• Mycobiology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.199-202
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• 2008

Inonotus obliquus is a fungus that causes white heart rot on several broad-leaved species. This fungus forms typical charcoal-black, sterile conks (chaga) or cinder conks on infected stems of the birche (Betula spp). The dark brown pulp of the sterile conk is formed by a pure mycelial mass of fungus. Chaga are a folk remedy in Russia, reflecting the circumboreal distribution of I. obliquus in boreal forest ecosystems on Betula spp. and in meridional mountain forests on beech (Fagus spp.) in Russia, Scandinavia, Central Europe, and Eastern Europe. Distribution at lower latitudes in Western and Southern Europe, Northern America, Asia, Japan, and Korea is rare. Infected trees grow for many years without several symptoms of decline. The infection can penetrate through stem injuries with exterior sterile conks developing later. In the Czech Republic, cinder conk is found on birches inhabiting peat bogs and in mountain areas with a colder and more humid climate, although it is widespread in other broad leaved species over the Czech Republic. The most common hosts are B. pendula, B. pubescens, B. carpatica, and F. sylvatica. Less frequent hosts include Acer campestre, Acer pseudoplatanus, Alnus glutinosa, Alnus incana, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus cerris, Q. petraea, Q. robur, Q. delachampii, and Ulmus sp.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.83-84
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• 2010

We inoculated the spawn of Inonotus obliquus on living trees of Betula platyphylla var. japonica, and could get several fruiting bodies from the inoculations. The fruiting body showed almost the same feature of that collected from natural habitats in Korea, while the size was much smaller than that of natural one. The diameter of the fruiting body ranged from 1.1 cm to 4.8 cm, and the height 0.5 cm to 2.0 cm. We expect that a harvest is possible within 5 years, but need to check the growth rate of the fruiting body to decide suitable time for getting more economic value.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.219-224
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• 2018

During the screening for cytotoxic compounds from plants grown in Korea, Betula platyphylla (BP) showed potent activity against the adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial A549 cell line. To identify the cytotoxic components from BP, the $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction with the most significant cytotoxic effect was applied to the column chromatographies. Seven compounds were isolated: lupeol (1), betulinic acid (2), (-)-rhododendrol (3), platyphyllenone (4), platyphyllone (5), (-)-centrolobol (6), and oleanolic acid (7). Among them, three diarylheptanoids (4 - 6) exhibited cytotoxicity toward A549 cells. Especially, $50{\mu}M$ of 4 reduced A549 cell viability to $18.93{\pm}0.82%$ compared to control ($100.00{\pm}21.48%$). Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were also induced by $50{\mu}M$ 4. This is the first report on the cytotoxic effect of BP-derived diarylheptanoids 4-6 against A549 cells. The compound 4 may be useful for the development of early hit compounds for non-small cell lung carcinoma, but the consideration about selectivity of 4 is required since 4 also showed the cytotoxicity in the human normal lung epithelial BEAS-2B cell line.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.72-79
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• 2002

This study was conducted to compare the physiological and biochemical responses of four Betula species in response to ozone, and to find out the relationship between ozone uptake rate and photosynthesis or antioxidant activity. One-year-old seedlings of four Betula sp, B. costata, B. davurica, B. platyphylla var, japonica, and B. ermani, exposed to 100 pub ozone concentration for 8h day$^{-1}$ for 5 weeks in fumigation chamber. Ozone uptake rate, photosynthesis, SOD and GR activity were measured in the leaves of four species once a week. Cumulative ozone uptake rate was largest in the loaves of B. costata(53.8 mmol m$^{-2}$ ), smallest in the leaves of B. davurica(35.5 mmol m$^{-2}$ ). Photosynthesis of four Betula sp. exposed to ozone reduced relative to control, but the photosynthetic responses with changing stomatal conductance were different among species. Ozone exposure increased SOD activities of four species at the early exposing period, but after a critical point SOD activity decreased gradually. GR activity of B. costata was similar to the change of SOD activity, but the others showed the different patterns from B. costata. In conclusion, decreasing both SOD and GR activity at the critical point, B. costata may be sensitive species in response to ozone. In contrast, the others may be resistant species, which gradually increase GR activity following ozone exposure. GR activity was not always in accord with the change of SOD activity against ozone uptake, and the different responses between species were supposed to be affected by the cumulative ozone uptake.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 1993

