The vitrification of embryos is essential for animal reproduction and significantly contributes to assisted reproductive technologies, enabling fast cryopreservation without ice crystal formation. Mitochondria, vital organelles in cellular metabolism, are responsible for critical functions like ATP synthesis, calcium regulation, and apoptotic signaling. Preserving mitochondrial integrity is essential for ensuring embryonic strength. Studies demonstrate that vitrification, a widely used cryopreservation method, can markedly impair mitochondrial function in mammalian embryos. This study examines the efficacy of novel/modified antifreeze peptide as a biocompatible agent when used in an appropriate concentration with base vitrification media. Blastocysts vitrified in base media as well as supplemented with the peptide exhibited significantly enhanced post-thaw survival rates, attaining re-expansion and hatching rates of 96.89 ± 4.2% and 88.31 ± 1.3%, respectively, in contrast to 79.38 ± 3.7% and 52.57.9 ± 0.8% observed in the control group. Furthermore, peptide-treated BLs demonstrated elevated expression of PGC1α, BCL2, and Sirt-1, which are the key genes related to mitochondrial membrane potential and anti-apoptotic factors. The mitochondrial function was maintained, and the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of genes such as Cyto-c, caspases 3, and caspase 9 were markedly diminished in the embryos vitrified with peptide. These findings highlight the ability of this modified peptide to preserve mitochondrial integrity and reduce oxidative stress, hence enhancing the survival of blastocysts post-vitrification.

Camellia japonica L. is highly valued for its ornamental and industrial applications. However, existing limitations in conventional seed and cutting propagation necessitate the development of a stable and efficient mass propagation system. This study systemically optimized each critical stage of in vitro culture—including shoot and root development, multiple shoot induction, rooting, and acclimatization —and quantitatively assessed the overall efficiency using integrated indices. Shoot growth was most vigorous on Woody Plant Medium (WPM) without the addition of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), while root development was notably promoted by Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with IBA. The highest number of multiple shoots was produced using basal explants cultured on MS medium containing 0.5 mg/L thidiazuron (TDZ), yielding an average of 2.67 shoots per explant. Optimal root induction was observed following a 15-min pulse treatment with 500 mg/L IBA (producing 24,33 roots), whereas the root elongation was maximized by a 5-min treatment with 1000 mg/L IBA (2.10 cm). Acclimatization successfully resulted in 100% survival in both tested substrates (A: peat moss, perlite, and cocopeat mixed in a 3:1:1 ratio; B: peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite mixed in a 1:1:1 ratio), with substrate B promoting a greater increase in plant height. Normalized growth parameters were averaged to calculate the Camellia Micropropagation Index (CMI). Integrated analysis identified the most efficient treatments as: WPM without IBA (shoot growth), MS with IBA (root growth), MS + 0.5 mg/L TDZ with basal explants (multiple shoots), 1000 mg/L IBA for 5 min (rooting), and substrate B (acclimatization). Despite these optimal conditions, considerable variation within treatments suggests that further fine-tuning or long-term evaluation is necessary to improve reliability. These findings provide a robust guideline for establishing a successful in vitro mass micropropagation system for C. japonica.

목적: 태양광을 모사한 D65 광원과 동일한 색온도의 LED6500K 광원 하에서 색보임 차이를 비교하고, 연령 및 성별에 따른 색채구별 능력의 차이를 알아보고자 한다. 방법 : 성인 100명을 대상으로 두 광원 조건에서 Farnsworth-Munsell 100 색상검사를 실시하고, 산출된 TES(Total Error Score)를 광원, 연령, 성별에 따라 분석하였다. 결과 : 전체 대상자의 TES는 LED6500K 광원에서 D65 광원보다 높게 나타났으며, 20~30대에서 광원 변화에 크게 반응하였다. 연령에 따라 두 광원 모두에서 50~60대의 TES가 높았고, 동일 광원 내 연령 비교에서는 D65 광 원에서 증가폭이 더 컸다. 성별에 따른 차이는 대부분 유의하지 않았다. 결론 : LED6500K 광원은 D65 광원에 비해 색보임 오류가 다소 크지만, 기존 실내 광원보다 우수하여 실내 환경 에 적합하다. 색채구별 능력은 연령 증가에 따라 저하되며, 청년층은 광원 변화에 더 민감하게 반응하는 경향이 있 어 주의가 필요하다. 본 연구는 다양한 인구 집단의 색보임 특성을 이해하는 데 기초자료를 제공하며, 고객 응대와 제품 진열뿐 아니라 안경사 교육 자료로도 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

