Poisonous mushrooms have attracted much attention of scientists because of the unique chemical structures and the remarkable biological properties of their toxic components. A wide range of compounds has been characterized as toxic principles, and some of them have widened the horizons of chemical and biological research. Therefore, poisonous mushrooms can serve for a resource of biomedical application. We will describe the recent progress of such aspect of poisonous mushrooms.

A method for rapid propagation of mature Jack fruit was developed. Four types of explants (mature embryos, apical meristems of young seedlings, apices from mature plants and nodal segments) were used. It has been found 88% of young apical meristems produced shoots in Campbell and Durzan (CD) medium compared to 60% in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. Only 1/3 of them produced multiple shoots. Shoot initiation from nodal segments was very rare. Mature apices produced callus. Although removal of the sheathing cover around mature buds enhanced the shoot initiation but success rate was low in growth regulator free medium. Embryos respond to the CD medium but not to the MS medium. Embryos from seeds soaked in water for 24 hours produced shoots after 8 weeks of incubation and the success rate was 70% while embryos from dry seeds only produced roots. There was no significant effect of cold storage (refrigeration) for 7 days on shoot initiation from mature embryos (65%) but the ability for shoot induction declines with storage time (55% after 21 days of cold storage). Mature axillary buds were established in Modified Campbell and Durzan (CD) medium supplemented with 0.5mg/1 and IBA. There was a significant difference in the growth performance of shoots according to the period of the year in which explants were collected. Highest (60%) was observed in November-January period. It was only 30% when the explants were collected in February-April or May-July and decreased to 20% in August-October. The shoots produced in November-January showed a higher vigor than those produced in other months. Since Jak fruit show seasonal changes in fruit bearing and shedding of leaves, it can be suggested that the difference in growth performances of tissues cultured in artificial culture media would have been affected by endogenous rhythms.

The aim of the present study isto assess the importance of siderophore producing rhizosphere bacteria on the growth of Brassica junceaunder chromium stress. Pseudomonassp. (A4) produced an iron chelating substance siderophores in iron deficient medium. Under chromium stress condition Pseudomonassp. (A4) markedly increased the root and shoot length and also biomass of Brassica juncea as compared to Pseudomonas sp. (A3). This plant growth promotion has been related to the microbial production of siderophore.

Enzymes involved in catecholamine synthesis are present in the highest concentration in the adrenal medulla, however they were found also in other, mainly nervous tissues. Increased transcription of genes for catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes is an important mechanism to increase the capacity for epineprine/norepinephrine biosynthesis with stress. Gastrodia elata(Chinese name: Tienma), are very important Chinese herbal medicines used for the medical treatment of headaches, migraine, dizziness, epilepsy, rheumatism, neuralgia, paralysis and other neuralgic and nervous disorders. Immobilize stressed rat markedly increased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA and dopamine-${\beta}$-hydroxylase (DBH) mRNA transcriptior level more than control group. But treated Gastrodia elata extracts in immobilized stressed rat slightly increased TH mRNA and DBH mRNA transcription level more than normal group. In addition, we are obtained identical results in PC12 cell line. Decrease of transcription level of TH mRNA and DBH mRNA is indicating that Gastrodia elata have a anti-stress effects which decrease the transcription level of TH and DBH mRNA on catecholamine biosynthesis pathway.

The Xylariaceae Tul. & C. Tul is a family of sphaeriaceous genera with obscure but apparently common ancestry (Rogers, 1979), A central core of genera - Xylaria, Hypoxylon, Rosellinia, Poronia, Podosordaria, Hypocopra, Daldinia, Biscogniauxia, Kretzschmaria, Camillea, Penzigia - are obviously related, regardless of the fact that the generic limits are arguable (Rogers, 1979; Barr, 1990; Eriksson & Hawksworth, 1991; Laessoe, 1994). In general, the family Xylariaceae is primarily defined as a group of stromatic pyrenomycetes with unitunicate asci characterized by a typical apical apparatus and pigmented ascospores having a germ slit (Rogers, 1979). Since Winter (1887) circumscribed the family to include Pyrenomycetes with predominately a dark stroma, dark unveiled spores containing 5 genera: Nummularia Tul. & C. Tul., Hypoxylon Bull., Ustulina Tul. & C.Tul., Poronia Willd. and XylariaHill ex Schrank, many more genera has been added to the family (Dennis, 1961; Eriksson & Hawksworth, 1993; Whalley, 1996). In the absence of a clear circumscription of the family (Rogers, 1994) the agreed number of accepted genera is governed by individual views and there are therefore difference between the proposals for the ascomycetes recognized 35 genera and indicated a further 3 which might belong there. Laessoe reviewed the family and included 37 genera but a few of these were listed as uncertain (Laessoe, 1994). In the most recent accounts Whalley (1996) listed 41 genera but again a number of these were considered uncertain and Ju and Rogers (1996) accepted 39 genera in their interpretation of the family. Since Laessoe (1994) merged Daldinia and Versiomyces with Hypoxylonand Ju and Rogers (1996) combined Astrocystis with Rosellinia and Helicogermslita, which can be argued strongly against, it is likely that a realistic number of genera will be close to 40 (Whalley, 1996; Table 1).

