• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2005

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are a wide range of root-colonizing bacteria with the capacity to enhance plant growth and control plant pathogens. Here we review recent progress that indicate some PGPR strains release a blend of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that promote growth in Arabidopsis seedlings and induce resistance against Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora. In particular, the volatile components 2,3-butanediol and acetoin released exclusively from the PGPR strains triggered the greatest level of growth promotion and induced systemic resistance. Pharmacological applications of 2,3-butanediol promoted the plant growth and induced resistance, while bacterial mutants blocked in 2,3-butanediol and acetoin synthesis was devoid of growth-promotion and induced resistance capacities. The results suggested that the bacterial VOCs play a critical role in the plant growth promotion and induced resistance by PGPR. Using transgenic and mutant lines of Arabidopsis, we provide evidences that the signal pathway activated by volatiles from one PGPR strain is dependent on cyto-kinin activation for growth promotion and dependent on an ethylene-signaling pathway for induced pathogen resistance. This discovery provides new insight into the role of bacterial VOCs as initiators of both plant growth promotion and defense responses in plants.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.257-261
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• 2003

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of plant growth regulators on the organogenesis from the tissue culture of Arabidopsis thaliana stem, and the origin of the callus development. When the stem segments were cultured on medium with 2mg/L IAA or NAA, adventitious roots and trichomes were differentiated after 11 days of culture. Callus vigorously formed on medium with 2/L2,4 after 7 days of culture, but adventitious roots and trichomes were not differentiated from callus after 10 days of culture. This results suggesting that picloram is very effective auxin for the callus formation and organogenesis. Callus weakly formed on 0.05mg/L kinetin, and formed on combination of auxins(2mg/L) with 0.05mg/L kinetin. But the effect of combination of auxins and kinetin the callus formation was less than 2,4-D or picloram alone. A histological examination of callus formed on picloram showed that phloram showed that phloem parenchyma cells were divided and enlarged after 2 days of culture. Cortex parenchyma cells were divided and meristematic nodules were developed from these cells after 4 days of culture. Finally, callus formed on outside of cortex and epidermis by division of meristematic nodules after 7 days of culture.

• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.513-518
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• 1998

Beet curly top virus (BCTV) mutant has been constructed in vitro that contain G-to-T transversions at nucleotide 2727 within overlapping open reading frames (ORFs) L1 and L4. The mutations introduce termination codon in ORF L4 without affecting the amino acid encoded by ORF L1. When agroinoculated into Arabidopsis thaliana the mutant caused mild stunting and stem curling, but not the callus induction and hyperlasia on infected tissues of Sei-O ecotype. However, this mutant was not infectious on Col-O. Levels of single stranded DNA forms were similar in mutant and wild type BCTV infections. The DNA quantitation data showed that the DNA of BCTV-L4 mutant virus was accumulated in shoot tips, infection origin and roots with similar levels to those of wild type virus infected. Three tissues of asymptomatic ecotype Col-O also had as much as virus DNA from wild type virus infections. In both ecotypes infected with BCTV-Logan and BCTV-L4 mutant, root tissues contained more virus DNA than any other tissues by the Southern hybridization data. The results suggest that ORF L4 encodes a functional protein that is a major determinant of pathogenesis that might affect the hyperplastic response of the host to BCTV infection.

• Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.289-300
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• 2014

A tissue-specific and developmentally expressed gene was isolated from Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis), designated BrREF (B. rapa Rubber elongation factor). BrREF transcripts were expressed at high levels in seedlings and at low levels in flower buds and roots. To study the activity of this promoter, the 2.2 kb upstream sequence of BrREF gene was fused to a β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene and was introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana and B. napus by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Strong expression of GUS driven by the BrREF promoter was detected in the cotyledons and hypocotyls of transgenic plant seedlings, but GUS expression was weak in roots, excluding the root tips. GUS expression in the cotyledons and hypocotyls decreased dramatically as the seedlings matured and was not detected in the tissues of mature plants. During floral development, GUS expression was observed in immature anthers. These findings suggest that the BrREF promoter can modulate the tissue-specific and developmental expression of gene at the early stages of growth and development.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2022

The precise homeostatic regulation of local auxin accumulation in xylem precursors of cambium stem cell tissues is one of the most important mechanisms for plant vascular patterning and radial secondary growth. Walls are thin (WAT1), a novel intracellular auxin transporter, contributes directly to the auxin accumulation maxima in xylem precursors. According to recent research, the auxin signaling activated pathway-related gene network was significantly enriched during the secondary growth of Panax ginseng storage roots. These imply that during P. ginseng root secondary growth, specific signaling mechanisms for local auxin maxima in the vascular cambial cells are probably triggered. This study identified four WAT1-like genes, PgWAT1-1/-2 and PgWAT2-1/-2, in the P. ginseng genome. Their expression levels were greatly increased in nitratetreated storage roots stimulated for secondary root growth. PgWAT1-1 and PgWAT2-1 were similar to WAT1 from Arabidopsis and tomato plants in terms of their subcellular localization at a tonoplast and predicted transmembrane topology. We discovered that overexpression of PgWAT1-1 and PgWAT2-1 was sufficient to compensate for the secondary growth defects observed in slwat1-copi loss of function tomato mutants. This critical information from the PgWAT1-1 and PgWAT2-1 genes can potentially be used in future P. ginseng genetic engineering and breeding for increased crop yield.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.966-975
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• 2017

