This study was conducted to assess the genetic variability and correlation of phenotypic characteristics in 12 tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotypes including 11 WorldVeg and one commercial variety (Pusa Ruby) in Terai (plain) region of Nepal in 2021–2022. This experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The phenotypic traits, including days to 50% flowering, plant vigor and height, fruit number/plant, fruit yield, fruit weight and diameter, fruit firmness and fruit pericarp thickness, and total soluble solids (TSS) content of the fruits, were studied. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits except for plant vigor. The genotype of AVTO1705 resulted the highest fruit yield (2.9 kg/plant) than Pusa Ruby, a commercial check (0.5 kg/plant). The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits and PCV values were maximum for the number of fruits, fruit yield, and fruit weight. High PCV, GCV, and genetic advance (GA) were observed for yield, fruit weight, and plant height, respectively, indicating the additive gene effect. High heritability for fruit yield/plant and plant height inferred the phenotypic selection for their genetic improvement. Fruit yield was significantly (P<0.05) positively correlated with the fruit number and fruit weight, and direct selection of these traits are reliable for yield improvement in tomato.

Acinetospora filamentosa and Microspongium stilophorae are reported as new records from South Korea based on morphological and molecular analyses. A. filamentosa is mainly characterized by having the sparsely branched erect filaments, the scattered meristematic zones, forming crampons, plurilocular sporangia on both prostrate filaments and lower part of erect filaments, and spherical to oval unilocular sporangia formed either sessile or with a pedicel. M. stilophorae is an epiphytic thalli mostly on Stilophora sp. It is characterized by prostrate filaments with irregular cells, short erect filaments with short ramuli, phaeophycean hairs, uniseriate plurilocular sporangia on the terminal part of erect filament. Our molecular analyses of rbcL and cox1 genes reveals that A. filamentosa and M. stilophorae are nested within the clades of Acinetospora and Microspongium, respectively.

Feldmannia chitonicola is reported as a new record from Korea based on morphological studies in laboratory-cultured materials and molecular analyses. F. chitonicola is mainly characterized by a small size (1-2 mm), erect filaments mostly unbranched, plurilocular sporangia produced on both prostrate and laterally on the basal part of erect filaments, and 2 types (lanceolate and ovate) of sporangia. In our cultures, sporangia production was slower at 10°C than in 16°C and 20°C. Our molecular analyses of rbcL and cox1 genes supported its independence from other congeners reported for Korea. This is the first report of F. chitonicola for western Pacific.

Acinetospora asiatica and Botrytella reinboldii are reported as two new records from S. Korea based on morphological studies and molecular analyses. A. asiatica is mainly characterized by the presence of sparsely branched uniseriate filaments with diffused meristematic zones, the formation of crampons at right angles, and the formation of plurilocular sporangia on both prostrate and erect filaments. B. reinboldii is characterized by the presence of irregularly alternating branched uniseriate filaments attached by rhizoids, and single or clustered plurilocular sporangia with a single opening. Molecular analyses of rbcL gene revealed that A. asiatica and B. reinboldii are placed within each clade of Acinetospora and Botrytella, respectively.

The morphology, anatomy and reproduction (tetra/bisporic and male) of Lithothamnion japonicum Foslie was studied, using holotype material and materials collected from Korea. Lithothamnion japonicum is characterized based on the presence of encrusting, warty to fruticose thallus, branched or unbranched short and cylindrical protuberances, conical shaped spermatangial conceptacles, branched (dendroid) spermatangial systems formed on floor, walls, and roof of conceptacle chamber, cylindrical shaped spermatangial conceptacle canal, 9-10 cell layered spermatangial conceptacle roof, raised tetra/bisporangial conceptacles without rims, flattened tetra/ bisporangial conceptacle pore plate, 16-50 pores on each pore plate, 6-8 rosette cells surrounded by each pore, pore canal lining filaments composed of tetra/bisporangial conceptacle roof, and buried senescent tetra/bisporangial conceptacles completely infilled with relatively large and irregularly arranged calcified sterile cells. In this study, we report a new record of Lithothamnion japonicum from Korean coasts.

