The Gwangneung arboretum, affiliated to the Korea Forest Research Institute, was established in 1987 and it became the Korea National Arboretum (KNA) in May 24, 1999. The entomological collection of KNA currently holds a total of 510,365 specimens of 6,849 species including more than 330 type specimens of Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Coleoptera are deposited. As the results of recent systematic studies by KNA entomologists, 67 new species were described, and 108 species were newly recorded from Korea and other countries. Not only we have conducted taxonomic studies but also have broaden our research boundary to natural enemy surveys for pine wilt disease vectors, plant and insect interaction, and exotic insect species monitoring. In this presentation, we would like to briefly introduce current entomological researches of KNA in the hope of future collaborations with other entomologists.

A Transgenic Kimch cabbage has been developed harboring T-DNAs expressing delta-endotoxin insecticidal protein, herbicide (basta) resistant protein, and antisense transcript of AsMADS2 gene. Three transgenic lines, #24, #45, and #51, originated from the same T0 plant were analyzed in terms of molecular characterization, phenotype, and agronomic traits. Flanking sequence analysis confirmed that T-DNA, with 7132 bp intact structure, was inserted onto the pseudochromosome A10 of B. rapa and all the genes in T-DNA were functionally active. Three of GM cabbage showed 69.2～75.3% of plant height and 81.8～89.7% of diameter to those of the isogenic variety ‘Nowon’, respectively. Curving upward leaf lamina attitude was observed on GM cabbage, while straight or slight concave on non-GM cabbage. In addition, an average range of 86～91.5% of head height and 87.4～94.8% of head diameter were observed on GM cabbage to those of the isogenic variety ‘Nowon’, respectively Moreover, curled inwards or slight overlap of head-forming leaf overlap at terminal region was observed on GM cabbage, but curled outwards or erect on non-GM cabbage. AsMADS2, a transcription factor reported to be involved in early flowering, was stably expressed to RNA in the GM cabbage, but it was not shown the significant influences to flowering time.

Over 7 individual rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants per a line were sowed and sampled by pooled sampling method for genomic DNA extraction. The 5,400 flanking sequence tags (FSTs) were analysed by adaptor PCR and direct sequencing. FST analysis showed that the intragenic FSTs, the intergenic FSTs, and the original insertional sequences including hot spot covered 48.1% (2,597), 25.6% (1,383), and 25% (1,350), respectively. The 2,597 intragenic FSTs were used for genotyping to determine whether they are heterozygous or homozygous, and 1,393 core lines were selected. Among them, 422 knockout genes were distributed on chromosome 3, while 56 - 157 intragenic FSTs scattered on other chromosomes. Among 1,393 FSTs, known genes such as transcription factor covered 59.4% (827), while unknown genes such as expressed protein covered 40.6% (566). RT-PCR indicated that some core lines had no expression or decreased expression level in their knockout genes. It means that core lines are very useful knockout lines for functional genomic studies.