• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.383-390
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the growth characteristics of cucumber scion and pumpkin rootstock under different levels of light intensity (photosynthetic photon flux, PPF) and plug cell size in a closed transplant production system with artificial lighting. Cucumber scion and pumpkin rootstock seedlings were grown under the combinations of three levels of PPF (PPF 165, 248, and $313{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$) and five types of plug tray (50, 72, 105, 128, and 200 cells in the tray) for nine days. The shoot dry weight and relative growth rate increased with increasing PPF and plug cell size. As PPF increased, cucumber scion and pumpkin rootstock seedlings had higher dry matter, lower specific leaf area, and lower hypocotyl length. The first true leaf of cucumber scion and pumpkin rootstock unfolded at eight and seven days after sowing, respectively, except the treatment using 200-cell plug tray. The unfolding of first true leaf of seedlings grown in 200-cell plug tray was delayed by one day. Accordingly, it was considered that the use of small cell size such as 200-cell plug tray would require more time for the production of scion and rootstock. Based on the results, we suggest that cucumber scion and pumpkin rootstock be grown in 105-cell to 128-cell plug tray for eight days and 72-cell to 105-cell plug tray for seven days, respectively, when using splice grafting method with root-removed rootstock. Additionally, higher PPF is suggested to improve the growth and quality of scion and rootstock.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2014

There have not been many studies conducted on the seedling production, especially in plug trays, of traditional medicinal plant species. In an effort to establish guide lines for seedling production, this study investigated the effect of plug cell size on the growth and development of plug seedling of three medicinal plant species. Seeds were sown in either 128, 200, or 288-cell plug trays, containing a commercial medium. Growth and development of individual seedling was generally promoted with increasing size of a plug cell in all of the three species. The greatest biomass of the seedlings gained in a plug tray was obtained in the 288-cell trays in Perilla frutescens var. acuta Kudo and Sophora tonkinensis, and the 200-cell trays in Angelica gigas Nakai. Overall growth and development of the shoot and root of a single seedling of Perilla frutescens var. acuta Kudo, except total chlorophyll and anthocyanin contents, was the greatest in the 128-cell tray. However, length of the longest root, length, width and area of the leaf, internode length, root fresh weight, and root ball formation in the 200- and 288-cell trays were not significantly different each other. In Sophora tonkinensis, although length of the longest root, stem diameter, leaf width, leaf area, shoot fresh weight, and root ball formation were not significantly different among the treatments, length of the longest root and root ball formation of a single seedling were the greatest in the 128-cell tray. Overall shoot and root growth, except total chlorophyll content, of a single seedling of Angelica gigas Nakai was the greatest in the 128-cell tray. Based on the total biomass, it is concluded that 288-cell trays are recommended for production of plug seedlings of medicinal plant species P. frutescens var. acuta Kudo and S. tonkinensis. In A. gigas Nakai, it would be more economical to use the 200-cell trays than 128-cell trays due to total biomass.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 1995

This study was conducted to establish technologies for plug seedling production using somatic embryos-derived regenerants and their seeds in Bupleurum falcatum L. Among distilled water, GA (0.1mg/l) and putrescine (0.lmg/l) treated to regenerants for acclimatization, GA was most effective to develop shoots and roots, 1/2X MS medium and NAA 0.1mg/l + BA 0. 5mg/l enhanced the growth rates of the regenerants and increased dry weight. Activated charcoal effected to grow markedly leaves and roots of the regenerants at the level of 0.4 %. Regenerants increased their plant height, root length and dry weight at $30^{\circ}C$. Plug seedlings originated from seeds of the tissue culture regenerants showed the maxium growth on the mixture of peatmoss soil (2) and mountain sand (1) .Root length, leaf area and dry weight of plug seedlings increased significantly when No.1, 2 and 3 of Wondergrow solution were mixed in the ratio of 1.3 - 0.9 - 0.1. Light supplement (4%) and high tem­perature $(30^{\circ}C)$ promoted the growth of plug seedlings as well as dry weight. Ninety days seedlings were more vigorous and adaptable for transplanting than other seedlings.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.329-333
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• 2001

The study was performed to investigate the effect of a plug culture method in the early stage of a potato breeding program. The 105, 200 and 288-cell plug trays were used for raising potato seedlings. The % germination in plug trays ranged between 94 and 96%. Percent tuberization measured at 50 and 60, and 70 days after sowing was the greatest in 105-cell and 200-cell trays, respectively. However, tuberization was most delayed in 288-cell trays. Thus, it is considered that 105-cell tray is the most effective for the selection of early maturing plants. Plant maturity was determined by the morphological characteristics at the seedling stage of stolons cultured in plug trays. Most of seedlings with shorter stolons at seedling stage (1st generation) were the early-maturing, while most of seedlings with longer stolons were the late-maturing at the clonal stage (2nd generation). These results mean that the plant maturity in the early potato breeding program can be effectively grouped by observing the morphological characteristics of stolons after plug culture.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.55-65
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• 1997

This study was conducted to develop a robotic transplanter for bedding plants. The robotic transplanter consisted of machine vision system, manipulator attached with the specially designed gripper, and plug tray transfer system. Results of this study were as follows. 1. A machine vision system for a robotic transplanter was developed. The success rates of detecting empty cells and bad seedlings in 72-cell and 128-cell plug-trays for cucumber seedlings were 98.8％ and 94.9％ respectively. The success rates of identifying leaf orientation for 72- cell and 128-cell plug-trays were 93.5% and 91.0%, respectively. 2. A cartesian coordinate manipulator for a robotic transplanter with 3 degrees of freedom was constructed. The accuracy of position control was $\pm$ 1mm. 3. The robotic transplanter was tested with a shovel-type finger. Without considering leaf orientation, the success rates of transplanting healthy cucumber seedlings for 72-cell and 128-cell plug-trays were 95.5% and 94.5%, respectively. Considering leaf orientation, the success rates of transplanting healthy cucumber seedling in 72-cell and 128-cell plug-trays were 96.0% and 95.0%, respectively.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.108-114
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• 2007