Isolation and culture of leaf protoplasts from two chilli cultivars (Capsicum annuum var. accumnatum and Bird chilli) were developed to enhance selection process in the somatic hybridization programmes. In order to isolate the protoplasts from leaves of these two chilli cultivars different incubation periods (3, 5 and 10 hours) were tested with combinations of enzyme mixtures containing cellulase and macerozyme. Leaves were incubated on three enzyme mixtures (2% cellulase +0.4% macerozyme, 1% cellulase +0.2% macerozyme and 0.5% cellulase +0.1% macerozyme in 13% mannitol) at 251oC in the dark. Three hours of incubation using 2% cellulase and 0.4% macerozyme was the best for the protoplast isolation of both chilli cultivars tested. The yield was 5${\times}$108protoplasts/m1/g leaf tissue in both chilli varieties. It was found that in the mixed nurse method using Nagata and Takebe (NT) medium supplemented with 1.0mg/12,4-D, NAA and BAP with 0.5M mannitol and 1.2% Sea Plaque agarose is the best medium for protoplast culture. Protoplasts of Capsicum annum var. accumnatum were alive for 14 days forming cell walls and initiating cell division.

An efficient plant regeneration system was developed for Hordeum vulgare L. cv Baegdong - an important Korean cultivar. The protocol was based on a series of experiments involving the sizes of mature embryos and the culture media. The embryo size is found to be critical for the establishment of embryogenic callus. Embryos of 1.1-1.5 mm size showed a much higher ability to produce embryogenic callus capable of regenerating green plants. The auxins picloram and dicamba proved effective in inducing callus from mature embryos. 2.5 mg $I^{-1}$ dicamba and 4.0 mg $I^{-1}$ picloram in Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium was optimum for the induction of primary callus. The induced primary callus was loose and friable which ultimately developed into creamy white and compact callus after transferring into the fresh medium. Multiple shoots were induced in the MS medium supplemented with 6.0 g $I^{-1}$ maltose, 20 mg $I^{-1}$ sorbitol, 0.5 mg $I^{-1}$ 2,4-D and 1.0 mg $I^{-1}$ kinetin and the rate was 6.5 shoots per embryo. Regenerated plants were hardy and developed roots rapidly in the medium containing 0.2 $I^{-1}$ IBA. This efficient plant regeneration system provides a foundation for generating transgenic plants of this important barley cultivar.

Most of leaf teas, except flower tea, were considered as good materials with basic conditions for tea manufacture because water content was below 6 %, Crude protein was the greatest component in roasted young leaf tea, crude fats in roasted mature leaf tea and ashes in fermented young leaf tea. Caffein were present as the highest amount(5.18%) in steamed mature leaf tea, showing less amount than greenp teas. Catechin were contained as the highest amount in all kinds of teas, especially fermented young leaf tea. was the highest(9.57%). Tannin, which highly related with tea quality including astringent taste, color and perfume, were present as the highest amount in fermented young leaf tea.(중략)

Before making of tea, the number of leaf, plant height and node length in young shoot were 5.2, 14.9cm and 1,9cm respectively. These contents caused problems in leaf rolling and uniformity. No significant difference in quality and comoposition of roasted and steamed were observed, external shape and internal quality, however, were good from 1st to 3rd leaf. Chemical nutrition consists of leaf position, Total nitrogen content of terminal leaf was 4.88%, total free amino acid 21.12%, and caffein 3%. Vitamin C content was increased with increasing of leaf age. Making of roasted tea was required long time because camellia leaf was very hard and smoothly. Products had lower water color, perfume and taste. Internal quality of steamed tea was good in water color and taste. The contents of total nitrogen, total free amino acid, catechin, caffeine and vitamin C were 4.24%, 1.01, 17.7%, 2.6% and 75.7mg/ml.(중략)

In order to examine the possibility that oil seed rape could be used as a forage fodder crop and to select the most suitable variety of forage rape at the southern area of Korea, two varieties of oil seed rape currently grown for oil production and six introduced varieties of forage rape with relatively high yield and high nutritional value were grown at the same condition and yield components were observed. Forage rape was superior to oil seed rape in terms of yield components, plant fresh weight and plant dry mater weight. Velox was superior to any other variety of forage rape in these characters. When plant dry matter weight of the rape was subdivided into four components such as a main stem, branch stems, main stem leaves and branch leaves, contribution of these components to plant dry matter weight was in the order of branch stems, branch leaves, the main stem and main stem leaves. Dry matter percentage of the rape ranged from 9.32 to 11.08 percent, which was somewhat low value. There was no significant difference between two groups of the rape in terms of dry matter percentage. Velox showed somewhat higher value in dry matter percentage.

