• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.170-179
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• 2017

Plant molecular farming has attracted a lot of attention lately in the field of mass production of industrially valuable materials by extending application of the plant as a kind of factory concept. Among them, protein expression system using rice(Oryza sativa L.) callus is a technology capable of mass culture and industrialization because of a high expression rate of a target protein. This study was carried out to develop an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system to increase the utilization of rice callus. The transformation efficiency was improved by using the hand when seeds were de-husked for callus induction. Furthermore, we were possible induction of callus from 6 years old seed smoothly. Selection of the callus contained the target gene was required a cultivation period of at least 3 weeks, and the most efficient selection period was after 6 weeks of culture including one passage. This selection was confirmed that the gene was stably inserted into the genomic DNA of the plant cell by the southern blot analysis and progeny test. Such an efficient selection system of rice callus that can be cultured in the long term will be contribute to the industrialization of useful recombinant proteins using rice.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.180-189
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• 2017

Genetically modified (GM) crops have been developed worldwide through the recombinant DNA technology and commercialized by global agricultural companies. Until now, GM crops have not been cultivated commercially in Korea. Commercialization of GM crops requires a compulsory assessment of environmental risk associated with the release of GM crops. This study was conducted to evaluate the frequency of pollen mediated gene flow from Bt transgenic rice (Agb0101) to japonica non-GM rice (Nakdongbyeo), indica non-GM rice (IR36), and weedy rice (R55). A total of 729,917, 596,318 and 230,635 seeds were collected from Nakdongbyeo, IR36, and R55, respectively, which were planted around Agb0101. Selection of the hybrids was determined by repeated spraying of herbicide and Cry1Ac1 immunostrip assay. Finally, the hybrids were confirmed by PCR analysis using specific primer. The hybrids were found in all non-GM rice and out-crossing ranged from 0.0005% at IR36 to 0.0027% at Nakdongbyeo. All of hybrids were located within 1.2 m distance from the Agb0101 rice plot. The meteorological elements including rainfall and temperature during rice flowering time were found to be important factors to determine rice out-crossing rate. Consideration should be taken for many factors like the meteorological elements of field and physiological condition of crop to set up the safety management guideline to prevention of GM crops gene flow.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.507-517
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• 2019

To follow up on a 2017 survey of tomato virus diseases, samples with virus-like symptoms were collected from the same areas (Buyeo-gun, Chungchungnam-Do and Daejeon, Korea) in 2018. While in 2017 mixed infections of Tomato mosaic virus with either Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) or Tomato chlorosis virus were detected, only TYLCV was detected in symptomatic samples in 2018. TYLCV amplicons of c.777 bp representing the coat protein (CP) coding region were cloned from the TYLCV positive samples, and the sequence data showed a 97.17% to 98.84% nucleotide and 98.45% to 99.22% amino acid identity with the 2017 Buyeo-gun isolate (MG787542), which had the highest amino acid (aa) sequence identity of up to 99.2% with four 2018 Buyeo-gun sequences (MK521830, MK521833, MK521834, and MK521835). The lowest aa sequence identity of 98.45% was found in a 2018 Daejeon isolate (MK521836); the distance between Buyeo-gun and Daejeon is about 45 km. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the currently reported CP sequences are most closely related to Korean sequences from Masan (HM130912), Goseong (JN680149), Busan (GQ141873), Boseong (GU325634), and the 2017 isolate TYLCV-N (MG787543) in the 'Japan' cluster of TYLCV isolates and distinct from the 'China' cluster isolates from Nonsan (GU325632), Jeonju (HM130913) and Jeju (GU325633, HM130914). Our survey data from 2017 and 2018 suggest that TYLCV has become established in Korea and may be spread by whitefly vectors from weed reservoirs within the farm environment.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.143-156
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• 2019