This study was conducted to clarify the effects of the different mixing ratios of substrate mixtures based on peat moss and the concentration of nutrient solution on the growth of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seedlings. Substrates such as peat moss, rice hull, carbonized rice hull, decomposed sawdust, perlite and granular rock wool were mixed and used. The concentration of nutrient solution were adjusted to EC $0.5{\sim}1.5mS/cm$. The volumetric moisture contents became higher as peat moss mixed were much more. Total porosities in all substrate mixtures were over 80%, and pH in substrate mixtures became lower as the volume of peat moss mixed higher. Mixing ratios of substrates suitable for the production of tomato seedlings with the higher quality were peat moss:rice hull:carbonized rice hull:decomposed sawdust:perlite=25:10:25:20:20(v/v). The plant growth was not significant among the different substrate mixtures. However, plant growth such as plant height, leaf area, and total dry weight became significantly increased as EC increasing.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.256-261
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• 2013

The spacing between plug cells and cell volume of each plug cell for nursing tomato seedlings were studied to know the effects on seedling growth and early yield. There were four treatments. The spacing of plug cells was done (OK) or not (NO) in case of cell spacing. The cell number in a plug tray was set to 40 or 50 in case of cell volume. The growth environment and irrigation regime were the same in all of the treatments during the experiment period. The photosynthetic rates, seedling qualities, yield and yield speed were significantly affected by both of the treatments. The photosynthetic rates and seedling qualities were the best in 40S-OK following by 50S-OK, 40S-NO, and 50S-NO while the yield was the best in 40S-OK following by 40S-NO, 50S-OK, 50S-NO. It means the spacing gives more impact than the cell volume in the stage of nursing but the cell volume gives more impact than the spacing after the stage of nursing. In the conclusion the spacing of plug cells in appropriate nursing stage is needed with the appropriate cell volume to make high quality of seedlings and high yield.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.325-328
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• 2001

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of plug cell volume and medium on rooting and growth of lateral shoot cuttings of a few tomato cultivars. Plug cell volume was varied from 23 to 300 mL or control (cutting bed) and media used were carbonized rice hull (CRH), CRH+perlite, CRH+peatmoss and perlite+peatmoss. Nursery plants were able to be transplanted in 15 to 20 days after lateral shoots cutting in tomato. In volume of cutting media, the pots of 23 to 300 mL were proper, although root growth was gradually limited in decreased media volume. Rooting and growth was not influenced by plug tray cell medium of 120 mL or more. Cherry tomato Pepe (c.v.) showed 100% rooting and better growth, while in Momotaro (c.v.) rooting was 90%. There were 100% rooting and no considerable changes grown in all media tested of cutting plug tray volume of 30 mL.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2000

Cultivation of onions in Korean peninsula is so restricted to Southern region, mainly due to inadequate air temperature for the growth of onions in this region. This sometimes resulted in unstable supply of onions. The fluctuation of market prices mainly results from the limited production of onions in such restricted areas. Onions are usually transplanted at the end of fall and cultivated until the beginning of next summer. This study was designed to examine the possibility of extending production region of onions by adopting the plug seedling system, and the effects of plug seedling age, transplanting date, plug cell volume, and variety on the yield of onions were investigated. Transplanting date (Mar. 15 or Apr. 15) did not affect the yield of onions. However, 60-day-old seedlings produced significantly greater bulb yield (107.2 ton/ha) than those of 30- or 90- day-old seedlings. Bulb yields of seedlings raised in 128 and 72 cell trays were 125.0 and 120.8 ton/ha, which were significantly greater than those in other cell trays. Yield of seedlings raised in 406 cell trays was the lowest. Seedlings of mid-late 'Chenjuwhang' yielded 130.5 Ton/ha, which was significantly higher than those of other varieties. Considering the rainy season during early summer, we suggest that seedlings of onions raised for 60 days and transplanted on Mar. 15 should be advantageous in producing of marketable bulbs and that an early 'Yongbongwhang' should be the best variety.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.14
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• pp.67-75
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• 1996

Capsicum annuum 'Nokkwang' plug seedlings were treated with 9 different day and night temperatures to investigate on growth and differentiation in controlled environment conditions. The plant height was the most affected by day temperature and DIF and stem length was the similler results as plant height. However, Leaf unfolding rate and leaf length and width increased as average daily temperature increased. and especially fresh weight was worst at ADT was $15^{\circ}C$ and increased as ADT increased. In contrast with fresh weight, chlorophyll content calculated highest when ADT was $15^{\circ}C$, and decreased as NT increased respectively. The stem lengths were not significantly different among treatments with exception of DT/NT=15/$15^{\circ}C$ which significantly decreased. The ultimate +DIF condition, DT/NT=30/$15^{\circ}C$, caused high T/R ratio due to abundant top growth. It is concluded that DT is $22.5^{\circ}C$, and NT is ranged from $15^{\circ}C$ to $22.5^{\circ}C$ to be produced short, healthy plug seedlings in Capsicum annuum 'Nokkwang'.