Korea features mountainous areas, and the exposed slop area is on the rapid rise due to constant spread of national infrastructure and urban development, which leads to accompanied increase of artificial disasters. Thus there is a demand for developing long-lived seed spray materials that will enable stable tree planting and establishing an optimal construction method to suit such a material.

Seeds of colored rice generally have high anthocyanin and flavonoid content but some cultivars have low seed germination rate. This defect poses unstable seedling establishment in nursery bed. The seed gravity variations of 10 colored rice varieties and its effect on germination, seed soaking duration and their optimum seeding rates for seedling raising in machine transplanting were investigated in the experiment. Based on seed gravity distribution of the 7 black- and 3 red-colored rice varieties at three levels of seed gravity (1.0<, 1.0~1.06, 1.06>), the black colored seeds such as Josaengheugchal and Sinmyungheugchal had high amount of specific gravity of below 1.0 ranging from 86~ 96%, while they had only 3~13% of seeds in specific gravity above 1.06. Sintoheugmi, Heugjinju, Heugnam, Heugkwang had various mass of seeds, showing 29~44% for specific gravity of below 1.0, 24~39% for 1.0~1.06 and 25~45% for above 1.06. On the other hand, the red colored rice such as Hongjinju, Jeogjinju and Geonkanghongmi had high percentage of specific gravity of above 1.06 with 84~86% while they had only 9~12% of specific gravity below 1.0 similar to Ilmibyeo of noncolored rice. The black colored seed generally showed low germination percentage, slow germination speed and long mean germination time, and low water absorption rate as compared with seed of the red colored rice which was similar to those of Ilmibyeo used as a control cultivar. The black colored seeds took 2~4 days longer seed soaking duration than the red colored rice before germination. This was related to high seed amount of specific gravity below 1.0 in black colored rices. The high amount of seed gravity above 1.06 in the colored rice seeds was positively correlated with percentage of germination, germination speed and mean germination time, ripened grain ratio and water absorption. Seed gravity distribution effect were less pronounced between back- and red- colored seeds in seedling emergence. The black colored rice has slightly lower normal seedling emergence rate than the red colored rice and Ilmibyeo in the seedbed soil due to high percentage of ungerminated seed. Normal seedling emergence rate of the black colored rice in the seedbed was 75.2~82.2% for 10-day old seedling and 85.3~ 90.9% for 30-day old seedling which was lower by 4.5~ 8.0% and 0~3.3%, respectively, than the red colored rice. Based on the normal seedling number per tray of Ilmibyeo for seeding rate of 10-day and 30-day old seedlings, the recommended seeding rate of black colored rice is 200~ 220g seeds for the 10-day old seedling and 110~130g for the 30-day old seedling in transplanting rice while the seeding rate of the red colored rice was 220g seeds for the 10-day old seedling and 130g for the 30-day old seedling.

본 연구는 오디씨 에탄올 추출물(MSE)의 멜라닌 합성 저해 효과를 밝히는 것이다. 먼저 MSE의 mel-an-a 세포를 이용한 멜라닌 합성 저해 실험결과, 독성을 보이지 않는 10 µg/mL의 농도까지 멜라닌 합성 저해 효과를 나타내었다. 또한 tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1) 단백질의 발현이 저해되었으며, extracelluar signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK)의 발현을 농도 의존적으로 증가시키는 MSE의 기전을 확인하였다. 뿐만 아니라, 제브라피쉬를 이용한 in vivo 모델의 실험에서도 색소 발생이 저해됨을 관찰하였다. 따라서 오디씨로 부터 획득한 에탄올 추출물이 ERK 단백질의 발현으로 인해 멜라닌 생합성을 억제할 수 있음을 밝혔다.

