• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5265-5271
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• 2015

Background: The effects of plant products on cancer cells has become a field of major importance. Many substancesmay induce apoptosis in anti-cancer treatment. Pectins, a family of complex polysaccharides, and their degradation products may for exasmple exert apoptotic effects in cancer cells. Apples and citrus fruits are the main sources of pectin which can be applied for anti-cancer research. The present study concerned an intact form of pectic-oligoshaccharide named pectic acid (poly galactronic acid). Materials and Methods: Inhibition of cell proliferation assays (MTT), light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy (acridin orange/ethidium bromide), DNA fragmentation tests, cell cycle analysis, annexin PI and Western blotting methods were applied to evaluate apoptosis. Results: The results indicated that pectic acid inhibited cell growth and reduced cell attachment after 24h incubation. This did not appear to be due to necrosis, since morphological features of apoptosis were detected with AO/EB staining and cell cycling was blocked in the sub-G1 phase. Annexin/PI and DNA fragmentation findings indicated that apoptosis frequency increased after 24h incubation with pectic acid. In addition, the data showed pectic acid induced caspase-dependent apoptosis. Conclusions: These data indicate that apple pectic acid without any modification could trigger apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells and has potential to improve cancer treatment as a natural product.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.137-152
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• 2021

Background and objective: This study was carried out to investigate and analyze the preference for plant fragrance and the psychological effects of a agro-healing activity in 101 firefighters aged 39.71 ± 10.94. Methods: For the psychological evaluation, post-traumatic stress symptoms, Korean occupational stress scale short form (KOSS-SF), emotional intelligence, and job satisfaction were surveyed on the Likert scale. For the preference for plant fragrances, 20 ㎕ of commercially available essential oils from four plant species (Mentha spp., Lavandula spp., Citrus limon, C. sinensis) were absorbed into each test paper and provided to the participants. Results: The rate of post-traumatic stress symptoms was high at 37.6% of the firefighters surveyed.. C. limon fragrance had the highest preference among the four plant fragrances, followed by C. sinensis > Mentha spp. > Lavandula spp. with statistically significant difference (F = 14.256, p < .001). The lower their age, income, and position, and higher the education level, the higher the preference for plant fragrances. And the administrative group had higher preference for plant fragrances than field group. In addition, as a result of examining the correlation between job satisfaction, preference for plant fragrance, post-traumatic stress, emotional intelligence, and job stress for fire-fighters, the higher the job satisfaction, the higher the fragrance preference and emotional intelligence, and the lower the post-traumatic stress and job stress. Conclusion: Therefore, installing a garden using botanical fragrances at workplaces that firefighters can easily access will improve job satisfaction and relieve stress. It can be concluded that applying the fragrance of plants to the healing farming activities at the fire-fighter's workplace can increase the usefulness of the healing activities.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.235-245
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• 2011

Temperature-related parameters of Panonychus citri (McGregor) (Acarina: Tetranychidae) development were estimated and a stage-structured matrix model was developed. The lower threshold temperatures were estimated as $8.4^{\circ}C$ for eggs, $9.9^{\circ}C$ for larvae, $9.2^{\circ}C$ for protonymphs, and $10.9^{\circ}C$ for deutonymphs. Thermal constants were 113.6, 29.1, 29.8, and 33.4 degree days for eggs, larvae, protonymphs, and deutonymphs, respectively. Non-linear development models were established for each stage of P. citri. In addition, temperature-dependent total fecundity, age-specific oviposition rate, and age-specific survival rate models were developed for the construction of an oviposition model. P. citri age was categorized into five stages to construct a matrix model: eggs, larvae, protonymphs, deutonymphs and adults. For the elements in the projection matrix, transition probabilities from an age class to the next age class or the probabilities of remaining in an age class were obtained from development rate function of each stage (age classes). Also, the fecundity coefficients of adult population were expressed as the products of adult longevity completion rate (1/longevity) by temperature-dependent total fecundity. To evaluate the predictability of the matrix model, model outputs were compared with actual field data in a cool early season and hot mid to late season in 2004. The model outputs closely matched the actual field patterns within 30 d after the model was run in both the early and mid to late seasons. Therefore, the developed matrix model can be used to estimate the population density of P. citri for a period of 30 d in citrus orchards.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2021

