• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2010

Single cell PCR analysis and light and scanning electron microscopic techniques were utilized to identify free living bivalve larvae in the coastal waters of Tae-an, on the west coast of Korea. Through DNA sequencing, venerid clam larvae were isolated and identified as Ruditapes philippinarum (99% similarity) and Meretrix lusoria (99%). Under microscopic observation, the D-veliger stage of R. philippinarum exhibited symmetrical shoulder angles and an elliptical ventral form. In contrast, M. lusoria displayed asymmetrical shoulder angles and a round ventral form in the umbonal stage. Size of the R. philippinarum larvae was $156{\pm}22{\mu}m$ in length, $126{\pm}12{\mu}m$ in height, $92{\pm}14{\mu}m$ in width with a length: height ratio of 1.23. Meretrix lusoria was $202{\pm}44{\mu}m$ in length, $161{\pm}35{\mu}m$ in height, $96{\pm}38{\mu}m$ in width with a length: height ratio of 1.25. Experimental results indicate that morphological and molecular characteristics provide evidence for the larval identification of these two venerid clam larvae species in nature.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.311-315
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• 2012

A novel ${\beta}$-proteobacterium, designated BXN5-$27^T$, was isolated from soil of a ginseng field of Baekdu Mountain in China, and was characterized using a polyphasic approach. The strain was Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, motile, non-spore-forming, and rod shaped. Strain BXN5-$27^T$ exhibited ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity that was responsible for its ability to transform ginsenoside $Rb_1$ (one of the dominant active components of ginseng) to compound Rd. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that this strain belonged to the family Comamonadaceae; it was most closely related to Ramlibacter henchirensis $TMB834^T$ and Ramlibacter tataouinensis$TTB310^T$ (96.4% and 96.3% similarity, respectively). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 68.1%. The major menaquinone was Q-8. The major fatty acids were $C_{16:0}$, summed feature 4 (comprising $C_{16:1}$ ${\omega}7c$ and/or iso-$C_{15:0}$ 2OH), and $C_{17:0}$ cyclo. Genomic and chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of strain BXN5-$27^T$ to the genus Ramlibacter. However, physiological and biochemical tests differentiated it phenotypically from the other established species of Ramlibacter. Therefore, the isolate represents a novel species, for which the name Ramlibacter ginsenosidimutans sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain being BXN5-$27^T$ (=DSM $23480^T$ = LMG $24525^T$ = KCTC $22276^T$).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.862-870
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• 2010

Cyperus rotundus L. is a perennial herb that was found to be dominating an area in northeast Brazil previously contaminated with petroleum. In order to increase our knowledge of microorganism-plant interactions in phytoremediation, the bacterial community present in the rhizosphere and roots of C. rotundus was evaluated by culture-dependent and molecular approaches. PCR-DGGE analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene showed that the bacterial community in bulk soil, rhizosphere, and root samples had a high degree of similarity. A complex population of alkane-utilizing bacteria and a variable nitrogen-fixing population were observed via PCR-DGGE analysis of alkB and nifH genes, respectively. In addition, two clone libraries were generated from alkB fragments obtained by PCR of bulk and rhizosphere soil DNA samples. Statistical analyses of these libraries showed that the compositions of their respective populations were different in terms of alkB gene sequences. Using culturedependent techniques, 209 bacterial strains were isolated from the rhizosphere and rhizoplane/roots of C. rotundus. Dot-blot analysis showed that 17 strains contained both alkB and nifH gene sequences. Partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that these strains are affiliated with the genera Bosea, Cupriavidus, Enterobacter, Gordonia, Mycoplana, Pandoraea, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, and Rhodococcus. These isolates can be considered to have great potential for the phytoremediation of soil with C. rotundus in this tropical soil area.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.654-660
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• 2003

