Backgoound : This study was conducted to evaluate the quality variation of Ixeris dentata on the antioxidant contents and antioxidant activities according to the different producing area. Methods and Results : The samples were extracted with 70 % EtOH and then analyzed for total flavonoid contents, polypenol contents, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and ABTS radical scavenging activity. Luteinol 7-O-β-D-glucoside, an index component of the Ixeris dentata, was analyzed by HPLC. The leafs of Ixeris dentata in Jinan had the highest concentration of polyphenols (23.91 ㎎/g), followed by Jinbu (22.63 ㎎/g) and Eumseong (21.36 ㎎/g). Flavonoid content was highest in Jinan (15.27 ㎎/g), but there was no significant difference between Jinbu (14.05 ㎎/g) and Eumseong (13.99 ㎎/g). The contents of luteinol 7-O-β-D-glucoside were confirmed in Jinan (0.68%), Jinbu (0.49%) and Eumseong (0.36%), respectively. Conclusion : The comparison of antioxidant contents and antioxidant activities of Ixeris dentata according to the different producing area, Jinan was had the highest concentration, followed by Jinbu and Eumseong. Our results showed that the content of luteoline-7-D-glucoside varied among the different producing area.

Background : Licorice has been used as a source of medicine and a food material in East-Asia. Recently, demand for licorice increased in market due to a growing interest in health. Thus we conducted breeding research to solve the problems associated with domestically cultivated licorice such as low productivity and low glycyrrhizin content. Methods and Results : We crossed European licorice (G. glabra L.; female parent) and Chinese licorice (G. uralensis Fisch; male parent) in the greenhouse in May 2007. In September 2007, crossed and germinated seeds were retrieved and sown in the greenhouse. In June 2008, stolons were separated from the F1 licorice seedlings and cultivated, resulting in 32 clonal lines of interspecific hybrids. Among them we selected good lines and then conducted the replicated yield trials (RYT) in 2012-2013 and local adaptability test (LAT) in 2014-2015. The results, GLYES9 showed that was elect of stem, oblong of leaf shape, red-brown of root color. Glycyrrhizin conten of GLYES9 (3.0%) was higher than G. uralensis (1.9%) at four regions from 2014 to 2015. GLYES9 was less than 10% in the desease of brown spot (G. uralensis was more than 30%). The root yield of GLYES9 was 4.31 ton per hectare, which was increased 193% compared with a check variety of G. uralensis. Therfore, we named GLYES9 as new cultivar ‘Dagam’. Conclusion : Depending on the above results, we have developed a new licorice cultivar ‘Dagam’ by the medicinal crop breeding team of National Institute of Horticulture and Herbal Science, RDA, in 2015. It showed brown spot disease resistant, high-glycyrrhizn content and high-yielding than colleted Glycyrrhiza spp.

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of germination temperature, storage container and storage temperature on Scrophularia buergeriana and Scrophularia takesimensis seeds.Methods and Results: Seed lengths of both species were 0.8 ㎜, while seed width differed, with S. buergeriana measuring 0.5 ㎜ and S. takesimensis measuring 0.4 ㎜. The seeds of S. buergeriana were packaged in paper containers under room temperature (15°C), cold temperature (4°C), and freeze temperature (−20°C). These seeds exhibited around 80% germination rate at temperatures between 15°C and 30°C. The germiantion rate of S. takesimensis, on the other hand, differed significantly at different germination temperatures. Seeds of S. takesimensis which were packaged in vinyl and paper containers and stored under room and cold temperatures, exhibited around 80% germination rate at 15°C. However, the germination rate of freeze-stored seeds were decreased to lower than 20% at germination temperatures of 15°C, 25°C and 30°C germiantion conditions. The rate of germination showed a low positive to a significantly negativie correlation with the other factor that were determined to evaluate the germination performance.Conclusions: This study elucidates the most suitable germination and storage conditions to increase the germination rate for the two species of Scrophularia buergeriana and Scrophularia takesimensis needs to be stored in paper containers under cold temperature and requires a temperature of 20°C for germination. On the other hand, S. takesimensis in vinyl containers need to be stored at room temperature and those in paper containers at cold temperature, and a temperature of 15°C is required for germination.