Recently, many breeders have preferred to use molecular markers for introgression backcross programs enabling foreground and background selection to cope with rapid cultivar changing of seed markets. In accumulation of target traits with marker-assisted selection, larger numbers of markers should give better resolution. For the analysis of quantitative traits, a high-density genetic map with a large number of markers is required for discovering more accurately linked markers with traits. Watermelon is a recalcitrant plant to generate a high-density genetic map with conventional molecular markers including simple sequence repeats (SSRs), since watermelon has narrow genetic diversity background and severe segregation distortions of those SSR markers. Thus, we have developed efficient and valid way to assemble genetic map and markers by next-generation sequencing coupled with genotyping by sequencing in F2 generation. After crosses between Citurullus lanatus ssp. citroides (PI254744 and PI189225) and C. lanatus ssp. lanatus (TS34, Korean cultigen), 163 of F2 progeny were sequenced through Illumina's Hi-Seq GAII platform. From sequence information of those variant call files, the SNPs were indexed and filtered by sequencing depth with genotype converter (SNP Genotyper), and optimized by heuristic physical bin mapping to construct more reliable genetic linkage map. Reliable SNP loci were determined and compared to sequences of physical reference map. Using the genetic map, we determined QTLs in F2:3 population and found major loci corresponding to seed size and powdery mildew race1 resistance in watermelon.

Seed germination is a key developmental transition that initiates the plant life cycle. The timing of germination is determined by coordinated action of two phytohormones, gibberellin (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA). In particular, ABA plays a key role in integrating environmental information and inhibiting the germination process. Utilization of embryonic lipid reserves contributes to seed germination by acting as an energy source, and ABA suppresses lipid degradation to modulate the germination process. Here, we report that the ABA-responsive R2R3-type MYB transcription factor MYB96, which is highly expressed in embryo, regulates seed germination by controlling the expression of ABA-INSENSITIVE 4 (ABI4). In the presence of ABA, germination was accelerated in MYB96-deficient myb96-1 seeds, whereas the process was significantly delayed in MYB96-overexpressing activation-tagging myb96-ox seeds. Consistently, myb96-1 seeds degraded a larger extent of lipid reserves even in the presence of ABA, while reduced lipid mobilization was observed in myb96-ox seeds. MYB96 directly regulates ABI4, which acts as a repressor of lipid breakdown, to define its spatial and temporal expression. Genetic analysis further demonstrated that ABI4 is epistatic to MYB96 in the control of seed germination. Taken together, the MYB96-ABI4 module regulates lipid mobilization specifically in the embryo to ensure proper seed germination under suboptimal conditions.

Arabidopsis E3 SUMO ligase SIZ1 (AtSIZ1) controls vegetative growth and development including responses to nutrient deficiency and environment stresses. Here, we analyzed the effect of AtSIZ1 on the stability and amount of seed proteins. Proteomic analysis showed that the amount of three major nutrient reservoir proteins, CRUCIFERIN (CRU) 1, 2 and 3, were decreased in siz1-2 mutants. However, quantitative real-time RT-PCR showed that transcript levels of CRU1, 2 and 3 genes were rather significantly higher in siz1-2 mutants than wild-type plants. Yeast two hybrid analysis revealed that AtSIZ1 interacts with CRU1, CRU2 and CRU3, strongly suggesting that CRU1, 2 and 3 proteins are sumoylated by AtSIZ1. In addition, the analysis of amino acid composition by HPLC showed that the contents of amino acids were a bit high in siz1-2 mutants. Our data indicate that AtSIZ1 plays an important function for accumulation of seed storage proteins through its ligase activity.

Grain color distinguishes between the pigmentation of the outer layer of the kernel. It is known that environmental factors affects the production of anthocyanins and abiotic stresses like high light intensity, low temperature, high salinity and/or drought stress, and others increase their amounts. After 7 days the germination rate between yellow and dark-purple seeds were almost the same with and without stress (100% yellow seeds under stress and without stress germinated, 93.3% under stress and 96.6% without stress of purple seeds germinated), even though at the final stage the germination was almost the same, we can conclude base on our observations that the germination takes place at a different rate. We think that this might be related to the seed color, since the germination of purple seeds under salt stress started earlier than the yellow ones, until both reached the same point. The antioxidant activity was higher in seedlings from dark-purple seeds than the yellow ones, and they were higher under salt stress than without it, supporting our hypothesis that the purple color in wheat seeds works as a protection under salt stress. Furthermore, the qRT-pCR showed that some genes related to the flavonoid pathway were expressed or had more expression in the seedlings from dark-purple seeds than yellow ones.