The concept of integrated pest management (IPM) first developed in the 1950s, and the concept of economic control via pest management was established in the 1960s. Research on IPM began in the United States and Europe, and IPM studies in Korea started with citrus insects and paddy field pests following the distribution of high-yield varieties of rice. Apple IPM in Korea began with research on pest control using chemical pesticides and pesticides resistant to insect pests, studies on the ecology of insect pests and their natural enemies, and the exploitation of sex pheromones on insect pests. Since the 1990s, IPM research and field projects have been carried out simultaneously for farming households. In the 2000s, the development of pest monitoring and forecasting models centered on mating disturbances, database programs for pests, and networks for sharing information. IPM technology has expanded via the development of unmanned forecasting systems and automation technologies in the 2010s.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.132-139
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• 1999

A field experiment was conducted at Cheju from early March 1998 to early March 1999 to evaluate the effects of foliar applied urea on leaf N content and N recovery in satsuma mandarins (Citrus unshiu Marc.). Seven years old 'Okitsu Wase' trees received foliar spray of urea (22 or 43 g N $tree^{-1}yr^{-1}$) or soil application of urea (86 g N $tree^{-1}yr^{-1}$). 56% of N was applied in spring, 11% in summer and 33% in fall. There were seven trees per N treatment and two trees per N treatment received $^{15}N$-labeled urea in spring and summer to determine N recovery. There were no differences between the treatments for fruit yield and its quality. Nitrogen content of spring flush leaf blades up to early September was greater for trees received foliar spray comparing with soil application but was not greatly affected by any treatment after mid-November. The recovery of fertilizer N in various parts of trees receiving foliar spray of 22 g N $tree^{-1}yr^{-1}$ was greatest, followed by receiving foliar spray of 43 g N and soil application of 86 g N. The recovery of fertilizer N in tree was 29.2 and 17.7% for foliar spray of 22 and 43 g N $tree^{-1}yr^{-1}$, respectively and 8.0% for soil application of 86 g N $tree^{-1}yr^{-1}$. The recovery of fertilizer N in the upper 40 cm of soil was 50.3, 45.6, and 51.8% for foliar spray of 22 and 43 g N $tree^{-1}yr^{-1}$, and soil application of 86 g N $tree^{-1}yr^{-1}$ respectively. The total (tree, fallen leaves, winter weeds, and soil) recovery of fertilizer N was 81.8, 65.1, and 60.6% for foliar spray of 22 and 43 g N $tree^{-1}yr^{-1}$, and soil application of 86 g N $tree^{-1}yr^{-1}$, respectively.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 1999

Soil actinomycetes of 703 strains were isolated from 25 sampling points in Cheju Island using 4 different media. Arginine glycerol salts agar containing soil extract was found to be the best medium for the isolation of soil actinomycetes. Soil samples from pasture land showed higher population and diversity of the actinomycetes than those from citrus field, forest, island, hill or valley. When the antibacterial activity of the 526 isolates was tested against three bacterial strains, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas solanacearum the frequency of the isolates with antibacterial activity varied much depending upon the media used for isolation and cultivation. BL106Ba, one of the 10 isolates that showed antibacterial activity against all the above 3 test strains, was chosen based upon the pH and heat stability of its antibacterial metabolites, and was identified as Streptomyces sp. based upon its cultural, morphological and physiological characteristics. The partially purified white crystalline substance obtained from the culture supematant of BL1063a through cation exchange chromatography(AG MP-50) and three times consecutive gel filtration(Sephadex G-10) showed high antimicrobial activity against gram positive and negative bacteria, but low activity against yeasts. The partially purified substance was found to contain at least four different compounds with antibacterial activity by both thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2009

