In order to extend the business viability of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), research on CNT dispersion in a solvent as well as in polymer matrix should be established. Herein, three kinds of dispersing agents, sodium deoxycholate (DOC), sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (NaDDBS), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), are selected and applied to quantify the dispersibility and dispersion stability of CNT aqueous dispersion. The dispersibility of CNT dispersion with the PVP, evaluated via viscosity and particle size analyses, are superior to those with the DOC and NaDDBS dispersing agents. CNT aqueous solution dispersed with PVP showed slightly higher viscosity and narrower particle size distribution than those with DOC and NaDDBS dispersing agents. In addition, the dispersion stability of CNT dispersion with the PVP, measured via lumisizer analyses, are superior to those with the DOC and NaDDBS dispersing agents. HR-TEM analysis verifies that the outstanding dispersibility and dispersion stability of CNTs in aqueous solution are due to the effect of the robust polymer wrapping of the PVP dispersing agent on the CNT surface. From the results of this study, the guidelines for the selection of the suitable dispersing agents and the systematic evaluation of dispersibility and dispersion stability of CNT dispersions can be suggested.

본 연구는 기존에 재배된 바 없었던 암대극을 새로운 관상식물로 개발하고자, 절화 특성 평가를 실시하였다. 2017년 3월과 4월, 제주도에 자생하고 있는 암대극을 채취한 후, 수분흡수, 절화수명, 노화 과정 등 절화수명 특성을 평가하였다. 또한 sucrose 농도, 절화길이, pH 농도, 저장온도에 따른 절화 특성을 조사하였다. 본 실험은 국립수목원 유용식물증식센터의 Phyto-garden system(12h photoperiod, 25℃, 70% RH)과 실온(23℃, 44% RH)에서 수행하였고 2~3일 간격으로 수분흡수량, 생체중, 절화수명을 측정하였다. 실험 환경에 따른 연구에서 실온(14.4일) 보다 phyto-garden system(42.4일)의 절화 수명이 약 3배 더 길었고, 절화길이에 따른 연구에서는 절화수명이 20cm, 15.2일, 40cm, 17.4일로 나타났다. Sucrose 농도에 따른 연구에서는 처리에 따른 절화수명 증진 효과는 없었고, pH에 따른 연구의 절화수명은 pH 5, 15.6일, pH 6, 13.4일, pH 7, 13.1일, 증류수, 14.8일이었다. 저장온도에 따른 실험에서, 절화수명은 4℃, 83일, 10℃, 41.2일, 15℃, 35.5 일, 20℃, 17.4일, 실온, 14.4일이었는데, 온도가 감소할수록 절화수명이 길어짐을 알 수 있었다. 결론적으로, 암대극은 비교적 광도와 습도가 높은 환경과 절화길이가 길고 저장온도가 낮을수록 수명이 오래 유지되는 것을 알 수 있었다.

암대극(Euphorbia jolkinii Boiss.)은 우리나라 제주도 및 남부 해안가 암석지에서 자생하는 대극과(Euphorbiaceae)의 다년생 초본식물이다. 등잔모양꽃차례가 황록색으로 3월부터 5월까지 긴 기간 동안 개화하기 때문에 새로운 관상식물로 개발할 가치가 높다. 본 연구에서는 암대극을 재배화하고자 우선적으로 제주도의 자생지 환경과 개체군 분포 특성을 조사하였다. 제주도 전역의 해안을 따라서 암대극 개체의 전수조사를 실시한 결과 40여 지점에 걸쳐 약 14,817개체가 자생하는 것으로 확인되었다. 그 중 제주도 본섬의 동쪽에 위치한 우도에 1,075개체(전체의 7.3%), 북서쪽에 위치한 비양도에 952개체(6.4%), 남쪽에 위치한 가파도에 589개체(4.0%)가 조사되었다. 암대극은 주로 제주도 본섬 남동부 해안가 암석지대에 집중적으로 자생하는 것으로 확인되었고 가파도, 우도, 비양도의 경우에도 섬 동쪽지역에만 분포되어 있었다. 암대극의 생육은 자생지에 따라 차이가 있었다. 초장, 줄기 길이, 줄기 직경은 꽃 크기와 정의 상관관계를 보였다. 모든 지역에서 꽃이 피는 시기는 3월 말로 비슷하게 개화가 시작되었고, 6월 초에는 대부분의 꽃에서 종자가 성숙하여 탈리되었다. 암대극의 주변 식생은 갯개미자리, 돌가시나무, 순비기나무, 갯강활 등 30여 종이 분포되어 있었고, 초본이 80%를 차지하는 데에 반해, 목본은 20%로서 초본식물이 주를 이루었다. 토양의 pH는 8.3~9.4의 범위에 있었으며, 염분 농도는 0.003~0.017%로 나타났다. 유기물 함량은 중문에서 1.9%, 가파도에서 1.4%, 표선면에서 1.0%로 나타났고, CEC는 가파도에서 10.7cmol+/kg, 표선면에서 5.6cmol+/kg, 중문 지역에서 1.3cmol+/kg로 나타났다. 전기전도도는 중문, 가파도, 표선면에서 각각 0.47dS/m, 0.19dS/m, 0.16dS/m으로 나타났고, Cl-은 57.45mg/kg, 63.01mg/kg, 8.12mg/kg으로 나타났다. 중문에서 유효인산은 검출되지 않았다.