We carried out the sensitive high resolution ion microprobe zircon U-Pb age dating and whole rock geochemical analysis of granites in the Gudambong and Sainam geosites, Danyang Geopark. The granites crop out in the western and southern parts of Danyang County, and intruded sedimentary successions of the Yeongweol and Taebaek Groups, respectively. The U-Pb isotopic compositions of zircon from the Gudambong and Sainam granite samples yielded the Cretaceous intrusion ages of $90.4{\pm}0.5Ma(t{\sigma})$ and $90.0{\pm}1.5Ma(t{\sigma})$, respectively. The major and trace elements compositions of the samples showed an affinity of typical A-type granite, indicating their petrogenesis during the late stage of the Bulguksa orogeny or a tectonic dormancy. The geochronologic and geochemical results are identical to those of granites previously reported from the Cretaceous Muamsa and Wolaksan suites.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.479-490
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• 2018

Red pepper is seriously damaged by thrips (Thrips palmi) and anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum acutatum throughout its development. Because of biotic constraints, producers often depend on chemicals that are expensive and have adverse effects on the environment, operator, and beneficial insects. In addition, resistance is developed because of the repeated use of chemicals. In recent decades, the use of microorganisms in crop protection has become a credible alternative because it is eco-friendly. In this study, we aimed to select isolates with insecticidal and fungicidal activities against the pathogens that cause anthracnose and thrips. We treated T. palmi adults and juveniles with 13 strains of entomopathogenic fungi (isolated from the soil by using the insect-bait method), and 6 strains showed excellent insecticidal activity (70-100%) 5 days after the treatment. The selected isolates were cultured with C. acutatum to screen for the strain with excellent anti-fungal activities, among which an isolate FT333 showed more than 95% control efficacy against C. acutatum in vitro. The isolate was identified as Isaria javanica through its morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the ITS and ${\beta}-tubulin$ nucleotide sequences. The Isaria javanica FT333 isolate could be used effectively for dual bio-control of thrips and anthracnose during red pepper cultivation.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.43-60
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• 2019

Background: Tropical montane forests played an important role in the provision of ecosystem services. The intense degradation and deforestation for the need of agricultural land expansion result in a significant decline of forest cover. However, the expansion of agricultural land did not completely destruct natural forests. There remain forests inaccessible for agricultural and grazing purpose. Studies on these forests remained scant, motivating to investigate biomass and soil carbon stocks. Data of biomass and soils were collected in 80 quadrats ($400m^2$) systematically in 5 forests. Biomass and disturbance gradients were determined using allometric equation and disturbance index, respectively. The regression modeling is employed to explore the spatial distribution of carbon stock along disturbance and environmental gradients. Correlation analysis is also employed to identify the relation between site factors and carbon stocks. Results: The result revealed that a total of 1655 individuals with a diameter of ${\geq}5cm$, representing 38 species, were measured in 5 forests. The mean aboveground biomass carbon stocks (AGB CS) and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks at 5 forests were $191.6{\pm}19.7$ and $149.32{\pm}6.8Mg\;C\;ha^{-1}$, respectively. The AGB CS exhibited significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation with SOC and total nitrogen (TN) stocks, reflecting that biomass seems to be a general predictor of SOCs. AGB CS between highly and least-disturbed forests was significantly different (P < 0.05). This disturbance level equates to a decrease in AGB CS of 36.8% in the highly disturbed compared with the least-disturbed forest. In all forests, dominant species sequestrated more than 58% of carbon. The AGB CS in response to elevation and disturbance index and SOC stocks in response to soil pH attained unimodal pattern. The stand structures, such as canopy cover and basal area, had significant positive relation with AGB CS. Conclusions: Study results confirmed that carbon stocks of studied forests were comparable to carbon stocks of protected forests. The biotic, edaphic, topographic, and disturbance factors played a significant variation in carbon stocks of forests. Further study should be conducted to quantify carbon stocks of herbaceous, litter, and soil microbes to account the role of the whole forest ecosystem.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.305-312
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• 2018

The crops cultivated and consumed in Korea require specific climate conditions corresponding to their own growth characteristics. This study aims to analyze the relationship between climate change and agricultural productivity. According to growing concern about climate change internationally, many agricultural studies are developing technology to prevent damage from climate change. Before developing technology, we should figure out what kind of crop gets huge damage and how much caused by climate change. In the context of agricultural economics, we can define the reduction of agricultural product yield as a decline in productivity. As a result, this study analyzes the effects of climate change on agricultural productivity using Stochastic Frontier Analysis model. There are several kinds of climate change phenomena that increase the inefficiency of production. In other words, there are several kinds of crops that get negative influence by climate change. The result of this study can be used as basic guideline for producers to prepare for changing weather prior to developing disaster tolerance technology coping actively with special weather report.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.390-400
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• 2019

