• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.400-407
• /
• 2010

Zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.), also called Korean or Japanese lawngrass, is the most popular warm-season turfgrass in Korea and is widely used for home lawns, parks, roadsides, golf courses and athletic fields. Its use is rapidly expanding in Korea and the other countries, due to its excellent characteristics which include tolerance to heat, drought and salinity. As the utilization area of this turfgrass increases, there is an increase in the demand for improved cultivars with disease and insect tolerance or with herbicide-tolerance or with extended greening periods. Conventional breeding methods have been used to improve the traits described above with limited success. However, with the advances in biotechnology, genetic transformation can be utilized for turfgrass improvement. In this paper, we review recent progress in biotechnological improvement of zoysiagrass and discuss future molecular breeding of this species.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.1067-1072
• /
• 2016

In this study, we determined the ecological characteristics of Strix aluco, which is designated as an endangered category II species. Towards this, we identified the actual home range of Strix aluco that breed in Korea, and collected the data necessary for protecting, preserving and managing owl populations. This study was conducted from April 14 to May 20 of 2016 during the breeding season of Strix aluco as part of the 4th National Ecosystem Survey and in accordance with the Natural Environment Conservation Act. We captured and subsequently released a female owl with a total length of 423.5mm and a weight of 550g in Kyungbuk area, succeeded in tracking it for the first time in Korea and secured 6 points of direct observation and satellite tracking observation. The distance from the nest to the farthest point was 93m. As a result of the analysis of habitat points within a100m-radius during breeding period, it was established that their habitat consists of 34.2% of non-irrigated land, 30.6% of mixed forest land, 10.5% of orchard, and 9.4% of natural grassland. These findings are consistent with the previous estimate of home range studies. Further research based on follow-up studies on males or other individuals is required to develop a stronger basis for protection and conservation of endangered wildlife class II owls.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.101 no.4
• /
• pp.640-647
• /
• 2012

A metabolomic study was conducted to identify key metabolic components, which are correlated with the growth of 4-year-old Pinus koraiensis seedlings harvested at actively height growing season (May 18th). Among 105 individual metabolites identified by GC/MS analysis, alanine, threonine, oleic acid, and butanoic acids were negatively correlated with both height and weight of 4-year-old seedlings, while malic acid, xylose, glucose, d-turanose and inositol had positive correlation with various growth parameters. During the actively growing season, the concentrations of both amino acids and organic acids in the main stem of Superior seedling group were lower but the photosynthates such as mono-saccharide and sucrose were higher than in other seedling groups such as Intermediate and Inferior. Interestingly, d-turanose, an analogue of sucrose that is not metabolized in higher plants but used as carbon source by many organisms including numerous species of bacteria and fungi, showed the highest correlation (r=0.896, p<0.001) with height of 4-year-old seedlings, indicating that possible interaction with mycorrhizal organisms. Therefore we suggest that several metabolites selected in this study may be used as metabolic markers for complex traits in P. koraiensis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.12
• /
• pp.1742-1748
• /
• 2006

The experiment was conducted on 264 crossbred Karan-Fries (Holstein Friesian${\times}$Tharparkar) cows, over one year to explore the possibility of using milk urea (MU) concentration and milk protein content to monitor feeding adequacy under farm condition and to investigate the effects of different animal factors and season on MU concentration. Individual noon (1200 to 1300 h) milk samples were collected once in every month and analysed for urea and protein contents. Representative feed samples were also collected on the same day of milk collection and were analysed for CP content. A significant positive association (p<0.01) between MU concentration and milk yield was observed. MU concentrations (mg/dl) were found to be significantly (p<0.01) higher and lower in first lactation (44.8${\pm}$0.7) and in early lactation stage (40.7${\pm}$0.5), respectively. Average MU values were found to be significantly (p<0.01) higher in winter (50.7${\pm}$0.3) and lower in summer (32.9${\pm}$0.6). During the investigation, of the total MU observations, 50.3% were within the range of 30 to 50 mg/dl, 21.4% were <30 mg/dl and only 7.5% were >60 mg/dl. MU concentration was found to be associated significantly (p<0.05) with CP content of forages rather than concentrate. A close positive association (p<0.01) between MU level and daily milk protein (DMP) yield was observed during the investigation. The regression equation, DMP yield (g) = -24.6+33.5 daily milk yield (kg) +0.9 MU (mg/dl) was developed to establish the reference level of DMP yield. The result indicates that the effect of parity and stage of lactation may be ignored while interpreting MU values. However, reference MU values may be standardised separately for high milk yielders as level of milk yield contributes significantly to the variation of MU. The study revealed that the MU values together with DMP yield and milk protein content could be used as a potential non-invasive pointer to monitor feeding adequacy in dairy cows under farm conditions.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.354-357
• /
• 2009

