Heavy metal contamination from abandoned mines presents long-term risks to soil ecosystems by altering physicochemical conditions and limiting microbial functions. To investigate these effects, we analyzed soils from the Deoksan Pb-Zn abandoned mine in Korea using community-level physiological profiling (CLPP) with Biolog EcoPlateTM. Soil samples were collected from three contaminated sites and one uncontaminated control, and we assessed their physicochemical properties, heavy metal concentrations, and microbial substrate utilization patterns over a 7-day incubation period. The results revealed significant site-specific differences in soil chemistry, with Zn and Pb concentrations exceeding ecological safety thresholds near the mine adit. Average well color development (AWCD) increased over time across all sites, but functional trajectories differed: highly contaminated soils exhibited prolonged increases, while low-contamination soils plateaued earlier. Substrate utilization patterns shifted over time, with carbohydrates and carboxylic acids dominating in the early incubation phase, while phosphorylated chemicals became more prominent in later stages. Multiple regression and relative importance analyses identified Cd, Pb, and Zn as key regulators of substrate utilization, with phosphorylated chemicals showing strong negative correlations (R 2>0.95). These findings indicate that heavy metal stress not only decreases overall microbial activity but also disrupts specific metabolic pathways. The utilization of phosphorylated chemicals emerged as a particularly sensitive functional indicator, underscoring its potential for ecological risk assessment and soil health monitoring in contaminated sites.

The genus Pleurastrum is a coccoid green alga comprising 10 species worldwide. Pleurastrum exhibits simple morphology and high polymorphism, which complicates the understanding of its diversity. We examined the morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of Pleurastrum using light, confocal, and transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, we performed phylogenetic analysis based on multigene sequences (nuclear SSU rDNA, 5.8S, internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region, and plastid rbcL and tufA genes) from Pleurastrum strains to report two previously unrecorded freshwater species (Pleurastrum insigne and Pleurastrum microstigmatum) in Korea. The vegetative cells were predominantly spherical, with a few being ellipsoidal, and each cell contained a chloroplast with one pyrenoid. The sporangia produced several daughter cells, while the biflagellate zoospores were ellipsoidal and motile. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that P. insigne and P. microstigmatum form well-supported monophyletic clades. Analysis of ITS2 secondary structures revealed similar patterns, with several differences in nucleotide sequences and insertions between the two species. The findings of this study expand the known distribution of Pleurastrum and enhance our understanding of its species diversity in Korea.

This study investigated butterfly communities in riparian zones adjacent to dams, comparing agricultural (AG) and non-agricultural (NAG) areas. From April to October 2024, biweekly butterfly surveys were conducted using a standardized line transect method across three dam regions in Jeollanam-do, South Korea. NAG sites consistently showed higher species richness and total abundance than AG sites, although these differences were not statistically significant. Extrapolated diversity estimates indicated variations between the two areas, except for species richness. Seasonal patterns of species richness and abundance differed between land-use types. Rank-abundance distribution analysis revealed that NAG areas had more even species distributions, best described by the Log-normal model, while AG areas exhibited steep dominance patterns consistent with the Zipf-Mandelbrot model. The five most dominant species comprised 73.4% of individuals in AG sites, compared to just 51.4% in NAG sites. NMDS ordination illustrated distinct community clustering between NAG and AG sites, though PERMANOVA and MRPP did not identify statistically significant group differences. These findings suggest that reduced disturbance and greater habitat heterogeneity in NAG areas promote more resilient and balanced butterfly communities. The study emphasizes the ecological importance of natural riparian zones and highlights the potential of butterfly assemblages as indicators for biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning.

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae (FOL) threatens lettuce production w orldw ide, y et g enomic resources for many field isolates remain scarce, hampering both molecular race diagnostics and effector‑guided breeding. In this study, we produced the draft genome sequence of FOL isolate 16-086 collected from South Korea. High‑molecular‑weight DNA of the 16-086 extracted from a monoconidial culture was sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq X Ten platform (2 × 151 bp). De‑novo assembly with SOAPdenovo produced a 55.0 Mb genome distributed over 16,636 scaffolds (N₅₀ = 104 kb) with 1,941 bp of gaps and a GC content of 47.60 %. AUGUSTUS predicted 16,158 protein‑coding genes, 74.9 % of w hich c arry r ecognisable InterPro d omains, comparable t o other F. oxysporum genomes. Whole‑genome completeness reached 96.3 % BUSCOs for Ascomycota. Pathogenicity was validated with the susceptible line ‘knou322’. Single‑locus PCR alone cannot conclusively assign strain 16‑086 to race 3; additional multi-loci assays and pathogenicity tests are required to resolve its race identity. The genome assembly and raw reads have been deposited in GenBank under BioProject PRJNA758594, BioSample SAMN21031248 and SRA SRR15671714, providing an open resource for refining molecular diagnostics and accelerating resistance‑gene deployment in lettuce breeding programmes.

