This study aimed to produce fermented soy-powder milk (FSPM) with Lactobacillus plantarum P1201 and to evaluate its anti-obesity activity. Isoflavone and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) of unfermented soy-powder milk (UFSPM) and FSPM and were analyzed via high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC). Their inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and pancreatic lipase were assayed. Their anti-obesity activities were evaluated on the basis of their inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells, and the expression of mRNAs associated with adipogenesis and lipid metabolism were analyzed via real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative PCR (qPCR). FSPM with L. plantarum P1201 increased the isoflavone aglycones (daidzein, glycitein, and genistein) content and produced CLA in soy-powder milk (SPM), both of which possessed bio-activity. Both UFSPM and FSPM showed dose-dependent inhibitory activity for α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and pancreatic lipase. FSPM, but not UFSPM, suppressed adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells and reduced their triglyceride content by 23.1% after treatment with 1,000 μg/mL of FSPM, compared with the control group. The anti-obesity effect of FSPM can be attributed to CLA and isoflavone aglycones, which targeted CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBP-α) and down-regulated lipoprotein lipase (LPL), adiponectin, adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (aP2), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) mRNA. Furthermore, FSPM enhanced the inhibitory activity of glucosidase and pancreatic enzymes and anti-obesity activity. Further studies are required to investigate whether the anti-obesity effect of FSPM persists in an in vivo mouse model of diet-induced obesity.

This study investigated the nutritional properties and biological activities of Ganoderma lucidum (GL). The round type of GL contained higher carbohydrate content, while the Nokgak type of GL contained higher crude ash, crude fat, and crude protein content. The most abundant amino acid, fatty acid, mineral, and soluble vitamin observed were valine (round type: 11.90 mg/g and Nokgak type: 17.18 mg/g), linoleic acid (round type: 47.56% and Nokgak type: 75.68%), potassium (round type: 116.50 mg/100 g and Nokgak type: 184.36 mg/100 g), and vitamin B3 (round type: 1.78 mg/100 g and Nokgak type: 1.81 mg/100 g), respectively. In addition, the β-glucan content were 34.15 g/100 g (round type) and 30.07 g/100 g (Nokgak type). The GL 70% ethanol extract at 40℃ showed higher radical scavenging as well as carbohydrate and lipid enzyme inhibition than other conditions. At 1 mg/mL of treatment with the 70% ethanol extract at 40℃ of round type GL, the DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl radical scavenging, and α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and pancreatic lipase inhibition activities obtained were approximately 92.85, 99.74, 58.09, 89.68, 44.68, and 67.56%, respectively.

“Woncheongbyeo” is a new japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar developed by mutation techniques from Chu-cheongbyeo. Chucheongbyeo seeds were irradiated with 300 Gy gama ray (83.3 rad/min) emitted from 60Co at a radiation facil-ity of the Korea Atomic

Viviparous germination causes yield loss and quality deterioration of rice. This study was conducted to investigate varietal differences of the viviparous germination with different days after heading (DAH) and different temperatures. In the laboratory examination, the averaged germination rate of all varieties at 45DAH and at 25DAH was 79.9%, and 27.5% under the incubation at the temperature of 30~circC /20~circC (day/night) for 12 days. Andabyeo, Da- sanbyeo, and Nonganbyeo showed the lowest viviparous germination rates among the tested varieties. The shoot length of the viviparous germination measured 12days after incubation at 30/20~circC ranged from 21 to 53mm, indicating significant deterioration of rice quality. In the field test, the averaged viviparous germination rates of rice varieties at 25, 35, 45DAH with the underwater conditions for 4 days were 2.2, 6.2 and 9.2%, respectively, while their rates at 12 day after underwater conditions increased to 17.6, 44.2 and 43.8%, respectively. A variety that showed the highest viviparous germination rate at 25 and 35 and 45DAH was Heukjinjubyeo. When standing rice panicles without lodging were examined after consecutive raining for 7 days Juanbyeo showed the highest viviparous germination (45.5%), followed by Odaebyeo (16.0%), Jinbubyeo (14.5 %), Bongkwangbyeo (14.2 %) and Obongbyeo (12.6%). The viviparous germination of rice was greatly affected by variety, days after heading and temperature settings. Bongkwangbyeo, Juanbyeo, Dongjinbyeo, Hwasunchalbyeo, Naepoongbyeo and Heukjinjubyeo were classified as the most susceptible varieties to the viviparous germination in the field conditions.

The objective of this study was to ,determine trinexapac-ethyl [4-(cyclopropyl- α -hydroxy-me-thylene)-3,5-dioxocyclohexanecarboxylic acid ethyl ester] effects on lodging-related traits of rice varieties treated at different application rates and times. Trinexapac-ethyl WP was applied at the rate of 10, 20 and 30g ai/l0a to Heukjinjubyeo and Daeanbyeo, respectively. Effects of trinexapacethyl varied greatly with application time as well as application rate with little differences between rice varieties. As the application rate increased, lodging index, center of gravity and exsertion of panicle above flag leaf decreased, whereas breaking strength and phytotoxicity increased. Exsertion of panicle was greatly influenced by the application time with a little difference by application rate. The most effective application time of trinexapac-ethyl based on lodging index and total internode length (Ist-4th node) was 2DBH(days before heading) in Heukjinjubyeo and 17DBH in Daeanbyeo, resulting in reducing total internode length by 12.9 and 9.7cm, respectively. A significant reduction was found at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd internodes in Heukjinjubyeo, while at the 2nd and 3rd internodes in Daeanbyeo. No significant difference was found among treatments in the panicle length of both rice varieties but the panicle fresh weights of Daeanbyeo were significantly greater in all trinexapac-ethyl treatments compared with that of the control when measured 20 days after heading. Consequently, trinexapacethyl treatment significantly improved lodging-related traits of rice plants without affecting rice yield and yield components

Distribution and occurrence of weedy rice in Kyonggi region were surveyed in 1996. Weedy rice was observed in 1368 fields (54.9%) of total 2490 fields. Almost two thirds of paddy fields in northern mountainous region were contaminated by weedy rice and more severe contamination, three forths of paddy fields, was observed in suburban regions. In those regions, occurrence of weedy rice was greater than those in north-eastern inland and south-western plain regions. The occurrence of weedy rice was higher in water seeding cultivation (66.7%) than other cultivation methods. The number of weedy rice per 10a was 756.7 plants in direct seeding on dry paddy and 379.4 plants in water seeding. The occurrence of weedy rice was higher in fields planted by farmer's seeds than that of paddy fields cultivated by certified seeds, and the longer the farmer's seeds being used, the more weedy rice occurred in paddy field