Vegetational data obtained from 15 quadrats of Mt. Daeam area were analysed by applying two multivariate methods : two-way indicator species analysis(TWINSPAN) for classification and detrended canonical correspondence analysis(DCCA) for ordination. The dominant tree species were Quercus mongolica, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum, Betula costata, and Acer mono in descending order. The pH ranges were 5.0 to 5.5 in the 15 sites near bog and 5.3 to 5.4 in the 3 sites within bog. The forest communities in Mt. Daeam were classified into Quercus mongolica-Acer mono, Quercus mongolica-Prunus sargentii, Quercus mongolica-Abies nephrolepis-Acer tschonoskii var, rubripes, and Quercus mongolica-Abies nephrolepis-Betula costata according to the TWINSPAN. The relationships between the distribution of dominant species of forest vegetation and soil in the forest of Mt. Daeam were investigated by analyzing soil nutrition gradient. Quercus mongolica-Prunus sargentii forests were distributed in the good sites in nutrition levels of total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, $Mg^{+{+}}$ and $Ca^{+{+}}$ but Quercus mongolica-Abies nephrolepis-Betula costata forests in the poor sites in the nutrition levels.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.87 no.3
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• pp.445-458
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• 1998

The present study focused on the vegetation structure and dynamics of Betula davurica forest were to provide the information for management, distribution and utilization of B. davurica forest in Mt. Chiri national park, southern Korea. The layer structure of B. davurica forest were consist of tree layer(18 species), middle layer(29 species), shrub layer(43 species) and herb layer(68 species). According to the importance value of stratification of layers, In tree layer, B. davurica dominant the highest value of 123.97%, Alnus hirsuta 49.04., Castanea crenata 25.58%, Quercus serrata 25.02%, Stewartia koreana 14.49%, in middle layer were B. davurica 70.81%, Q. serrata 37.74%, Fraxinus rhynchophylla 25.35% Lindera erythrocarpa 24.52%, S. koreana 18.86%, shrub layer were Sasa borealis 28.28%, L. erythrocarpa 24.94%, Rhus trichocarpa, 20.42%, Stephanandra incisa 19.90% and herb layer Schizandra chinensis 18.51%, Aster scaber 12.26%. Disporum smilacinum 10.63% etc, respectively. Results of chi-square test statistics based on presence-absence parameters, the positively associated species pair were Quercus variablis - Q. acutissima, Stewartia koreana - Symplocos paniculata, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum - Quercus mongolica. And covariation was calculated based on quantitative measure of density. The results showed that the association and covariation values among species not agreed with each other. The frequency distribution of DBH Betula davurica species showed reverse J-shaped, therefore it's seems to retrain as a dominant species. When predicting succession in Betula davurica forest, it is seedling and saplings were not richness, succession was governed by competition of hardwood species of subtree and tree layer.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.194-201
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• 2010

This study was carried out to analyze vegetation and soil characteristic, and ordination of subalpine forest vegetation of Daecheongbong area, Mt. Seorak. Communities by characteristic in species composition of subalpine forest were classified into Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum - Betula ermani community group, Pinus pumila, Abies nephrolepis, Thuja koraiensis, and Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum - Betula ermanii typical community. The results of the correlation between forest communitie sand soil conditions of Daecheongbong area by DCCA ordination method are as follows: The Pinus pumila community and Thuja koraiensis community were mainly found in the high percentage area of total nitrogen, available phosphorous, organic matter in comparison with Abies nephrolepis community and Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum - Betula ermanii typical community. The Abies nephrolepis community and Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum - Betula ermanii typical community were mainly found in the high elevation area in comparison with Pinus pumila community and Thuja koraiensis community. The Pinus pumila community and Thuja koraiensis community were mainly found in the northern and northwestern direction, but Abies nephrolepis community and Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum - Betula ermanii typical community were mainly found in the southwestern direction.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2009

