Regarding to diagnosis for bovine brucellosis, more than one serological test should be conducted to confirm the infection by Brucella with a reliable result due to various factors including false positive serological reactions. In this study, we compared confirmatory serological tests to determine the appropriate way to detect and confirm the Brucella infection in South Korea. Several serological tests, including serum agglutination test (SAT), indirect (I)- and competitive (C)-ELISA, and fluorescence polarization assay (FPA), for detection of bovine brucellosis were performed with sera from 537 cattle. In addition, comparison of diagnostic efficacy was performed with bacterial isolation represented true positive. Of 537 serum samples, 426 (79.3% of prevalence), 433 (80.6%), 414 (77.1%), and 409 (76.2%) sera were positive for SAT, C-ELISA, I-ELISA, and FPA respectively. Based on the results of serology, the correlation among the serological tests revealed observed agreements of more than 92% with kappa (k) value of more than 0.77. The correlation between serological tests with bacterial isolation appeared observed agreements of between 79.9% and 84.7% with k value of between 0.42 and 0.59. Particularly, FPA recorded almost perfect agreements with C-ELISA and I-ELISA as well as the highest correlation with bacterial isolation. Accordingly, this investigation presented the comparison of correlation and diagnostic efficacy of serological tests for bovine brucellosis in South Korea. We suggest this finding will be a useful data to re-establish the potential serological diagnostic methods that can apply to maintain the low prevalence.

We report the result of a high-resolution spectroscopic study on seven magnesium (Mg) enhanced stars. The high Mg abundances in these stars imply that they were born in an environment heavily affected by the nucleosynthesis products of massive stars. We measure abundances of 16 elements including Mg and they show various abundance patterns implying their diverse origin. Three of our program stars show a very high Mg to Si ratio ([Mg/Si] ≈ 0.18–0.25), which might be well explained by fall-back supernovae or by supernovae with rapid rotating progenitors having an initial mass higher than about 20 𝑀⊙. Another three of our program stars have high light to heavy s-process element ratios ([Y/Ba] ≈ 0.30–0.44), which are consistent with the theoretical prediction of the nucleosynthesis in rapidly rotating massive stars with an initial mass of about 𝑀 = 40 𝑀⊙. We also report a star having both high Y ([Y/Fe] = 0.2) and Ba ([Ba/Fe] = 0.28) abundance ratios, and it also shows the highest Zn abundance ratio ([Zn/Fe] = 0.27) among our sample, implying the nucleosynthesis by asymmetric supernova explosion induced by very rapid rotation of a massive progenitor having an initial mass between 20 𝑀⊙ ≲ 𝑀 ≲ 40 𝑀⊙. A relative deficiency of odd-number elements, which would be a signature of the pair-instability nucleosynthesis, is not found in our sample.

In Korea livestock farms breeding cattle have been suffering from re-emerging problems of Brucella (B.) abortus infection while steady decline of bovine brucellosis. Therefore, this study underscored the identification and association of etiological agent of brucellosis in cattle in South Korea. The incidence of brucellosis in cattle was analyzed by bacteriological and molecular methods in 187 brucellosis-suspicious farms of 11 regions between 2018 and 2020. Brucella isolates from various specimens were identified by Brucella-specific multiplex PCR. Epidemiological data were collected by local official veterinarians through history taking from farmers and animal data systems. In 230 of 560 cattle (40.9%) and 94 of 187 farms (50.3%), a total of 313 B. abortus were isolated from various specimens, the majority of isolates were from supramammary lymph node (41%). In epidemiological findings, the majority of positive cases were mainly caused by resurgence (43.7%) and unknown (37.2%). Of 94 positive cases isolated B. abortus, abortion in cattle infected by B. abortus occurred in 51 farms (54.3%) where led to resurgence in 30 farms and environmental survival of B. abortus in 9 farms. Consequently, these findings revealed the existence of etiological agent of bovine brucellosis in Korea, which still occurred at low levels in distinct regions where are allowed to call for persistent biosecurity. Thus, we highlight that brucellosis in Korea needs to take more effective control strategies with potential evidence. Moreover it is ultimately important to maintain a constant monitoring for eradication of brucellosis.

