The sugar beet cyst nematode (SBCN), Heterodera schachtii is a well known pathogen on Chinese cabbage in thehighland fields of Korea. However, recent reports have shown a coexistence of SBCN with the clover cyst nematode,H. trifolii in Korea. This study aimed at detailing and reviewing morphological and molecular characteristics conceivablyessential in differentiating the two nematode species. A comparison of morphometric measurements of both infective juvenilesand vulval cones of cysts showed significant differences between the two cyst nematodes. Indeed, using assorted cystsfrom field populations for molecular analysis resulted into a mixture of bands after gel electrophoresis, indicating a combinationof the two species. Thus, this study confirms the coexistence of the two species on Chinese cabbage fields in Korea.

This studies was conducted to define community structure and diversity of epigeal spiders in apple orchards under different farming practices (organic and conventional). In 11 commercial apple orchards, epigeal spider community structure was investigated during 2012-2014 (3 orchards, 2012; 3 orchards, 2013, 5 orchards, 2014). Epigeal spiders were collected by pitfall traps from April to October, 2012 in Danyang-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do; 2013 in Muju-gun, Jeollabuk-do; 2014 in Cheongsong-gun and Uiseong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. Sampled spiders were identified to the species level. Biodiversity was analyzed with species richness (total numbers of spider species), abundance (total numbers of individuals) and Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H΄) for each site and compared between organic and conventional orchards. In all regions, abundance of the spider communities were relatively higher in organic orchards than in conventional orchards. But, no significant difference in species richness and specie diversity (H΄) between organic and conventional orchards. Lycosidae was the most dominant family in all orchards regardless farming practices. However, Linyphiidae dominated in organic orchards only. The most dominant species were Pardosa laura (Lycosidae), Erigone koshiensis (Linyphiidae) in organic, Piratula procurvus (Lycosidae) in conventional orchards.

Epigeic spiders (Araneae) were surveyed in apple orchards under different farming practices (organic and conventional) in Muju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea. The study was conducted from April to October in 2013 with 2 weeks interval using pitfall traps. Collected spiders were identified as 20 species of 6 families from 819 individuals in organic orchardⅠ, 19 species of 10 families from 759 individuals in orchardⅡ and 16 species of 8 families from 209 individuals in conventional orchard for from 1,787 captured spiders. Biodiversity was analyzed with species richness, abundance and Shannon diversity index (H΄). Species richness was statistically higher in organic orchard than in conventional orchard. Organic orchardⅡ comprised the greatest abundance followed by organic orchard and conventional. But species diversity was the highest in organic orchardⅡ, intermediate in conventional orchard and the lowest in orchardⅠ. Lycosidae was the most dominant family in all orchards regardless farming practices. However, Linyphiidae dominated in organic orchards only. The most dominant species were Erigone koshiensis (Linyphiidae) in organicⅠ, Pardosa laura (Lycosidae) in organicⅡ and Arctosa pungcheunensis (Lycosidae) in conventional orchard.

In apple orchards under different farming practices (organic and conventional), arthropod community structure was investigated. Arthropods were collected with pitfall traps, band traps, yellow sticky traps and pheromone traps from May to December, 2012 in Danyang-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea. Biodiversity was analyzed with species richness and Shannon diversity index (H΄). Sampled arthropods were identified 37 families in 14 orders from 21,618 individuals in organic orchard-1 and 33 families in 10 orders from 11,318 individuals in organic orchard-2 and 35 families in 13 orders from 27,711 individuals in conventional orchard. Species richness was relatively highest in organic orchard-1, intermediate in conventional orchard and lowest in organic orchard-2. In ecologically functional group, abundance of pests was higher in conventional orchard than in organic orchards due to the high occurrence of Phyllonorycte ringoniella (Gracillariidae) and Lyonetia prunifoliella (Lyonetiidae). Organic orchards showed higher abundance, species richness and species diversity of epigeic predators and those of parasitoids above ground than conventional orchard. Abundance of detritivores, mainly collembola, were higher in organic orchard than in conventional orchard.

