Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) is an annual forage crop widely cultivated across the globe for its excellent nutritional value and high productivity. Despite its importance, studies on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in its morphogenesis remain limited. In this study, we employed a high-yielding mutant line developed through radiation mutagenesis to identify candidate genes associated with morphogenesis, focusing on Expansins (EXPs), GRFs (Growth regulating factors), GIFs (GRF-interacting factors), and growth hormone-related genes. RT-qPCR primers were designed, and differential gene expression analysis was performed. Gene expression was assessed in the leaves of seedlings at one to three weeks of age, comparing the control cultivar 'Kowinearly' with the mutant line. Expression patterns fell into four distinct categories: (1) genes consistently exhibiting lower expression in the mutant line across all developmental stages; (2) genes showing persistently low expression in the mutant, while the control displayed a sharp increase at early stages followed by a decline; (3) genes with low expression in the control but a marked early-stage increase in the mutant; and (4) genes with decreasing expression over time in the mutant, contrasting with gradually increasing expression in the control. These expression profiles highlight Actin and GRF6 as Group 1 genes, AXR1 (Auxin-resistant protein 1) and EXPB6 (c) as Group 2 genes, PEVMPP1 (Pyrophosphate-energized vacuolar membrane proton pump 1) as a Group 3 gene, and EF1A (Elongation factor 1-alpha) as a Group 4 gene, all of which are key candidate genes for the development of high-yielding Italian ryegrass cultivars.

겨울과 같은 환경에서 곤충은 생존과 번성을 위해 생리학적, 생화학적 및 행동적 메커니즘을 이용하고 있다. 대부분의 곤충은 생리학적 적응가운데 급속내한성(Rapid cold hardiness, RCH) 유기를 통해 기온이 급격히 낮아 지는 외부 환경에 대해 빠르게 적응하고 저온조건에서 생존율을 높인다. 열대거세미나방의 경우 행동적 메커니 즘을 통해 따뜻한 곳을 찾아 장거리 비행을 하며, 생존에 유리한 환경으로 이동한다. 본 연구에서는 열대거세미나 방의 생리적 월동능력과 RCH 능력에 관해 조사하였다. 그 결과, RCH에 의해 혈중 글리세롤의 농도가 증가와 체내빙결점이 하강하는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한, RCH(-10℃, 1h)에 노출된 2령 유충기를 대상으로 4령과 5령 유충기에 단기저온(5℃, 30min)에 노출 시 글리세롤 생합성에 관여하는 유전자(glycerol kinase 1, 2)의 발현이 RCH에 노출되지 않은 대조구와 비교하여 빠르게 발현되었다. 이는, 열대거세미나방의 유전자 수준에서 저온에 대한 단기기억이 존재하는 것을 제시한다.

A new fumigant, carbonyl sulfide (COS), has potential for use as a replacement for methyl bromide, yet its mechanism of toxicity to insects remains poorly understood. In this study, transcriptome analysis was performed on Tribolium castaneum malpighian tubules and fat bodies, which are known to play an essential role in energy storage and utilization in insect species. In total, upon exposure to COS, 3,034 and 2,973 genes were differentially expressed in the T. castaneum malpighian tubules and fat body, respectively. These differentially expressed genes comprise a significant number of detoxification-related genes, including 105 P450s, 18 glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), 82 ABC transporters, 25 UDP-glucosyltransferases and 42 carboxylesterases and mitochondrial–related genes, including 9 complex Ⅰ genes, 2 complex Ⅱ genes, 1 complex Ⅲ gene, 9 complex IV genes, 8 complex V genes from both malpighian tubules and fat body tissues. Moreover, KEGG analysis demonstrated that the upregulated genes were enriched in xenobiotic metabolism by ABC transporters and drug metabolism by other enzymes. We also investigated the role of carbonic anhydrases (CAs) in toxicity of COS using dsRNA treatment in T. castaneum. These results show that CA genes have a key role in toxicity of the COS. Furthermore, the results of transcriptomic analysis provide new insights into the insecticidal mechanism of COS fumigation against T. castaneum and eventually contribute to the management of this important stored grain pests.