To evaluate the biological diversity of fish pathogenic streptococci, 35 strains isolated from diseased olive flounder (Paralichtys olivaceus), were analyzed using a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique with the oligonucleotide commercial primer 6 (Amersham Biosciences). Api 20 Strep test, drug resistance and artificial infection were carried out for further characterization of the isolates. RAPD fingerprints showed similar pattern in 25 strains (about $71.4\%$ of 35 isolates) and these strains were designed as RA group 1. Similarities greater than $44\%$ were obtained when the Dice coefficient was applied among the isolates of RA 1. On the other hand, the reference Streptococcus iniae showed a similar RAPD profile to the isolates with similarity levels of $40-93.3\%.$ Rh I was suggested to be the dominant group isolated from olive flounder suffering from streptococcosis. However, the isolates of Rh 1 group were not classified into the same species by the Api 20 Strep identification system. There was no peculiarity in drug resistance patterns of Rh I group isolates against 7 antibacterial agents. However, only 3 of 25 isolates $(0.12\%)$ showed oxytetracycline (OTC) resistance and OTC might be a useful chemotherapeutic agent in controlling the streptococcosis by strains of RA I group in olive flounder. Fish injected intraperitoneally with $10^5$ CFU of an isolate of Rh I and RA III group showed $60\%\;and\;50\%$ accumulative mortality for 20 days, respectively ($20\%$ in control or Rh II). However luther comparative studies about differences in virulence between isolates are needed.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.323-330
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• 2017

Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng) is an important medicinal tree found in northeast Asia. In this study, we analyzed the genome-wide distribution of microsatellites in E. senticosus. By sequencing 711 clones from an SSR-enriched genomic DNA library, we obtained 12 polymorphic SSR markers, which also revealed successful amplicons in E. senticosus accessions. Using the developed SSR markers, we estimated genetic diversity and population structure among 131 E. senticosus accessions in Korea and China. The number of alleles ranged from 2 to 11, with an average of 7.4 alleles. The mean values of observed heterozygosity ($H_O$) and expected heterozygosity ($H_E$) were 0.59 and 0.56, respectively. The average polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.51 in all 131 E. senticosus accessions. E. senticosus accessions in Korea and China showed a close genetic similarity. Significantly low pairwise genetic divergence was observed between the two regions, suggesting a relatively narrow level of genetic basis among E. senticosus accessions. Our results not only provide molecular tools for genetic studies in E. senticosus but are also helpful for conservation and E. senticosus breeding programs.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.326-329
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• 2017

Background: Cultivated ginseng is often introduced as a substitute and adulterant of Russian wild ginseng due to its lower cost or misidentification caused by similarity in appearance with wild ginseng. The aim of this study is to develop a simple and reliable method to differentiate Russian wild ginseng from cultivated ginseng. Methods: The mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 7 (nad7) intron 3 regions of Russian wild ginseng and Chinese cultivated ginseng were analyzed. Based on the multiple sequence alignment result, a specific primer for Russian wild ginseng was designed by introducing additional mismatch and allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for identification of wild ginseng. Real-time allele-specific PCR with endpoint analysis was used for validation of the developed Russian wild ginseng single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker. Results: An SNP site specific to Russian wild ginseng was exploited by multiple alignments of mitochondrial nad7 intron 3 regions of different ginseng samples. With the SNP-based specific primer, Russian wild ginseng was successfully discriminated from Chinese and Korean cultivated ginseng samples by allele-specific PCR. The reliability and specificity of the SNP marker was validated by checking 20 individuals of Russian wild ginseng samples with real-time allele-specific PCR assay. Conclusion: An effective DNA method for molecular discrimination of Russian wild ginseng from Chinese and Korean cultivated ginseng was developed. The established real-time allele-specific PCR was simple and reliable, and the present method should be a crucial complement of chemical analysis for authentication of Russian wild ginseng.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.413-418
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• 2003

