Plant nutrition one of the most important factors that increase plant production. Thus, the present study was carried out to investigate the effects of NPK (three main macro elements of fertilizer) and their interactions on morphological and biochemical contents of Deodeok (Codonopsis lanceolata). Results exhibited that application of different fertilization treatments had a considerable effect on the different vegetative growth characteristics of C. lanceolata compared to the non fertilizer control. Plant height showed significant results towards all fertilization group compared to non fertilizer group, and the highest value (266.8 cm) for plant height was observed from the N+P+K group. The growth of internode was converted to vine after node 5, no fertilizer effects were found on internode elongation. Chlorophyll content showed a high amount in the range of 42.8 to 46.6 against all fertilization treatment groups, except P+K group. The highest values (57.0 g) for the fresh weight of roots were obtained from the N+P+K groups compared to non fertilizer group. The mineral nutrient content of Na, Mg, Cu and Al of the roots of C. lanceolata showed the lowest amount from in P+K groups compared to other groups. In addition, P from N+K group, Mn from N+P group and Ca, Fe, Zn from N+P+K group also exhibited the lowest mineral content compared to other groups respectively.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of medium composition on organogenesis towards in-vitro cultured diploid and tetraploid Codonopsis lanceolata and obtain in-vitro mass propagation of superior species of C. lanceolata. Regarding MS medium composition for each concentration, diploid C. lanceolata was found to be declined. However, shoot and adventitious root formation were suppressed with higher mineral salt concentration, and active growth of shootand adventitious root was exhibited as 4.9 cm and 3.2 cm respectively in 1/2 MS medium. While in tetraploid C. lanceolata, it showed 2.9 cm and 3.2 cm respectively in 1/4 MS medium. In the case of sucrose concentration, no consistent decrease was observed for growth of shoot and adventitious root of diploid both at high and low concentration. The growth of shoot (at 3% concentration) and adventitious root (at 7% concentration) was 2.3 cm and 2.0 cm respectively. Although there was no difference in shoot formation of tetraploid C. lanceolata in all concentrations with the range of 1.7 ~ 1.8, there was a slight decrease in shoot growth at high concentration. Results revealed that the adventitious root formation was suppressed at high concentration. Concentration of agar exhibited no significant difference in shoot formation of diploid C. lanceolata at all concentrations. The highest result of adventitious growth (4.1 cm) was observed at 0.8% concentration. Slight inhibition of shoot formation and root formation of tetraploid C. lanceolata was observed at higher concentration. Shoot formation of diploid C. lanceolata also exhibited inhibition at higher concentration. Shoot formation of diploid C. lanceolata was increased at lower pH and shoot growth was the highest (2.3 cm) at pH 3.8. Adventitious root formation was higher at lower pH. Although there was no difference in shoot formation of tetraploid C. lanceolata presenting 1.7 ~ 1.8 regardless of high and low pH, growth inhibition was showed at higher pH. Adventitious root formation and growth showed a little higher result at pH 5.8.

This study was executed to evaluate the phenolic content, DPPH radical scavenging rate, and the cytotoxic effect in human cancer cell, 3T3-L1 cell from C. lanceolata extracts at various ethanol concentration. Total polyphenol and flavonoid content of the C. lanceolata at various ethanol concentration showed the high amount in 70%, 100% ethanol extract. The DPPH radical scavenging activity progressively increased in a dose-dependent manner, and showed the highest in 100% ethanol extract. The cytotoxic effect against human cancer cell of the C. lanceolata was higher in 50% and 70% ethanol extracts. In particular, the cytotoxic effect in MCF-7 cell was relatively higher than in other cells. The IC50 (concentration causing 50% cell death) value showed the highest on MCF-7 cell (538.39 ㎍/㎖) in 70% ethanol extract, and exhibited significant activity against Hela cell (637.87 ㎍/㎖), Calu-6 cell (728.64 ㎍/㎖). The extract of 70% ethanol at 1,000 ㎍/㎖ exhibited a pronounced cytotoxic effect on 3T3-L1 cell comparable to that of the other extracts, and reduced in a concentration-dependent manner.