Bryopsis africana and Pyropia kinositae are reported for the first time on the list of Korean marine algal flora based on integrated morphological-molecular study. Bryopsis africana from Korea is recognized with distinct main axes, robust thalli, pinnately and radially branched above, and basally denuded. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that B. africana was placed within a clade of Bryopsis. Bryopsis africana differs from B. corymbosa by 2.7% gene sequence divergence. Pyropia kinositae is characterized by oblong to lanceolate thalli, entire margin, purplish red in color, twice as long as broad cells in transversal section view. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that P. kinositae was placed within a clade of Pyropia. Pyropia kinositae differs from P. tenera by 1.5-1.8%, P. ishigecola by 1.2-1.3%, and P. yezoensis by 1.5-1.8% gene sequence divergence respectively.

Detailed morphological studies and molecular analyses based on plastid-encoded rbcL gene sequences were undertaken on Peyssonnelia species, a poorly known genus from Korea. We report new records for the Korean coast, Peyssonnelia harveyana and P. rumoiana. Peyssonnelia harveyana is chiefly characterized by P. rubra-type anatomy, closely packed perithallial filaments in firm matrix, hypothallial filaments arranged in parallel rows, thalli with appressed margins, hypobasal calcification, and unicellular rhizoids. Peyssonnelia rumoiana is principally characterized by two vegetative features, hypothallial filaments arranged in a polyflabellate layer, and perithallial filaments arising from the whole upper surface of each hypothallial cell (Peyssonnelia rubra-type anatomy). Our rbcL analyses revealed that P. harveynana and P. rumoiana were placed within a clade of Peyssonnelia. We also propose the new combination, Sonderophycus cauliferus comb. nov., for previous Peyssonnelia caulifera. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that our S. cauliferus was placed within a clade of Sonderophycus.

This study compared the quality and drying characteristics of dried king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii), shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes GNA01) and maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa) slices obtained by sundrying, hot-air drying (40, 50, 60 ), low-temperature vacuum drying (20, 25, 30 ), heat-pump dehumidifying drying (30, 40, 50 ), and freeze drying. The quality changes investigted included color, browning degree, hardness, general components, -glucan. Color changes in king oyster mushroom during freeze drying were β less than that between control (raw) and treated mushrooms. Compared with other drying methods, low-temperature vacuum drying of shiitake mushroom resulted in less color changes. Browning degree differed significantly between the different drying methods. As temperature increased, low-temperature vacuum drying resulted in decreased browning while heat-pump dehumidifying drying resulted in increased browning. In king oyster mushroom, hardness increased with temperature under hot-air drying, low-temperature vacuum drying and heat-pump dehumidifying drying. In shiitake mushroom, hardness increased with increasing temperature under hot-air drying and heat-pump dehumidifying drying. β-glucan content after drying was found to be between 28.29 and 39.39% in king oyster mushroom, 23.05 and 29.48% in shiitake mushroom and 16.10 and 24.51% in maitake mushroom.

A freesia (Freesia hybrida Hort.) ‘Cutie Red’ was developed for the pot flower in the National Institute of Horticultural Herbal Science in 2014. This hybrid was crossed and selected from a seedling of three-way crossing the seedling of ‘Volcano’ and ‘Sailor’ with ‘Figaro’, and ‘Suzy’ in 2006 and 2010, respectively. Morphological characteristics of the selected freesia hybrid were investigated for 3 years from 2011 to 2013, and then it was named ‘Cutie Red’ in 2014. ‘Cutie Red’ has single and red petals (RHS, R45A) with yellow-orange color of center (RHS, YO21B). The average flower width is 5.3 cm and the average yield is 4. The growth of the plant is vigorous and the average height is 70.3 cm, and it is shorter than about 15.4 cm that of control cultivar ‘Red Race’. The average number of floret per stalk and stalk length, 10.7, and the stalk was 9.6 cm length, shorter than ‘Red Lace’, 13 and 11.7 cm length, respectively. The first flowering, in avarage, of ‘Cutie Red’ takes about 141 days, and it’s average vase life and yield is 9.7 days and 5 cormlets per plant, respectively.

