Arsenic (As) is a toxic element that easily taken up by plants root. Several toxic forms of As disrupt plant metabolism by a series of cellular alterations. In this study, we applied annealing control primer (ACP)-based reverse transcriptase PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technique to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in alfalfa roots in response to As stress. Two-week-old alfalfa seedlings were exposed to As treatment for 6 hours. DEGs were screened from As treated samples using the ACP-based technique. A total of six DEGs including heat shock protein, HSP 23, plastocyanin-like domain protein162, thioredoxin H-type 1 protein, protein MKS1, and NAD(P)H dehydrogenase B2 were identified in alfalfa roots under As stress. These genes have putative functions in abiotic stress homeostasis, antioxidant activity, and plant defense. These identified genes would be useful to increase As tolerance in alfalfa plants.

The cabbage whitefly Aleyrodes proletella L. (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a specialized insect that uses its mouthparts(stylets) to feed from the phloem of its host plants, which are found among the Brassicaceae and Asteraceae. Female whiteflies lay their eggs in circular patterns embedded in wax on the underside of the leaves. These were collected from the leaf of triangular lettuce, Crepidiastrum sonchifolium throughout the whole Chungnam province, 2013. We reared the cabbage whitefly on the egg-plant. The elongate-oval eggs are laid upright in a semicircle on the underside of Brassica leaves but didn’t in lab. Initially pale and translucent, the eggs become darker. Nymphs are scale-like and covered with wax; their color is white with two yellow spots on the abdomen. On the dorsal surface of the last abdomial segment is the vasiform orifice charactersitic of the group. The fourth instar is called the “pupa”. The pupa is thicker, immobile, and pale in color with red eyes. The adults are tiny, about 1.5 mm long, and moth-like. The head and thorax are dark. The abdomen is yellow and covered by a conspicuous white waxy layer. The forewings have a faint, dark bar. If disturbed, the adults fly readily. The duration of development of immature stages of Aleyrodes proletella decreased with increase in temperature, the mortality was higher below 16 ℃ and above 28 ℃.

Dictyophora indusiata (Vent.) Desv., “Queen of the mushroom”, is a mushroom in family Phallaceae of Basidiomycota, which is commonly used as edible and medicinal mushroom in China and Korea. This study initiated to evaluate the anti-cholinesterase, skin anti-wrinkle and melanogenesis inhibitory of 80% methanol extract from fruiting body of D.indusiata. In the anti-cholinesterase experiment, acetyl-cholinesterase and butyryl-cholinesterase inhibitory activities were performed. The extract were inhibited acetyl-cholinesterase and butyryl-cholinesterase 44.09% and 49.14% at the concentration 1 mg/mL, respectively. The skin anti-wrinkle effect of the extract were determined by measuring anti-collagenase and anti-elastase activities. While melanogenesis inhibitory activities were performed by tyrosinase, DOPA inhibitory and melanin synthesis inhibitory activities. The tyrosinase inhibitory activity of the extract were from 37.60~68.96%, while DOPA inhibitory activity were from 15.43 ~ 29.58% at the concentration ranged from 0.125~2.0 mg/mL. In addition, cellular tyrosinase activity was tested with result of the enzyme activity reduced from 99.09% to 72.91% against 25~500 μg/mL of the extract. The methanol extract of D.indusiata was inhibited melanin synthesis activity 41.86% at the concentration 500 μg/mL. The collagenase inhibitory activity of the extract from D.indusiata were 34.87%, which was comparable with the positive control, EGCG ( 45.31%). While the extract showed good inhibition of elastase enzyme (46.64%). The experiment results suggested that fruiting body of Dictyophora indusiata could be used as natural anti-cholinesterase and skin care agents.

Calocybe indica (Purkayastha, 1974), Milky mushroom, is a relatively new to the world of mushroom industry, which is belong to Lyophyllaceae of Basidiomycota, and commonly used as edible mushroom in India and Southern Asia country. This study was conducted to investigate the free radical scavenging, skin whitening and anti-collagenase activities of methanol extract from fruiting body of C.indica cultivated in Bangladesh. In addition, the polyphenol compounds of the extract were analyzed by HPLC. The mushroom extract showed good activity in lipid peroxidation which ranged from 29.35% to 55.39% at the concentration 0.125~2.0 mg/mL. The scavenging activity of the extract on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy radicals were from 20.22~83.93% at the same tested concentration, which were comparable with the positive control BHT. The hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of the extract was 76.24~93.92%. The skin whitening effect of the mushroom extract was performed with UV light protecting, tyrosinase and DOPA inhibitory activities. The methanol extract absorbed UV-B wavelength with maximum level of 0.356 at 280 nm. The tyrosinase and DOPA inhibitory activities of the extract were ranged from 30.36 ~ 66.25% and 7.13 ~ 30.25% at the concentration 0.125~2.0 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, anti-collagenase activity were determined by measuring collagenase and elastase inhibitory activity. The collagenase and elastase inhibitory activity of the extract were 42.77% and 51.08% at the concentration 1.0 mg/mL, respectively. The experiment results suggested that fruiting body of Calocybe indica could be used as natural skin care and antioxidant agents.

