This study investigated quality characteristics and antioxidant activity of beetroots after blanching. Beetroots were blanched in distilled water, 2% NaCl water, and 2% citric acid water at 100°C for 3 minutes (the blanched group). The moisture content was highest in the control (CON) at 91.30% (p<0.05), and cooking loss was lowest in the water-blanched beetroot (BW) at 5.39% (p<0.01). Chromaticity decreased after blanching compared to CON (p<0.001). Total polyphenol contents (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC) decreased after blanching, and as a result of comparing the True retention (TR) of the blanching treatment group, BW had the highest with TPC TR 91.22% and TFC TR 70.51%. DPPH and ABTS+ radical scavenging activities were highest in the CON, and in the blanching group BW was highest scavenging activity. The total number of microorganisms in the CON group was 2.97 log CFU/g, whereas no microorganisms were detected in the blanched groups. Therefore, this study, blanching in water without additives is the most appropriate method for preserving physiologically active substances and nutrients in beetroots and inhibiting microbial growth.

In 2022, research for native prokaryotic species in Korea reported 10 unrecorded bacterial strains affiliated to phyla Actinomycetota, Bacillota, and Pseudomonadota. The strains formed monophyletic clades with the most closely related species (with ≥98.7% sequence similarity) in the 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Among them, four species of the phylum Actinomycetota, two species of the phylum Bacillota, and four species of the phylum Pseudomonadota have not been reported in Korea, suggesting unrecorded species in Korea. Information on strains such as Gram staining reaction, colony and cell morphology, biochemical characteristics, and isolation sources were provided in the species description.

The effect of increased carbon dioxide concentration in atmosphere was examined on the pheromone system of Helicoverpa armigera reared from egg stage to adult in three room. Two of three room (2×2×2 m) were treated with carbon dioxide gas as 600 ppm and 1,000 ppm, respectively. Mean of carbon dioxide concentration was 429.1 ppm in the control, 603.3 ppm for 600 ppm, and 1011.5 ppm for 1,000 ppm during experiment. Electroantenograph (EAG) test was conducted on 3-d-old male adults with air, hexane, and a series of their sex pheromone component, Z11-16Al, from 0.01 to 100 ng. The result was that male EAG responses of 600 and 1,000 ppm were 30.3% lower than that of control room. Production of Z11-16:Al was examined on about twenty 2-d-old virgin females. Carbon dioxide increases did not show a statistically significant difference. However, higher amount of sex pheromone was produced in females of 600 and 1,000 ppm. So, This experiment was replicated with different population reared again. The amount of the sex pheromone per female was 108.9 and 118.1 ng in control room, 139.8 and 141.8 ng in 600 ppm room, and 124.6 and 125.8 ng in 1,000 ppm room.

The objective of this study was to determine the mitotic intervals (τ0) of two consecutive cell divisions and synchronous embryonic cleavage in grass puffer, Takifugu niphobles at different water temperatures (18, 20, 22, and 24℃). The color of the fertilized egg was light yellowish. The egg type was demersal and unadhesive. Egg weight was 0.09±0.002 mg. The sizes of unfertilized eggs were smaller than fertilized eggs in major axis and minor axis at 20℃ (p<0.05). The size of the fertilized egg of 18℃ water temperature group at the blastodisc stage was the smallest (p<0.05), but no significant differences were observed in the other water temperatures group except 18℃ water temperature group (p>0.05). The first cleavage stages at 18, 20, 22, and 24℃ were at 75, 90, 105, and 120 mins, respectively. As water temperature was increased, embryonic development and formation time of the first cleavage furrow were accelerated. There were negative correlation between τ0 and water temperature for grass puffer (Y=–1.225X+70.05, R2=0.988, n=10, where Y was τ0 and X was temperature). This study confirmed that successful hatching of grass puffer was related to water temperature. Chromosome manipulation will be helpful for this species using cleavage frequency and τ0.