A freesia (Freesia hybrida Hort.) ‘Song of Angel’ was developed for the cut flower in the National Institute of Horticultural Herbal Science in 2013. This hybrid was crossed and selected from a seedling of three-way crossing ‘Golden Flame’ and the seedling of ‘Athene’ and ‘Yvonne’ in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Morphological characteristics of the selected freesia hybrid were investigated for 5 years from 2008 to 2012, and then it was named ‘Song of Angel’ in 2013. ‘Song of Angel’ has single flower and yellow petals (RHS, YG13B) with yellow center color (RHS, YG13A). The average flower width is 5.8 cm and the average yield is 4.3. The growth of the plant shows vigorous and the average height is 95.3cm, and it is higher than about 30cm that of control cultivar ‘Yvonne’. The average number of floret per stalk and stalk length, 14.3, and stalk was 11.1 cm length is higher than the ‘Yvonne’, 9.7 and 8.3cm length, respectively. The average days to first flowering of ‘Song of Angel’, 141 days, was approximately 10 days earlier than the control cultivar. It’s average vase life and yield is 10.7 days and 6.2 cormlets per plant, respectively.

Two rice cultivars of the japonica type, ozone-resistant Ilpumbyeo (IL) and ozone-susceptible Keu-mobyeo#l (KM) were exposed to ozone (O3 ) at 0.15 ppm for 30 days. The available nutrient regimes were varied by doubling the supply of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) within a basic fertilizer status (N, P, K; 15, 12, 12 kg l0a-1 ). There was little difference on plant height between ozone-treated and nontreated plants. The most significant ozone stress on tiller number was shown on the 30th day of ozone exposure. Slight recovery from ozone stress was noted on the 60th day. On the 30th day, tiller number was greatly decreased by 40.8% in IL and 64.6% in KM, whereas at a high nitrogen supply regime (2N), it was decreased by 21.4% in IL and 42.7% in KM as compared to the control not treated with ozone at basic fertilizer status. The inhibition of tiller production caused by ozone exposure was alleviated on the 60th day. In both cultivars, number of spikelets per plant and weight of 100 grains were affected little by the ozone treatment irrespective of nutrient regime. However, the number of panicles per plant and yield were reduced significantly. In both cultivars, yield of ozone-treated plants with 2N status was 12.4-16.1 % higher than that of the ozone-treated plants with basic nutrient status. A significant yield decrease of 47.8% and 33.4% was observed for IL and KM, respectively, in ozone-treated plants with higher potassium (2K) status.

Ozone (O3 )-induced changes in chlorophyll content and specific activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) and glutathione reductase (GR) were investigated in two rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L.) grown under variable nutrient treatments. For this study, two rice cultivars of Ilpumbyeo (IL) and Keumobyeo#l (KM), which were known as resistant and susceptible to O3 , respectively, were exposed to O3 at 0.15ppm for 30 days and investigated with 10 days interval. The available nutrient regimes were varied by doubling the supply of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) Within a basic fertilizer status (N, P, K; 15, 12, 12kg/l0a-1 ). In both cultivars and at all nutrient status, chlorophyll content in O3 -treated plants decreased with prolonged treatment period, although higher N, P and K supply with O3 treatment alleviated the decrease in chlorophyll content. The activities of almost all enzymes investigated for this study were decreased during initial stages of O3 - exposure except GPX which maintained higher activity throughout the exposure period than the non-treated plant. However, the antioxidant enzymes in O3 -treated plants showed almost the same or higher activities on 30 days after O3 - exposure. The most significant changes in activities were observed in GR of the O3 -treated leaves. With the prolonged treatment period, the activity of GR at 30 days was increased by 3-8 times compared to those in 10 days. Most of the investigated enzymes showed very similar tendency to O3 treatment in all fertilizer status. There was no observed evidence for enhanced detoxification of O3 -derived activated oxygen species in plants grown under higher fertilizer status compared with that in plants grown under basic fertilizer status. The increase in the activities of SOD, APX and GR in rice leaves by relatively long-term treatment with O3 at low concentration is considered to indicate that the plant became adapted to the O3 stress and the protection system increased its capacity to scavenge toxic oxygen species. Our results in two rice cultivars indicated that there was little difference in the activities of antioxidant enzymes between IL and KM, which were known as resistant and susceptible cultivar to O3