This study was conducted to provide comprehensive information on the current status, constraints, and policy responses regarding rice cultivation in Uzbekistan for researchers and policymakers engaged in rice production in Central Asia. Despite annual fluctuations, Uzbekistan’s rice cultivation area has consistently exceeded 100,000 hectares each year. The yield per unit area improved by 19.2%, increasing from 4.21 t/ha in 2021 to 5.02 t/ha in 2024. In terms of cultivation methods, the proportion of doub le c ropping rose f rom 50.7% t o 71.6%, a lthough productivity remained h igher in s ingle cropping (5.35 t/ha) compared to double cropping (4.88 t/ha). Rice demonstrated an economic advantage of 2-5 times per hectare compared to major crops such as wheat, corn, and cotton. However, domestic production growth has not kept pace with rising consumption demands, leading to a sharp increase in imports, from 9,000 tons in 2019 to 108,800 tons in 2023. The structure of rice imports is shifting from a heavy reliance on Kazakhstan (90%) toward diversification, including partnerships with Pakistan, Thailand, and other countries. Major constraints to rice production in Uzbekistan include an arid climate, chronic irrigation water shortages, and soil salinization, which affects 50-70% of irrigated farmland. In response, the government established a comprehensive development strategy through Cabinet Resolution No. 986 in 2019 and is currently promoting economies of scale by establishing 42 clusters across 8 provinces (covering 41,440 hectares, or 29.7% of the total area). To address water scarcity, laser land leveling technology has been implemented on over 700,000 hectares as of 2024, aimed at reducing irrigation water usage and increasing yields, with plans to further expand water-saving cultivation technologies. In terms of international cooperation, the KOPIA project is enhancing quality seed production and distribution, as well as establishing machine transplanting cultivation technology. Partnerships with IRRI and participation in the Council for Partnership on Rice Research in Asia (CORRA) are strengthening the development of climate- adaptive varieties and international networks. Overall, Uzbekistan’s rice industry has the strategic potential to contribute significantly to food security, rural economic development, and regional trade activation through systematic policy implementation and enhanced international cooperation.

Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L.) is a key horticultural vegetable in East Asia, particularly in South Korea. It is an important ingredient in traditional fermented foods like kimchi. With climate change and agricultural diversification, such as crop rotation, becoming increasingly relevant globally, examining the productivity of different Chinese cabbage varieties in new regions is crucial. This study evaluated the feasibility of cultivating Chinese cabbage in Bolivia, where the highland regions present unique environmental conditions, including temperature and soil characteristics. We conducted an experiment to grow five different Korean varieties of Chinese cabbage for three months in Sipe Sipe, Cochab amb a, w here t he KOPIA B olivia c enter is located, t o assess t heir a daptability to t he l ocal environment. A s a result, we i dentified two Korean v arieties a s the most s uitab le f or c ultivation i n Bolivia. We expect that this research will serve as a foundational reference for further exploration of the possibilities for cultivating different Chinese cabbage varieties in Bolivia.

While potatoes are a representative crop in Bolivia, their cultivation requires a significant amount of chemical pesticides. Some seed treatment chemicals used for seed potatoes in Bolivia can be highly toxic. Additionally, farmers face financial constraints that make it difficult to use these pesticides. In this paper, we investigated the potential of applying plant ash to seed potatoes as an eco-friendly alternative for seed potato disinfection. We also examined the effects of seed tuber cutting in combination with the ash treatment. The potato variety used was “Jatun Puka,” a new variety developed in Peru that has been studied at the Bolivian National Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Innovation (INIAF). The experiment was conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four repetitions in Sipe Sipe and Sapanani o f Cochab amb a, and Mairana of S anta Cruz. The r esults s howed that the e ffects of the ash treatment and tuber cutting were significantly influenced by the local environment of each region in Bolivia. The ash treatment was more effective than the others only in the Sapanani region, where the soil pH was low enough to fall within the optimal range for potatoes after the ash treatment. Generally, cutting seed potatoes had a negative effect on yield across all three regions, with the negative impact increasing in proportion to the humidity or precipitation of each area. However, considering the cost of seed potatoes per unit area, cutting them remains an adoptable option under certain circumstances. We hope this research will serve as an important reference for future studies on eco-friendly potato cultivation in Bolivia.