The study was performed to explore the molecular changes in the vegetative stage (3-and 5-leaf) of sorghum under waterlogging stress. A total of 74 differentially expressed protein spots were analyzed using LTQ-FT-ICR MS. Among them, 12 proteins were up-regulated and 3 proteins were down-regulated. Mass spectrometry (MS) results showed that about 50% of the proteins involved in various metabolic processes. The level of protein expression of malate dehydrogenase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase related to carbohydrate metabolic process increased in both 3 and 5-leaf stage under waterlogging stress. These proteins are known to function as antistress agents against waterlogging stress. The expression of oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 1 protein related to photosynthesis was slightly increased in the treated group than in the control group, however the expression level was increased in the 5-leaf stage compared to the 3-leaf stage. Probable phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase protein and superoxide dismutase protein related to response to oxidative stress showed the highest expression level in 5-leaf stage treatment. This suggests that the production of reactive oxygen species by the waterlogging stress was the most abundant in the 5-leaf treatment group, and the expression of the antioxidant defense protein was increased.

This study was conducted to establish the type and method of fertilization for no-tillage during the third year of No-tillage (NT) and Conventional-tillage (CT) practices, towards different kinds of fertilizers. In this experiment, the livestock manure showed higher in response to fertilizer effects of no-tillage. Comparing growth characteristics and yield in NT and CT. Regarding yield, there is no significant between livestock fertilizer and chemical fertilizer, but between livestock fertilizer and chemical fertilizer in conventional fertilization has significant differences. Based on the result, livestock fertilizer is effective way on the quantity of the crop. Nitrogen absorption of plant in livestock of no-tillage is more effective than conventional fertilization. In case of the phosphorus absorption and potassium absorption of plant, fertilizer effect has no significant. Nitrogen is highly absorbed in livestock fertilization of NT. Absorption of phosphorus and potassium are similar.

Seed storage proteins are used as carbon and nitrogen sources for the nutritional improvement of seeds. Since the composition of proteins from the Korean cultivars of proso millet is unknown, this study was conducted to obtain a reference map of millet seed proteins and identify the functional characteristics of the identified proteins. Proteins extracted from proso millet seeds of various cultivars were investigated using proteomic techniques such as 2-D electrophoresis coupled with mass fingerprinting; 1152 (differentially expressed) protein spots were detected on the 2-D gels. Among them, 26 reproducible protein spots were analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Out of the 26 proteins, 2 proteins were upregulated in all the millet cultivars, while 13 proteins were upregulated and 11 proteins were downregulated in 2 cultivars. Abundance of most of the identified protein species associated with polysaccharide and starch metabolism, transcription, and pathogenesis was significantly enhanced, while that of other protein species involved in glycolysis, stress response, and transduction was severely reduced. Taken together, the results suggest that the differential expression of the proteins from the four millet cultivars may be cultivar-specific. By conducting a proteomic investigation of millet seeds from different cultivars, we sought to better understand the functional categorization of individual proteins on the basis of their molecular functions. We believe that the identified proteins may help in investigating genetic variations in millet cultivars.

The present study was conducted to establish the optimal fertilization type and method for no-tillage during the first year of No-tillage (NT) and Conventional-tillage (CT) practices for soybean, using different types of fertilizers. In this experiment, the culm length and stalk diameter showed a greater response to fertilization with surface irrigation than to conventional fertilization. The fastest flowering period (July 28) occurred using chemical fertilization applied via subsurface irrigation. Comparing maturation based on growth characteristics and flowering date revealed that fertilization with subsurface irrigation was more effective for the growth of crops than other methods. Regarding yield, there was no significant difference between livestock and chemical fertilizers in subsurface irrigation, but there were significant differences between these fertilizers when using conventional fertilization methods. Based on the results, livestock fertilizer with subsurface irrigation effectively enhanced crop quantity. Nitrogen absorption of plants using subsurface irrigation was more effective than that using conventional fertilization. Regarding phosphorus absorption of plants, chemical fertilizers showed higher absorption than did livestock fertilizers for both subsurface irrigation and conventional fertilization. Unlike nitrogen, phosphorus was highly absorbed using conventional fertilization. Absorption of phosphorus and potassium were similar but phosphorus was not absorbed using livestock fertilizers applied either using subsurface irrigation or with conventional fertilization.

