Cordyceps militaris mycelium extracts containing high amounts of cordycepin were evaluated in vitro for their antiinflammatory and tumor cell growth-inhibitory activities. All extracts dose dependently inhibited the increased production of inflammatory mediators including reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and β-hexosaminidase in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammatory cells. All extracts were evaluated for anti-proliferative activity against normal RBL-2H3 cells and diverse types of cancer cell lines, including HCT, MC5-7, U-87MG, AGS, and A549 cells. The extract showed the strongest growth inhibition (IC50 = 28.13 μg/mL) relative to vehicle-treated control cells against fibrosarcoma (MC5-7). We have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity of C. militaris via inhibition of NO, ROS production, and β-hexosaminidase release in activated cells. C. militaris mycelium extract was also evaluated mechanistically and found to exert six types of anti-cancer activity, confirming its pharmacological potential. Our study suggests C. militaris use as a potential source of anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents. C. militaris may also be considered a functional food.

Plant-derived compounds have been reported to possess anti-inflammatory abilities contained inhibited β-hexosaminidase, ROS and NO release. Essential oils are natural volatile complex compounds that are characterized by a strong scent and produced by aromatic plants as various plant-derived compounds. The essential oil extracted from Zanthoxylum coreanum Nakai (Z. coreanum) has various functional properties; however, little information is available regarding its anti-allergic inflammatory. A total of 17 compounds were detected in Z. coreanum oil, and the main component was estragole (50.86%). The tested Z. coreanum oil and estragole statistically inhibited the release of β-hexosaminidase induced by antigen stimulation in RBL-2H3 cells. This Z. coreanum oil and estragole may stimulate the secretion of active oxygen (ROS) or nitric oxide (NO) which are considered to involved in anti-inflammatory events. Moreover, it is suggested that Z. coreanum oil and estragole may negatively control the production of SNARE proteins (VAMP7) at the tran-scriptional and translational levels in common. These results demonstrate that Z. coreanum oil and its major component, estragole, possess potent anti-inflammatory abilities that are coupled with antioxidant properties.

Gabion was unfavorable to the reconstruction of the landscape caused by limit plant growth because of commonly filled with stone. Therefore, gabion was need substrate as possible to plant growth for harmonize with the surroundings and prevent of erosion. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of substrates based growing media containing wood meal on physical property (moisture content), chemical properties (organic matter and C/N ratio), plant cover and plant species in gabion. The substrates were composed of soil and soil mixed with growing media (9:1 (v/v) and 4:1 (v/v)). The growing media was prepared by mixing the basic materials, such as peat, perlite, with the specific materials, such as steam treated wood meal (Quercus mongolica) and NH4NO3. Field experiments were carried out on a damaged forest slope, South Korea, from January to November. The results, the moisture content of soil mixed with growing media (4:1, v/v) was maintained high value than others during the thermophilic period and consistently high organic matter which at an advantage for long term plant growth for 11 months. We were confirmed soil mixed with growing media (4:1, v/v) was an advantage to keep C/N ratio for plant growth period. The growing media based substrates has high plant cover percentage and advantage to plant growth for long term. And to conclude, in general the project is a success considering that few repairs or follow up will be necessary. This technique offers a solution to create a better harmony with the surrounding environment.

Yield and fruit size are under the control of many interacting factors and crop failures can be caused by climatic extremes and poor flowering. Nevertheless, this study has shown that mulching, through the creation of improved soil properties and reduced environmental stress, has the potential to substantially increase A. arguta fruit size and yield. The mulched site performed better than the site without mulch in reducing soil temperature, increasing soil moisture and controlling available phosphorus. Moreover, mulching improved both yield and fruit size. In light of this, we hope that the results of our research will provide useful information for the cultivation of A. arguta in South Korea. However, it also seems necessary to conduct research on the use of different types of mulch and on the economic profitability of mulch in the future.