Multiple regression equations (Rehman et al. 2000) have been developed to predict the salinity tolerance of Acacia seeds, expressed as the I$\sub$50/ (the concentration of NaCl required to reduce final germination to 50% of the control value in DW). Accurate predictions can be made using one or more chemical and biological seed parameters. In this study the theoretical effect of varying final germination percentage in distilled water, germination rate in distilled water. (Rate), Ca$\^$2+/ or K$\^$+/ contents and their ratios, as independent factors or related factors, on the predicted salinity tolerance (I$\sub$50/) of Acacia species was investigated. Simulation of the effects of changing final germination, rate, calcium and potassium suggest the possibility of practical application of these results to modify the salinity tolerance of seeds. The predicted I$\sub$50/ increased with increasing final germination. Similarly, the higher the rate of germination, the higher the predicted salt tolerance of Acacia species. The Ca$\^$2+/ content of seeds was found to be positively correlated with I$\sub$50/. Species with higher Ca$\^$2+/ contents had a higher I$\sub$50/. This suggests that I$\sub$50/ might be increased by increasing the Ca$\^$2+/ contents of seeds by pretreatment with calcium salts or by supplying these to the mother plants.

Leaves from natural populations of Artemisia princeps var. orientalis in Suncheon of South Korea were examined for antimicrobial and antioxidative activities monthly (April through October). The antimicrobial activity of the ethyl acetate and water fractions of crude methanol extract from the plant collected monthly against three gram-positive, two gram-negative and one lactic acid bacteria were studied. The ethyl acetate and water fractions of crude methanol extract from A. princeps var. orientalis collected in August and September had the highest antimicrobial activity. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for each strain by ethyl acetate fraction of methanol extract from A. princeps var. orientalis was different depending on strains and sampling months. MIC for each strain was the highest in the sample of April, followed by October. In specific, MIC for Bacillus cereus was around 0.25mg/disc in the sample of April. The MIC for Staphyllococcus aureus was 0.01mg/disc in the sample of July, August, and September. It was the lowest value among tested strains and samples. And the antimicrobial activity for Lactobacillus plantarum was not found at any concentrations and sampling months. The in vitro antioxidative activities of methanol extract from Artemisia princeps var. orientalis collected monthly were determined by the scavenging of DPPH radical and inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity. The DPPH scavenging activity of the extracts from the plant sampled in May, June and July were higher than any other months. The xanthine oxidase activity of the extract of A. princeps var. orientalis collected in April and May showed the greatest activity, it is different with antimicrobial activity.

The aim of the present study was to assess the importance of siderophore producing rhizobacteria on the growth of Brassica juncea under chromium stress. Pseudomonas sp. (A4) produced an iron chelating substance siderophores in iron deficient medium. Under chromium stress condition Pseudomonassp. (A4) markedly increased the root and shoot length and also biomass of Brassica juncea as compared to Pseudomonas sp. (A3). This plantgrowth promotion has been related to the microbial production of siderophore.

An important function of pollen aperture is believed to be regulating the water balance of the pollen when subjected to changes in humidity (Shukla, et al. 1998). It has been reported that mature barley pollen rapidly swells upon hydration and pollen tube emerges in a few minutes of germination (Anthony and Harlan, 1920). Although, there could be other factors responsible for rapid hydration of pollen. However, K is widely known for its rapid action as an osmotic regulator (Heslop-Harrison and Heslop-Harrison, 1996). In the present study, changes in K distrbution were traced during different stages of pollen maturation in barley. The existence of K at the aperture area of matured pollen may possibly play other import physiological roles. For example, K is reported to be an essential constituent of pollen germination and even required in higher concentration for pollen tube growth(Fan et al., 2001). These results suggest that there could be a possible relationship between K, located at the aperture area and rapid uptake of water by pollen.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been shown to suppress phytopthora blight. This suppression has been related to both microbial antagonism and induced resistance. The PGPR isolates were screened by dual culture plate method and most of the isolates were showed varyinglevels of antagonism. Among the PGPR isolates pyoverdin, pyochelin and salicylic acid producing strains showed the maximum inhibition of mycelial growth of Phytophthora capsici and increased plant growth promotion in red pepper. PGPR isolatesfurther analysed for its ability to induce production of defence related enzymes and chemicals. The activities such as Phenyle alanin ammonia lyase (PAL), Peroxidase (PO), Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and accumulation of phenolics were observed in PGPR pretreated red pepper plants challenged with Phytophthora capsici. The present study shows that an addition of direct antagonism and plant growth promotion, induction of defense related enzymes involved to enhance resistance against invasion of P. capsici in red pepper.