This study explored the changes in senescence patterns and vase life of cut roses grown in summer and autumn, aiming to identify the relationship between harvest seasons and flower longevity. We analyzed gene expression profiles associated with lignin, pectin, ethylene, auxin, and sucrose transport to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying senescence symptoms, such as the bent neck, petal abscission, and petal wilting in cut rose flowers. Our results revealed season-dependent occurrences of bent neck and petal abscission, with higher incidence rates in autumn-harvested rose flowers. These increases in bent neck and petal abscission contributed to a shortened vase life for the cut flowers. Gene expression analysis indicated that elevated levels of ethylene biosynthesis genes and reduced expression of lignin, pectin biosynthesis, auxin response factor, and sucrose transport genes accelerated the increased senescence symptoms. Notably, the incidence rates of the bent neck were highly negatively correlated with the transcript levels of key genes involved in lignin and pectin biosynthesis, RhPRXPX and RhGAUT1, in pedicels. These findings contribute to our understanding of the molecular factors influencing the mechanical strength of flower pedicels and provide insights for postharvest strategies to enhance the ornamental value of cut flowers across seasons.

The honey bee, Apis mellifera, has a defense system, including detoxification, antioxidation, and immunity pathways, against external stimulation such as chemicals, stress, and pathogens. However, pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids and butenolids, have been recently reported to alter physiological changes in honey bee. In this study, we investigated the expression levels of eight genes categorized into detoxification (CYPQ3), antioxidation (CAT and SOD2), and immune system (Abaecin, Apidaecin, Defensin1, Defensin2, and Hymenoptaecin), in five tissues (Head, Thorax, Gut, Fat body, and Carcass) of honey bee treated with three pesticides (Acetamiprid, Imidacloprid, and Flupyradifurone) using quantitative real-time PCR. Gene expression patterns was varied depending on the type of pesticides and tissues. However, among eight genes, the expression levels of CYPQ3 was notably induced, but those of AMPs were generally reduced by all pesticides tested in this study in five tissues. These suggest that CYPQ3-mediated detoxification pathway is induced, but AMP-mediated immune system might be disrupted when honey bee is exposed to neonicotinoids and butenolid.

The adult of honey bee, Apis mellifera, performs an age-dependent division of labor with nurse bees and foragers. Foragers fly outside the hive to collect pollen and nectar, while nurses feed and care for the larvae and queen inside the hive. Foragers are considered to be frequently exposed to agrochemicals, although nurses, stayed inside the hive, are potentially exposed to pesticides through application of miticides and pesticidecontaminated food provided by forager. Therefore, physiological effects of pesticides to nurses should be elucidated to understand the adverse effects of the chemicals on entire honey bee colony. In this study, we investigated the expression changes of the genes associated with labor division (task genes) and the nursing behavior of nurse bees fed four pesticides: acetamiprid (ACE), carbaryl (CB), imidacloprid (IMI), and fenitrothion (FEN). When nurses were exposed to ACE, IMI, and FEN, expression levels of task genes were up- and down-regulated, and their nursing behaviors were also suppressed and enhanced, respectively. CB did not alter the gene expression levels, however increased nursing behavior. These suggest the potential of pesticide that breaks the balance of labor distribution in honey bee colony.

This study aimed to verify the whitening effect of Cordyceps militaris, which is distributed in several countries worldwide, including Korea, Japan, and China, and has various medical effects. To screen the efficacy of C. militaris, the inhibitory activity of tyrosinase, which was 66% at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, was measured. Thereafter, the survival rate of melanoma cells was measured, and cell experiments were conducted at a concentration of 90% or more in which C. militaris was not toxic to cells. After measuring the inhibitory effect of TRP-1, TRP-2, tyrosinase protein, and mRNA expression, which are factors influencing melanin synthesis, C. militaris was found to decrease in all factors, with an expression level that was significantly lower compared to quercetin. This confirmed that C. militaris stimulated with LED has excellent whitening activity and can be used as a functional whitening cosmetics material.