The potential ability of Button mushroom compost (BMC) to solubilize heavy metals was estimated with metal contaminated soils collected from abandoned mines of Boryeong area in South Korea. The bacterial strains in BMC were isolated for investigating the mobilization of metals in soil or plant by the strains and identified according to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. When metal solubilization potential of BMC was assessed in a batch experiment, the BMC was found to be capable of solubilizing metals in the presence of metals (Co, Pb and Zn) and the results showed that inoculation of BMC could increase the concentrations of water soluble Co, Pb and Cd by 35, 25 and 45% respectively, than those of non-inoculated soils. BMC-assisted growth promotion and metal uptake in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) was also evaluated in a pot experiment. In comparison with non-inoculated seedlings, the inoculation led to increase the growth of H. annuus by 27, 25 and 28% respectively in Co, Pb and Zn contaminated soils. Moreover, enhanced accumulation of Co, Pb and Zn in the shoot and root systems was observed in inoculated plants, where metal translocation from root to the above-ground tissues was also found to be enhanced by the BMC. The apparent results suggested that the BMC could effectively be employed in enhancing phytoextraction of Co, Pb and Zn from contaminated soils.

Compositional and quantitative changes of 4-desmethylsterols in soybean (Glycine max. cv. Gangrim) seed and pod at six stages of development from flowering were investigated. The content of 4-desmethyl-, 4-monomethyl- and 4,4-dimethylsterols in developing soybean seed and pod was found to vary between 0.16-0.35, 0.04-0.12 and 0.04-0.06%, respectively. The predominating 4-desmethylsterols were sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol. The proportion of sitosterol in seed decreased to 57.0% with maturation, while in pod increased up to 88.7%. △7,22,25 Stigmastatrienol estimated 7.5% was detected in the fully mature seed.

Influence of vitamins on the felt and lipid production of Aspergilus niger var. macrosporus, Aspergillus fumigatus and penicillium notatum were investigated after 10 days of incubation at 30℃ under static culture condition. The felt of molds were lower in the media containing vitamins than control medium. The lipids produced by each strains were highest yields in media containing vitamins. Among of these Aspergillus niger var. macrosporus and Aspergillus fumigatus produced. 4.6g and 5.28g in medium containing inositol 2.5mg/l and 0.5mg/l, respectively; while Penicillium notatum produced 1.51g in a medium containing thiamine 10mg/l. The major fatty acid of lipids were palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid. Aspergillus niger var. macrosporus was lower palmitic acid in media containing vitamins than control medium, While linoleic acid was higher in media containing thiamine and inositol. Aspergillus fumigatus was lower oleic acid in media containing vitamins than control medium, While linoleic acid was higher in media containing vitamins. Peniillium notatum was lower palmitic acid, oleic acid and stearic acid in media containing vitamins but linoleic acid was higher. The composition of fatty acid of lipids changed depending on the media containing vitamins but hardly found a certain tendency except linoleic acid which was higher in a media containing thiamines and inositols. The degree of unsaturation of fatty acids in the lipids were comparatively higher in media containing vitamins than control medium.