Excessive salt disrupts intracellular ion homeostasis and inhibits plant growth, which poses a serious threat to global food security. Plants have adapted various strategies to survive in unfavorable saline soil conditions. Here, we show that humic acid (HA) is a good soil amendment that can be used to help overcome salinity stress because it markedly reduces the adverse effects of salinity on Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. To identify the molecular mechanisms of HA-induced salt stress tolerance in Arabidopsis, we examined possible roles of a sodium influx transporter HIGH-AFFINITY $K^+$ TRANSPORTER 1 (HKT1). Salt-induced root growth inhibition in HKT1 overexpressor transgenic plants (HKT1-OX) was rescued by application of HA, but not in wild-type and other plants. Moreover, salt-induced degradation of HKT1 protein was blocked by HA treatment. In addition, the application of HA to HKT1-OX seedlings led to increased distribution of $Na^+$ in roots up to the elongation zone and caused the reabsorption of $Na^+$ by xylem and parenchyma cells. Both the influx of the secondary messenger calcium and its cytosolic release appear to function in the destabilization of HKT1 protein under salt stress. Taken together, these results suggest that HA could be applied to the field to enhance plant growth and salt stress tolerance via post-transcriptional control of the HKT1 transporter gene under saline conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.20-20
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• 2017

Plant genomes include heterochromatic loci that consist of repetitive sequences and transposable elements. LTR retrotransposon is the major class of transposons in advanced plants in terms of proportion in plant genome. The elements contribute not only to genome size but also to genome stability and gene expression. A number of cases have been reported transposon insertions near genic regions affect crop traits such as fruit pigments, stress tolerance, and yields. Functional LTR retrotransposons produce extrachromosomal DNA from genomic RNA by reverse transcription that takes place within virus-like-particles (VLPs). DECREASED DNA METHYLATION 1 (DDM1) plays important roles in maintaining DNA methylation of heterochromatin affecting all sequence contexts, CG, CHG, and CHH. Previous studies showed that ddm1 mutant exhibits massive transcription of retrotransposons in Arabidopsis, but only few of them were able to create new insertions into the genome. RNA-dependent RNA POLYMERASE 6 (RDR6) is known to function in restricting accumulation of transposon RNA by processing the transcripts into 21-22 nt epigenetically activated small interfering RNA (easiRNA). We purified VLPs and sequence cDNA to identify functional LTR retrotransposons in Arabidopsis ddm1 and ddm1rdr6 plants. Over 20 LTR copia and gypsy families were detected in ddm1 and ddm1rdr6 sequencing libraries and most of them were not reported for mobility. In ddm1rdr6, short fragments of ATHILA gypsy elements were detected. It suggests easiRNAs might regulate reverse transcription steps. The highest enriched element among transposon loci was previously characterized EVADE element. It has been reported that active EVADE element is more efficiently silenced through female germline than male germline. By genetic analyses, we found ddm1 and rdr6 mutation affect maternal silencing of active EVADE elements. DDM1-GFP protein accumulated in megaspore mother cell but was not found in mature egg cell. The fusion protein was also found in early embryo and maternal DDM1-GFP allele was more dominantly expressed in the embryo. We observed localization of DDM1-GFP in Arabidopsis and DDM1-YFP in maize and found the proteins accumulated in dividing zone of root tips. Currently we are looking at cell cycle dependency of DDM1 expression using maize system. Among 10 AGO proteins in Arabidopsis, AGO9 is specifically expressed in egg cell and shoot meristematic cells. In addition, mutation of AGO9 and RDR6 caused failure in maternal silencing, implying 21-22 nt easiRNA pathway is important for retrotransposon silencing in female gametophyte or/and early embryo. On the other hand, canonical 24 nt sRNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathways did not contribute to maternal silencing as confirmed by this study. Heat-activated LTR retrotransposon, ONSEN, was not silenced by DDM1 but the silencing mechanisms require RdDM pathways in somatic cells. We will propose distinct mechanisms of LTR retrotransposons in germline and somatic stages.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.97-97
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• 2017