In this study, strains isolated from soil samples collected from Busan, Changwon, and Jeju Island were examined to verify their abilities of phosphate solubilization and nitrogen fixation, production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), siderophore, and 1-aminocylopropane-1-carboxylyic acid (ACC) deaminase in order to select strains that promote plant growth and play a role in biocontrol of pests or pathogens. According to the results of this study, most of the isolated strains were found to have ability of phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, IAA production, siderophore production, and production of ACC deaminase. These isolated strains might help plant growth by directly improving absorption of nutrients essential for phosphate solubilization and nitrogen fixation. In addition, they can promote plant growth and control resistance to plant diseases through extracellular enzyme activity and antifungal activity. In addition, most of the selected strains were found to survive in various environmental conditions such as temperature, salinity, and pH. Therefore, Pseudomonas plecoglossicida ANG14, Pseudarthrobacter equi ANG28, Beijerinckia fluminensis ANG34, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus ANG35 were finally selected through a comparative advantage analysis to suggest their potential as novel biological agents. Further studies are necessary in order to prove their efficacy as novel biological agents through formulation and optimization of effective microorganisms, their preservation period, and crop cultivation tests.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.3
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• pp.302-310
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• 2019

Precise and fast identification of crop cultivars is essential for efficient breeding and plant breeders' rights. Traditional methods for identification of jujube cultivars are based on the evaluation of morphological characteristics. However, due to time constraints and environmental influences, it is difficult to distinguish cultivars using only morphological traits. In this study, we cloned fragments from improved inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) analysis, and developed stably diagnostic sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. The specific ISSR bands of jujube cultivars from Dalizao and Boeundaechu were purified, cloned, and sequenced. As a result, four clones labeled 827Dalizao550, 827Boeun750, 846Boeun700, and 847Dalizao850 were identified. In order to investigate whether they were specific for the jujube cultivar, four pairs of SCAR primers were then designed and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifications were conducted to analyze 32 samples, including jujube and sour jujube. In the PCR amplification of the 827Dalizao550 SCAR marker, the specific bands with 550 bp were amplified in six samples (Dalizao, Sandonglizao, Dongzao, Yuanlin No. 2, Suanzao 2, Suanzao 4), but unexpected bands (490 bp) were amplified in the others. Moreover, in the PCR amplification of the 847Dalizao850 SCAR marker, the specific bands with 850 bp were found in three samples (Dalizao, Sandonglizao, and Dongzao) and 900 bp unexpected bands were amplified in five samples (Pozao, Suanzao 1, Suanzao 2, Suanzao 3, Suanzao 4). These results showed that newly developed markers could be useful as a fast and reliable tool to identify jujube cultivars. However, further identification of polymorphic information and the development of SCAR markers are required for the identification of more diverse cultivars.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.205-216
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• 2019

Since the RNA interference (RNAi) had been discovered in many organisms, small non-coding RNA-mediated gene silencing technology, including RNAi have been widely applied to analysis of gene function, as well as crop improvement. Despite the usefulness of RNAi technology, RNAi transgenic crops have various potential environmental risks, including off-target and non-target effects. In this study, we developed methods that can be effectively applied to environmental risk assessment of RNAi transgenic crops and verified these methods in 35S::dsRNAi_eGFP rice transgenic plant we generated. Off-target genes, which can be non-specifically suppressed by the expression of dsRNAi_eGFP, were predicted by using the published web tool, pssRNAit, and verified by comparing their expressions between wild-type (WT) and 35S::dsRNAi_eGFP transgenic rice. Also, we verified the non-target effects of the 35S:: dsRNAi_eGFP plant by evaluating horizontal and vertical transfer of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) produced in the 35S::dsRNAi_eGFP plant into neighboring WT rice and rhizosphere microorganisms, respectively. Our results suggested that the methods we developed, could be widely applied to various RNAi transgenic crops for their environmental risk assessment.