• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.998-1007
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) extract on the inflammation of human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) and blood lipid improvement in hypercholesterolemic mice fed a high cholesterol diet. The lettuce extract (100% ethanol extract) inhibited the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in HUVEC treated with tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$). The lettuce extract suppressed the adhesion of THP-1 to TNF-${\alpha}$-treated HUVEC. The lettuce extract decreased the TNF-${\alpha}$-stimulated production of proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and chemokine monocyte chemotactic protein 1. In hypercholesterolemic mice, the lettuce extract reduced serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level, while the lettuce extract elevated high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level, resulting in the decrease of atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor level. These results suggested that lettuce extract can be an useful resource to show an anti-inflammatory effect and improve lipid metabolism.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.481-487
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to provide safety management information by analyzing the survival and growth-related properties of foodborne pathogens from Romaine lettuce. After cultivating E. coli O157:H7 for 72 h on Romain lettuce via spray inoculation, the bacteria population increased by 2.0 log CFU/g from the initial population, confirming the possibility of survival and multiplication of the pathogen thereon. The study also revealed that there is no significant difference in the cultivation of E.coli O157:H7 after 72 h from inoculation on damaged and undamaged lettuce leaves. As a result of investigating distribution of E.coli O157:H7 on damaged lettuce leaves, it was found that the bacteria is unlikely to adhere on the smooth surface of undamaged leaves and, thus, results in a low population density, whereas the bacteria cluster on the rough surface of damaged leaves and easily enter through the damaged tissues. Furthermore, after 24 h of cultivation of the pathogenic microbe in the extract with concentrations of 10-100%, utilization of the lettuce extract by the pathogen was found to be 8.9 log CFU/mL E. coli O157:H7, 8.6 log CFU/mL L. monocytogenes, and 8.8 log CFU/mL P. carotovorum. The increase in the population of both the pathogenic microbe and foodborne pathogen reached over 4 log CFU/mL, implying the microbe can utilize the lettuce extract as a source of nutrition. Compared to the initial inoculation concentration in 0.1% lettuce extract, the final concentration has increased up to 2.7 log CFU/mL E. coli O157:H7, 1.3 log CFU/mL L. monocytogenes, and 2.9 log CFU/mL P. carotovorum. Accordingly, the study confirms that the minimal growth concentration of the pathogenic microbe is lower than 0.1% and that the pathogen possibly survive and multiply inside the lettuce leaves given the lettuce extract with concentration of 0.1% is consistently supplied through the damaged tissues.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.234-241
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• 2023

This study was conducted to investigate the growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and Korean mint (Agastache rugosa Kuntze) with microbubble in a closed-type plant production system (CPPS) with a deep flow technique (DFT). Lettuce and Korean mint were grown in CPPS for 23 days. Microbubble was treated for 5 minutes daily at 9:00, 13:00, and 17:00 for 16 days. The leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, and fresh and dry weights of lettuce and Korean mint were significantly lower in microbubble than in the control. The total root length, root surface area, and the number of root tips of lettuce and Korean mint were significantly lower in the microbubble than in the control. In the case of average root diameter, there was no difference between the treatments of lettuce. However, Korean mint significantly increased in thickness in the microbubble treatment, indicating variations among the different crops. The results of the research indicated that microbubble treatment in the DFT inhibited plant growth by inducing abiotic stress in lettuce and Korean mint.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.257-265
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• 2018

Sweetener is one of the additives that makes you feel sweet. Artificial sweeteners and sugar are typical examples, and sweetness proteins with sweetness characteristics have been widely studied. These studies elucidated the transformation lettuce cells with Agrobacterium method for stable production of natural sweet proteins, brazzein, thaumatin, and miraculin. In this paper, we report use of a plant expression system for production of sweet proteins. A synthetic gene encoding sweet proteins was placed under the control of constitutive promoters and transferred to lettuce. High and genetically stable expression of sweetener was confirmed in leaves by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Sweet proteins expressed in transgenic lettuce had sweetness-inducing activity. Results demonstrate recombinant sweet proteins correctly processed in transgenic lettuce plants, and that this production system could be a viable alternative to production from the native plant.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.107-125
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• 2024

Three types of veterinary antibiotics, including oxytetracycline (OTC) and chlortetracycline (CTC) of tetracycline class and amoxicillin (AMX) of penicilline class, were artificially introduced into the irrigation water. The residue of veterinary antibiotics in the soil, the absorption-translocation of veterinary antibiotics into the red lettuce and young radish plant, and crops yield were investigated according to the agricultural water irrigation method (surface drip irrigation, underground drip irrigation, and sprinkler irrigation). There was no significant difference in the residue and translocation of veterinary antibiotics in the soils and crops according to the irrigation method and type of veterinary antibiotics (p>0.05). For the edible parts of red lettuce and young radish, all three types of veterinary antibiotics were found to be below the detection limit, indicating that the safety of the crops was secured. The translocation factor of red lettuce and young radish were found to be less than 0.3 and 0.2, respectively. However, continuous introduction of veterinary antibiotics in agricultural arable lands may have negative effects by affecting soil microbial activity and soil microbe species diversity, so continuous management is deemed necessary.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.55-58
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• 1994