The bean bug, Riptortus pedestris, is one of major hemipteran pests against the soybean, Glycine max in Korea. In previous study, it was suggested that water-taking in the first instar nymphal stage of R. pedestris is certainly necessary for successful ecdysis and their survival. To investigate water-taking behavior of the first instar nymphs of R. pedestris on plant, electrical penetration graphic patterns were analysed while R. pedestris fed on the napa cabbage leaf, Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis by using EPG system. In the result, a X-waveform was dominantly observed for average 42.0 min out of total recording time (120 min). There was significant positive correlation (r = 0.457, P = 0.000452, n = 55) between body weight increase and cumulative durations of X-waveform. In addition, histological observation of cross-sections indicated that stylet tip in the plant tissue during X-waveform period is located nearby xylem cells, suggesting that X-waveform is closely related to xylem sap feeding behavior of R. pedestris in plant.

토마토 온실에서 담배가루이 (Bemisia tabaci) 유인을 위한 작물에 따른 선호도를 조사하였다. 피망, 토마토, 오이, 가지의 4 종류의 작물을 아크릴케이지에 같이 넣어두고 담배가루이 성충 30쌍을 방사하여 선호도 및 산란수를 조사하였다. 담배가루이 성충은 오이(약 40%)와 가지(약 40%)에서 가장 선호하였으며, 토마토(10%)와 피망(10%)의 선호도는 낮았다. 기주에 따른 담배가루이의 성충 30쌍의 산란수는 오이에서 485개로 가장 높았으며 가지(250), 토마토(131), 피망(126)의 순으로 조사되었다. 토마토 온실에 가지묘를 정식하였을 경우에는 토마토에서는 주당 약 20마리의 담배가루이가 조사되었으나 가지에서는 주당 400∼500마리의 담배가루이가 조사되어 토마토 온실에서 가지를 이용한 담배가루이 유인이 가능함을 알 수 있었다.

It was available to store both nymphs and adults of Geocoris pallidipennis at 5℃ for 3 weeks without negative effects on their survival, fecundity, and Bamisia tabaci nymph predation. Up to 140 days, it was also possible to store Micromus angulatus adults at low temperature, showing approximately 50% cumulative survival rate, but over 2 week cold storage was not suitable for their fecundity. With the increase of cold storage duration, the aphid predation by M. angulatus decreased, but it could be possible to cold store until 5 weeks without a significant effect on their aphid predation. Thus, short term cold storage of G. pallidipennis and M. angulatus could be useful for inundative biological control.

Three ambrosia beetle species, Xyleborus glabratus, Monarthrum mali, and Euwallacea fornicatus belong to subfamily, Scolytinae, showing similar morphology and body size, but their flight capability and patterns showed species-specific. Body length of Xyleborus glabratus and Monarthrum mali was negatively correlated with flight capabilities; shorter beetles performed longer average flights, longer single flights, total flight distance, and total flight time. Elytral length also was negatively correlated with flight distance in X. glabratus and M. mali. Conversely, only average flight time of E. fornicatus was positively correlated with body length, pronotal width, and elytral length. Body length had no effect on the flight velocity of any of the three beetle species examined. Therefore, our results indicate that body size characteristics of ambrosia beetles differentially influence on their dispersal by species.

Trails of the convergence ladybird negatively affected the brown citrus aphid population. On 3 days after treatment of ladybird trails, the population growth rate of the brown citrus aphid on treatment and control swingle flushes in the test tube were –0.1848 and –0.0385, respectively. In pot experiments, there were no significant differences in population growth rates between treatment and control swingle plants on 3 and 7 days after treatment of ladybird trails. But, on 10 days after treatment, each population growth rate was -0.0415 and 0.1125, respectively so there was significantly different statistically. Thus, our result support the potential practical application of ladybird trails as an effective control agent for managing of herbivorous insect pests in citrus groves.