본 연구는 한국 특산식물이고, IUCN Red List의 EN(위기종) 등급에 속하는 개느삼을 대상으로 자생지 분포, 자생지 분포 예측을 하기 위해 수행되었다. 개느삼의 자생지 분포 조사 결과 ,강원도 양구군 13곳, 인제군 3곳, 춘천시 2곳, 홍천군 1곳 총 19곳에 분포하는 것을 확인하였다. 우리나라에서 가장 북쪽 자생지는 양구군 임당리, 동쪽 인제군 한계리, 서쪽 춘천시 지내리, 남쪽 홍천군 성동리로 각각 확인되었다. 개느삼 자생지의 해발고도는 169-711m에 분포하는 것으로 나타났고, 평균 해발고도는 375m로 조사되었다. 개느삼 자생지의 면적은 8,000-734,000㎡인 것으로 분석되었고, 평균 202,789㎡로 조사되었다. 대부분의 개느삼 자생지는 간벌, 가지치기 등과 같은 숲가꾸기가 이루어진 곳으로 조사되었다. 개느삼 잠재 분포지 분석을 MaxEnt 프로그램을 이용하여 수행한 결과, AUC값은 0.9762로 분석되었다. 분포예측 자생지는 강원도 양구 군, 인제군, 춘천시, 화천군 지역에 집중되어 분포하는 것으로 나타났다. 자생지 분포예측에 가장 영향을 많이 미치는 변수는 연간강수량, 토양탄소함유량, 최한월 기온으로 분석되었다. 본 연구 결과를 토대로 개느삼은 광량이 풍부하고 능선부에 주로 서식하는 것을 확인하였고, 향후 본 연구결과의 자생지 정보를 토대로 개느삼 자생지를 보전하기 위한 보호지역 지정 등을 위한 기초자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

Soil properties are important environmental conditions affecting fruit quality and yield in new cultivars of Actinidia arguta. The yield of three A. arguta cultivars (cv. Autumn Sense, cv. Chungsan, and cv. Greenball) from Wonju city, South Korea was investigated from 2017 to 2019 and the relationships to soil properties are discussed. The yield of cv. Autumn Sense, cv. Chungsan, and cv. Greenball fruits ranged from 6.8 to 24.5, 14.0 to 29.0, and 10.5 to 38.5 kg/vine. cv. Autumn Sense had the highest soil organic matter content and soil C/N ratio over the three-year period. The yield of A. arguta fruits was positively correlated with soil C/N ratio and could be described by a power model (y = axb), suggesting that soil C/N ratio plays an important role in limiting the bioavailability and bioaccumulation of organic matter in A. arguta fruits. In addition, C/N ratio in the soil was influenced by the soil available phosphate. However, the threshold of the C/N ratio for A. arguta fruit differed according to cultivar, and especially the lowest threshold was observed in cv. Chungsan. Therefore, the application of an appropriate C/N ratio depending on the cultivar is required for improved fruit yield. Our results present the soil properties required to increase the yield of the new A. arguta cultivars in South Korea.

The road slopes have various problems such as the risk of landslides and soil erosion, and research on stabilizing road slopes using plant greening has attracted the most attention. The overall objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of woody biomass based growing media on plant germination in a slope area. Moreover, we tried to find out what physicochemical properties of growing media affect plant germination on a slope. For experiment, we tested soil, soil mixed with growing media (1:1, w/w), and growing media by itself. Physical and chemical properties were evaluated after a month from the date of treatment application to the experimental slope site. Plant germination of Lespedeza cyrtobotrya was measured for plant growth evaluation. Physicochemical properties were altered by mixing the soil with growing media. Particularly, moisture content, organic matter and C/N ratio were significantly changed in soils mixed with growing media compared to soil alone. We confirmed that plant germination was high when growing media was mixed with the soil. There was a significant linear relationship between particle density and pH of all media tested and plant germination. In addition, in the same trend, the principal component analysis confirmed that the particle density and pH was positive component for plant germination rate, and the C/N ratio was found to be the negative component for plant germination. In conclusion, the particle density, pH and C/N ratio of the soil mixed with growing media was considered effective for plant germination in the experimental slope site, and this wood-based growing media provides a means to improve the harmony between the slope and the surrounding environment.

Light is an important factor for cordycepin production in Cordyceps militaris. We investigated the effects of different light-emitting diode (LED) conditions including various LED wavelengths and their combinations on cordycepin production in Cordyceps militaris cultivated in submerged culture. The results of our study showed that the combinations of LED wavelengths were more beneficial than single LED sources for cordycepin production. Among the three tested wavelength combinations, the greatest effects for cordycepin production were observed for the red:blue light combination at the wavelength ratio of 5:5 or 3:7. The optimal culture conditions were 19.2278 h/day of illumination time; 9.19497 g/50 mL of glucose content in the media; and 53.112 h of cultivation time. Our model predicted a maximum yield of 2860.01 μg/mL cordycepin. Finally, to verify the calculated maximum, we performed experiments in the culture media representing the obtained optimum combination and the cordycepin yield of 2412.5 μg/mL.

