• Title/Summary/Keyword: 농도분포특성

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Effects of Feeding Period of Organic Selenuim Supplementation on Meat Quality of Hanwoo Steers (유기 셀레늄 강화 버섯 폐배지 급여기간이 쇠고기육질에 미치는 영향)

  • Park Beom-Young;Kim Jin-Hyoung;Hwang In-Ho;Hah Kyung-Hee;Lee Seong-Hun;Cho Soo-Hyun;Kim Dong-Hun;Lee Jong-Moon;Kim Wan-Young
    • Food Science of Animal Resources
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.430-435
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    • 2005
  • Current study was conducted to investigate the effect of organic selenium supplementation originated from mushroom culture medium on meat quality of Hanwoo sleets. The result showed that organic selenium supplementation of 0.9 ppm (DM based ratio) for 2 (T1), 4 (T2) and 6 (T3) months had no effect on moisture content in longissimus muscle, with 63 to $66\%$ compared to non-supplemented control group Similarly, intramuscular fat content ranged from 11.7 to $16.4\%$ did not differ between the treatment groups (p>0.05). T3 group showed the highest protein content with $20.8\%$ while T2 group had the lowest content with $19.2\%$ The data indicated that organic selenium supplementation to the experimental concentration had indictable effect on proximate composition The treatments similarly had no influence on physical and biological characteristics of longissimus muscle, where cooking loss and shear force ranged from 20 to $21\%$ and from 3.6 to 4.4kg, respectively. On the other hand, muscle pH at 24 h postmortem showed 5.52, 5.57, 5.50, 5.50 for control, T1, T2 and T3, respectively, indicating that the longer feeding period resulted in the lower ultimate un A similar trend was observed from water-holding capacity (63.8, 64.4 and $64.2\%$ for T1, T2 and T3, respectively) which was significantly higher than con01 group of $59.5\%$ For sensory evaluation, juiciness did not differ between the treatment groups, but n and n (5.30 and 5.28, respectively) showed significantly tender mat Particularly, T2 group received significantly higher flavor score among the treatment groups including controls. The data indicated that organic selenium supplementation to the experimental concentration had no effect on beef quality, but the treatment effect on anti-oxidation function is remained for further studies.

Comparison of Growth Characteristics and Compounds of Ginseng Cultivated by Paddy and Upland Cultivation (논 . 밭재배에 따른 인삼의 생육 및 성분 특성 비교)

  • Lee, Sung-Woo;Kang, Seung-Won;Kim, Do-Yong;Seong, Nak-Sul;Park, Hee-Woon
    • Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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    • v.12 no.1
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    • pp.10-16
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    • 2004
  • This study was carried out to investigate the difference of growth characteristics and the content of root chemical components in four years old ginseng by paddy and upland cultivation at farmers' field in Korea. Proportions of silt, clay, liquid phase and porosity were higher in paddy soil than upland soil. The range of liquid phase was $17.5{\sim}19.5%$ in paddy and $7.0{\sim}12.8%$ in upland during growth period. EC and the other contents of OM, $NO_3^-,\;K_2O$, and Mg in paddy soil were higher than those of upland soil, while the contents of $P_2O_5$ and Ca were less than those of upland soil. The levels of chemical components of tested soil exceeded recommended range in EC, $NO_3^-$ and Ca of paddy soil, and in $P_2O_5$ and Ca of upland soil. Stem length, fresh root weight and total dry weight per plant in paddy were greater than those of upland. Root weight in paddy-ginseng showed a great increase on September, while it was not increased in upland because of early defoliation. Net assimilation rate and crop growth rate by paddy and upland cultivation showed distinct differences on May and September, and those of paddy-ginseng were higher than those of upland-ginseng. Yield and ratio of red-colored root showed no significant difference by paddy and upland cultivation, while significant differences were observed in diameter and length of primary root, contents of crude saponin and 50% ethanol extracts of primary root, and water content of root. Hardness of primary root showed no significant difference by paddy and upland cultivation until August, but it showed distinct difference on September, at which the hardness in upland cultivation was drastically decreased.