Genetic diversity and soybean sprout-related traits were evaluated in a total of 72 soybean accessions (60 Glycine max, 7 Glycine soja, and 5 Glycine gracilis). 100-seed weight (SW) was greatly varied and ranged from 3.2g to 32.3g in 72 soybean accessions. Positive correlation was observed between GR and hypocotyl length (HL), whereas negative correlation was observed between SW and hypocotyl diameter (HD). Re-evaluation by discarding two soybean genotypes characterized with low GR indicated that much higher correlation of sprout yield (SY) with HD and SW. Based on the principal component analysis (PCA) for sprout-related traits, 57 accessions were classified. Soybean genotypes with better traits for sprout, such as small size of seeds and high SY, were characterized with high PCA 1 and PCA 2 values. The seed size in second is small but showed low GR and SY, whereas the third has large seed, high GR and more than 400% SY. In genetic similarity analysis using 60 SSR marker genotyping, 72 accessions were classified into three major and several minor groups. Nine of twelve accessions that were identified as the representatives of soybean for sprout based on PCA were in a group by the SSR marker analysis, indicating the SSR marker selection of parental genotypes for soybean sprout improvement program.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2014

A Bacillus strain capable of hydrolyzing locust bean gum was isolated as a producer of extracellular mannanase by way of an enrichment culture in an acidic medium from homemade soybean pastes. The isolate YB-1401 showed a biochemical identity of 61.1% with Brevibacillus laterosporus, while the nucleotide sequence of its 16S rDNA had the highest similarity with that of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The mannanase productivity of the Bacillus sp. YB-1401 was drastically increased by mannans. Particularly, maximum mannanase productivity was reached at approximately 265 U/ml in LB medium supplemented with konjac glucomannan (4.0%). The mannanase was the most active at $55^{\circ}C$ and pH 5.5. Mannanase activity was completely maintained after pre-incubation at pH 3.5 to 11.0 for 1 h. The predominant products resulting from the mannanase hydrolysis were mannobiose and mannotriose for LBG, guar gum or mannooligosaccharides. A small amount of mannose was also detected in the hydrolyzates.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2007

Sweet potato feathery mottle virus(SPFMV) is one of the most prevalent viruses infecting sweet potatoes and occurs widely in sweet potato cultivating areas in Korea. To assess their genetic variation, a total of 28 samples infected with SPFMV were subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP) analysis using DNAs amplified by RT-PCR with specific primer sets corresponding to the coat protein(CP) region of the virus. The similarity matrix by UPGMA procedure indicated that 28 samples infected with SPFMV were classified into three groups based on the number and size of DNA fragments by digestion of CP-encoding regions with 7 enzymes including SalI, AluI, EcoRI, HindIII, FokI, Sau3AI, and DraI bands. Four primer combinations out of 5 designed sets were able to differentiate SPFMV and sweet potato virus G infection, suggesting that these specific primers could be used to differentiate inter-groups of SPFMV. Sequence analysis of the CP genes of 17 SPFMV samples were 97-99% and 91-93% identical at the intra-group and inter-groups of SPFMV, respectively. The N-terminal region of the CP is highly variable and examination of the multiple alignments of amino acid sequences revealed two residues(residues 31 and 32) that were consistently different between SPFMV-O and SPFMV-RC.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.306-312
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• 2010

The pathotypes of Cercospora beticola, causal agent of sugar beet leaf spot disease, were identified by application of pathogenicity test using 100 isolates obtained from the provinces with intensive sugar beet cultivation. For the identification of pathotypes, five sugar beet cultivars were used each with different resistance factors. Cultivar reactions were determined by inoculation of cultivars with the isolates under controlled conditions and measuring disease severity on the $15^{th}$ day according to the 1-9 KWS Scale. Based on the reactions of the five cultivars, a total of 15 pathotypes were detected. All employed sugar beet cultivars were resistant to Pathotype no:1 comprising most of the isolates. Genetic diversity of the causal agent was characterized by AFLP reaction. The products acquired at the end of AFLP reaction were detected by means of Beckman CEQ 8800 DNA Capillary Series Analysis and the results obtained were evaluated according to the similarity index UPGMA. For the genetic analysis of C. beticola isolates, 9874 polymorphic fragments of sizes between 100 and 500 bp were analysed which were generated by nine primers. The dendrogram derived from AFLP analysis depicted the existence of five different subgroups. The polymorphism rate among isolates was 91.13% and the dendrogram distribution of the pathotypes obtained by pathogenicity indicated that pathotypes were not discriminated and did not compose any groups.