In Brassica as matter of seedling manner, they have the bilocular ovary and 20~28 seeds per silique after fertilization. Rarely some of B. juncea and yellow sarson (Brassica rapa ssp, tricolaris) have multilocular ovary. In this stdudy, the LP8 (YS-033, CGN06835) is shown tetralocular ovary as well as high seed yields. As microscope study for the different size of immature bud sections and we have known the floral meristem with already four locules in immature buds less size than 1mm of LP8. To identify of determining of tetralocular ovary formation, RNA-seq was carried out on the isolated RNA from less than 1mm and from 1mm of bud size respectively. By contrast tetralocular ovay and bilocular ovary, Chiifu is used. A total of 994 differentially expressed genes(DEGs) are detected in only LP8. Among the DEGs, we identify 18 DEGs in only immature buds of less size than 1mm. The expression patterns of 18 DEGs are validated by real time quantitative PCR and these genes are cloned and the sequence analyzed. At present, 12 candidated gene are analyzed by sequencing and there are detected by large fragment insertion as well as SNPs in sequence comparison to Chiifu. We will perform the genetic transformation of these DEG genes in Arabidopsis for relation between genes and tetralocular ovary. Our results will be helpful in understanding for mechanisms of tetraovular ovary in Brassica rapa.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] protein is a high quality source for food and feed. But, antinutritional factors in the raw mature soybean are exist. Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI) protein of mature soybean seed is a main antinutritional factor in soybean seed. The Le gene controls a lectin protein and Ti gene controls the KTI protein in soybean. Ti locus has been located on molecular linkage group A2 (chromosome 8) of soybean. The y9 type found in T135 is yellow at emergence, becoming greenish-yellow by maturity. Although this type is considered chlorophyll-deficient, it is fairly vigorous in growth. The objective of this research was to exam an agronomic traits of y9ti genotype selected from the breeding line. The seeds of y9ti genotype were planted in the field. Traits of maturity date, seed weight, and seed coat color were checked.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed is one of the major food sources for protein, oil, carbohydrates, isoflavones, and many other nutrients to humans and animals. Trans-resveratrol produced by plants is a polyphenol phytoalexin and displays a wide range of biological effects like as anti-cancer activities, cardio- protective properties, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, neuroprotective, antidiabetic and phytoestrogenic properties. Content of trans-resveratrol in soybean seed may depend on genotype and environment. Genotype with high trans-resveratrol content is valuable in breeding project. One hundred eighty three soybean genotypes were cultivated in the field. After harvesting, trans-resveratrol content was analyzed. Content (ug/g) of trans-resveratrol was from 0.199 to 5.447. Thirty genotypes with high trans-resveratrol content were selected.

Rice, as a model system of monocotyledon plants for genomic studies, is a main staple food for over half of the world population. A rice retrotransposon, Tos17, is active during tissue culture and its ability was wildly used in insertional mutagenesis. In this study we have produced 2,000 non-GM mutants induced by Tos17 in rice. We analyzed >2,000 flanking sequences of newly transposed Tos17 copies by the adaptor-ligation PCR method. The frequencies of Tos17 insertions in the genic and intergenic regions were 60.3% and 36.6%, respectively. We also selected four Tos17 insertion mutant lines for three TF genes which can be considered to be considered to be involved in rice seed development based on expression microarray data: osrem3, osta1, osbhlh1-1, and osbhlh1-2 mutant lines. According to Quadruple 9-mer-based protein binding microarray (Q9-UPBM) experiment, we found that the OsREM3, OsTA1, and OsbHLH1 bound to the ACACCAC, CACGTG, and GTAACA motifs, respectively. In combination of Q9-UPBM, RiceArrayNet analysis, and expression microarray data, we identified 8, 20, and 9 putative target genes of OsREM3, OsTA1, and OsbHLH1, respectively. We have been screening and characterizing the mutations by extensive phenotypic analysis as well as the functional analysis of genes.

This study was conducted to affirm the potential of seed priming techniques for optimizing mechanized growing technologies to maintain production of sustainable small cereal crops. Seed priming conditions were preliminary tested in laboratory. Sorghum seeds were hydroprimed and osmoprimed comprising a total of 33 treatments of different priming combination along with control. Seed primed in aerated solution of distilled water, PEG8000 (-0.15 MPa and –0.3 MPa), KCl(1% and 2%), KH2PO4 (0.5% and 1.0%), KNO3 (1.0% and 3.0%), CaCl2 (1.0% and 3.0%) solutions for 6, 12, 24 hours at 15℃. Maximum seed germination percentage, germination rate and reduced mean germination times (MGT) were observed when the seeds primed by CaCl2 1.0% for 24 h, whereas the lowest germination percentage observed in seeds which treated with KNO3 3% solution. Priming improved the MGT, germination index, and germination rate of all primed seeds statistically comparing to control. The MGT reduced by increase of treatment time. Further studies for field performance of primed seeds are needed.