To investigate the vegetation structure of mountain valley from Cheonwangbong to Seonneotang, 23 plots($400m^2$) set up with random sampling method were surveyed. Two groups of Abies koreana community, Fraxinus mandshurica-Acer pseudo-sieboldianum community were classified by cluster analysis. Abies koreana was a major woody plant species in the valley area from Cheonwangbong to Mapogpo, and Pinus koraiensis, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum and Sorbus amurensis was partly occupied. High positive correlations was proved between Picea jezoensis and Sorb us amurensis, Taxus cuspidata, Fraxinus sieboldiana, Kalopanax pictus; Betula costata and Betula platyphylla var. japonica, Corn us controversa; Abies koreana and Pinus koraiensis; Stephanandra incisa and Betula ermani, Acer tegmentosum, Prunus sargentii; Acer pseudo-sieboldianum and Betula ermani; Fraxinus mandshurica and Deutzia prunifolia, Acer tschonoskii var. rubripes; Sorbus amurensis and Kalopanax pictus; Betula platyphylla var.japonica and Cornus controversa; Lindera erythrocarpa and Lespedeza maximowiczii, Quercus serrata, Styrax obassia; Lindera obtusi/oba and Abies holophylla; Carpinus laxiflora and Lespedeza maximowiczii; Fraxinus sieboldiana and Acer tschonoskii var. rubripes, Pinus koraiensis, Taxus cuspidata; Acer tschonoskii var. rubripes and Taxus cuspidata; Quercus mongolia and Rhododendron schlippenbachii; Quercus serrata and Styrax obassia, and relatively high negative correlations was proved between Abies koreana and Deutzia prunifolia; Lindera obtusi/oba and Pinus koraiensis. Species diversity(H') of investigated groups was ranged $2.7478{\sim}2.9573$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.787-794
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• 2009

In this study, a new method for extending storage-life and palatability of Betula platyphylla sap by applying lactic acid bacteria fermentation was developed. The fluids of saps were filtered through 0.22 ${\mu}m$ membrane filter and each fermented by 8 different lactic acid bacteria which are Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus brevis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Leuconostoc lactis, Lactococcus lactis, Pediocossus pentosaceus, Pediococcus dextrinicus, Streptococcus thermophilus. All the tested lactic acid bacteria except P. dextrinicus grew fast up to $10^6{\sim}10^7cfu/mL$ levels and lowered pH down to about pH 4 levels in 48 hours in both saps. The produced organic acids and lowered pH level inhibited the growth of spoilage microorganisms almost completely for 2 weeks during storage at room temperature. Addition of xylitol in the saps before fermentation accelerated the growth of lactic acid bacteria and increased the sweetness and overall taste of final product. The filtration process did not affect the mineral compositions of Betula platyphylla saps. Also the compositions and amounts of minerals showed very minor differences before and after fermentation in Betula platyphylla saps inoculated with L. acidophilus. By applying lactic acid fermentation to extend storage-life of tree saps instead of heat treatment, it was possible to keep natural minerals in active forms without any modifications.

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2002

The study was carried out to determine the growth and biomass production of major deciduous trees including Betula platyphylla var. japonica, Betula schmidtii, Zelkova serrata, Acer mono, Prunes sargentii, and Ligustrum obtusifolium subjected to artificial shade treatment in nursery field. The six deciduous trees seedlings grow for 2 years under different light intensity of 100%, 38-62%, 22-28%, 7-20%, and 2-6% of the full sun light intensity. The results were as follows; In the seedling heights and root collar diameters of shade intolerant species like Betula platyphylla var. japonica and Betula schmidtii, the relative growth rates of seedlings grown in full sun showed 2 times as compared with those subjected to the shade treatment of 2-6% light intensities of full sun. In the shade tolerant species like Acer mono ant Ligustrum obtusifolium, the growth performances were better in the seedlings grown in 38-62% light intensities of full sun. Total dry mass including the dry mass of leaves, shoot and root were as a whole decreased with shade treatment. The ratio of the dry mass of leaves and stem increased the dry mass of root. T/R ratio of the seedlings increased by decreasing the relative light intensity. And the T/R ratio of 2-6% light intensities of full sun was ranged from 1.1~5.0 were greater in the full sun light was ranged from 0.6~3.2. Light intensity by artificial shade treatment decreased in deciduous trees when compared on the whole, it showed tendency that SLA increases, increased that seeing resemblant tendency in LAR and LWR and changed of light intensity is strong, it increased that showed difference as statistical. But, LWR of Betula platyphylla var. japonica increased gradually and showed tendency that decreases rapidly in the shade treatment of 2-6% light intensities of full sun. This result is thought that biomass production decreased by shading treatment influenced in physiological characteristics such as leaf area and decrease of the leaf amount.