Nutrient Composition and Heavy Metal Contents of Matured Livestock Liquid Fertilizer in Korea (국내 가축분뇨 부숙액비의 비료성분 및 중금속 함량 분포특성)

  • Kang, Tak-Won;Halder, Joshua Nizel;Kim, Soo-Ryang;Yoon, Young-Man;Lee, Myung-Gyu
    • Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.31-39
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    • 2017
  • From July to August 2013, liquid fertilizers produced at 180 liquid manure public resource centers and liquid fertilizer distribution centers were collected. The maturity of liquid fertilizers was measured using the mechanical maturity measurement device. The nutrient contents (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), physicochemical properties, and heavy metal content of 46 liquid fertilizers were investigated in this study. We used a matured liquid fertilizer with a total number of 46, with number of 7 for Gyeonggi-do, 3 for Chungcheongbuk-do, 2 for Chungcheongnam-do, 13 for Jeollabuk-do, 5 for Jeollanam-do, 3 for Gyeongsangbuk-do, 11 for Gyeongsangnam-do, 1 for Daejeon, and 1 for Jeju-do. The physicochemical properties were as follows: pH 8.0, EC 11.6 mS/cm, SS 5,188 mg/L, TKN 847mg/L, ${{NH_4}^+}-N$ 317 mg/L, ${{NO_3}^-}-N$ 170 mg/L, Org-N 360 mg/L, TP 193 mg/L, and TK 2,557 mg/L. The total amount of NPK was 3,596 mg/L. The total amount of N-P-K was as follows: a number of 2 at 1,000-2,000 mg/L (4%), a number of 17 at 2,000-3,000mg/L (37%), a number of 11 at 3,000-4,000mg/L (24%), and a number of 16 at 4,000mg/L or more (35%). Thus, 41% of the mature liquid fertilizers were below the official standard of commercial fertilizer (livestock manure liquid fertilizer) (0.3% of the total amount of N-P-K). Most of the N-P-K total amount showed non-uniform characteristics of low nitrogen and low phosphoric acid due to the potassium concentration. The average heavy metal content in the matured liquid fertilizer was as follows: As, not detected; Cd, 0.01 mg/kg; Hg, not detected; Pb, 0.02 mg/kg; Cr, 0.14 mg/kg; Cu, 6.89 mg/kg; Ni, 0.44 mg/kg; and Zn, 20.70 mg/kg. Thus, the official standard of commercial fertilizer was satisfied in all categories, indicating a safe level.

The Influences of Coastal Upwelling on Phytoplankton Community in the Southern Part of East Sea, Korea (동해 남부 연안 해역에서 냉수대 발생이 식물플랑크톤 군집에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, A-Ram;Youn, Seok-Hyun;Chung, Mi-Hee;Yoon, Sang-Chol;Moon, Chang-Ho
    • The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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    • v.19 no.4
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    • pp.287-301
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    • 2014
  • In order to understand environment condition and phytoplankton community before and after coastal upwelling, the influences of upwelling events on phytoplankton community were studied at 18 stations located the Southern part of East Sea, Korea from May to August 2013. The surface water masses showed low temperature and high salinity due to upwelling events at coastal stations (A1, B1, C1). Correlation between temperature and nutrients (DIP, r=-0.218, p<0.01; DIN, r=-0.306, p<0.01; silicate, r=-0.274, p<0.01) was significantly negative. This result could be explained that nutrients were supplied to surface water by the upwelling of bottom water. Phytoplankton communities were composed of 186 species. Phytoplankton abundance were relatively high in May (C1, $726{\times}10^3cells\;L^{-1}$) and July (A1, $539{\times}10^3cells\;L^{-1}$). Total chlorophyll a and micro-size fraction ($&gt;20{\mu}m$) increased at coastal stations in July and August, while phytoplankton abundance and total chl. a was much low in June. Dominant species in June was Pseudo-nitzschia spp. of which the cell size was $309{\mu}m^3$. Cell size of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. was smaller than dominant species in other period. Therefore, the increase in total chloro-phyll a and the size of phytoplankton was resulted in the sufficient supply of nutrients. In contrast, these tendencies were not observed at outside stations. These results suggested that coastal upwelling was an important influencing factor to determine the species composition and standing stock of phytoplankton community in the coastal waters of the Southern part of East Sea, Korea.

