Two infamous ant species, red imported fire ant (RIFA, Solenopsis invicta) and tropical fire ant (TFA, S. geminata), originated from South America are invading and harming many countries around the world. Among them, RIFA, known as one of the 100 world’s worst invasive alien species, has been discovered in South Korea; in Busan (Gamman CT) in 2017, and subsequently in Busan (Hutchison CT), Pyongtaek, Incheon and Daegu in 2018. With these relentless introduction of RIFA, South Korea is not safe no more from these ants and faces a risk of settlement. Our research goal is tracing the country origin of invasive populations of RIFA and TFA based on molecular epidemiological approach. We are conducting both microsatellite and genome-wide SNP analyses in order to derive a complementary interpretation. These two methodologies are expected to result in improved resolution in population genetics analysis. Nevertheless, this work needs collaboration of many countries belonging to the range of origin and invasion of RIFA and TFA. We will briefly introduce our research project and progress of collaboration research.

Incursions of red imported fire ant (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta into Korea have been increasing. After a first interception of a colony of S. invicta on Gamman pier, Pusan port while intensive surveillance by Animal & Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) in September 2017, three more RIFA colonies have been found in sea port piers of Pyeongtek, Incheon and Pusan cities. The social forms and mitochondrial DNA haplotypes of the intercepted RIFA colonies were analysed by allelic discrimination assay (peptide nucleic acid probe based RT-PCR) of Gp-9 gene and mt-DNA fragment of 768 bp, which is part of the Cytochrome oxidaseⅠ gene. The colony on Gamman pier, intercepted in Sep. 2017 was previously reported as a haplotype 5 (H5) of mitochondrial DNA and a social form of polygyne. The colony on Hutchison pier of Pusan port, intercepted in June 2018 were confirmed as a H22 haplotype and a monogyne. Those different social forms show different origins of each colonies. Those on piers of Pyeongtek and Incheon ports, also found in 2018 were confirmed samely as H22 and monogyne. However, it could be putatively assumed that those two colonies were differently introduced via different container cargoes, considering those colonies were found in container yards of distantly located different sea ports. More genetic variation analyses using diverse sets of molecular markers such as microsatellites, genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms, etc. in nuclear gens are being proceeded for more exact introduction routes (origins).

붉은불개미는 세계 100대 침입외래 해충 중의 하나로 우리나라에서는 관리 해충으로 1996년도에 지정되었다. 2017년 9월28일 부산항 감만 부두에서 국내 최초로 발견된 후, 2018년에 부산항, 평택항 과 인천항에서 발견이 되었고, 9월18일에 대구의 아파트 공사장에서 내륙에서는 처음으로 발견이 되었다. 대구에서 발견된 붉은불개미도 아파트 건설을 위하여 중국에서 수입한 석재에 혼합되어 수입된 토양과 식물체와 같이 혼입된 것으로 추측이 된다. 그러므로, 현재까지 국내에서 붉은불개미가 번식을 하여 토착화되었다는 증거는 없다. 현재까지 붉은불개미에 대한 종 판명은 전문가에 의한 형태적인 분류가 대부분이다. 그래서, 붉은불개미에 대한 확증을 위해서는 채집된 개체를 검역기관으로 이송하여 분자진단을 실시해야 하므로, 최소 이틀의 시간이 필요하다. 현재 항원항체 반응을 이용한 붉은불개미 진단 키트가 해외에서 개발되어 판매되고 있지만, 낮은 민감도로 최소 3~5개의 충체가 필요한 실정이다. 현재 판매되고 있는 진단키트가 가지는 문제점은 이를 대신할 새로운 키트의 개발이 필요함을 보여주고 있다. 신속한 붉은불개미의 검역현장에서 진단을 가능하게하기 위한 노력 중의 하나로 우리는 붉은불개미의 복부에서 발현되는 유전체에 대한 연구를 수행하였다. 본 발표에서는 그에 대한 현재까지의 연구 진행과 결과를 설명하도록 하겠다. (본 연구는 농림축산 검역본부의 연구비 지원으로 이루어졌음).