산림 식생은 수관층의 종류와 밀도에 의해 하층식생의 발달에 영향을 미치는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구는 산림청 희귀식물로 지정된 꼬리말발도리 개체군의 수관열림도 차이에 따른 개체의 생장(생장량, 엽면적당 질량[Leaf Mass per Area], 엽면적) 및 생리적 특성(SPAD값, 엽록소량, 광합성)을 조사하고, 향후 대체서식지 조성을 위한 기초 자료를 제시하고자 한다. 조사구는 꼬리말발도리 자생지 환경 특성을 고려하여 국립수목원 내 수관열림도 차이가 보이는 3개 조사구(site 1, 2, 3)를 정하고, 꼬리말발도리 자생지(군위)에 1개 조사구(site 4)를 대조구로 하였다. 각 조사구의 광량, 지온 및 온도는 수관열림도와 비례하였으며, 토양습도 및 공중습도는 수관열림도와 반비례하는 경향을 보였다. 조사구별 평균 초장(cm)은 조사구마다 차이를 보였고, 엽면적은 수관열림도가 상대적으로 낮은 조사구에서 높았으며, LMA는 수관열림도가 높은 Site 3에서 높게 나타났다. 도입 개체는 수관열림도 차이에 따라 적절한 광적응 현상을 보이는 것으로 판단된다. 8월에 측정한 엽록소 a+b의 함량은 Site 4에서 가장 높았으며, 엽록소 a/b는 Site 3에서 가장 높았다. 꼬리말발도리의 조사구별 광합성 속도는 Site 2에서 가장 높은 수치를 보였으며, Site 4에서 가장 낮은 수치를 보였다. 그 외 기공전도도, 증산속도 유사한 경향을 보였다. 개체 특성 간 상관 분석 결과, 엽면적과 광량은 강한 음의 상관관계를 보였다. 본 연구는 희귀식물 꼬리말발도리의 대체서식지 조성에 기초 자료를 제시할 것으로 판단된다.

개느삼은 한반도의 일부 지역에 제한적으로 분포하는 특산식물이며, IUCN Red List의 ‘Endangered’로 지정된 희귀식물 이다. 본 연구는 자생지의 환경변화로 쇠퇴 위협이 있는 개느삼의 분포 패턴과 개체군 구조를 조사 분석하여 향후 개느삼 개체군의 동태 및 지속성 파악을 위한 기초 자료 활용에 목적이 있다. 개느삼 개체군의 특성을 파악하기 위해 양구, 춘천, 홍천 3개 지역에 각각 2~3개의 대방형구(20m×30m)를 능선을 기준으로 설정하고, 대방형구 안에 4~7개 Transect상의 소방형구(1m×1m)를 2m 간격으로 각각 10개씩 총 530개를 설정하여 출현 개체 수 및 결실 개체 수, 개체 높이 등을 측정하였 다. 확보된 종발생정보를 IUCN Red List ver 3.1의 평가기준 B를 적용하여 기존 IUCN에 평가된 범주와 비교분석하였다. 조사된 세 개 지역의 평균 개체 밀도는 3.47본/㎡로 나타났으며, 지역별로 양구 3.95본/㎡, 춘천 3.37본/㎡, 홍천 2.87본/㎡ 이었다. 한편, 개체군의 결실률(결실 수/개체 수)은 0.0038으로 전체 출현 개체 1,837본 중에 7본만이 결실된 것으로 나타나 생식생장(sexual reproductive) 보다는 영양생장(vegetative reproduction) 비율이 매우 높을 것으로 추정된다. 조사된 세 지역의 소방형구 개체 밀도의 분포 경향을 분석한 결과, 개느삼은 수관 열림이 높은 산지 능선을 중심으로 수관 열림이 낮은 숲 중심부로 갈수록 개체 밀도가 감소하는 경향을 보여줌으로써, 광량이 개느삼 개체의 생육에 매우 중요한 요소일 것으로 추정된다. 한편, 방형구내 출현하는 전체 개체의 높이를 분석한 결과 2.3~68.5cm로 나타났으며, 평균 20.1cm로 조사되었다. 개체 높이를 바탕으로 개느삼 개체군의 stage-structure를 분석한 결과 15~20cm를 기점으로 개체 높이가 높아질 수록 점차 출현빈도가 감소하는 경향을 보여주었으며, seedling으로 추정되는 10cm 이하의 개체들의 비율도 매우 낮게 나타남으로써 향후 모니터링 자료를 바탕으로 개체군의 지속성에 대한 분석이 필요할 것으로 보인다. 한편, 확보한 종발생정보 를 바탕으로 산출된 점유면적은 200㎢로 나타나 IUCN Red List 기준(criteria) B 적용 시 EN 범주를 충족하는 것으로 나타났다.