This study evaluated the effects of solid and water-soluble extracts derived from torrefied Pinus densiflora on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) germination and growth, as well as the cultivation efficiency of torrefied materials combined with plant nutrient solutions. Torrefied samples were prepared under various conditions (200°C, 220°C, 240°C for 20–80 minutes) and mixed with sand at ratios from 20% to 100%. Liquid extracts were formulated with macronutrients (N, P, K, Mg) and micronutrients (Mn, B, Fe, Cu) and applied to leafy and root vegetables. Germination tests showed that 60% and 80% torrefied treatments had the highest and most consistent rates, with torrefied samples promoting more rapid and stable germination than controls. A two-way ANOVA indicated a significant interaction between treatment and concentration (p = 0.043), suggesting concentration-specific effects. While shoot length showed no significant difference, root growth was marginally significant (p = 0.064), with washed torrefied material producing the longest roots. Physical analysis revealed that torrefied materials improved soil thermal retention and moisture-holding capacity. However, increasing torrefied content reduced porosity, likely due to fine particles filling soil pores. In conclusion, torrefied P. densiflora materials exhibit strong potential to enhance germination, root development, and soil condition. Optimal results were achieved with 40–60% solid mixtures for germination and 60–80% diluted extracts for rapid and consistent seedling growth. When optimally applied, they may serve as effective, sustainable amendments in cultivation systems.

This study investigates the factors influencing the seed longevity of Quercus myrsinifolia, a species with recalcitrant seeds highly sensitive to desiccation and freezing. The effects of moisture content, seed collection date, and storage methods on seed viability were analyzed using exponential decay modeling. Interactions between these factors were also explored to refine conservation strategies. Seeds with moisture content above 40% demonstrated a predicted seed longevity of 2.19 years, whereas those with moisture content below 30% had seed longevity of less than 1 year. Late-season seeds collected in November and December exhibited superior germination percentages and longer predicted seed longevity (1.32 years) compared to early-season seeds collected in September and October (<1 year). In seed weight, large seeds (2.0 g) showed longer predicted seed longevity about 1.5 times greater than that of small seeds (<1.2g). Storage methods significantly affected seed longevity, with refrigerator (4°C) with silica gel maintaining viability for 2–3 years, while seeds stored at room temperature (25°C) exhibited a seed longevity of less than 1 year. Silica gel was found to prevent seed deterioration due to over-desiccation, emphasizing the importance of balanced moisture regulation. Q. myrsinifolia seeds exhibited 𝑏 values ranging from 0.30 to 2.04, demonstrating a close relationship between decay constant, moisture content, storage conditions, and seed longevity. These findings provide critical insights into optimizing seed storage and propagation strategies for Q. myrsinifolia, contributing to its conservation and ecological restoration efforts.

This study investigated the morphological characteristics and regional variations of leaves, flowers, and seeds of Quercus myrsinifolia Blume to understand its ecological adaptation and the effects of environmental factors. Samples were collected from Jinju, Hapcheon, and Sancheong, and nine leaf traits, six flower traits, and five seed traits were analyzed. Significant regional variations were observed, with Hapcheon exhibiting the largest leaf and flower sizes, while Sancheong showed the largest and heaviest seeds. Jinju recorded the smallest values for most traits. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed distinct regional groupings, with Hapcheon displaying intermediate traits, Sancheong larger traits, and Jinju smaller traits. Correlation analysis identified strong positive relationships between leaf length and width, seed length and weight, and the number of staminate flowers and catkin width, highlighting key indicators for growth. Climate factors such as temperature and precipitation significantly influenced morphological traits, with higher temperatures negatively affecting leaf and seed sizes, while precipitation showed a weak positive correlation with seed weight. Among soil factors, pH and magnesium content were closely related to morphological traits. pH exhibited a negative correlation with leaf length and petiole length, while magnesium showed a positive correlation with seed weight and leaf width. These findings underscore the significant role of environmental factors in morphological variation and provide valuable insights for developing regionally adaptive breeding strategies. These findings provide foundational data for developing region-specific breeding strategies and cultivars for Q. myrsinifolia, contributing to ecological management and climate change adaptation strategies.