Response of Structural, Biochemical, and Physiological Vegetation Indices Measured from Field-Spectrometer and Multi-Spectral Camera Under Crop Stress Caused by Herbicide (마늘의 제초제 약해에 대한 구조적, 생화학적, 생리적 계열 식생지수 반응: 지상분광계 및 다중분광카메라를 활용하여)

  • Ryu, Jae-Hyun;Moon, Hyun-Dong;Cho, Jaeil;Lee, Kyung-do;Ahn, Ho-yong;So, Kyu-ho;Na, Sang-il
    • Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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    • v.37 no.6_1
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    • pp.1559-1572
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    • 2021
  • The response of vegetation under the crop stress condition was evaluated using structural, biochemical, and physiological vegetation indices based on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images and field-spectrometer data. A high concentration of herbicide was sprayed at the different growth stages of garlic to process crop stress, the above ground dry matter of garlic at experimental area (EA) decreased about 46.2~84.5% compared to that at control area. The structural vegetation indices clearly responded to these crop damages. Spectral reflectance at near-infrared wavelength consistently decreased at EA. Most biochemical vegetation indices reflected the crop stress conditions, but the meaning of physiological vegetation indices is not clear due to the effect of vinyl mulching. The difference of the decreasing ratio of vegetation indices after the herbicide spray was 2.3% averagely in the case of structural vegetation indices and 1.3~4.1% in the case of normalization-based vegetation indices. These results meant that appropriate vegetation indices should be utilized depending on the types of crop stress and the cultivation environment and the normalization-based vegetation indices measured from the different spatial scale has the minimized difference.

A Study on the Environmental Characteristics of Water Quality and Sediments in Suncheon Bay (순천만 수저질 환경특성에 관한 연구)

  • Park, Sangsook;Heo, Sung-sil;Choi, Jeong-min;Woo, Sung-won
    • Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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    • 2019.10a
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    • pp.9-10
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    • 2019
  • 순천만은 순천시의 남쪽에 위치하여 여수반도와 고흥반도의 사이에 있는 만 지형 형태로 만 전체를 순천만이라고도 하나, 보통 고흥군반도와 여수반도 사이의 만을 여자만이라 하고 만내부에 위치한 여자도라는 섬의 위쪽으로 순천시의 해안하구에 형성된 지역을 순천만이라 일컫는다. 순천만은 순천시에서 유입되는 동천과 이사천 및 해룡천의 하류에 형성되어 있어서 육지부에서 유입되는 퇴적물과 유기물로 인하여 갯벌과 갈대등이 잘 형성된 습지로서 2003년 12월 31일 해양수산부 갯벌 습지보존지역으로 지정되어 관리되고 있으며, 2004년에는 동북아 두루미 보호 국제네트워크에 가입하였고, 2006년 1월 국내 연안습지로는 최초로 람사르협약에 "Suncheon Bay"로 등록되었으며, 2016년 6월에는 람사르습지로 지정된 국내외적으로 중요한 습지이다. 순천만습지에 형성되어 있는 갯벌($28.0km^2$)은 세계 5대 연안습지 중 하나로서, 넓은 사니질 갯벌과 갈대군락이 잘 발달되어 있는 생태계의 보고(寶庫)이자 소중한 생태자원으로서, 순천시에서는 순천만을 자연생태공원으로 지정하여 보호 관리하고 있으며, 각종 자연학습자료들과 영상물들을 갖춘 생태전시관과 갈대숲 탐방로, 용산전망대, 야생화 정원, 담수습지, 갈대정자, 갯벌관찰대 등 사계절 생태체험을 위한 각종 시설들을 잘 갖춰놓고 많은 관광객의 이용할 수 있도록 하고 있다. 갯벌은 바닷가의 넓은 벌판이란 뜻으로서 삼면이 바다인 우리나라는 갯벌의 전체 면적이 약 $2,500km^2$에 달하는데 여기에는 많은 종류의 다양한 생물들이 살아가고 있으며 어민들의 생계에 지대한 영향을 주고있다. 이러한 갯벌은 퇴적된 입자의 구성에 따라 펄갯벌, 모래갯벌, 혼합갯벌 등으로 구별되는데 이에 따라 갯벌 생태계를 구성하고 있는 생물들의 종류도 바뀌게 된다. 순천만갯벌과 여기에 조성되어 있는 습지환경에 따라 확인되고 있는 수산자원으로는 새꼬막, 꼬막, 눈알고둥, 갯고둥, 비툴이고둥, 돌조개, 접시조개, 새알조개, 가무락조개, 바지락, 우럭, 가재붙이, 방게, 칠게, 농게 등의 저서 생물들과 짱뚱어, 문절망둑 등의 어류가 있으며, 해조류로 우뭇가사리 등이 있고, 인근의 어민들의 어업형태는 꼬막 등 패류의 채취나 종패를 뿌려 일정기간 양성하여 수확하는 양식업, 육상부에서 폐염전 등을 활용한 전어나 새우 등을 양식하는 양식업, 수산물을 직접 손이나 간단한 도구를 이용하여 잡는 맨손 어업 형태가 주를 이루고 있는 것으로 나타나고 있다. 이와 같이 국내외적으로 중요할 뿐만 아니라 인근의 어민들의 생계에도 지대한 영향을 미치고 있는 순천만의 습지는 뻘층이 깊고, 분해성 미생물이 다양하게 서식하여 유기물 분해능력이 뛰어나며, 유기영양분이 풍부하여 우리나라에서 가장 질이 좋은 습지로 평가되고 있으나, 순천시 등 순천만 인근에 거주하고 있는 인간의 활동에 따른 간섭에 많은 영향을 받고 있으며, 이에 따라 끊임없는 생태환경이 변화하고 있어서 순천만의 효율적인 보전 및 지속가능한 이용을 위해서는 생태계에서 가장 기본적인 요소인 수 저질 환경의 지속적이고 체계적인 조사 및 관리가 필요하다. 한편, 오염물질의 70% 이상은 하천이나 강을 통해서 해역으로 유입된다고 알려져 있기 때문에 생태계의 보고(寶庫)라고 알려진 순천만의 지속적인 보존 및 관리를 위해서는 유입수계 하천의 수질현황 및 오염물질의 주요 배출원을 파악하고, 이에 대한 저감대책을 수립할 필요가 있다. 따라서 본 연구는 순천만의 수저질 특성과 여기에 유입되는 하천의 수질환경 현황 및 오염원을 파악함으로써 순천만의 보전을 위한 효율적 관리방안을 제시하는 것을 목적으로 수행되었다. 연구의 결과에 따르면, 순천만의 수질평가지수에 의한 등급(WQI)은 III등급으로 나타나고 있으며, 득량만, 광양만 등에 비해 비교적 높은 유기물 및 T-N, T-P의 농도 분포를 보이고 있는 것으로 조사되었다. 이는 순천만에 유입되는 하수종말처리장의 방류수와 도시하수가 유입되어 그대로 방류되고 있는 해룡천 및 연안에 위치한 어촌으로부터 직접 방류되고 있는 일부 정화조 유출수 등, 다양한 원인에 의한 것으로 판단되며 이들의 관리가 부실할 경우 순천만의 갯벌과 습지의 지속가능한 생태환경유지는 쉽지 않다. 따라서 이를 효율적으로 관리하기 위해서는 순천만 연안의 오염물질 방류를 총량관리로 전환하여 철저히 관리하는 것이 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