Environmental conditions are important in increasing the fruit sugar content and productivity of the new cultivar Autumn Sense of Actinidia arguta. We analyzed various soil properties at experimental sites in South Korea. A Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed between the soil properties and sugar content or productivity of Autumn Sense. Further, a decision tree was used to determine the optimal soil conditions. The difference in the fruit size, sugar content, and productivity of Autumn Sense across sites was significant, confirming the effects of soil properties. The decision tree analysis showed that a soil C/N ratio of over 11.49 predicted a sugar content of more than 7°Bx at harvest time, and soil electrical capacity below 131.83 μS/cm predicted productivity more than 50 kg/vine at harvest time. Our results present the soil conditions required to increase the sugar content or productivity of Autumn Sense, a new A. arguta cultivar in South Korea.

Wikstroemia ganpi grow the southern coastal regions in Korea, small population and are classified as a critically endangered species. The majority of habitats are located near forest paths and reservoirs at the edge of mountains, indicating that there is considerable human interference and severe fragmentation of populations, as well as damage to individuals as a result of forest fires and soil erosion. We evaluated the genetic diversity in populations, genetic differentiation between populations, and genetic structure to provide data to support the conservation of W. ganpi. W. ganpi populations showed lower genetic diversity(mean level: P.95=36%, S.I=0.170, h=0.113) and higher genetic differentiation(40%) between populations than other species with similar characteristics did. And the among population gene flow(Nm) was highly restricted at 0.87. The four populations revealed that there were fixed alleles in the different loci of each population. This result can be explained by the effects of genetic drift. Structure analysis and the PCA results were more indicative of separate groups than a genetic structure that was linked to populations. This reflects the high level of genetic differentiation between populations and the unique alleles within each population. As a result, lower genetic diversity and higher genetic differentiation between populations of W. ganpi. And the effects of inbreeding were observed, as well as asexual reproduction in some populations. Therefore, to conserve W. ganpi, all the surveyed populations need to be designated for on-site conservation and monitored continually. A research on the spatial genetic structure needs to be conducted to obtain information on sample extraction for off-site conservation. This structure would be able to minimize the wasting of samples that could be obtained from limited genetic resources and would enable further focused and efficient management.

본 연구는 특산식물 노랑붓꽃 자생지의 식물상 및 식생조사를 통하여 노랑붓꽃자생지의 보전 및 관리를 위한 기초자료를 제공하기 위하여 수행하였다. 노랑붓꽃 자생지 내에서 출현한 관속식물은 63과 97속 121종 3아종 11변종 3품종으로 총 138분류군으로 확인되었다. 특산식물은 노랑붓꽃을 포함한 청괴불나무와 병꽃나무 등 3분류군이 확인되었다. IUCN 평가기준에 따른 희귀식물은 멸종위기(CR)종 노랑붓꽃(Iris koreana)과 약관심(LC)종 말나리(Lilium distichum)가 조사되었다. 식물구계학적 특정식물종은 Ⅴ등급 1분류군, Ⅳ등급 2분류군, Ⅲ등급 2분류군, Ⅱ등급 3분류군 및 Ⅰ등급 11분류군 등 19분류군이 발견되었다. 생활형조성은 교목(21.0%), 저목식물(21.0%), 지중식물(18.8%), 아교목(16.7%) 등이 높게 나타났다. 식생구조를 중요치와 종다양지수로 분석한 결과, 관목식물 중에서는 윤노리나무(Pourthiaeavillosa)의 중요치가 14.5%로 가장 높게 나타났으며, 초본식물 중에서는 애기나리가 10.2%로 가장 높은값을 나타내었다. 노랑붓꽃 자생지의 평균 종다양성지수는 1.4로 비교적 낮은 것으로 나타났다. 직경급빈도분포를 분석한 결과, 대부분의 자생지에서 직경 10cm 이상의 성숙목 계급에서는 소나무(Pinusdensiflora), 곰솔(Pinus thunbergii), 갈참나무(Quercus aliena) 및 굴피나무(Platycarya strobilacea)의 출현빈도가 높게 나타났고, 직경 10cm 이하의 어린 식물계급에서는 굴피나무, 때죽나무(Styraxjaponicus), 갈참나무의 출현빈도가 높게 나타났다. 전반적으로 조사지역의 식생은 양호하나 최근 들어 인위적인 간섭 및 자연재해로 인하여 훼손이 증가되고 있어 장기적인 모니터링을 통한 식생변화와 동태 파악이 이루어져야 할 것으로 판단된다.