The present study was performed to investigate the effects of the colchicine concentrations on chromosome doubling for producing of tetraploid plants of Codonopsis lanceolata, and its effect on plant morphology. A total of 180 individuals germinated from 16 treatment groups, were exposed to various concentrations (0.05-1.0% w/v) of colchicine for different soaking duration (3-24 hour). The highest numbers of tetraploid plants (3) were observed from the lowest concentration of colchicine (0.05%), and one (1) tetraploid plant was obtained from the 0.5% concentration group with a 6 hour treatment. However, no tetraploid individual was observed in any other treatment groups. The plant height of the diploid (18.1 ㎝) was slightly shorter than that of the tetraploid (13.4 ㎝). The fresh weight of the main root in the diploid (0.5 g) was four-fold higher than the tetraploid (2.2 g). The colchicine-treated plant regeneration rate in C. lanceolata was decreased when the plants were subjected to high concentration of colchicine. In particular, the highest number of tetraploid plants (5 and 3) was obtained from the lower concentration (0.05% and 0.1%) of colchicine for 6-hour treatment, which were a higher rate (29.4% and 30%) of regenerated tetraploid plants than other regenerated plants. As in the seed treatment result, the plant height of the diploid was significantly higher (10.4 ㎝) than tetraploid. The higher morphological changes were observed comparatively from tetraploid plants than the diploid.

The present study aimed to compare and investigate the morphological characteristics and yield components according to ploidy level of diploid and tetraploid Platycodon grandiflorum under vinyl-greenhouse and open field conditions. Plant height of diploid and tetraploid P. grandiflorum was 51.3 ㎝, 54.0 ㎝, respectively. The results revealed that the plants grown in the vinyl-greenhouse showed significantly higher growth compared to those grown in the open field. Regardless of the growing place, diploid and tetraploid of P. grandiflorum showed the rapid elongation of internodes after 4 and 3 internodes respectively and elongation tends to be decreased as entering the flower-bud differentiation period. The starting day of flowering in vinyl-greenhouse cultivation was found to be faster than that of the open field cultivation by 2∼ 3 days and tended to be delayed by about 5∼6 days in tetraploid P. grandiflorum compared to diploid. Fresh weight of roots from the vinyl-greenhouse cultivation showed a high quantity as 34.2g and 49.4g in diploid and tetraploid P. grandiflorum, respectively and especially tetraploid P. grandiflorum was found to be increased by approximately 44.4% compared to other plots.

This study was executed to evaluate the immune activity, nitrite scavenging activity and ABTS radical scavenging activity against extracts of various concentration of ethanol solvent from Codonopsis lanceolata cultured at 6 local regions. The immune responses from both human T and B cell line was significantly enhanced in the cell growth compared to control while the cell growth was influenced at a certain period of culture. The results revealed that the cell growth of both human T and B cell was altered in a time dependent manner. The nitrite scavenging activity of ethanol extracts from various solvent concentration of C. lanceolata were affected by pH. At a pH of 1.2, the nitrite scavenging effect of all of the extracts tested observed higher than that of the other two pH ranges. There was no distinct detection of nitrite scavenging effects of the pH range 6.0. The ABTS radical scavenging activity was progressively increased in a dose-dependent manner, and the activity was the highest in 100% ethanol extract. The result from this investigation suggests that the extract of Codonopsis lanceolata could be an addition to basic medicine for immune modulation and natural food additives.

