We investigated nesting and foraging behavior of Korean mason bees, Osmia cornifrons Radoszkowski, during apple orchard pollination. When O. cornifrons was nesting, the oviposit and store pollens were taken an average 118.54±15.88 second and constructing cell partition was an average 109.33±62.09 second. At foraging, collecting pollens was timed at an average 699.89±81.87 second, and carrying mud was measured an average 464.88±151.17 second. Nesting and foraging behavior of O. cornifrons were influenced by weather conditions, especially, temperature, luminance and wind. When the luminance was more than 20,000lux and temperature was more than 20℃, O. cornifrons was more actively nesting and foraging. But, nesting and foraging of O. cornifrons were rapidly dropped when the wind blew at the speed more than 5m/s. The correlation analysis showed that foraging behavior is weak positive correlation with luminance, temperature and nesting. On the other hand, there is negative correlation between wind and the behavior of O. cornifrons. The most effective factor was luminance among the factors affecting the weather condition by regression analysis. Therefore, if weather conditions is low luminance, low temperature and strong wind, it will be better not to use O. cornifrons during apple pollination.

We investigated the distribution and habitat characterization of Korean Osmia spp. in apple orchard of 32 localities during 2005 to 2008. A total of 6,737 Osmia spp. were collected, consisting of six species, which was Osmia cornifrons, O. pedicornis, O. taurus, O. benefica, O. satoi and O. jacoti. The rate of bee nested was 11.7%. Among collected 32 localities, Choongju showed the most collecting rate among other localities, which was 22.4% and 17.5% for Yeongju and 14.9% for Geochang. In case of collected six Osmia spp, O. cornifrons was 60.2%, which was the dominant species and O. pedicornis was 20.4% and O. taurus was 10.8%, respectively. In case of sex ratio, O. cornifrons was 1 : 2.7 and 1 : 5.6 for O. pedicornis and 1 : 2.3 for O. taurus. Osmia spp. was more collected at habitat conditions within apple orchard with plentiful pollens place and abundant water.

This study is to generate SCARs markers for identification of Perilla species. A SCAR is a genomic DNA fragment at a single genetically defined locus that is identified by PCR amplification using a pair of specific oligonucleotide primers. We derived SCARs by sequencing and cloning the both ends of the amplified products of RAPD markers. Sixteen sequence-specific primers were synthesized from eight RAPD markers, which were completely sequenced. We developed the species-specific SCAR markers which could be used successfully in detecting genetic variation in four Perilla species. These markers could be used to verify species-origins of various forms of Perilla germplasms.

Experiments were carried out to find out the optimum water potential, temperature, and duration for the priming of rice seeds, Oryza sativa L. (cv. Ilpumbyeo) for better germination at sub-optimal temperatures. Seeds were primed in 0, -0.2, -0.4, -0.6, -0.8, and -1.0 MPa PEG (polyethylene glycol) solutions at 25~circC . The optimum water potential for seed priming, the highest water potential at which rice seeds did not germinate, was -0.6 MPa. To find out optimum priming temperature and duration rice seeds were primed in -0.6 MPa PEG solution and 0 MPa (water as a control) for various durations at 15 and 25~circC and the seeds were germinated at 17, 20, and 25~circC . Considering germination rate and speed, the optimum priming time in water (0 MPa) was 4 days at 15~circC and 1 day at 25~circC , while 4 days was the optimum priming time in a -0.6 MPa PEG solution, regardless of the priming temperature. Priming reduced the actual time of germination, especially at sub-optimal temperatures. Priming did not affect germination rate in -0.6 MPa PEG solution at 15~circC , but overpriming reduced the final germination rate in water at 15~circC and in -0.6 PEG solution at 25~circC . Total sugars and α -amylase activity induced during the seed priming were negatively correlated with the final germination rate and there was no noted relationship with the speed or uniformity of germination.