Plant genomes include heterochromatic loci that consist of repetitive sequences and transposable elements. LTR retrotransposon is the major class of transposons in advanced plants in terms of proportion in plant genome. The elements contribute not only to genome size but also to genome stability and gene expression. A number of cases have been reported transposon insertions near genic regions affect crop traits such as fruit pigments, stress tolerance, and yields. Functional LTR retrotransposons produce extrachromosomal DNA from genomic RNA by reverse transcription that takes place within virus-like-particles (VLPs). DECREASED DNA METHYLATION 1 (DDM1) plays important roles in maintaining DNA methylation of heterochromatin affecting all sequence contexts, CG, CHG, and CHH. Previous studies showed that ddm1 mutant exhibits massive transcription of retrotransposons in Arabidopsis, but only few of them were able to create new insertions into the genome. RNA-dependent RNA POLYMERASE 6 (RDR6) is known to function in restricting accumulation of transposon RNA by processing the transcripts into 21-22 nt epigenetically activated small interfering RNA (easiRNA). We purified VLPs and sequence cDNA to identify functional LTR retrotransposons in Arabidopsis ddm1 and ddm1rdr6 plants. Over 20 LTR copia and gypsy families were detected in ddm1 and ddm1rdr6 sequencing libraries and most of them were not reported for mobility. In ddm1rdr6, short fragments of ATHILA gypsy elements were detected. It suggests easiRNAs might regulate reverse transcription steps. The highest enriched element among transposon loci was previously characterized EVADE element. It has been reported that active EVADE element is more efficiently silenced through female germline than male germline. By genetic analyses, we found ddm1 and rdr6 mutation affect maternal silencing of active EVADE elements. DDM1-GFP protein accumulated in megaspore mother cell but was not found in mature egg cell. The fusion protein was also found in early embryo and maternal DDM1-GFP allele was more dominantly expressed in the embryo. We observed localization of DDM1-GFP in Arabidopsis and DDM1-YFP in maize and found the proteins accumulated in dividing zone of root tips. Currently we are looking at cell cycle dependency of DDM1 expression using maize system. Among 10 AGO proteins in Arabidopsis, AGO9 is specifically expressed in egg cell and shoot meristematic cells. In addition, mutation of AGO9 and RDR6 caused failure in maternal silencing, implying 21-22 nt easiRNA pathway is important for retrotransposon silencing in female gametophyte or/and early embryo. On the other hand, canonical 24 nt sRNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathways did not contribute to maternal silencing as confirmed by this study. Heat-activated LTR retrotransposon, ONSEN, was not silenced by DDM1 but the silencing mechanisms require RdDM pathways in somatic cells. We will propose distinct mechanisms of LTR retrotransposons in germline and somatic stages.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 1998

Callus induction from leaf and stem explants of Arabidopsis thaliana was successfully obtained when leaf explants were cultured on MS medium containing 2.0 mg/L 2,4-D in the dark and also, when stem explants were cultured on CP medium containing 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.1 mg/L BAP. Explant-derived sliced calli were suspension-subcultured every week in CP liquid medium with 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.1 mg/L BAP in the dark, and shoot-forming cell clusters of nodular, pale yellow and knobby type were selected after 7-8 weeks of culture. Shoots were initiated from the green spots of the selected shoot forming calli cultured on MS regeneration medium containing 0.05 mg/L IAA, 7.0 mg/L 2-iP and 30 g/L sucrose under continous illumination for four weeks. Shoot regeneration frequency (calli regenerating at least one shoot) was more than 50%. For plant regeneration, excised shoots were trnasferred to hormone free medium for root initiation after 4 weeks of culture. The regenerants were bolting after 2 weeks of culture and formed in vitro flowering buds within bracts after 4 weeks of culture.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2014

Salt cress (Thellungiella halophila or Thellungiella parvula), species closely related to Arabidopsis thaliana, represents an extremophile adapted to harsh saline environments. To isolate salt-tolerance genes from this species, we constructed a cDNA library from roots and leaves of salt cress plants treated with 200 mM NaCl. This cDNA library was subsequently shuttled into the destination binary vector [driven by the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter] designed for plant transformation and expression via recombination- assisted cloning. In total, 305,400 pools of transgenic BASTA-resistant lines were generated in Arabidopsis using either T. halophila or T. parvula cDNA libraries. These were used for functional screening of genes involved in salt tolerance. Among these pools, 168,500 pools were used for primary screening to date from which 7,157 lines showed apparent salt tolerant-phenotypes in the initial screen. A secondary screen has now identified 165 salt tolerant transgenic lines using 1,551 (10.6%) lines that emerged in the first screen. The prevalent phenotype in these lines includes accelerated seed germination often accompanied by faster root growth compared to WT Arabidopsis under salt stress condition. In addition, other lines showed non-typical development of stems and flowers compared to WT Arabidopsis. Based on the close relationship of the tolerant species to the target species we suggest this approach as an appropriate method for the large-scale identification of salt tolerance genes from salt cress.