The present study was performed to compare the morpho-physiological characteristics of the tetraploid and diploid varieties of Platycodon grandiflorum and to obtain basic data for cultivating a tetraploid variety with high yield and content of functional substances. The plant height of the tetraploid variety (54.0 cm) was slightly higher than that of the diploid variety. The leaf length and width of the tetraploid variety were 10.2 cm and 7.3 cm, respectively. The results obtained from the present study revealed that the form of the leaf changed from lanceolate to ovate, and the chlorophyll content in the tetraploid variety (16.7) was slightly higher than that in the diploid variety. The photosynthetic rate significantly increased (24%) to 13.4 μmol CO2·m -2 ·s -1 in the tetraploid variety from that of the diploid variety. The pollen viability of the tetraploid variety was decreased by approximately 33% with respect to that of the diploid variety, but this did not have a significant adverse effect on seed production. The fresh weight of tetraploid P. grandiflorum was 49.4 g, which was approximately 44% higher than that of the diploid variety.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of temperature and shade, which are basic environmental conditions, on growth, yield, inorganic components, and general components of Codonopsis lanceolata, in order to obtain basic data for improving yield capacity. In natural light, in the 15, 20, and 25°C groups, the plant heights ranged between 218.9 cm and 223.9 cm, and there was no significant difference between groups. However, the leaf size was larger in shade, and the leaf area was significantly larger in the 15 and 30°C groups. In natural light, root length and diameter were shorter and thinner when the temperature was higher, and growth was highly suppressed at 30°C. With regards to macroelements, the contents of Na, Mg, and P increased as temperature increased, regardless of the plant part; however, no constant tendency was observed in K and Ca according to temperature. The contents of Mg and Ca (from highest to lowest) were in the order leaf>stem>root, whereas the contents of Na, P, and K were in the order stem>leaf>root. Contents of general components varied according to temperature, and were highest at 30°C. While the plant height was increased under the constant 25°C +DIF (Difference between day and night temperature) condition, growth was suppressed in the –DIF group, in which the night temperature was higher than the day temperature, which suggests that a change in night temperature is one of the factors that affects the growth of C. lanceolata. As in the growth of the above-ground parts, fresh weight of the root was high in the constant 25°C group and +DIF group. Notably, it was more than 2.5 times the fresh weights in the constant 15°C group, constant 20°C group, and –15 DIF group.

The roots of Platycodon grandiflorum species either dried or fresh, are used as an ingredient in salads and traditional cuisine in Korea. To interpret the root proteins, a systematical and targeting analysis were carried out from diploid and tetraploid roots. Two dimensional gels stained with CBB, a total of 39 differential expressed proteins were identified from the diploid root under in vivo condition using image analysis by Progenesis Same Spot software. Out of total differential expressed spots, 39 differential expressed protein spots (≥ 1.5-fold) were analyzed using LTQ-FTICR mass spectrometry. Except two proteins, the rest of the identified proteins were confirmed as down-regulated such as Isocitrate dehydrogenase, Proteasome subunit alpha type-2-B. However, the most of the identified proteins from the explants were mainly associated with the oxidoreductase activity, nucleic acid binding, transferase activity and catalytic activity. The exclusive protein profile may provide insight clues for better understanding the characteristics of proteins and metabolic activity in various explants of the economically important medicinal plant Platycodon grandiflorum.

Buckwheat sprouts are a vegetable; a functional food should provide health benefit and enhance performance as high nutritionally important substances. Buckwheat noodles are the major buckwheat food in Japan, Korea and China. In addition, Buckwheat as preventive medicine has undergone a great advancement in the last decade. Comparison of the functional properties distribution and utilization in tatary buckwheat is required of understanding the metabolites. The study was conducted to identify the sorts of phenolic compounds and metabolites in tatary buckwheat seedling at 4, 7, and 10 days seedling under the different combinations of lightemitting diode (LED) such as blue, red, mix (red, blue, and white), dark, and natural lights in stem and leaves. After breaking the dormancy, buckwheat seeds were grown in culture room under lights for 14 hrs and the dark condition for 10 hrs, at 25ºC for 10 days. Length of buckwheat was gradually increased under all of the conditions. Using HPLC, rutin was highest at 7 days under mix and natural light in stem and leaf, respectively. Quercetin was highest at 4 and 7 days under natural light in both. Chlorogenic acid was highest at 7 days under mix and natural in stem and leaf, respectively. Taken Together, this study indicates that phenolic compounds and metabolites present in those plants could be helpful for the human health and nutritional additive.