"Wonkyo Na-heukseong 2" was selected from a cross between "Kiyomaro", late season European cultivar with highly resistance and "Mansoo", late season Asian cultivar with long storability, large size and low susceptibility to pear scab made in 1997 at the National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science of Rural Development Administration in Korea. "Kiyomaro", released cross between "Taiheiyo" and "Bartlett" with scab resistance caused by Venturia nashicola in Japan, with no visual symptoms on any leaves was used as scab resistant source after field investigation and artificial inoculation test during 1997~1999. "Wonkyo Na-heukseong 2" blooms 1 day earlier than "Mansoo" and 3 days later than "Kiyomaro" in 2008. It is strong in tree vigor and upright-spreading in tree habit. It is classified as highly resistant to pear scab as "Kiyomaro" and "Bartlett", and cross-compatible with parental variety and Korean major pear varieties such as "Niitaka" and "Wonwhang". The average optimum harvest time of "Wonkyo Na-heukseong 2" was approximately 180 days after full bloom and it matured about 20 days shorter than parental varieties. The fruit is spindle in shape and yellowish greenish brown in skin color. Average fruit weight was 484 g and soluble solids content was $13.2^{\circ}Brix$. The flesh had medium to high juice and negligible grit. Its fruit was crisp like Asian pear.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.210-213
• /
• 2011

A dark pink semi-double freesia (Freesia hybrida Hort.) 'Happy Birthday' was bred from a cross between 'Pink Jewel', F1 progeny of 'Michelle' and 'Rossini' as a female and 'White Lace' as a male parent. Test for the growth vigor and flowering characteristic were conducted from 2002 to 2007. A new variety 'Happy Birthday' has semi-double flower type with dark pink color (RHS color chart #RP66C). It has multiple flowers, distinctive flower shape, upright leaves and also stalks. The average yield of this variety 'Happy Birthday' counted over 6.7 stems per plant per season in the standard greenhouse cultivation method. It has also good production of cormlets, vigorous growth. A new variety 'Happy Birthday' is suitable for the greenhouse conditions during winter season in Korea.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.308-311
• /
• 2010

An experiment was conducted using indigenous Kivircik ewes to evaluate the effect of intravaginal progestagen sponges, containing 30 mg of fluorogestone acetate (FGA), followed by administration of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) on inducing synchronized oestrus in the season and fertility. Three times of PMSG administration relative to sponge withdrawal (24 h before (n = 30), at (n = 29) or 24 h after (n= 29)) and two routes of PMSG administration (intramuscular (n = 46) and subcutaneous (n = 42) were compared for estrous response, number of multiple births and fecundity rates. There were no significant differences in terms of estrous response, due to differences in the time and route of PMSG administration. Lambing percentage, proportion of multiple births and fecundity were 75.6, 51.6 and 114.6%, respectively. The administration had a significant effect on lambing (p<0.05), multiple birth and fecundity rates (p<0.01). The subcutaneous administration of PMSG resulted in a significantly higher lambing rate (p<0.05) and fecundity rate (p<0.01), compared to the intramuscular injection of the PMSG.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.20
• /
• pp.142-147
• /
• 1975

The varietal variations of protein and amylose content of rice grown at field and green house were studied. The protein content was negatively correlated with growth duration, and the amylose content was positively correlated with heading date. The environmental variation of the amylose content by cultural season and year was greater in the low amylose varieties than in the high amylose one.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 1988

A syrnpatnc sample of Rana nigrnmaculata sand R plancyi (Anura) from Kwangu, Korea was investigated to clarify their taxonornic status and to estimate the degree of genic variation, genetic relatedness, and reproductive isolation between them, based on electrophoretic analysis, marphometric data, mating call, mating season, and habitat. All the characters measured including morphometric, genetic, behavioral, and ecological suggest that they are distinct species and R nigrnmaculata might have originated from R plancyi (tropical form about three and a half million years ago. An adult female was found to be Fl hybrid between two species The hybrid female possessed fettile eggs and morphologically intermediate to the parental species in head parts, hind limb, and web characters. The differences in mating call, mating behavior, breeding season, and habitat strongly suggest that postmating isolating mechanism is operating, even though very rare hybrid is found.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.260-267
• /
• 2012

Calling behavior is often used to infer breeding patterns in anurans. We studied the seasonal and diel calling activities of anuran species in a wetland in central Korea to determine the calling season and to evaluate the effects of abiotic factors on male calling. Acoustic monitoring was used in which frog calls were recorded for a full day, once a week, throughout an entire year. Using acoustic monitoring, we identified three frog species in the study site. Males of Rana dybowskii called in late winter and early spring; we thus classified this species as a winter/spring caller. The results of binary logistic regression showed that temperature, relative humidity, and 1-day lag rainfall were significant factors for male calling in R. dybowskii. Temperature and relative humidity were important factors for the calling activity of R. nigromaculata, whereas 24-h rainfall and 1-day lag rainfall were not significant. Thus, we determined R. nigromaculata to be a summer caller independent of weather. In Hyla japonica, relative humidity, 24-h rainfall, and 1- day lag rainfall were significant for male calling, suggesting that this species is a summer caller dependent on local rain.