Background : Ixeris genus has been used in traditional medicines as stomachics, sedatives, and diuretics. Ixeris dentata var albiflora is a kind of perennial herbaceous plant and one of the plants of the genus Ixeris (Asteraceae). It is well-known for edible wild vegetable in Korea, China, Japan, and Mongolia. Specially, Korean has its root and young leaf with appetizing vegetable due to bitter taste. Methods and Results : We isolated 8 genes that are involved in carotenoid biosynthesis using the Illumina/Solexa HiSeq2000 platform. In this study, a full-length cDNA clone encoding phytoene synthase (IdPSY), phytoene desaturase (IdPDS), ξ-carotene desaturase (IdZDS), lycopene β-cyclase (IdLCYB), and zeaxanthin epoxidase (IdZEP) and partial-length cDNA clones encoding lycopene ε-cyclase (IdLCYE), ε-ring carotene hydroxylase (IdCHXE), and β-ring carotene hydroxylase (IdCHXB2) were identified in I. dentata. The theoretical molecular weight (MW) and isoelectric point values of 8 genes were investigated. Sequence analyses revealed that these proteins shared high identity and conserved domains with their orthologous genes. IdPSY, IdPDS, IdZDS, IdLCYB, IdCHXB2, and IdZEP were constitutively expressed in the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers of I. dentata. Conclusion : Our study on the biosynthesis of carotenoids in I. dentata will provide basic data for elucidating the contribution of carotenoids to the considerable medicinal properties of I. dentata.

Background : Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is one of the most important medicinal plants in Korea, but its yields are often reduced by a variety of root pathogens. The root rot of ginseng is a destructive soil-borne disease caused by Cylindrocarpon destructans (teleomorph: Ilyonectria radicicola). To monitor contamination with C. destructans in ginseng harvested in 2015 were sampled from 57 different growing fields. The spore number of C. destructans was quantified by use of a specific primers and selective media (radicicol) in soils of ginseng fields. Methods and Results : The ginseng samples were surface-sterilized and placed on potato dextrose agar plates for 7 day incubation at 20℃. Emerging fungal colonies were counted primarily based on colony and conidia morphology. Further species level identification was confirmed by ITS rDNA sequencing. For quantification of the soil-borne C. destructans, the genomic DNA was extracted from the soil using a NucleoSpin soil kit (MN, Germany). Density of C. destructans was determined by species specific real time PCR (qPCR). The qPCR was completed by running a melting curve analysis. Conclusion : The C. destructans associated with root rot disease of ginseng were detected in more than 60% in pyeongtaek-1, pochenon-1, jecheon-1, chungju-1 and jinan-4. As results of the study, the correlation between pathogen density and identification clearly clarified in the soil.

Background : Cynanchum wilfordii and Cynanchum auriculatum belong to the Asclepiadaceae family and appear morphologically similar. In order to discriminate them, it is needed to find the presence of sap and the leaf shapes: C. auriculatum has a blade ovate leaf comparing to C. wilfordii. However, in the herbal medicine market, they have been handled as cut and dried roots. Due to their similar morphology, it is limited to distinguish the roots of C. wilfordii and C. auriculatum. Recently in Korea, it has been a critical issue to misuse these two roots in the herbal market and food industry. Thus, it is required to establish a robust tool for the discrimination and quality control of them. Methods and Results : To separation and characterization of flavor compounds, C. wilfordii and C. auriculatum samples were analyzed by head space solid phase micro extraction (HSS) fiber coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using Rtx-5MS (30 m x 0.25 mm x 0.25 μm) column. As a result, We have identified compounds of a few hundred in aliphatic aldehydes and aliphatic alcohols, alkenes and acids, aromatic compounds, aromatic compounds containing nitrogen & sulfur, etc,. In particular, The aliphatic and aromatic compounds had been clearly separated on the second dimensional direction by using two-dimensional GC. Conclusion : The volatile flavor compounds of C. wilfordii and C. auriculatum could easily analyzed without pre-treatment with improved resolution and sensitivity using HSS-GCxGC-TOFMS. We have identified compounds of a few hundred in C. wilfordii and C. auriculatum sample. And It was more accurately qualitative confirmed with separation of GCxGC and TSD. We have confirmed the PCA and PLS-DA Plot that was classified depending on C. wilfordii and C. auriculatum through multivariate statistical analysis of the identified flavor compounds.

