In this study, we report the first occurrence of the filamentous green macroalga Basicladia okamurae (Cladophorales, Chlorophyta) from Korea. This species was originally described as Chaetomorpha okamurae by Ueda in 1932 in Japan and was later transferred to the genus Basicladia. Basicladia okamurae (Ueda) Garbary 2010 has also been found in China and the Netherlands, supported by morphological and molecular evidence. We collected several filamentous green algal individuals from the freshwater stream Sanhocheon (Changwon-si, Republic of Korea) and identified the species as B. okamurae based on morphological characteristics and nuclear ribosomal large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequence analysis. The LSU rDNA sequences of the Korean B. okamurae exhibited 99.8-100% similarity with those of B. okamurae deposited in GenBank (NCBI) and could be distinguished from other species in the order Cladophorales, which showed less than 91.2% similarity. Based on this morphological and molecular evidence, we confirm the species identification as an unrecorded B. okamurae (Ueda) Garbary.

This study aimed to improve and refine climate exposure indicators developed in a previous study by incorporating and analyzing two years of Italian ryegrass field trial data from the Jinju and Jangheung regions. The objective was to evaluate the relationships between productivity and climatic factors. The field trial results demonstrated that plant height, fresh yield, and dry matter yield of Italian ryegrass was significantly higher in 2018–2019 than in 2017–2018. Precipitation and temperature during the winter and spring seasons of 2018–2019 were also greater than those recorded in 2017–2018. Correlation analyses revealed significant positive associations between productivity and precipitation in Oct, Dec, Feb, and Mar. Productivity was also positively correlated with mean temperature and mean minimum temperature in Oct, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, and Apr, as well as with growing degree days in Oct, Dec, Jan, Feb, and Mar. The climate exposure indicators derived in this study are expected to serve as valuable tools for predicting Italian ryegrass productivity and assessing vulnerability to climate impacts. Nevertheless, considering the complex interactions between climatic factors and field conditions, further refinement through additional experiments and analyses remains necessary.

Molecular markers have been widely applied in population genetics, diagnostic taxonomy, and genetic mapping, and they can also be used for classifying varieties of Italian ryegrass during field selection. In this study, genome-wide sequence information was generated for 10 Italian ryegrass cultivars (40 samples), including ‘Kowinearly’ (KW), using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis revealed that only three SNP loci were sufficient to distinguish KW from the other cultivars. Furthermore, 21 alternative barcode sets, each consisting of three SNPs, were identified. These SNP barcode sets provide a reliable criterion for cultivar discrimination in Italian ryegrass and can contribute to the protection of domestic varieties and the advancement of the forage industry in Korea. More broadly, the development of distinguishing markers across Italian ryegrass cultivars will enhance genetic resource identification and support the breeding of high-quality new varieties.

This study reports the development of a new alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) variety, ‘Alfaone’, at the Forage Production Systems Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Korea, from 2015 to 2023. The variety originated from an artificial cross between Xun Lu (maternal parent) and RadarⅡ Brand (paternal parent), followed by pedigree selection and performance testing. The elite line ‘MsCB01’ was subsequently released as ‘Alfaone’. Regional adaptability trials were conducted for two years (2022–2023) across four representative sites in Korea (Cheonan, Pyeongchang, Jeongeup, and Jinju) to evaluate agronomic traits, forage yield, and quality. Evaluated characteristics included plant height, regrowth ability, winter survival, and lodging resistance. The average dry matter yield of ‘Alfaone’ was 20,811 kg/ha, approximately by about 3% higher than that of the standard cultivar ‘Vernal’ (20,236 kg/ha). Yield superiority was particularly evident in Pyeongchang, suggesting excellent cold tolerance and winter hardiness. Assessment of forage nutritive traits indicated that ‘Alfaone’ was comparable to ‘Vernal’, demonstrating that its yield advantage did not come at the expense of quality. Overall, ‘Alfaone’ is a promising cultivar that combines high productivity with strong adaptability to unfavorable environments, particularly cold-prone regions. Its release is expected to promote the expansion of alfalfa cultivation, enhance forage self-sufficiency, and reduce dependence on imported hay in Korea.

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.