We performed a survey for flavivirus infection and distribution of Aedes albopictus that known as Zika and Dengue virus vector using black–light trap and BG-sentinel trap around urban area in Korea. Mosquitoes were collected in 27 cities during March to November (twice a month) year 2016. Total numbers of mosquitoes collected 102,102 including 19 species 8 genera during collecting period. Total 21,467 Ae. albopictus was collected that 20,961(24.3%) by BG-sentinel trap and 506 (3.2%) by Black-light trap in urban area. Trap index(trap/night) of Ae. albopictus was showed highest in Hamyang (TI:992.3) and lowest in Taebaek (TI:0.3) there was only collected by Black-light trap. A total of 894 pools from all collecting Ae. albopictus were performed a Flavivirus detection. Flavivirus was not detected during study period. This study may provide basic information for surveillance of imported diseases (include Zika virus) and vectors in Korea.

The nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is the causal pathogen of pine wilt disease in Korea. Currently, it is reported that B. mucronatus also has a low pathogenicity. Despite this difference in pathogenicity, it is very difficult to differentiate these two species due to similarity in morphological characters. The sequence variation of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and intergenic spacer (IGS) regions of ribosomal DNA has been used for species identification and phylogeny of B. xylophilus and B. mucronatus. But, the IGS region sequence data of B. mucronatus has been only reported in Portugal. In this study, We analyzed genetic variation on ITS and IGS regions of B. xylophilus and B. mucronatus (Asian genotype, European genotype) based on rDNA gene sequences, and conducted phylogeography using TCS network. When the each isolates was determined the phylogenetic analysis using the neighbor-joining method, Bursaphelenchus species were divided into each groups, and showed low variation within each species. In the TCS analysis, The isolate of B. xylophilus and B. mucronatus (Asian genotype and European genotype) were divided into each groups and confirmed slightly genetic distance within species. B. mucronatus European genotype has possibility of new species different with Asian genotype.

Background : There are about 30 species of Adenophora triphylla which grow wild in Korea. but they are very similar so that it is difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. Therefore, it is separated by conformational differences such as leaf shape and flower size. However, these morphological distinction is not useful because even in the same type there are differences by a growth phase or the environment. It is difficult to identify and classify Adenophora triphylla because the phenotypes between plant individuals are diverse greatly even within the same type. For this reason, we will investigate the flowering characteristics of Adenophora triphylla and this information will be used as the basis for the breeding line. Methods and Results : We used the second year Adenophora triphylla in Herbal Crop Research Division, Department of Herbal Crop Research in Eumseong. We Investigated flowering characteristics from June 2015 to November 2015. The 34 individuals of 134 individuals were died by pests and diseases. Depending on the flowering and fruition characteristics were classified into 5 populations, except for the early and late maturing individuals. Conclusions : The flowering period of Adenophora triphylla is 1 month from mid-July to mid-August, and it takes 15 days from the flowering season to the 70% of flowering. It usually takes about 60 days from flowering to fruition, and the fruition is finished in mid-October.