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Impact of Sluice Gates at Stream Mouth on Fish Community (하구의 배수갑문 설치 유무가 어류군집에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Jun-Wan;Kim, Kyu-Jin;Choi, Beom-Myeong;Yoon, Ju-Duk;Park, Bae-Kyung;Kim, Jong-Hak;Jang, Min-Ho
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.55 no.1
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    • pp.49-59
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    • 2022
  • Total of 325 estuaries in Korea were surveyed to analyze the effect of presence of sluice gate on the estuary environment and fish community from 2016 to 2018. Fish community in closed and open estuaries showed differences generally, and the relative abundance (RA) of primary freshwater species in the closed and migratory species in the open estuaries were high. The result of classifying species by habitat characteristics in closed and open estuaries showed similar tendencies at the estuaries of south sea and west sea. The relative abundances of primary freshwater species in the closed estuaries at the estuaries of south sea and west sea were the highest, but estuarine and migratory species were high in both closed and open estuaries at the estuaries of east sea. Primary freshwater species showed higher abundances in the closed estuaries with reduced salinity due to blocking of seawater since they are not resistant to salt. However, primary freshwater species in open estuaries at east sea was higher than that of the closed estuaries, which is considered to be the result of reflecting the characteristics (tide, sand bar, etc.) of the east sea. Korea Estuary Fish Assessment Index (KEFAI) was showed to be higher at open estuaries than closed in all sea areas (T-test, P<0.001), the highest KEFAI was observed in closed estuaries at south sea, and open estuaries in east sea. Fish community of closed and open estuaries in each sea areas showed statistically significant differences (PERMANOVA, East, Pseudo-F=3.0198, P=0.002; South, Pseudo-F=22.00, P=0.001; West, Pseudo-F=14.067, P=0.001). Fish assemblage similarity by sea areas showed a significant differences on fish community in closed and open estuaries at east sea, south sea, and west sea (SIMPER, Group dissimilarity, 85.85%, 88.36%, and 88.05%). This study provided information on the characteristics and distribution of fish community according to the types of estuaries. The results of this study can be used as a reference for establishing appropriate management plans according to the sea areas and type in the management and restoration of estuaries for future.