Several Mites are currently the most serious threat to the world bee industry. The ectoparasitic honey bee mites was originally confined to the Asian honey bee(Apis cerana etc.). Varroa destructor and Tropilaelaps clareae has plagued European honey bees, Apis mellifera. Differences in mite tolerance are reported between two honey bee species A. mellifera and A. cerana. We were amplified antimicrobial peptide cDNA genes (Defencin, Abaecin, Royalisin, Apidaecin and Hymenoptaecin) by RT-PCR. We explored the transcriptional response to mite parasitism in A. mellifera 4th instars larvae which differ in susceptibility to V. destructor and T. clareae, comparing parasitized and non-parasitized 4th instars larvae (worker and Drone) from same hive. Differential gene expression of worker bees and Drone bees induced by mites (V. destructor and T. clareae) infection was investigated by northern blot. Mites (V. destructor and T. clareae) parasitism caused changes in the expression of genes related to sex distinction. Bees tolerant to mites (V. destructor and T. clareae) were mainly characterized by differences in the expression of genes regulating antimicrobial gene expression. It provides a first step toward better understanding molecular expression involved in this differential sex distinction host-parasite relationship. We were detected bee virus in A. mellifera, comparing parasitized and non-parasitized 4th instars larvae (worker and Drone). Therefore, this result was demonstrated that mites were another possible route of horizontal transmission, as several viruses were detected in mites and their hosts.

South Korea has over 38 millions of managed honey bee (Apis cerana) colonies before 2009 years ago, which produce the highest quantity of honey in the Korea; however, almost colony (99%) were collapsed by Korean Sacbrood Virus (KSBV) in South Korea. Korean Sacbrood Virus (KSBV) is the pathogen of A. cerana Sacbrood disease, which poses a serious threat to honeybee A. cerana, and tends to cause bee colony and even the whole apiary collapse. Colony collapse of A. cerana was first reported on the Pyeong-Chang of the South Korea in 2009. Symptoms of KSBV include the rapid transmission of larval stage honeybees (A. cerana), many dead larvae found in the bottom of hive and comb. Honeybees (A. cerana) are a very important species because they provide a number of pollination services for various ecosystems in some provinces (ex. jeon-nam, jeon-buk province). They are also extremely important organisms within human society, both agriculturally and economically. The fact that a direct cause has been determined suggests that colony collapse is a complex problem with a combination of natural and anthropogenic factors. Possible instigators of colony collapse include: wax moth, viral and fungal diseases, increased population, decreased genetic diversity, climate changing and a variety of other factors. The interaction among these potential causes may be resulting in immunity loss for honeybees and the increased likelihood of collapse.

RDA(Rural Development Administration of Agriculture) and YIRI(Yecheon-gun Industrial Insect Research Institute) was development of 3 strains crossbred honey bee(Apis mellifera) for increasing honey production(HP). The overall goal of this research is to improve the honey production of queen honey bees. This will enhance the economic value of the nation’s honey bees for honey production, and hazard resistance. Our main objective of this research is to test of honey bees(A. mellifera) that have increased as well as being good honey producers and resistance of disease in jeon-nam province. The new honey bee(A. mellifera) stock were identified ability of increasing honey production by comparing with rearing practice colony. The new honey bee(A. mellifera) stock can produce more than 30~50% honey(HP; 12.31 kg) comparing with rearing practice colonies(control 1; 8.17 kg, and control 2; 9.53 kg). Furthermore, we are calculated the number of worker bee per colony. Population of worker bee in new honey bee(A. mellifera) stock are 2,849 (colony 1), 8,860 (colony 2) and 10,451 (colony 3), it was more then 1.2~3.7 fold comparing with controls.

Russula compacta, a wild mushroom, belongs to Russulaceae, Russulales of Basidiomycota. This study was conducted to evaluate the free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, anticholinesterase and anti-α-glucosidase effects from fruiting bodies of R. compacta extracted with methanol and hot water. In 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging effects, the methanol and hot water extracts showed good scavenging effects comparable with positive control, BHT. The chelating effect of methanol and hot water extracts of the mushroom were significantly higher than the positive control, BHT. The reducing power of the methanol and hot water extracts of the mushroom were lower than the positive control at the concentrations tested. In the HPLC anaysis of phenolic acids profile of the mushroom extract, 7 phenolic acids such as gallic acid, vanillin, rutin hydrate, resveratol, quercetin formononetin, and biochanin-A were detected. Nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccahride (LPS) activated RAW 264.7 cells was inhibited by 1.5-fold with the treatment of methanol extract when compared with the control. In the anti-cholinesterase activity assay, the methanol extract inhibited the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) effects by 73.9% and 81.05% at the 1.0 mg/mL concentration, whereas galanthamine, the standard drug, inhibited the AChE and BChE activities by 97.80% and 81.12%, respectively at the same concentration. The methanol and hot water extracts of the mushroom inhibited the α-glucosidase activity by 55.44% and 62.00%, respectively at the 2.0 mg/mL concentration, while acarbose, the positive control inhibited the α-glucosidase activity by 81.81% at the 2.0 mg/mL concentration. From the experimental results, the fruiting bodies of R. compacta contained natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cholinesterase, and anti-diabetic substances, which might be used for health foods.