A new barnyard millet (Echinochloa esculenta L.) cultivar, ‘Da-on’ (line BM3), was developed by the National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) through pedigree selection using local germplasm collected from Jeju Island in 2016. After four years of line separation (2017–2020), a yield trial (2022), and regional adaptability tests across three sites (2023–2024), its agronomic performance and forage quality were evaluated. ‘Da-on’ is a mid-maturing cultivar with a heading date of August 5, which is 11 days later than the check cultivar ‘Borajik’. It exhibits an erect growth habit, purple panicles, and strong lodging resistance. The average plant height was 178.8 cm, which was 40.8 cm taller than that of ‘Borajik’. The dry matter yield of ‘Da-on’ was 16,858 kg/ha, representing a 130% increase compared with ‘Borajik’. Forage quality traits showed lower ADF (34.0%) and NDF (63.7%) contents, while total digestible nutrients (TDN) were higher (62.0%) than in the check. Crude protein content was comparable between the two cultivars. In addition, ‘Da-on’ showed resistance to lodging and leaf blight during field trials, confirming its stability across diverse environments. These results demonstrate that ‘Da-on’ is a promising summer forage crop cultivar suitable for nationwide cultivation, providing higher productivity and nutritive value to enhance forage self-sufficiency in Korea.

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.

This study evaluated the growth characteristics, forage productivity, and feed value of three Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) cultivars ‘Earlybird’, ‘Green call’, and ‘Greenfarm2ho’ over two consecutive growing seasons. Growth traits such as cold tolerance, lodging resistance, disease resistance, and insect resistance were assessed, along with plant height. Forage yield was measured as both fresh and dry matter yields, and feed value was analyzed in terms of CP, NDF, ADF, DMI, DDM, RFV and CA content. Among the tested cultivars, ‘Earlybird’ demonstrated superior performance in several key traits. It showed the greatest lodging resistance and plant height, along with the highest fresh and dry matter yields, although differences in yield were not statistically significant. In terms of feed quality, ‘Earlybird’ had the highest CP (10.8%), lowest NDF (54.7%), and highest RFV (109), indicating excellent palatability and digestibility. ‘Greenfarm2ho’ showed intermediate values across all parameters, suggesting balanced productivity and quality. In contrast, ‘Green call’ showed relatively lower lodging resistance and feed value. Overall, ‘Earlybird’ was identified as a promising cultivar for forage production in temperate climates, combining stable yield performance with high nutritional value. These findings offer valuable guidance for cultivar selection in livestock forage systems aiming to improve both productivity and feed efficiency.

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.

독도는 대한민국 최동단에 위치한 화산섬으로서 독특한 기후와 생태계를 이룬다. 독도에 대한 생물다양성 연구가 진행되어 왔지만, 토양의 절지동물은 거의 조사된 바가 없다. 본 연구에서는 2023-2024년도에 독도에서 토양을 채취하여 Berlese-Tullgren 방법으로 토양응애를 분리하였 다. 종 동정을 위하여 형태학적 특징과 미토콘드리아 cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) 유전자 염기서열 분석한 결과 국내 미기록종인 Macrocheles penicilliger (Berlese, 1904)으로 나타났다. 독도의 M. penicilliger의 흉판모 3쌍은 기존 문헌의 묘사된 것과 달리 첫째쌍은 말단이 깃털 형태이지만, 둘째 및 셋째쌍은 단순한 형태이었다. 또한, 동도와 서도에서 채집한 개체들의 COI 서열은 2.43% 차이가 있었으며 특히 서도 개체의 COI 염기서열은 벨기에 샘플과 100% 일치했다. 본 연구결과는 M. penicilliger의 유전적 다양성을 밝혔으며 독도에 분포한 원인으로서 철새의 둥 지에 서식하는 곤충들에 편승하여 이동하는 행동과 관계 있을 것이라고 추측한다.