Comparative Analysis of Diversity Characteristics (γ-, α-, and β-diversity) of Biological Communities in the Korean Peninsula Estuaries (하구 순환 유지 여부에 따른 하구 주요 생물 군집별 다양성 특성 연구: 열린하구와 닫힌하구에서의 γ-, α- 및 β-다양성 비교)

  • Oh, Hye-Ji;Jang, Min-Ho;Kim, Jeong-Hui;Kim, Yong-Jae;Lim, Sung-Ho;Won, Doo-Hee;Moon, Jeong-Suk;Kwon, Soonhyun;Chang, Kwang-Hyeon
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.55 no.1
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    • pp.84-98
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    • 2022
  • Estuary is important in terms of biodiversity because it has the characteristics of transition waters, created by the mixing of fresh- and seawater. The estuarine water circulation provides a variety of habitats with different environments by inducing gradients in the chemical and physical environment, such as water quality and river bed structure, which are ultimately the main factors influencing biological community composition. If the water circulation is interrupted, the loss of brackish areas and the interception of migration of biological communities will lead to changes in the spatial distribution of biodiversity. In this study, among the sites covered by the Estuary Aquatic Ecosystem Health Assessment, we selected study sites where changes in biodiversity can be assessed by spatial gradient from the upper reaches of the river to the lower estuarine area. The α-, γ- and β-diversity of diatom, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish communities were calculated, and they were divided into open and closed estuary data and compared to determine the trends in biodiversity variation due to estuarine circulation. As results, all communities showed higher γ-diversity at open estuary sites. The benthic macroinvertebrate community showed a clear difference between open and closed estuaries in β-diversity, consequently the estuarine transects were considered as a factor that decreases spatial heterogeneity of their diversity among sites. The biodiversity trends analyzed in this study will be used to identify estuaries with low γ- and β-diversity by community, providing a useful resource for further mornitoring and management to maintain estuarine health.

Genesis and Characteristics of the Soil Clay Minerals Derived from Major Parent Rocks in Korea IV. Genesis and Distribution of the Soil Clay Minerals (한국(韓國)의 주요(主要) 모암(母岩)에서 발달(發達)된 토양점토광물(土壤粘土鑛物)의 특성(特性)과 생성학적(生成學的) 연구(硏究) IV. 토양점토광물(土壤粘土鑛物)의 분포(分布) 및 생성(生成))

