We investigated the changes in the physicochemical properties of wheat grains during ripening stage to determine the effect of the rise in average temperature on that of wheat grains. The treated average temperatures were 18.3°C(control), 19.9°C(1.6°C increase), 21.5°C(3.2°C increase) in artificial climate room from heading time to harvest. Results showed that the ripening period from heading to maturity tended to be shorter during higher temperature treatment condition. The 1,000-grain weight, grain width, number of florets per spike, and number of grains per spike decreased as the ripening period was shortened. Gelatinization properties were affected by high temperature due to the reduction of starch and amylose contents. As the grain filling period was shortened by high temperature treatments, the crude protein content increased. As the grain filling period was shortened by 6 days, the starch and amylose contents decreased by 10.8% and 5.4%, respectively. However, the crude protein content increased by 1.7% in such a condition. Starch content showed positive correlations between amylose and breakdown. Meanwhile, it showed negative correlations between electric conductivity of leaching water from seeds, crude protein content, peak viscosity, trough viscosity, final viscosity, and setback.

Limonium tetragonum is a halophyte grown naturally in the coastal region in South Korea. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of salt concentrations on seed germination, seedling growth, and antioxidant capacity of L. tetragonum. Seeds were collected from naturally grown plants of L. tetragonum and those at full maturity were used in this experiment. All experiments were performed at 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, or 2.0% of salt concentrations. Seed germination rate was highest as 86% at 20℃ and followed as higher in order of 25℃, 30℃ and 15℃. The germination rate was about 80% at 0% or 0.5% of salt concentration, but it was very low at the salt concentrations higher than 1%. Growth of L. tetragonum seedlings showed no difference in Hoagland solution containing NaCl in the range of 0% to 1.0% and seedlings survived at 2.0% of NaCl concentration. As the salt concentration increased, the content of Na+ in the shoot increased, but that of K+, Ca++, or Mg++ decreased. The antioxidant activity and the content of total polyphenol and total flavonoid in the shoot were similar at 0% and 0.5% of NaCl and were highest at 2.0% of NaCl concentration. In conclusion, performance of seed germination and plant growth of L. tetragonum was highest at 0% and 0.5% of NaCl concentration, and showed no difference in antioxidant activity, total polyphenol contents, and total flavonoid contents at the same salt concentrations.

Heading time is important element for yield and quality in crops. Among day length and temperature which influence on heading, temperature effect has not been investigated well. To investigate temperature effect on heading, heading date and plant growth characters were checked under the low and high temperature conditions in short day length. Analyzing heading date of six Korean varieties under the high and low temperature condition, heading date of varieties were delayed under low temperature. In the low temperature condition, dry weight and area of leaf were reduced. Varieties showing more delay of heading under low temperature also showed more reduction in leaf area. After selecting three varieties showing significant difference in leaf growth and heading date under different temperature conditions, nutrient contents of plant were analyzed. Nitrogen content was reduced in leaf and shoot under the low temperature condition. OsNRT2.3, nitrate transporter, was significantly down regulated in varieties showing more heading delay. Available phosphate content was decreased in leaf, but increased in shoot due to reduction of phosphate mobility. OsPT1, phosphate transporter regulating phosphate uptake, was more down regulated in varieties showing more heading delay. OsPT6, phosphate transporter regulating phosphate transport in plant, was also significantly down regulated in those varieties. With these data, we expected that active nitrogen and available phosphate uptake and transport in plant would increase leaf growth then might reduce heading delay under the low temperature condition.

The influence of rainfall during the ripening stage on pre-harvest sprouting, seed viability, and seed quality was investigated in two Korean rice cultivars, Shindongjin and Hopum. When the rainfall was artificially treated in a greenhouse, HP started to pre-harvest sprouting at three days of rainfall treatment (DRT), but Shindongjin did not show pre-harvest sprouting at 40 DAH treatment and just 0.3~0.8% at 50 DAH, which was much lower than 15.3~ 25.8% of Hopum in the same treatment. After harvest, the seed germination of Hopum decreased about 10~25% compared to non-treated seeds, but that of Shindongjin decreased much little rate than that of Hopum. The seed longevity tested by accelerated aging decreased with prolonged rainfall period in both cultivars, but the varietal difference was clear; Shindongjin could withstand longer accelerated aging than Hopum. Shindongjin maintained its germination (>50%) ability after 15 days of accelerated aging regardless of the rainfall treatment period and time, but Hopum dropped below 50% germination ability after only 5 days of accelerated aging. In conclusion, rainfall during the ripening stage induced not only pre-harvest sprouting, but also reduced seed quality and longevity during storage, which varied between two cultivars.

본 연구는 벼의 출수 후 일수에 따라 수발아 양상을 조사하고 수발아 피해가 발생할 수 있는 시기를 예측하여 수발아 방제를 위한 기초자료를 얻고자 수행하였으며, 그 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 1. 벼 등숙기간 중 호품벼는 출수 후 20일, 신동진벼는 출수 후 30일부터 수발아 조건이 충족되면 발아가 시작되었으며, 50% 이상의 종자가 발아력을 갖는 시기는 호품벼가 약 35일, 신동진벼가 약 45일이었고, 출수 후 50일에는 두 품종에서 모두 80% 이상의 종자가 발아하였다. 2. 한 이삭 내에서 종자의 위치에 따른 수발아의 순서는 상위부 > 중위부 > 하위부 순으로 나타났으며 지경별로는 2차 지경보다는 1차 지경의 것이 높게 나타났다. 3. 수발아 검정 시 미발아된 종자는 배의 미숙, 종자휴면, 종자의 등숙불량 (불완전립)이 원인인 것으로 판단되었다. 4. 출수 후 30~45일의 등숙중기에 신동진벼는 호품벼보다 종자 휴면성이 높았다.