There are studies on the assessment of non-edible transgenic plants on soil microbial communities. In this research we evaluated the effect of virus-resistant trigonal cactus on soil microbial communities of the rhizosphere. Soil samples are collected and compared in genetically modified (GM) and non-GM trigonal cactus cultivation fields during vegetative growth period and post-harvest period. Biolog EcoplateTM was used to evaluate the functional diversity of soil microbial communities. There were no significant differences between the GM and non-GM soil samples collected during the vegetative growth period. However, we observed temporary difference in carbon substrate utilization. Principal component analysis showed that soil microbiota was influenced not by presence of GM or non-GM trigonal cacti, but rather by the cultivation period. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprinting revealed that virus-resistant trigonal cactus cultivation had insignificant effect on soil microbial communities including dominant rhizosphere bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi. We found no clear evidence of GM trigonal cactus cultivation affecting the functional diversity of soil microbial communities.

Worldwide production of mushrooms has been increasing by 10–20% every year. Recently, Pleurotus eryngii and P. nebrodensis have become popular mushroom species for cultivation. In particular, China exceeded 8.7 million tons in 2002, which accounted for 71.5% of total world output. A similar trend was also observed in Korea. Two kinds of mushrooms— Gumji (金芝; Ganoderma) and Seoji—are described in the ancient book 'Samguksagi' (History of the three kingdoms; B.C 57~A.D 668; written by Bu Sik Kim in 1145) during the Korea-dynasty. Many kinds of mushrooms are also described in more than 17 ancient books during the Chosun-dynasty (1392~1910) in Korea. Approximately 200 commercial strains of 38 species of mushrooms were developed and distributed to cultivators. The somatic hybrid variety of oyster mushroom, ‘Wonhyeongneutari,’ was developed by protoplast fusion, and distributed to growers in 1989. Further, the production of mushrooms as food was 199,829 metric tons, valued at 850 billion Korean Won (one trillion won if mushroom factory products are included) in 2015. In Korea, the major cultivated species are P. ostreatus, P. eryngii, Flammulina velutipes, Lentinula edodes, Agaricus bisporus, and Ganoderma lucidum, which account for 90% of the total production. Since mushroom export was initiated in 1960, the export and import of mushrooms have increased in Korea. Technology was developed for liquid spawn production, and automatic cultivation systems led to the reduction of production cost, resulting in the increase in mushroom export. However, some species were imported owing to high production costs for effective cultivation methods. In academia, RDA scientists have conducted mushroom genome projects since 1997. One of the main outcomes is the whole genome sequencing of Flammulina velutipes for molecular breeding. With regard to medicinal mushrooms, we have been conducting genome research on Cordyceps and its related species for developing functional foods. There are various kinds of beneficial substances in mushrooms; mushroom products, including pharmaceuticals, tonics, healthy beverages, functional biotransformants, and processed foods have also became available on the market. In addition, compost and feed can likewise be made from mushroom substrates after harvest.

White button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) is the most widely consumed mushroom in the world, and domestic consumption is increasing owing to expansion of the westernized diet in recent years. Before 2000, most Korean mushroom farmers cultivated foreign varieties, but recently, Korean breeders are developing hybrid strains using molecular breeding tools. To produce a better mushroom cultivar, we evaluated some traits of button mushroom Agaricus bisporus strains. Mycelial growth rate at different culture temperatures was investigated by 25>20>15>30>10oC. Recently developed domestic varieties had superior mycelial growth rate compared to the traditionally grown species. In particular, the ASI1338 strain showed excellent mycelial growth rate at different temperatures. Further, we confirmed that ASI1007, ASI1085, ASI1310, ASI1339 were strongly resistant to bacterial brown blotch, whereas ASI1053, ASI1103, ASI1140, ASI1146, ASI1177, ASI1183, ASI1195, ASI1321, ASI1331, ASI1336 were relatively weakly resistant. The average number of days for 16.5, and that for harvest was 5.7; the average yield was 142.7 g/2-kg bag. Mycelial growth rates at 10, 15, 20, 25oC were similar, but that at 30? was lower. The mushroom yield was highly correlated with the number of days for pinheading and harvest.

Sixty local soybean cultivars were evaluated on the antioxidative activity by superoxide dismutase (SOD), 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), thiobarbituric acid(TBA), and chemiluminescence using the FI-CL system. Soybean were collected throughout the country, and were grown over two years (1997 and 1998) for measuring antioxidative activity in soybean seeds. There were differences in antioxidative activity depen-ding on the method of measurement and variation of the crop year. Soybeans from Kwangyang-shi-1 (76.78%) in 1997 and Kangjin-gun-3(79.14%) in 1998 showed the highest SOD activity, whereas those from Hwasoon-gun (80.43%) in 1997 and Kangjin-gun-2 (49.82 %) in 1998 exhibited the highest DPPH activity. Soybeans from Chongup-gun-2 (75.77%) in 1997 and from Yochon-shi-5 (69.17%) in 1998 exhibited the highest TBA activity, and those from Jinahn-gun (48.99%) in 1997 and Kohung-gun (49.73%) in 1998 exhibited the highest activity using the chemiluminescence method. These results suggest that it may be possible to develop soybean varieties with higher antioxidative activity