The sustainability of Iris koreana, a rare and endemic plant designated by the Korea Forest Service, is threatened due to artificial factors such as habitats loss and climate change etc. and internal factors such as changes in biological properties of the habitats etc. but conservation biology research has not been performed in South Korea. The objective of this study is to establish the species conservation strategies by analyzing the characteristics of their habitats, including: 1) Population characteristics, and 2) habitat analysis of the vegetation and abiotic environments. From April to May, 2015, population characteristics [density (stems m-2), flowering rate (%) and leaf area size (cm2)] in I. koreana habitats such as Buan1~6 (BA1~6), Jangseong1~2 (JS1~2) and vegetation characteristics (phytosociological research and ordination analysis), and abiotic environments [soil temperature (℃), soil humidity (%), transmitted light (mol·m-2·d-1) and canopy openness (%)] were measured. I. koreana was mainly distributed at elevation 50 to 150 m and 2 to 11° slope. Slope direction was shown as 90 to 193°. The average degree of canopy openness was 11.9%. It showed the highest at BA2 (17.5) and the lowest at JS1 (7.7). The average degree of transmitted light was 6.3 mol·m-2·d-1. It showed the highest at BA2 (10.1) and the lowest at JS1 (3.6). Population density showed average 25.8 (stems m-2). It showed the highest at JS2 (19.7) and the lowest at JS1 (9.3). flowering stems showed average 16.9 (stems). It showed the highest at BA3 (35) and the lowest at BA5 (4). Leaf area size was average 94.1 cm2.

The sustainability of Cypripedium japonicum, a rare plant designated by the Korea Forest Service, is threatened due to artificial factors such as habitat loss and climate change etc. and internal factors such as changes in biological properties of the habitat etc. but conservation research has not been performed in South Korea. The objective of this study is to establish the species conservation strategies by analyzing the characteristics of their habitats, including: 1) Population characteristics, and 2) habitat analysis of the vegetation and abiotic environments. From April to September, 2014, population characteristics [density (stems m-2), flowering rate (%), and leaf area (cm2)] in Cypripedium japonicum habitats such as Chuncheon (CC), Hwacheon (HC), Muju (MJ), and Gwangyang (GY) and vegetation characteristics (plant sociological research and ordination analysis), and abiotic environments [temperature (℃), relative humidity (%), transmitted light (mol·m-2·d-1) and canopy openness (%)] were measured. Cypripedium japonicum was mainly distributed at elevation 450 to 990 m and 5 to 30° slope. Slope direction was shown as 0 to 110°. Habitats temperature (mean 18.94℃) was well matched to seasonal changes. Differences among sites showed greater level according to latitude difference. It showed the highest in habitat, GY located in the South. On the other hand, relative humidity (77.38%) didn’t show much difference among sites. The average degree of canopy openness was 18.17%. It showed the highest at HC (22.1%) and the lowest at MJ (16.1%). The average degree of transmitted light was 9.1 mol·m-2·d-1. It showed the highest at CC (10.6 mol·m-2·d-1) and the lowest at GY (6.87 mol·m-2·d-1). Chlorophyll content showed average 26.12 SPAD. It showed the highest at MJ (30.64 SPAD value) and the lowest at HC (23.69 SPAD value). Leaf area was average 253.35 cm2. It showed the highest at CC (281.51 cm2) and the lowest at HC (238.23 cm2).