Background : The aim of the present study was to identify an effective physicochemical control method to reduce Fusarium species infestation in adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) before and after harvesting. Methods and Results : We observed that prochloraz emusifiable concentrate and hexaconazol prochloraz emusifiable concentrate strongly inhibited the mycelial growth of 10 Fusarium species. Strong growth inhibitions and cell lysis were observed following treatment with 4% NaOCl solution. The total number of fungi detected were lower follwing treatment with thiophanatemethyl triflumizole wettable powder (1.1 × 104 CFU/g), hexaconazol prochloraz emulsifiable concentrate (1.2 × 104 CFU/g), carboxin thiram dustable powder (1.6 × 104 CFU/g) and prochloraz emulsifiable concentrate (1.7 × 104 CFU/g) than in the non-treated control (7.7 × 104 CFU/g). The reduction of Fusarium fungi varies with the concentration and soaking time of NaOCl solution. Fungal detection was not observed after soaking in NaOCl solution for 24 h and harmful effects were not observed for plant growth by NaOCl after soacking for 6 - 12 h. Conclusion : Soaking seed for 6 - 12 h in 4% NaOCl could be an effective method of disinfectant treatment for the control of Fusarium fungi in adlay seeds.

Background : This study examined the effect of harvesting time on the growth, yield characteristics, and major beneficial components in Salvia miltiorrhiza. Methods and Results : Although plant height, stem diameter and branch length were not affected by harvesting time, the number of stems was highest when harvested in mid October. There were no differences in root length and thickness, however, the rhizome was thicker when it was harvested at the end of October or early November than when it was harvested in early and mid October. The dried root weight also showed a similar pattern. However, there was a statistically significant increase to 408 ㎏ (16%) in the rhizome weight when in late October and a rise to 455 ㎏ (29%) when harvested in early November. Harvest time had little effect on the content of the major component of S. miltiorrhiza. For example, salvianolic acid content rose from 9.42 to 9.64% with later harvest times, and tanshinone ΠA content was tended to be slightly more increased in mid October which S. miltiorrhiza has 0.22% tanshinon ΠA than in early October. Conclusions : According to these results, the optimum harvest time for S. miltiorrhiza is early November when plant or major component yields are hightest. There were no significant harvest time effects on the major beneficial components.

This study was conducted to obtain the basic data related to seed characteristics and germination conditions of the Coriandrum sativum L. at different storage condition and temperature. The shape of fruit was oval with light brown color. Fruit was mericarp, biloculate, with one ovule in each locus. The length and width of seed were 1.37 ± 0.067㎜ and 0.52 ± 0.039㎜, respectively. Weight of 1,000 seeds was 6.55 ± 0.15 g. Seeds which were stored at room (15℃) and cold temperature (4℃) in vinyl container showed the highest germination rate (93.3%) under the room temperature germination condition. Percentage of germination in cold and freeze temperature was 20% and 0%, respectively. Germination rate of room storage seeds with paper container increased to about 91.3%, however, decreased in cold (4℃) and freeze storage (−20℃) with paper container (76.7% and 78.0%, respectively). Germination rate of seed in vinyl stock container was better than that of paper stock container. Germination rate of seeds stored at room temperature for 4 years (2010 - 2013) ranged from 80.0% to 91.3%. Therefore, coriander seeds are expected to be stored at room temperature for increasing the germination rate and keeping a long term.

The removal of nitrogen compounds from a wastewater is essential and it is often accomplished by biological process. An aerobic nitrate-removing bacterium was isolated from a municipal sewage treatment plant and soil. On the basis of its morphological, cultural and physiological characteristics and 16S rRNA sequencing data, this strain was identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens, and named as P. fluorescens K4. The optimal conditions of the initial pH and temperature of media for its growth were 7.0~8.0 and 30℃, respectively. P. fluorescens K4 was able to remove 99.9% of nitrate after 24 h in a culture. The strain could grow with a nitrate concentration up to 800 mg/l and was able to remove 99.9% of nitrate after 104 h of incubation. The optimal electron donor was sodium citrate for a nitrate removal. The strain K4 showed a capability of a complete nitrate removal when the initial C/N ratio was 1.0. An effect of the initial seed concentration was observed for a cell of 10% (v/v) for a nitrate removal. Especially P. fluorescens K4 could completely remove 200 mg/l ammonium for 3 days.