The global e-waste problem is becoming increasingly serious. China, as one of the largest producers and consumers of electronic products, still has a low formal recycling rate. Consumers, as the owners of waste electronics, are the key to successful reverse logistics. However, many choose to store or dispose of e-waste at home rather than use official recycling channels. While many previous studies focus on factors that encourage recycling, fewer examine what stops people from taking part. This study applies Valence Theory to identify the factors that increase consumers’ psychological resistance to recycling small e-waste in China’s first-tier cities. It also examines how these factors influence social value and resistance behavior. The research model includes perceived price unfairness, perceived inconvenience, perceived benefits, and information publicity, with social value as a mediator. Data were collected through an online survey of 303 residents in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used for analysis. The results show that perceived inconvenience and perceived benefits significantly influence social value. Perceived price unfairness, perceived inconvenience, and social value significantly affect consumer resistance. These findings expand the application of Valence Theory in e-waste research and address gaps in the Theory of Planned Behavior by considering both perceived risks and benefits. Practically, this study suggests that manufacturers, recyclers, and policymakers should improve recycling facilities, make the process more convenient, ensure fair and transparent pricing, and create targeted measures to reduce consumer resistance and encourage participation in formal recycling systems.

충청남도농업기술원 화훼연구소에서는 분홍색 계통의 국화 (Chrysanthemum × morifolium (Ramat.) Hemsl.) 품종인 ‘레이디빈(Lady Vin)’을 육성하였다. ‘레이디빈(Lady Vin)’ 품 종은 분홍색 반겹꽃 특성을 가진 ‘G18-138-03’을 모본으로, 황색 반겹꽃 품종인 ‘기기골드(Gigi Gold)’를 부본으로 하여 2018년에 인공 교배를 통해 개발하였다. 2019년부터 2021년 까지의 연차별 생육 및 개화 특성 조사를 거쳐 2021년에 최종 선발된 ‘레이디빈(Lady Vin)’은 반구형 초형과 Red Purple 65B에 해당하는 분홍색 설상화를 갖고 있으며, 개화 시기는 9월 12일로 확인되었다. 주요 생육 특성으로는 평균 화경 3.7cm, 본당 착화수 2,248.1개, 꽃잎 수 104.1개, 초장 22.9 cm이며, 엽색은 Green 139D에 해당하였다. ‘레이디빈(Lady Vin)’ 품종은 대조 품종인 ‘Marble Ball’과 유사한 초형과 엽색 을 보이지만, 개화시기와 착화수에서 차이를 나타내며, 화단이 나 도로변 조경용으로 활용도가 높다. 또한, 상품성이 뛰어나 화훼 농가에 새로운 수익 자원으로 기여할 수 있을 것으로 기대 된다.

This qualitative study investigates how three experienced Native English-speaking teachers (NESTs) in Korea’s private education sector (hagwons) construct and negotiate their professional identities. Grounded in Wenger’s (1998) social theory of identity, the study explores (1) how NESTs navigate their roles across institutional, cultural, and global communities of practice, and (2) how their learning trajectories influence identity development over time. Data were collected through group discussions, reflective journals, and in-depth interviews. Findings reveal that NESTs’ identities are dynamic and continually reshaped through interactions with Korean English Teachers (KETs), students, and institutional contexts. While native-speaker status affords symbolic capital and instructional autonomy, it can also result in marginalization within Korea’s exam-oriented, hierarchical education system. The study highlights how sustained engagement, intercultural adaptation, and reflective practice foster more agentive and contextually grounded professional identities. It calls for institutional policies and teacher education programs that support long-term development, promote equitable team-teaching, and provide localized training responsive to the specific demands of Korean English classrooms.

In the production sites of small and medium sized manufacturing enterprises, the increasing proportion of foreign workers has led to frequent difficulties in responding promptly to process defects and equipment setting errors during night and weekend shifts due to the absence of Korean supervisors. If such issues are not addressed in a timely manner, they can lead to large scale defects and reduced production efficiency. In this study, we developed an AI-based defect prediction and prevention system for the bearing machining process to overcome these on site management limitations. Real time machining data, equipment information, and quality inspection results were collected from the production lines of the target company, and the prediction accuracy of three models, RNN(Recurrent Neural Network), LSTM(Long Short-Term Memory), and GRU(Gated Recurrent Unit), was compared. As a result, the LSTM model demonstrated the best performance. The developed system visualizes real time defect prediction results in the form of a dashboard, enabling workers to immediately detect anomalies and adjust the process accordingly. Particularly in bearing machining processes where mass production occurs in short periods, the risk of lot level defects is high, while this system can contribute to improved production quality and efficiency by enabling early defect prediction and immediate response.