Coprinellus miaceus, belongs to Coprinaceae of Agaricales, Basidiomycota, has been used for an edible purposes in asian countries. This experiment was initiated to evaluate the free radical scavenging, free radical scavenging, anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-inflammatory and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of C. micaceus fruiting bodies extracted with methanol and hot water. In 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay, the scavenging activities of methanol and hot water extracts were lower than that of positive control, BHT. The chelating effects of methanol and hot water extracts were significantly higher than positive control, BHT at the concentrations of 0.125-2.0 mg/mL. In the reducing power assay, methanol and hot water extracts exhibited the lower activities than the positive control, BHT at the 0.125-0.2 mg/mL concentration. In the HPLC analysis of phenolic acids profile of the mushroom fruiting bodies, 4 phenolic compounds including procatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, (-)-epicatechin, and naringin were detected. The tyrosinase inhibitory activities of methanol and hot water extracts were 91.33% and 91.99% at 2.0 mg/mL concentration, while the inhibitory activity of kojic acid, the positive control, was 99.61%. Nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccahride (LPS) activated RAW 264.7 cells were inhibited by the methanol extract in a concentration dependent manner. In the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity assay, methanol and hot water extracts of the mushroom inhibited the AChE by 94.64% and 74.19%, respectively at the 1.0 mg/mL concentration, whereas galanthamine, the standard drug inhibited the AChE activity by 97.80% at the same concentration. The methanol and hot water extracts of the mushroom inhibited the α-glucosidase activity by 62.26% and 67.59%, respectively at the 2.0 mg/mL concentration, while acarbose, the positive control inhibited the α-glucosidase activity by 81.81% at the same concentration. Therefore, it is concluded that fruiting bodies of C. micaceus contained natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-acetylcholinesterase and α-glucosidase inhibitory substances which might be used for promoting human health.

Lentinus giganteus is a edible mushroom cultivated in Asian countries. The present study was initiated to evaluate the anti-inflammatory, anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-α-glucosidase, and free radical scavenging activities from fruiting bodies of L. giganteus extracted with methanol and hot water. The free radical scavenging activities of methanol and hot water extracts on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) were 92.26% and 90.17% at 2.0 mg/mL concentration, respectively and comparable with positive control, BHT. The chelating activities of methanol and hot water extracts were significantly higher than the positive control tested. The reducing power of methanol and hot water extracts showed lower activities compared to positive control, BHT. The phenolic and flavonoid contents of hot water extract were 1.56 μg/mg and 24.35 μg/mg, respectively. Nitric oxide (NO) produced by lipopolysaccahride (LPS) activated RAW 264.7 cells were significantly inhibited by treatment of methanol and hot water extracts. The methanol extract inhibited the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity by 91.19% at the 2.0 mg/mL concentration, whereas galanthamine, the standard drug, inhibited the AChE activity by 97.80%. The hot water extracts inhibited the α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities by 78.86% and 80.78%, respectively at the 2.0 mg/mL concentration, while acarbose, the positive control, inhibited the activities by 89.91% and 81.81%, respectively at the same concentration. Therefore, it is concluded that fruiting bodies of L. giganteus contain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cholinesterase, and anti-diabetic substances, which can be used for natural health food for promoting human health.

This study was initiated to investigate antioxidant, anti-acetylcholinesterase, and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities and properties of fruiting bodies, mycelia, and fermentation culture filtrates from Phellinus igniarius. The contents of total phenols and flavonoid of fruit bodies, mycelia, and culture filtrate were 15.35-1.36 mg/g, 10.35-7.85 mg/g, and 8.25-5.36 mg/g. The 1,1- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging abilities of the extracts from the fruiting bodies, mycelia, and culture filtrates were 90.25-95.60%, 78.82-85.24%, and 76.32-82.50% at 50-400 μg/mL, respectively. The chelating ability of fruiting body extract on ferrous ions was higher than those of mycelia and culture filtrates tested. The anti-acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of the fruiting body extract at 400 μg/mg exhibited 91.10% on AChE, which is lower than that of positive control, galanthamine (94.82%). The xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities of the fruiting bodies, mycelia, and culture extract were 85.47%, 78.13%, and 72.49% at 400 μg/mL, respectively. Overall, the fruiting body extract has better anti-acetylcholinesterase, antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities than those from mycelia and culture filtrate.