This study was conducted to affirm the potential of seed priming techniques for optimizing mechanized growing technologies to maintain production of sustainable small cereal crops. Seed priming conditions were preliminary tested in laboratory. Sorghum seeds were hydroprimed and osmoprimed comprising a total of 33 treatments of different priming combination along with control. Seed primed in aerated solution of distilled water, PEG8000 (-0.15 MPa and –0.3 MPa), KCl(1% and 2%), KH2PO4 (0.5% and 1.0%), KNO3 (1.0% and 3.0%), CaCl2 (1.0% and 3.0%) solutions for 6, 12, 24 hours at 15℃. Maximum seed germination percentage, germination rate and reduced mean germination times (MGT) were observed when the seeds primed by CaCl2 1.0% for 24 h, whereas the lowest germination percentage observed in seeds which treated with KNO3 3% solution. Priming improved the MGT, germination index, and germination rate of all primed seeds statistically comparing to control. The MGT reduced by increase of treatment time. Further studies for field performance of primed seeds are needed.

Seed weight (SW), often expressed as 100-seed weight (HSW), is an important yield component in soybean and has been found to show positive correlation with seed yield. It is shown to behave as a quantitative trait controlled by many loci that are largely unclear. In this study, we represent the identification of chromosomal regions controlling the seed weight in soybean. We used a Recombinant Inbred Line (RIL) population, consisting of 188 lines derived from a cross of a wild soybean PI483463 (HSW: 0.85g) and a cultivated soybean cultivar Hutcheson (HSW: 14.05g) to identify the chromosomal regions controlling the SW trait. The population, along with parental samples and check, William82 (HSW: 21.2g) was grown for four years and phenotype data was recorded postharvest. A total of 535 SNP and 16 SSR markers, polymorphic between the parents were employed to genotype the RILs using Golden gate assay to develop the linkage map. Whole genome QTL scanning identified a total of 17 QTLs, spanning 10 chromosomes for the 100-seed weight. All these QTLs explained phenotypic variation (PV) in the range of 3.77 to 12.33%. Of the 17 QTLs, 2 QTLs qSWA1-1 and qSWD2-1, found to be the consistent QTLs, expressing in all the four environments. The QTL qSWD2-1 explained highest contribution to the total PV with 10.04 -12.23 %. The remaining 15 QTLs were identified in at least one environment with PV ranging up to 10.39%. The findings from this study will provide useful information to understand the genetic and molecular basis of SW and facilitate further genomic research leading to the yield improvements in soybean.

The size of the global seed market and the volume of seed trading have rapidly increased in the 21st century where the total market size by 2012 was approximately 45 billion USD, of which 79% were field crops, 17% were vegetables and 4% were forage and turf. While the volume of the trade and the market as a whole expanded, the share of the market also changed as the top 9 largest seed companies controlled 62% of the market in 2012 as opposed to just 17% in 1996. As for the regional status of the market size, North America and Asia-Pacific regions had 69% of the total market worth in 2014. The changes in the seed market led to various adjustments in the seed trading regulations where the protective behaviors of major players affected the entire market. Asia Seed Co., Ltd. is a vegetable seed company founded in 1992 and is thriving each year in exporting new hybrid vegetable seeds to clients around the world. As a second mover to the saturated market that is dominated by a few companies with large shares, the company has set up four major strategies to compete in the global market. First and the most important strategy is to increase investment in R&D portion and strengthen it. In most types of businesses, investing in R&D is the key to success. Especially in the vegetable seed industry, the competitiveness of a company is decided by the variety of its seeds that result from the R&D department. The second strategy is the localization and incorporation of the company. Globally, vegetable crops vary while the domestic Korean varieties are not even known in other countries. To overcome this problem, it is important to open branches and subsidiaries to enter the market with local types of varieties that will appeal to customers and farmers. In relationship to R&D investment, Asia Seed Co., Ltd. has already set up a breeding system in India and keep expanding to other nations as well. The third strategy is to develop new materials for both the niche market and new possibilities. The last strategy is to have manpower training system that is required in all other industries. In order to assess the performance of our hybrid seeds, trained managers will need to travel and visit plots to acquire the results of trial and offer instructions when they are not satisfactory. Moreover, it is essential for collecting genetic materials from around the globe in order to develop better hybrids for the future of the company. Seed exporting, while difficult, can be a charming and lucrative business. With enthusiasm in dealing with challenges and opportunities, I will contribute more ideas and know-hows on how the company deals with those choices and possibilities.