The roots of Platycodon grandiflorum are massively used in traditional herbal medicine as a remedy for pulmonary disease and respiratory disorders. However, in spite of its potential medicinal significance, the molecular mechanism of its roots is still unknown. In the present study, high throughput proteome approach was conducted to profile proteins from 3, 4 and 5 months aged diploid and tetraploid roots of Platycodon grandiflorum. Two dimensional gels stained with CBB, a total of 68 differential expressed proteins were identified from diploid root out of 767 protein spots using image analysis by Progenesis SameSpot software. Out of total differential expressed spots, 29 differential expressed protein spots (≥ 2-fold) were analyzed using LTQ-FTICR MS whereas a total of 24 protein spots were up regulated and 5 protein spots were down-regulated. On the contrary, in the case of tetraploid root, a total of 86 differential expressed proteins were identified from tetraploid root out of 1033 protein spots of which a total of 39 differential expressed protein spots (≥ 2-fold) were analyzed using LTQ-FTICR MS whereas a total of 21 protein spots were up regulated and a total of 18 protein spots were down-regulated. It was revealed that the identified proteins from the explants were mainly associated with the nucleotide binding, oxidoreductase activity, transferase activity. In that way, the exclusive protein profile may provide insight clues for better understanding the characteristics of proteins and metabolic activity in various explants of the economically important medicinal plant Platycodon grandiflorum.

The roots of Platycodon grandiflorum are known as traditional medicine, has been extensively used since ancient times as a therapeutic to treat cold, cough and asthma in Korean traditional medications. This study was conducted in order to profile proteins from the hormone induced diploid and tetraploid roots using high throughput proteome approach. Two dimensional gels stained with CBB, a total of 64 differential expressed proteins were identified from the diploid root using image analysis by Progenesis SameSpot software. Out of total differential expressed spots, 20 differential expressed protein spots (≥ 2-fold) were analyzed using MALDI-TOF-TOF mass spectrometry whereas a total of 13 protein spots were up regulated and 7 protein spots were down-regulated. However, in the case of tetraploid root, a total of 78 differential expressed proteins were identified from tetraploid root of which a total of 28 differential expressed protein spots (≥ 2-fold) were analyzed by mass spectrometry whereas a total of 16 protein spots were up regulated and a total of 12 protein spots were down-regulated. However, proteins identified using iProClass databases revealed that the identified proteins from the explants were mainly associated with the nucleic acid binding, oxidoreductase activity, transporter activity and isomers activity. The exclusive protein profile may provide insight clues for better understanding the characteristics of proteins and metabolic activity in various explants of the economically important medicinal plant Platycodon grandiflorum.