1분 간격 자동 잎면적 분석을 통해 온도에 따른 담배거세미나방 유충의 섭식과 발육을 조사하였다. 20, 25, 30℃의 세 온도에서 피망 잎을 배지에 부착하여 담배거세미나방 유충에 제공하였고 하루에 한번내지 두번 새로운 잎을 갈아주었다. 30℃에서 담배거세미나방 유충은 탈피 직후 섭식을 즉시 시작하여 1회 섭식은 10~15분 지속하고, 60~90분 간격으로 섭식을 하였다. 이러한 섭식 행동은 약 30~50시간 지속되며 탈피 직전 10~16시간 동안은 섭식이 중단되었다. 탈피 후 앞서의 섭식 패턴은 다음 영기에서 동일하게 반복되었다. 25℃에서 담배거세미나방 유충의 영기 내 섭식 기간은 약 32~53시간 지속되며 탈피 전 비섭식 기간은 16~22시간 지속되었다. 20℃에서는 영기 내섭식 기간은 60~133시간으로 크게 증가하고 비섭식 기간도 11~38시간으로 다른 온도에 비해 길어졌으며 다른 온도와 달리 7령충까지 발육하였다. 2령충에서 고치 형성 전까지의 발육 시간은 20℃에서는 39046분(27.1일)이 소요되었고 25℃에서는 17626분(12.2일), 30℃에서는 14168분(9.8일)으로 조사되었다. 각 온도별 유충의 섭식량은 영기에 따라 지수적으로 증가하였다.

미국선녀벌레(Metcalfa pruinosa)는 외래 침입해충으로 조사가 시작된 2009년 이후 발생지역과 발생면적이 계속 증가하여 2018년에는 123개 시군구의 21,154ha에서 발생이 보고되고 있다. 미국선녀벌레는 농경지와 그 주변 산림지에서 활동하기 때문에 정부와 지자체간 협업을 통해 농림지 동시방제를 5월하순경(부화약충 대상)과 7월 중순경(성충 대상) 2회 실시하고 있다. 농촌진흥청에서는 미국선녀벌레의 기생천적인 선녀벌레집게벌(Neodryinus typhlocybae)의 안정적인 도입과 미국선녀벌레에 대한 생물적 방제원으로서 국내 정착을 위해 이탈리아 파도바대학과 국제협력사업을 2017년부터 수행하고 있다. 선녀벌레집게벌은 완주에서 월동이 가능하였으며 6월 초에 50%이상 우화를 하였다. 2018년도에 온실(완주)과 야외(수원, 태안)에서 증식하여 1,000여 개체 이상을 확보하였으며 도입천적의 안정적인 국내 정착과 확산 및 활용 방안에 대해 논의하고자 한다.

약제 처리에 따른 담배거세미나방(Spodoptera litura) 유충의 섭식 행동 및 반응을 조사하기 위해 1분 간격으로 잎면적을 자동 측정하였다. 담배거세미나방 유충의 섭식 행동은 섭식기와 비섭식기가 뚜렷하게 구분되었으며, 섭식기가 끝나면 비섭식기를 거쳐 탈피를 하고 다시 섭식기에 들어갔다. 1회 섭식 지속 시간은 약 15분으로 조사되었고, 영기 내 평균 섭식 회수는 약 27.5회로 섭식 지속 시간과 마찬가지로 영기에 따른 차이는 없었다. 약제 처리는 피망 잎을 Buprofezin methoxyfenozyd과 BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) 500ppm 약액에 10초간 침지 처리하였다. Buprofezin methoxyfenozyd를 처리 하였을 경우 섭식 시간은 평균 8~9분으로 감소하였고, 치사 전까지 섭식량은 각각 176mg으로 조사되었다. 하지만 BT제를 처리 시에는 담배거세미나방 유충은 치사하지 않았다.

The bean bug is one of major hemipteran pests against the soybean, Glycine max in Korea. Gene expression regulation technologies such as RNA interference and gene editing have emerged as a next generation pest control strategy in agriculture. To search genes effective to feeding inhibition with exogenous dsRNA, a total of 26,761 transcripts were obtained from salivary glands of the bean bug and several target gene candidates such as GPCR, OBP, and CSP were profiled in this study. On the other hand, 1st instar nymphs of the bean bug after hatching were highly attracted to water and absorbed about 701.5 ± 137.72 ㎍/individual/day, suggesting that it could be a practical way for RNA interference by feeding exogenous dsRNA dissolved in water. These preliminary results are expected to be helpful to investigate novel pest control strategy of R. pedestris in the future.