Gibberellic acid (GA) is a well-characterized plant hormone, which plays a critical role in various plant growth and development. including stem elongation, floral indcution and seed development. GA is known to cause enlargement of ripening fruits and, especially in grapevines, GA shows a unique function: the induction of seedlessness in seeded grape varieties. However, despite extensive previous studies about GA, there has been no clear verification of the mechanism that induces seedlessness in grapes. To understand how GA treatment results in artificial parthenocarpy of seeded grapes at molecular levels, we analyzed transcriptional changes in seeded grapes with and without GA application in various inflorescence developmental stages using RNA-seq. At 14 days before flowering (DBF), seeded grapes were treated with 100 ppm GA and clusters were collected at three developmental stages: 7 DBF, full bloom, and 5 days after flowering (DAF). Of a total of 28,974 genes that were mapped to grape genome reference sequences, 7,013 and 9,064 genes were up- and down-regulated, respectively, in the GA-treated grape as compared to the non-GA-treated control at 7 DBF, full bloom, and 5 DAF. Clustering analysis revealed that these genes could be grouped into 9 clusters with different expression patterns. We also carried out functional annotation based on gene ontology categories. There were significant differences in the expression of the GA and auxin-related gene families. These findings expand our understanding of the complex molecular and cellular mechanisms of GA-induced parthenocarpy of grapes and provide a foundation for future studies on seed development in grapevines.

A new sprout-soybean cultivar, “Wonhwang” was developed at the Honam Agricultural Research Institute (HARI) in 2005. Wonhwang was selected from a cross between Camp and Myeongjunamulkong. The preliminary, advanced, and regional yield trials for evaluation and selection of Iksan45 were carried out from 2001 to 2005. This cultivar has a determinate growth habit with purple flower, grayish brown pubescence, grayish brow hilum, lanceolate leaflet shape and small seed size (10.0 grams per 100 seeds). The maturity date of Wonhwang is 7 days earlier than that of the check variety, Pungsan. It has good seed quality for soybean-sprout, and resistance to lodging. It has also been identified to have resistance to soybean mosaic virus (SMV) and necrotic symptom(SMV-N). The average yield of “Wonhwang” was 2.80MT/ha, which was higher by 4% than “Pungsannamulkong” at the regional yield trials.

Genetic diversity of Korean landrace rice accessions was assessed with microsatellite markers. The 214 alleles weregedfrom 3 for SSS locus to 37 for RM206 locus with an average number of 12.6 alleles per locus. Gene diversity values according tothe 17 mic

A new sprout-soybean variety, “Dagi” was developed from the cross between Namhaekong and D70-6545 by the soybean breeding laboratory of the National Honam Agricultural Experiment Station (NHAES) in 2002. The preliminary, advanced, and regional yield trial

Genetic diversity and soybean sprout-related traits were evaluated in a total of 72 soybean accessions (60 Glycine max, 7 Glycine soja, and 5 Glycine gracilis). 100-seed weight (SW) was greatly varied and ranged from 3.2g to 32.3g in 72 soybean accessions. Positive correlation was observed between GR and hypocotyl length (HL), whereas negative correlation was observed between SW and hypocotyl diameter (HD). Re-evaluation by discarding two soybean genotypes characterized with low GR indicated that much higher correlation of sprout yield (SY) with HD and SW. Based on the principal component analysis (PCA) for sprout-related traits, 57 accessions were classified. Soybean genotypes with better traits for sprout, such as small size of seeds and high SY, were characterized with high PCA 1 and PCA 2 values. The seed size in second is small but showed low GR and SY, whereas the third has large seed, high GR and more than 400% SY. In genetic similarity analysis using 60 SSR marker genotyping, 72 accessions were classified into three major and several minor groups. Nine of twelve accessions that were identified as the representatives of soybean for sprout based on PCA were in a group by the SSR marker analysis, indicating the SSR marker selection of parental genotypes for soybean sprout improvement program.

The lateral root formation in soybean sprout culture declines its quality. This study was done to measure the effect of fluorescent light treatment during 24 hour imbibition and 6-day culture on seed germination and growth of soybean sprout. After 6 day culture, the sprouts were sorted as normal (＞4cm), abnormal (＜4cm) and non-germination by their hypocotyl lengths, and lateral roots, fresh and dry weights were measured. Lateral roots were less formed in the fluorescent light treatment lasted during the whole period of the imbibition than in the treatment for 50 minutes a day during the culture. The fluorescent light treatment during the imbibition mainly affected the germination and growth compared to the treatment done during the culture. Compared to the dark imbibition, the light treatment during the imbibition resulted in more normal sprouts, thicker diameters of hypocotyl and hook, and more fresh weights in cotyledon, hypocotyl, whole sprout, and economic yield. However, these results were reverse in lengths of hypocotyl and root, and fresh and dry weights of roots. It is concluded that the fluorescent lamp mainly irradiating red and blue lights can be used for the sprout production as an alternative light replacing blue and red lights treated during the imbibition because it blocked the lateral root appearance and stimulated growth of the sprout.