The Crassulaceae family displays extensive morphological diversity and complex evolutionary trajectories across its constituent genera. These attributes significantly challenge the reconstruction of intrafamilial phylogenetic relationships. While chloroplast and nuclear DNA markers are widely used for phylogenetic analyses, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) remains underutilized, despite its demonstrable potential as a taxonomic marker. Sequence variation in the mitochondrial nad7 intron was analyzed across six species representing two genera (Phedimus and Sedum) native to Korea. The objective was to assess genetic diversity and determine whether the nad7 intron could effectively augment existing chloroplast and nuclear DNA markers as a taxonomic tool. Target amplicon length spanned 974 to 998 base pairs (bp). Multiple sequence alignment of the six Crassulaceae species from Phedimus and Sedum identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), insertions/deletions (INDELs), and dinucleotide polymorphisms, interspersed with conserved nad7 intron regions. Interestingly, an INDEL at positions 189–192 exhibited a diagnostic genus-level pattern, facilitating the unambiguous separation of Phedimus and Sedum. This outcome is consistent with established morphological and chloroplast DNA–based classifications. Collectively, these findings validate the mitochondrial nad7 intron as a promising supplementary molecular marker for taxonomic classification and genetic resource conservation within Crassulaceae.

Narcissus (Narcissus spp.) bulbs were used to investigate contagious viral retention in the dormant stage. The amplified polymerase chain reaction (PCR) bands were screened using universal potyvirus primers and sequenced to identify specific viruses. To identify individual viruses, primers for specific viruses were designed, and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR was performed. The PCR fragments were sequenced and compared by phylogenetic analysis. Three potyviruses, cyrtanthus elatus virus A (CyEVA), narcissus yellow stripe virus (NYSV), and narcissus late season yellows virus (NLSYV) were singly or doubly detected in 18 samples from six cultivars of the 38 samples representing eight cultivars that were tested. Based on RT-PCR using specific primers, CyEVA was detected in the split corona daffodil cv. Orangery. NLSYV and NYSV frequently occurred as co-infections with each other in the double daffodil cv. Tahiti, and the N. cyclamineus daffodil cv. Tete-a-tete and cv. Tete Boucle. Results has shown that at least three potyviruses are present in imported Narcissus bulbs.

In Korea, the orchid species Cymbidium goeringii and C. kanran are very important as natural genetic resources and floriculture crops. With respect to nutrient uptake, both species mixotrophic, and can shift to autotrophy with the development of photosynthetic organs. In this study, microscope observation was performed to examine the existing symbiotic fungi and their pelotons in root cortical tissues. Molecular identification was performed to identify orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) and evaluate phylogenetic relationships with other OMF taxa in the database. Essential molecular data encompassing ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS) were amplified from the extracted genomic DNA of root tissues. The hyphae grown into cortical root tissues of two individual cymbidiums were observed and revealed to form typical coiled structures called pelotons. OMF sequences obtained from C. goeringii root tissues were determined to be 673 bp nucleotide sequences (MF101371), while those obtained from C. kanran root tissues were 788 bp nucleotide sequences (MF101372). The resulting ITS rDNA sequence was analyzed using the UPGMA cluster analysis method and a dendrogram was generated. According to the phylogenetic tree, the ITS rDNA sequence from C. goeringii was positioned among other Tulasnella species, and that from C. kanran was grouped with Russula species. Producing elementary, but fundamental, data about the nutritionally helpful symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi is very important to facilitate orchid-fungal microbe interactions and for cultivation and conservation programs for native orchids.

Nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) was analyzed to identify inter-specific genetic relationships among 8 Cymbidium species (Cymbidium insigne, C. ensifolium, C. marginatum, C. faberi, C. gyokuchin, C. kanran, C. forrestii, and C. goeringii). Nuclear rDNA including 2 internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and 5.8S, was amplified using polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. The sequences were compared via pair-wise multiple alignment to determine the genetic relationships among the studied species. The lengths of the ITS1, ITS2, and 5.8S regions were 235 bp, from 255 bp to 257 bp, and from 153 bp to 165 bp, respectively. Sequence similarities in the ITS region ranged from 78.7% between C. gyokuchin and C. kanran to 96.8% between C. ensifolium and C. kanran. A phylogenetic tree was constructed from nuclear rDNA nucleotide sequence data of the 8 cymbidiums and 1 outgroup species to estimate genetic relationships. The tree revealed that cymbidiums could be classified by their ecological traits, such as their temperature preference or inflorescence pattern. The phylogenetic data is applicable for identification, classification, and breeding of cymbidiums.

The purpose of this study was to figure out consumer's recognition on brand's peculiar style on Korean contemporary women's apparel brand. The contemporary women's apparel brands show advanced and stylish merchandise at better price points. This segment of the Korean ready-to-wear market has been growing fast in last decades. Four contemporary women's apparel brands(I, K, M, and T) were participated in this study. The data(n=216) were collected with questionnaire survey at 24 apparel retail shops in metro Seoul area. The questionnaire measured the consumers' recognition on each brand's peculiar style. The subjects evaluated each brand's typical silhouette, materials, and style image. The results of the survey showed that the style image factors were ‘stylish’, ‘simple’, ‘casual’, ‘feminine’, and ‘classic’. The style image of each brand was differentiated from others. The brand T had classic image, the brand K had simple and casual image, brand M had stylistic image, and the brand I had feminine image. The features of materials that used at the four brands were not very different by the brands. They used the high valued materials. The common features of the materials were ‘smooth’, ‘thin’ and ‘light weight.’