‘Clara’ 품종은 국립원예특작과학원에서 2005년도에 육성한 포인세티아 품종으로 초장이 작고 컴팩트한 수형으로 포엽의 형태는 난형이며 엽맥 사이 주름의 정도는 약하다. 포엽의 길이와 폭, 잎몸의 길이와 폭, 엽병의 길이는 짧으며 단일처리 후 약 9주일이 경과하면 충분히 착색되어 출하가 가능한 품종이다. 2008년 5월과 10월 ‘Clara’ 품종의 캘러스가 형성된 삽수에 100Gy의 감마선을 24시간 동안 처리하여 유기한 돌연변이를 이용하여 2010년과 2013년에 국립원예특작과학원에서 ‘Clara Pink’와 ‘Clara White’품종을 육성하였다. 이 두 품종들은 포엽의 색이 완전히 변한 변이주를 선발하여 계통화 하였으며 2008년 5월에 감마선을 처리한 삽수들 중 포엽의 색이 분홍색인 변이지를 선발하여 2009년에 2차에 거쳐 특성검정을 실시하였다. 2010년에 ‘원예 D5-2’를 육성한 후 3차 특성검정과 품종평가회를 실시하여 최종선발하였으며, 농작물 직무육성 신품종선정위원회를 거쳐 ‘Clara Pink’로 명명하였다. 2005년 10월에 감마선을 처리한 삽수들중에서는 포엽의 색이 연황색인 변이주를 선발하여 계통화 하였으며, 2012년과 2013년에 1,2차 특성검정을 실시하였다. 2013년에 ‘원예 D5-34’를 육성하여 특성검정과 품종평가회를 실시하고 농작물 직무육성신품종선정위원회를 거쳐 ‘Clara White’로 명명하였다. ‘클라라 핑크’와 ‘클라라 화이트’ 두 품종 모두 ‘클라라’ 품종과 같은 소형으로 적심하지 않은 상태에서도 분지가 많이 발생하는 컴팩트한 수형이다. 포엽의 형태는 결각이 없는 난형이며, 엽맥 사이에 약한 주름이 있고 단일처리 후 약 9주일 경과하면 완전히 착색된다. 잎몸의 모양은 난형이며, 엽병의 길이는 짧다. 그러나 ‘클라라 핑크’와 ‘클라라 화이트’ 품종의 포엽과 엽맥의 안토시아닌 발현에 차이를 나타내었다. ‘클라라 핑크’ 의 포엽은 분홍색이며, ‘클라라 화이트’의 포엽은 연황색이다. 또한 ‘클라라 핑크’ 와 ‘클라라 화이트’ 품종은 ‘클라라’ 품종과 비교해서 잎자루 윗면의 안토시아닌 발현 정도가 약하였으며, 잎몸 윗면의 가운데 맥의 색이 ‘클라라’ 품종은 녹색과 빨강색이 함께 발현되었으나, ‘클라라 핑크’ 와 ‘클라라 화이트’ 품종은 녹색만 발현되었다.

Use of nature-derived matrices of a part of body tissues has been used to repair damaged tissues in practical terms. Recently, the same idea has also been applied to regenerate whole organs including the heart, liver, lung, and pancreas etc. Thus, so-called bio-artificial organ technology becomes a promising way of overcoming the lack of donor organs and immune rejections in organ transplantation if we can obtain recipient stem cells. Although the regenerated heart in vitro so far may demonstrate some typical organ's responses in vitro and vivo, it is still far from a fully functional organ for transplantation. We initiated a study to look at changes occurring during the generation of bio-artificial organ using the mouse model. Adult hearts were dissected out and perfused for acellularization with SDS-containing buffer and washed several times. Enzymatic treatment also evaluated the acellular purity by isolating genomic DNA and total RNA before and after DNase and RNase treatments. For recellularization, differentiating H9C2 cell or cells derived from P19 EC cells along with mesenchymal stem cells were seeded on the finally obtained heart matrix several times before submerging culture for generating the heart. Histological analyses revealed that complete removal of cellular components. The intensive staining of alcian blue (pH 1.5 and 2.5) suggests that acid mucopolysaccharides, glycocomponents and sulfate-containing saccharides are widely spread within the heart matrix. There was little DNA and RNA in the heart matrix after the enzymatic treatments as judging by the DAPI or PI staining. Cell seeding and subsequent submerging culture showed substantial heart tissue development as evidenced by immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR in the recellularized and grown heart. From these results, we suggest that each procedure for bio-artificial organ has to be carefully examined to improve the entire process.

‘Taegang’ is a new six-rowed covered barley cultivar developed by the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), R.D.A. This cultivar is developed from a cross between ‘Suwon287’ and ‘Olbori’ in 1992. An F8 selection was made at NCES in 2000 and it was te