Root knot nematode species, such as Meloidogyne hapla, M. incognita, M. arenaria and M. javanica are economically most notorious nematode pests, causing serious damage to the various crops throughout world. In this study, DNA sequence analyses of the D1-D3 expansion segments of the 28S gene in the ribosomal DNA were conducted to characterize genetic variation of the four Meloidogyne species obtained from Korea and United States. PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism), SCAR (Sequence Characterized Amplified Region) marker and RAPD (Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA) also were used to develop the methods for exact and rapid species identification. In the sequence analysis of the D1-D3 expansion segments, only a few nucleotide sequence variation were detected among M. incognita, M. arenaria, and M. javanica, except for M. hapla. The PCR-RFLP analysis that involves amplification of the mitochondrial COII and lrRNA region yielded one distinct amplicon for M. hapla at 500 bp, enabling us to distinguish M. hapla from M. incognita, M. arenaria, M. javanica reproduced by obligate mitotic parthenogenesis. SCAR markers successfully identified the four root knot nematode species tested. We are under development of RAPD primers specific to the three root knot nematodes found in Korea.

Background : Korea's agriculture has been forced to change due to the decline in agricultural population, the aging of the population and the conclusion of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Thus, agriculture is seeking to develop into a sixth industry. For this reason, it is necessary to find high-function alternative plant resources for health promotion to meet the changes in national needs for agricultural products. The adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng is the raw material of food code that produced by the biotechnology technique. introduced in the culture of the plant, which is the only way to use a raw material of food. Therefore, in order to increase the yield of ginsenoside in adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng, ginsenoside precursor was treated and ginsenoside contents were analyzed. Methods and Results : In order to investigate effect of precursor treatment on the production of ginsenoside in adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng, 5 g of adventitious roots culture of mountain ginseng were cultured in liquid SH media supplemented with 2 ㎎/l IBA, 3% sucrose for 8 weeks, which was co-cultured with β-sitosterol and Squalene (0.0625 to 1 mM) or without. Determination of 17 ginsenosides contents of each extract was carried out by HPLC. Rb3 was accumulated by only β-sitosterol, also it increased production of total ginsenoside in the cultured ginseng roots at a concentration of 0.125 mM, which was 2.47-fold higher than that in the control (78.13 ㎎/g of extract). Conclusion : These results are an important to improve the production yield of ginsenoside in adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng, and they provide an opportunity for development of adventitious roots culture of wild mountain ginseng in dietary health supplement and pharmaceutical industries.

Background : Even though Kalopanax septemlobus has been used as a traditional crude drug and a dietary health supplement, the wild or cultivated sources of this plant are not economically feasible. Methods and Results : In this study, a cell suspension culture of K. septemlobus using friable calli was established to make source sustainable. A cell suspension culture of K. septemlobus was incubated during 15th day and reached the maximum capacity of saponin production after day 6 (0.42㎍/㎎ of fresh weight). To investigate the effect of elicitors on the product yield of saponins in the K. septemlobus suspension culture, we treated methyl-jasmonic acid and coronatine (COR), which are known as signal molecules. COR positively regulates the total saponin production in the cell suspension of K. septemlobus at a concentration of 1 μM compared with the mock-treated control. Furthermore, the expression of beta-amyrin synthase (KsbAS) was induced by elicitation of COR. Consequently, oleanane-type triterpene saponins, oleanolic acid (2.369 ± 0.98 ㎍/㎎ of extract) were accumulated by only COR. Conclusion : From the above results, COR is an efficient elicitor for inducing saponin biosynthesis in a K. septemlobus suspension culture. Gene expression pattern and analysing precursor of triterpenoid saponin indicate that major target gene of COR in K. septemlobus suspension culture is KsbAS.