Crop produce comes from seeds. It is important to have elite seeds for cultivation and harvesting. There are two major types of seeds in the seed market: F1 hybrid seeds and open-pollinated seeds (OP, traditionally pollinated). Farmers in developed countries plant F1 hybrid in most cases, while farmers in developing countries plant mainly OP. In fact, 60-70% of seeds planted in India and China are OP because OP is significantly cheaper. There are several reasons why the seed industry is important. First is for global food security. Based on the fact that the global population continues to increase steadily, additional productivity of 70% will be required to feed the global population by the year 2050. Second, seeds were traditionally used as food, both fresh and feed, but have now become materials for future industries of medicine, pharmaceutics, functional foods, energy, and may other applications. Third, new breeding programs based on biotechnology have changed the seed market dramatically. These programs are highly competitive and indeed play a major role, not only in the reduction of breeding time, the development of various genetic sources, the enhancement of purity and cost-saving, but also for the selection of value-added varieties. In Korea, F1 breeding began 65 years ago and the breeding programs for several vegetables and rice are in the top class worldwide. In addition, for the first time in 1999, a private seed company in Korea employed biotechnology for the purpose of crop breeding to develop platform technologies that could be utilized in the breeding practice. The major achievement so far is the development of DNA markers associated with resistance to disease, tolerance to the environment, and functional aspects. The application of genotyping has made many services possible, such as the purity control of F1 and inbred lines, variety verification, MAS (marker assisted selection), and MAB (marker assisted backcrossing). In addition, cell fusion and DH technologies have helped breeders to solve breeding limitations. There have been many cases of successful crop transformations, however, no GM varieties have been successfully commercialized in Korea. I bet this is inevitable, though. And it should be, because Korea imports lots of GM products, equivalent to $3 billion every year. More seed production and higher crop quality require new R&D strategies for breeding practices in the seed industry. Thanks to genomics information with big data and anti-GMO policies, new technologies are on the horizon, including genomic breeding, genome editing, in silico breeding and NBT (new plant breeding technology). I am going to talk more about the direction and strategy of R&D for crop breeding.

Abeliophyllum distichum is a monotypic taxon of Oleaceae and endemic to Korea. A comprehensive study on embryogeny and fruit and seed coat ontogeny in Abeliophyllum was carried out via microtome and light microscopy. The fertilization occurs during mid– to late April and embryo matures by early July. The embryo development follows the general fashion from globular embryo – transition embryo – heart shaped embryo – torpedo embryo – walking-stick embryo to mature embryo. The pericarp clearly differentiates into three histological zones: exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp. The young seed comprises 10-12 cells thick seed coat and the mature seed coat comprises an exotesta, 6-8 mesotesta and an endotesta. Any crystals, phenolic-like compounds, idioblasts, and the sclereids are not found in pericarp as well as seed coat. An overall development confirms Solanade type of embryogenesis in Abeliophyllum. The endocarp becomes more prominent in mature fruit

The present study was conducted to develop seed treatment for the production of healthy and clean peanut sprout. Dry heat treatment of peanut seeds reduced the incidence of the rot. The seed treatment condition at 52℃ for 10 h. was the most efficient without inhibiting seed viability significantly. Seeds were dark cultured at 27℃ for up to 9 days. The treatment of Indole-B and gibberellic acid influenced germination, T50, fresh, dry weight, hypocotyl length, hypocotyl length diameter, root length, number of lateral root and epicotyl of peanut sprout. There were no differences in the germinability of peanut seeds between gibberellic acid treatment methods but higher fresh weight was observed in the GA3 solution spray after 2 hour water soaking. The general growth and lateral root development of peanut sprouts were suppressed by Indole-B which is used for inhibiting root formation and promoting hypocotyls. The treatment of gibberellic acid promoted hypocotyl elongation, but it did not influence on the growth of hypocotyls and root system.