Agrobacterium tumefaciens LABA4404 harboring plant binary vector, pBI121, was used for genetic transformation of lettuce (Lactuca sativa t.). Cotyledon segments were infected with A. tumefaciens LBA4404 by cocultivation method and regenerated. Regenerated letture was subject to molecular analyses for integration into plant nuclear genome and expression of ${\beta}$-glucumnidase (GUS) gene. Southern and Northern blot analyses demonstrated that GUS gene was integrated into plant nuclear genome and expressed into its mRNA. The expression of GUS gene into its protein was confirmed by specetrophotometric assay of GUS activity.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2007

Powdery mildew caused by Podosphaera fusca is one of the most important diseases in leafy lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Since the disease has been a threat to safe cultivation of leafy lettuce, its control methods have to develop to produce good quality of lettuce for farmer and consumer. Occurrence of lettuce powdery mildew is increasing more and more due to continuous cultivation of lettuce all through the year, non-removal of diseased plant parts of lettuce, spray of inadequate fungicides by mistaken acknowledge of lettuce powdery mildew for lettuce downy mildew, etc. The control effect of five fungicides against lettuce powdery mildew was examined in a plastic greenhouse located in Suwon. When fungicides were sprayed three times at 10 days-intervals in the early stage of occurrence of powdery mildew, the incidence of powdery mildew in the plants treated with kresoxim-methy SC, azoxystrobin SC, Ampelomyces quisqualis AQ94013 WP, Paenibacillus polymyxa AC-1 SC and Bacillus subtilis Y 1336 WP was 0.7%, 0.7%, 26.0%, 36.7% and 42.0%, respectively, whereas the incidence of non-treated control was 55.3% on eight days after final application. Phytotoxicity of five fungicides tested was not observed in lettuce seedling plants.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.343-350
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of harvest seasons on quality and microbial population at different steps of production chain of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce. Iceberg lettuces harvested in May, June, July, October, and December were processed following industrial practices, and stored at $5^{\circ}C$ for 9 days. For microbial measurement, samples were taken from each of the following steps: harvest, transport, pretreatment, cutting, 1st-washing, 2nd-washing, and day 3, 6, and 9 of storage. Iceberg lettuce cultivated in protect house and harvested in May and October showed higher $CO_2$ levels in the packages and electrolyte leakages than lettuce harvested in June, July and December. Microbial population of raw materials harvested in July was highest (6.76 log), and microbial growth rate during storage was highest in samples harvested in May. Lettuce harvested in June had better quality and microbial safety compared to other lettuces. Although lettuce harvested in October and December had less microbial population in either raw materials or processed products, those samples had inferior quality due to off-odor development and severe browning. Therefore, it is required to maintain quality and ensure microbial safety to distribute fresh-cut lettuce with high quality and safety throughout the year.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.253-259
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate survival of Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) on stainless steel and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and its transfer from two material to lettuce. The stainless steel and PVC were innoculated with B. cereus and stored at 6 combination conditions (temperature : $20^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$, relative humidity (RH) : 43%, 69%, and 100%). Although the total numbers of B. cereus at RH 43% and RH 69% were reduced by 3.53-4.00 log CFU/coupon within 24 h regardless of material type, the spore numbers of B. cereus was lasted at 3.0 log CFU/coupon. When two materials were stored at $30^{\circ}C$, RH 100%, the spore numbers of B. cereus was rapidly increased by 3.0 log CFU/coupon. In addition, the reduction rate of B. cereus was decreased in the presence of organic matter. Transfer rate of B. cereus from surface of stainless steel and PVC to lettuce was increased by 10 times in the presence of water on the lettuce surface. As a result of this study, the presence of B. cereus on produce contact surfaces can increase the risk of cross-contamination. Thus, it is important that the packing table and conveyer belt in post harvest facility should be properly washed and sanitized after working to prevent cross-contamination.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.145-151
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• 1996

The effectiveness of physiological or chemical acid - alkali solution was investigated as the method to control pH value of nutrient solution in hydroponics dynamically. Lettuces were cultivated using NH$_4$H$_2$PO$_4$ as physiological acid and NaNO$_3$ as physiological alkali or H$_2$SO$_4$ as chemical acid in dynamic control system. The pH of nutrient solution was controlled satisfactorily in the range of pH 5.5-6.5, regardless of treatments. Chemical acid changed pH of solution faster than chemical acid when supplied to the nutrient solution. Any of them did not show any harmful symptom. It is recommended that chemical acid is preferred during the growing stage and physiological acid like as NH$_4$H$_2$PO$_4$ is preferred from several days before harvest stage.