This project was conducted to development several camellia tea mixed herb teas having any physiological effects. Leaves of tea tree contain many compounds, such as polysaccharides, volatile oils, vitamins, minerals, purines, alkaloids(eg. caffeine) and polyphenols(catechins and flavonoids). Although all three tea types(green, oolonr and black) have antibacterial and free radical capturing(antioxidizing) activities, the efficacy decreases substantially the darker the variety of tea is. This is due to lower contents of anti-oxidizing polyphenols remaining in the leaves. Unlike tea tree(Camellia sinensis), the biochemical features and effects of camellia(Camellia japonica) are not well known. Fresh mature leaf of sasanqua camellia(C. sasanqua), roasted young leaf tea(C. japonica) and fresh mature leaf and bark of camellia had high antibacterial activity against P. vulgaris and B. subtilis. In antifungal activity bioassay, young leaf roasted teas of camellia and sasanqua camellia had high activity against C. albicans and T. beigelil. Plant extracts from Camelia japonica had higher inhibitory activity against fungi than against bacteria. In cytotoxic effect against human acute myelogenous leukaemia cell extracts including fresh leaf(200$\mu\textrm{g}$/m1), bark(230$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) and flower tea (320$\mu\textrm{g}$/m1)inhibited growth of AML cells.(중략)

우리나라 남부도서지역인 진도지방에서 울금 다수확의 기초 자료를 얻고자 차광재배를 실시한 결과는 다음과 같다. 진도지역에서 울금을 4월 20일 정식할 경우 4주 지난 후에 출현되고, 출현율은 83~88%이었다. 초장은 129cm~147cm 이였고, 차광의 정도가 높을수록 초장이 커지는 경향이었다. 엽장은 47.5cm~49.4cm로 차광 30~60%에서 약간 양호하였다. 또한 엽폭은 16.9~17.9cm로 차광이 높을수록 짧아지는 경향이었으나 유의성은 인정되지 않았다. 울금의 1주 근경중는 941~993g로 비대가 잘 되었고, 10a당 3,980~4,200kg을 생산 할 수 있었으며, 15%와 30% 차광이 수량이 약간 증수되었으나 45%이상의 차광에서는 오히려 감소되는 경향으로 차광의 효과는 인정되지 않았다. 이러한 결과로 보아 울금을 재배할 경우 15%차광에서 생육이 가장 양호한 것으로 나타나고, 근경수량이 약간 증수되나 경제성으로 고려하여 재배하여야 할 것으로 생각된다.

The plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), Pseudomonas sp. (A3) and Bacillus sp. (AT33) were isolated from the rhizosphere of Amaranthus blitum collected from soil contaminated with chromium. Bothbacterial strains quantitatively reduced hexavalent chromium to trivalent chromium. Pseudomonas sp. broughter greater conversion of Cr6+ in the medium (100%) as compared to Bacillus sp.(62%). Phaseolus mungo seeds inoculated with Pseudomonas sp. or Bacillus sp. were grown under different concentration of chromium. The monitoredparameters included elongation of shoot and root, fresh weight, dry weight and concentration of chromium in the shoot and root systems. As compared to non inoculated seedlings those inoculated with A3 and AT33 exhibited better growth.

큰눈물버섯(Psathyrella velutina)의 균사생장 실험을 감자배지, 고구마배지, 대두박 배지를 이용하여 펠릿형성 상태를 관찰한 결과는 다음과 같다. 감자배지에서 펠릿의 수가 가장 뛰어났으며 밀도 역시 1.3g/$\ell$로 가장 높게 나타났다. 고구마 배지에서의 펠릿의 수가 가장 저조했으며 밀도 또한 0.3g/$\ell$로 가장 낮게 나타났다. 대두박 배지에서 펠릿의 수는 비교적 양호한 상태를 보였고, 그 밀도는 0.9g/$\ell$ 이었다. 공중균사의 굵기는 세 액체배지에서 5mm로 비슷한 결과를 보였지만, 고구마 배지의 공중균사는 색깔의 변색을 보여 이산화탄소가 과다 발생했음을 알 수 있었다. 큰눈물버섯의 균사생장은 감자로 만든 액체배지에서 가장 좋은 발육상태를 보였다.