2 locus that controls seven-leaflet trait.

Leaf chlorophyll-deficient mutants controlled by y9 locus have been observed frequently and are useful in genetic stud-y9 locus. A mapping population con-sisting of 94 F2 progeny was derived from a cross between normal green leaf Clark (Y9 ) and chlorophy

Soybean seeds contain high amounts of isoflavones that display biological effects and isoflavone content of soybean seed can vary by year, environment, and genotype. Objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci that underlie isoflavone content in soybean seeds. The study involved 85 F2 populations derived from Korean soybean cultivar 'Kwangkyo' and wild type soybean 'IT182305' for QTL analysis associated with isoflavone content. Isoflavone content of seeds was determined by HPLC. The genetic map of 33 linkage groups with 207 markers was constructed. The linkage map spanned 2,607.5 cM across all 33 linkage groups. The average linkage distance between pair of markers among all linkage groups was 12.6 cM in Kosambi map units. Isoflavone content in F2 generations varied in a fashion that suggested a continuous, polygenic inheritance. Eleven markers (4 RAPD, 3 SSR, 4 AFLP) were significantly associated with isoflavone content. Only two markers, Satt419 and CTCGAG3 had F-tests that were significant at P<0.01 in F2 generation for isoflavone content. Interval mapping using the F2 data revealed only two putative QTLs for isoflavone content. The peak QTL region on linkage group 3, which was near OPAG03c, explained 14~% variation for isoflavone content. The peak QTL region on linkage group 5, which was located near OPN14 accounted for 35.3~% variation for isoflavone content. Using both Map-Maker-QTL (LOD~geq2.0) and single-factor analysis (P~leq0.05) , one marker, CTCGAG3 in linkage group 3 was associated with QTLs for isoflavone content. This information would then be used in identification of QTLs for isoflavone content with precision

Soybean is a major source of protein meal in the world. Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI) protein is responsible for the inferior nutritional quality of unheated or incompletely heated soybean meal. The objective of this research was to identify RAPD markers linked to KTI protein allele using bulked segregant analysis. Cultivar Jinpumkong2 (TiTi) was crossed with C242 (titi, absence of KTI protein) and F. seeds were planted. The F1 . plants were grown in the greenhouse to produce F2 seeds. Each F2 seed from F1 . plants was analysed electrophoretically to determine the presence of the KTI protein band. The present and absent bulks contained twenty individuals each, which were selected on the basis of the KTI protein electrophoresis, respectively. Total 94 F2 individuals were constructed and 1,000 Operon random primers were used to identify RAPD primers linked to the Ti locus. The presence of KTI protein is dominant to the lack of a KTI protein and Kunitz trypsin inhibit protein band is controlled by a single locus. Four RAPD primers (OPAC12, OPAR15, OPO12, and OPC08) were linked to the Ti locus. RAPD primer OPO12 was linked to Ti locus, controlling kunitz trypsin inhibitor protein at a distance of 16.0 cM. This results may assist in study of developing fine map including Ti locus in soybean.

Genetic linkage maps serve the plant geneticist in a number of ways, from marker assisted selection in plant improvement to map-based cloning in molecular genetic research. Genetic map based upon DNA polymorphism is a powerful tool for the study of qualitative and quantitative traits in crops. The objective of this study was to develop genetic linkage map of soybean using the population derived from the cross of Korean soybean cultivar 'Kwangkyo, and wild accession 'IT182305'. Total 1,000 Operon random primers for RAPD marker, 49 combinations of primer for AFLP marker, and 100 Satt primers for SSR marker were used to screen parental polymorphism. Total 341 markers (242 RAPD, 83 AFLP, and 16 SSR markers) was segregated in 85 ~textrmF2 population. Forty two markers that shown significantly distorted segregation ratio (1:2:1 for codominant or 3:1 for domimant marker) were not used in mapping procedure. A linkage map was constructed by applying the computer program MAPMAKER/EXP 3.0 to the 299 marker data with LOD 4.0 and maximum distance 50 cM. 176 markers were found to be genetically linked and formed 25 linkage groups. Linkage map spanned 2,292.7 cM across all 25 linkage groups. The average linkage distance between pair of markers among all linkage groups was 13.0 cM. The number of markers per linkage group ranged from 2 to 55. The longest linkage group 3 spanned 967.4 cM with 55 makers. This map requires further saturation with more markers and agronomically important traits will be joined over it.

Soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines Ichinohe, SCN) is an important soybean pest and the use of resistant cul-tivars is an effective method to reduce or eliminate SCN damage. SCN resistance loci, rhg1 and Rhg4 are generally accepted as anecesity for