  • Um, Myung-Ho;Lim, Hyung-Sik;Kim, Tai-Soon
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.25 no.3
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    • pp.202-212
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    • 1992
  • This study reports on the genesis and mineralogical characteristics of the clay minerals in the soils derived from the five major parent rocks of granite, granite-gneiss, limestone, shale, and basalt in Korea. The investigation on the mineralogical aspects of primary and secondary minerals of the rocks and coarse fractions in the soils have been already reported. In this report, the identification of clay minerals in the soil clay fractions was done through the analyses of chemical, X-ray diffraction, and thermal methods. The studies showed clearly that much of the clay minerals was evolved by the weathering of primary minerals and some were further developed by the transformation of secondary minerals. Cation exchange capacity(CEC) of the clay fractions increased with higher amotunts of vermiculite, chlorite, and illite, however, decreased with higher hydroxy octahedral sheet within the interlayer spaces of vermiculite even if dominant clay with vermiculite. Feldspars in the granite and granite-gneiss might be completely transformed to kaolin mineral, Illite, chlolrite, and vermiculite formed by the alteration of micas, amphibole, augite, and primary chlorile seem to be subsequently transformed to the mixed layer minerals such as illite/vermiculite, illite/chlorite, and chlorite/vermiculite. These weathering products may be ultimately transformed into kaolin minerals. The smectite minerals in the clay fractions of the soils developed on the limestone are considerably present and they seem to be formed directly by the precipitation from high Mg solution and/or by the transformation of vermiculite from micas and chlorite in the parent materials. Abundant presence of illite in the soil clays developed on the shale is considered to have inherited from the fine particles and more resistant hydrous muscovite. The weathering sequences of the hydrous muscovite were as follows according to the degree of soil development ; hydrous muscovite ${\rightarrow}$ illite/vermiculite mixed layer(Inceptisols, Daegu series) and hydrous muscovite ${\rightarrow}$ illite/vermiculite mixed layer ${\rightarrow}$ vermiculite ${\rightarrow}$ kaolin mineral(Alfisols, Buyeo series). The plagioclase in the basalt might be mostly weathered to kaolin minerais. The augite in the basalt is likely to be transformed through progressive stage of weathering, augite ${\rightarrow}$ chlorite ${\rightarrow}$ chlorote/vermiculite mixed layer ${\rightarrow}$ vermiculite ${\rightarrow}$ kaolin. Another weathering sequence of augite could be expected, augite ${\rightarrow}$ chlorite ${\rightarrow}$ illite by the presence of illite and illite/vermiculite mixed layer in the clay fractions. Vermiculite and gibbsite were quantified from thermogravimetry(TG) and kaolin minerals, from both TG and differerential thermal analysis (DTA). Vermiculite in Jangseong series from the limestone was the dominant clay mineral of 21.7 percent and had a range in the order of 9.2 percent in Buyeo series to 5.4 percent in Daegu series from the shale. The rest soils ranged from 8.8 to 28.3 percent. Kaolin minerals were the dominant clay mineral of 32.7 percent in Asan series from the granite-gneiss and Gueom series of 32.0 percent from the basalt. The soils from the limestone ranged from 9.4 to 14.9 percent. The rest soils ranged from 8.9 to 28.6 percent. Gibbsite were 3.9 and 2.3 percent for Weoljeong and Chahang series from the granite, respectively. In Asan and Cheongsan series from the giranite-gneiss were 1.4 and 4.5 percent, respectively, and 3.6 percent in Jangpa series from the basalt.

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Ultrastructural Differentiation of the Vacuole in Mesophyll Tissues of Orostachys (바위솔속 엽육조직 세포 내 액포의 미세구조 분화 양상)

  • Kim, In-Sun
    • Applied Microscopy
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    • v.39 no.4
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    • pp.333-340
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    • 2009
  • In the present study, ultrastructural features of the mesophyll tissue have been investigated in Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM)-performing succulent Orostachys. A large central vacuole and numerous small vacuoles in the peripheral cytoplasm were characterized at the subcellular level in both developing and mature mesophyll cells. The most notable feature was the invagination of vacuolar membranes into the secondary vacuoles or multivesicular bodies. In many cases, tens of single, membrane-bound secondary vacuoles of various sizes were found to be formed within the central vacuole. multivesicular bodies containing numerous small vesicles were also distributed in the cytoplasm but were better developed within the central vacuole. Occasionally, electron-dense prevacuolar compartments, directly attached to structures appearing to be small vacuoles, were also detected in the cytoplasm. One or more huge central vacuoles were frequently observed in cells undergoing differentiation and maturation. Consistent with the known occurrence of morphologically distinct vacuoles within different tissues, two types of vacuoles, one representing lytic vacuoles and the other, most likely protein storage vacuoles, were noted frequently within Orostachys mesophyll. The two types coexisted in mature vegetative cells but did not merge during the study. Nevertheless, the coexistence of two distinct vacuole types in maturing cells implies the presence of more than one mechanism for vacuolar solute sorting in these species. The vacuolar membrane is known to be unique among the intracellular compartments for having different channels and/or pumps to maintain its function. In CAM plants, the vacuole is a very important organelle that regulates malic acid diurnal fluctuation to a large extent. The membrane invagination seen in Orostachys mesophyll likely plays a significant role in survival under the physiological drought conditions in which these Orostachys occur; by increasing to such a large vacuolar volume, the mesophyll cells are able to retain enormous amounts of acid when needed. Furthermore, the mesophyll cells are able to attain their large sizes with less energy expenditure in order to regulate the large degree of diurnal fluctuation of organic acid that occurs within the vacuoles of Orostachys.