본 연구는 작약의 품종간 개화시기 차이와 저온에서 장기 저 장이 가능한 품종을 선발하여 절화 유통 기간을 연장하기 위하 여 수행하였다. 작약 24품종을 대상으로 2022년 국립원예특작 과학원 시험포장에서 개화시기와 절화 품질을 조사하였다. 봉오 리 상태에서 수확한 작약을 건조 저장법으로 -1℃에서 60일 저장한 후 절화 수명과 절화품질을 조사하였다. ‘의성작약’은 홑 꽃이었고 나머지 품종은 겹꽃이었다. 개화시기는 5월 10일부터 18일 사이였으며, ‘Etched Salmon’, ‘Monsieur Jules Elie’, ‘Gilbert’, ‘Henry Bockstoce’는 개화일이 5월 10일로 가장 빨랐고, ‘Elsa Sass’는 5월 18일로 가장 늦었다. 식물체 키는 74.6∼107.8cm 였고, 절화 무게는 ‘Henry Bockstoce’ 품종 이 89.8g으로 가장 무거웠고, ‘Angel Cheeks’ 품종이 26.7g으 로 가장 가벼웠다. 꽃의 주된 색은 흰색, 빨강색, 분홍색, 자주색 이었다. -1℃에서 60일간 저장 후에 꽃과 잎의 상태가 아주 양 호한 품종은 ‘Kansas’, ‘Ole Faithful’, ‘Sonw Mountain’이 었다. 절화수명은 ‘Nick Shaylor’ 품종이 8일로 가장 길었고, 다음으로 ‘Blush Queen’, ‘Elsa Sass’ 품종이 7일이었으며, ‘Gilbert’, ‘Highlight’ 품종이 1일로 가장 짧았다. 작약은 저온 장기 저장에서 일부 품종을 제외하고는 꽃과 잎에 저온장해 증 상이 발생하였다. 이와같은 결과는 작약재배시에 품종 선택과 수확후 저온 장기 저장을 통하여 유통기간을 연장하고 하고자 할 때 기초자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

Background: Despite its anticancer activity, cisplatin exhibits severe testicular toxicity when used in chemotherapy. Owing to its wide application in cancer therapy, the reduction of damage to normal tissue is of imminent clinical need. In this study, we evaluated the effects of catechin hydrate, a natural flavon-3-ol phytochemical, on cisplatin-induced testicular injury. Methods: Type 2 mouse spermatogonia (GC-1 spg cells) were treated with 0-100 μM catechin and cisplatin. Cell survival was estimated using a cell proliferation assay and Ki-67 immunostaining. Apoptosis was assessed via flow cytometry with the Dead Cell Apoptosis assay. To determine the antioxidant effects of catechin hydrate, Nrf2 expression was measured using qPCR and CellROX staining. The anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated by analyzing the gene and protein expression levels of iNOS and COX2 using qPCR and immunoblotting. Results: The 100 μM catechin hydrate treatment did not affect healthy GC-1 spg cells but, prevented cisplatin-induced GC-1 spg cell death via the regulation of anti-oxidants and inflammation-related molecules. In addition, the number of apoptotic cells, cleaved-caspase 3 level, and BAX gene expression levels were significantly reduced by catechin hydrate treatment in a cisplatin-induced GC-1 spg cell death model. In addition, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory marker genes, including Nrf2 , iNOS, and COX2 were significantly downregulated by catechin hydrate treatment in cisplatintreated GC-1 cells. Conclusions: Our study contributes to the opportunity to reintroduce cisplatin into systemic anticancer treatment, with reduced testicular toxicity and restored fertility.