목적 : 본 연구는 착용자의 몰입감과 편의성을 고려한 소형·고성능 Head-Mounted Display (HMD) 광학계를 구현하기 위해, 프리즘 기반의 비구면 광학계를 설계하고 그 성능을 분석하였다. 방법 : Code V 소프트웨어를 이용해 광학계를 설계하였으며, 설계 목표는 대각선 시야각 40°, 전체 시스템 두 께 약 11 mm, 조리개 크기 4 mm, ERF 15 mm 조건 하에서 0.01 mm 이하의 RMS 스팟 크기와 50 cycles/mm 에서 0.4 이상의 MTF 값을 확보하는 것이다. 총 10개 면으로 구성된 시스템은 3개의 프리즘과 1개의 디스플레이 로 이루어졌으며, 프리즘은 9개의 광학 면을 형성하고, 10번 면은 디스플레이 면이다. 5개의 비구면 면을 적용하였 으며, 비축 구조와 광로 접힘 기법을 통해 소형화와 고해상도를 동시에 달성하도록 구성되었다. 결과 : 최종 설계된 광학계는 중심부 스팟 크기 0.005 mm, 전체 평균 0.01 mm 이하로 유지되었으며, 50 cycles/mm 기준 MTF는 0.4를 달성하여 고주파 성능이 우수함을 입증하였다. 왜곡률은 최대 +2.8%로 확인되어 기존 연구 대비 향상된 왜곡 특성을 보였다. 광학 성능은 중심부뿐만 아니라 주변 시야에서도 안정적으로 유지되었 으며, 전체 시스템 두께는 11 mm로 소형화가 가능함을 입증하였다. 결론 : 본 연구는 프리즘과 비구면 요소만을 활용해 구조적 단순화와 광학적 고해상도를 동시에 달성한 사례로, 향후 웨어러블 디스플레이 및 초소형 AR 용 HMD 개발에 적용 가능한 경량화 설계 전략으로 활용될 수 있다.

본 연구에서는 국내에서 처음 발견된 진딧물 Phyllaphoides bambusicola Takahashi, 1921을 보고한다. 2023–2024년 야외조사 중 한국 서 부 지역의 왕대 일종(Phyllostachys bambusoides)에서 P. bambusicola의 발생을 확인하였다. 유시 성충의 상세한 형태 기재와 계측값을 제시하였으 며, 생체 및 슬라이드 표본 사진을 포함하였다. 관찰된 피해 정도로 보아 이 종은 대나무류의 주요 해충이 될 것으로 예상되어 모니터링이 필요하다.

본 연구는 학교운동장 굴취 토양(WSSPG)을 모래와 혼합 후 토양개량효과를 조사하여 잔디재배토양으로서 적합성을 조사 함으로써 천연잔디 운동장 조성 시 활용가능성을 평가하기 위해 수행되었다. 처리구는 대조구(모래 100%), WSSPG 5% 처리구 (WSSPG 5% + 모래 95%), WSSPG 10% 처리구(WSSPG 10% + 모래 90%), WSSPG 15% 처리구(WSSPG 15% + 모래 85%), WSSPG 20% 처리구(WSSPG 20% + 모래 80%), WSSPG 30% 처리구(WSSPG 30% + 모래 70%), WSSPG 40% 처리구 (WSSPG 40% + 모래 60%)로 설정하였다. WSSPG 처리 후 pH, EC, CEC등은 증대되었고, 모세관 공극, 비모세관 공극, 총공극 및 포화수리전도도는 감소하였다. WSSPG의 처리량과 토양인자간 조사에서 pH, EC, CEC 및 용적밀도는 정의 상관성 을 나타냈고, 모세관 공극, 비모세관 공극, 총공극 및 포화수리 전도도는 부의 상관성을 나타냈다. 상기 결과를 종합할 때, WSSPG는 토양 화학성을 개선하나 물리성 개선은 미미하였고, WSSPG 처리 후 토양의 물리화학성을 고려할 때, WSSPG의 최대 처리량은 약 5% 정도로 판단되었다.

The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of nitrogen fertilizer levels on seed production of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in mountainous regions of Gangwon Province. The 'Green Call' variety of Italian ryegrass was sown in Pyeongchang, Gangwon in September 2021. The experiment consisted of three nitrogen application levels (100, 120, and 140 N kg/ha) and was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Harvest was carried out on June 28. The plant height was tallest in the 140 N kg/ha treatment, but the difference was not statistically significant. Lodging resistance, disease resistance and winter hardiness showed no significant differences among treatments, although severe lodging occurred in all plots. The average spike length was 54.77 cm, with no significant difference among treatments, while the number of seeds per spike was highest in the 100 N kg/ha treatment. Seed yield increased with higher nitrogen levels, with an average of 2,820 kg/ha (based on air-dry weight). The average dry matter content of seeds and straw was 56.70% and 38.80%, respectively, with no significant differences among treatments. The average dry matter yield of residual straw after seed harvest was 4,144 kg/ha, with the highest yield observed in the 120 N kg/ha treatment. Meanwhile, the feed value of the harvested straw did not differ significantly among treatments. The average contents of ADF, NDF, CP, IVDMD, and TDN were 43.04%, 70.63%, 8.65%, 52.77%, and 54.88%, respectively. In conclusion, the optimal nitrogen fertilization level for Italian ryegrass seed production through autumn sowing in the mountainous areas of Gangwon Province was found to be 120 N kg/ha.