This experiment was conducted to obtain the have higher contents of pharmaceutical constituents as well as higher yield from colchicine induced diploid and tetraploid extracts of Platycodon grandiflorum. In order to determine the biological activity, this study was focused to evaluate the cytotoxicity, antimicrobial on the bronthus disease bacteria, antioxidant enzyme activity of diploid and tetraploid extracts in P. grandiflorum. The activities of antioxidant enzyme according to different solvent extracts were measured as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). The cytotoxicity of methanol extracts of P. grandiflorum showed significant differences between tetraploid and diploid. That is, the cytotoxic effect against human cancer cell was higher in tetraploid than in diploid. At all extracts concentration, tetraploid samples showed high toxicity and the IC50 (concentration causing 50% cell death) value showed the highest on HCT-116 cell (105.91 μg/mL), and exhibited significant activity against the Hep 3B cell (140.67 μg/mL), SNU-1066 cell (154.01 μg/mL), Hela cell (158.37 μg/mL), SNU-601 cell (182.67 μg/mL), Calu-6 cell (190.42 μg/mL), MCF-7 cell (510.19 μg/mL). Antimicrobial activities of diploid P. grandiflorum were relatively low compared to tetraploid P. grandiflorum on most of the bacterial strains. In tetraploid P. grandiflorum, K. pneumoniae showed the clear zone formation (18~19 mm) of growth inhibition, followed by the clear zone formation of 13~15 mm on C. diphtheria and S. pyogenes. The antimicrobial activities in diploid P. grandiflorum were the highest on K. pneumonia (14~15 mm), and showed the clear zone formation of 11~12 mm on C. diphtheria and 12~13 mm on S. pyogenes. The antimicrobial activity is thought to look different depending on the bacterial strains and the polyploidy of P. grandiflorum. The root extract of P. grandiflorum had the highest (97.2%) SOD enzyme activity in ethyl acetate partition layer of tetraploid while water partition layer of diploid showed the lowest (48.6%) SOD enzyme activity. The activity of CAT showed higher values in the root of tetraploid than in the diploid of P. grandiflorum in all partition layers except butyl alcohol. The activities of APX and POD showed higher values in the root of tetraploid than in the diploid of P. grandiflorum in all fraction solvents except water layer. These results indicate that the tetraploid P. grandiflorum can be used as a source for developing cytotoxic agent and antimicrobials which can act against bronchus diseases bacterial strains.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of pre-germination soaking on germination in 90 Korean soybean varieties and identification of protein in seeds of 7 soybean varieties. The results obtained that germination rate of soybean seeds was decreased as amount of soaking water and soaking duration in number of days. Difference in germination rate of soybean seeds was significant at three days soaking with water volume of 90 ml. Water absorption of seeds was rapidly increased during the first 6 hours, followed by slow increase until 24 hours and then decreased 24 to 48 hours after soaking soybean varieties for bean sprout soaked the lowest amount of water, while soybean varieties for cooking with rice showed the lowest seed water content. Dissolved oxygen (DO) in soaking water was rapidly decreased during the first 3 hours after soaking, and then slowly decreased. Soybean varieties for vegetable and early maturity showed the lowest DO during early soaking periods, but showed higher DO after 24 hours than other groups of soybean varieties. Electrical conductivity and Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) were increased as number of soaking days increased. Soybean varieties for vegetable and early maturity showed the highest electrical conductivity and TDS, followed by those for sauce and paste or cooking with rice, while showed the lowest electrical conductivity and TDS, varieties for bean sprout. Among 90 Korean soybean varieties, varieties which showed the highest germination rate were Jangsu-kong for sauce and paste, Sobaegnamul-kong for bean sprout, Seonheuk-kong for cooking with rice, Seunnokkong for vegetable and early maturity. On the ather hand varieties which showed the lowest germination rate were Iksan and Songhak-kong for sauce and paste, Pangsa-kong for bean sprout, Jinyeul-kong for cooking with rice, Sinlok-kong for vegetable and early maturity. Germination rates of soybean seeds were higher when electrical conductivity, TDS and water absorption of seeds were lower. There were negative correlations between electrical conductivity, TDS and water absorption of seeds and germination rate, while there were positive correlations among electrical conductivity, TDS and soybean seed weight.

Soybean is very useful crop to supply vegetable protein for human. However, cultivation arear of this economically important crop is gradually diminished in upland field. Hence, cultivation area of soybean is increased in paddy field. During the growth duration of soybean, excessive moisture injury is serious problem for sustainable production and supply. We investigated protein expression according to different period of seed soaking and germination after seed soaking. For comparison on expression of protein according to different condition, we performed two-dimensional electrophoresis. After electrophoresis analysis, we selected differentially expressed protein spots according to different condition such as soaking period and germination after soaking to identify protein function by using MALDI-TOF. Results revealed that pattern of expression of protein according to soaking period and germination after soaking were generally not different in major spots. However, degree of expression of protein in some protein spots was increased in accordance with decrease of soaking period. Especially, in Hwangkeum-Kong, Danyeop-Kon, and Pecking, the degree of expression of protein was remarkably increased for 4 days after soaking. But, according to germination after soaking, degree of expression of protein in germinated seeds of all cultivars was higher than un-germinated seeds. In results of MALDI-TOF analysis, specific proteins were identified by different soaking period such as Allergen Gly m Bd 28K, P24 oleosin isoform B. Also, in accordance with germination, degree of protein expression of the related protein, Gibberellin was increased in un-germinated seeds of Iksan-Kong. In ungerminated seeds of Sinpaldal-kong, proteins were identified as down-regulated by soaking such as ATP binding and Inhibitor II', proteinase.