Heavy reliance on organosynthetic chemical methods to control agricultural pest tends to deteriorate and lower fertility of soil. We studied annual occurrence of earthworm in environment-friendly agroecosystem and attempted to determine the degree of soil contamination. Candidate bioindicators of earthworm in agroecosystem were selected through analysis of earthworm diversities. Depending on the degree of pesticide use, the fields were devided into conventional, less-pesticide, pesticide free, and organic fields. A nearby field not in agricultural use was chosen as a control. This study was carried out in the greenhouses (lettuce and grape) in 2006 and in orchards (apple, pear, peach, citrus and grape) in 2007. Earthworm was collected from 50 $\times$ 50 $\times$ 10 cm$^3$ of respective soil. We found 11 species from 5 genera and 3 families, and 12 species from 4 genera and 3 families in the greenhouses and in orchards, respectively. The contents of organic matter in soil in the greenhouses were variable but quite less so in orchards. Amynthas heteropodus occurred most frequently in both sites suggesting that it could be adopted as a bioindicator in agroecosystem in Korea.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.24-30
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• 2012

This study was conducted to select the cover crops in organic apple orchard by estimating the coverage of each cover crops and time-periodic weed occurrence. Seeding of Festuca myuros and Trifolium repens showed high contents of soil organic matter and phosphorus as compared with control. Seeding of Trifolium sp., Hordeum vulgare and Secale cereal reduced relatively occurrence of weed in May and S. cereal among others showed the greatest effect in June. In July, seeding F. arundinaceae and Poa pratensis showed low coverage and a lot of weeds occurred in their field. Fifty one species were occurred as weeds and it needs to removal of high and broadleaf weeds such as Chenopodium ficifolium, C. album var. centrorubru and Humulus japonicus in spring to increase the rate of ground cover. P. pratensis having the lowest cover rate showed the similar dry weight of weeds as compared with control. Trifolium sp. and Persicaria hydropiper had a high correlation with contents of soil organic matter and C. album var. centrorubru had a correlation with contents of soil phosphorus by CCA analysis.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2013

BACKGROUND: As improved LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) industry and decreased the price of LEDs in Korea, some farmers try to using the RED LEDs in green house and open field to increase the production of crop under bad weather condition. The aim of this study is to find out the effect of RED and FAR-RED LEDs lighting on the fruit quality of twelve-year old 'Hongro'/M.26 apple during night after sunset. METHODS AND RESULTS: FAR-RED (730nm, 2 and 4 hour) and RED (620nm, 2 and 4 hour) with 20 LED/PCB were treated in orchard for 16 weeks from June 10 to October 10 in 2009 and 2010 with control as an comparison. In our experiments, leaf weight was significantly higher in RED LEDs than control, tended to be decreased as times of FAR-RED lighting increased. Fruit weight was increased more in RED LEDs than control in 2009 and 2010, but decreased in FAR-RED lighting compared to control in 2010. Firmness and Hunter's a value of fruit were increased in FAR-RED lighting with 2 and 4 h than control. Soluble solid contents were higher in 2 h RED and 2, 4 h FAR-RED LEDs compared to control in 2009, there was no significant difference in 2010. Acid contents were no difference among the treatments. CONCLUSION(S): In our results, we found that RED LEDs was more helpful to increase the fruit weight and FAR-RED LEDs promote to be higher hunter a value of fruit skin. So, we thought that it is necessary to more study if mixed of RED and FAR-RED lighting is more helpful to promote fruit quality of 'Hongro' apple than single lighting of RED or FAR-RED LEDs respectively.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.375-382
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• 2015

The insecticidal activity of the constituents of cinnamon essential oils and structurally related compounds against both the nymphs and adults of the citrus flatid planthopper Metcalfa pruinosa was examined using a direct-contact application. The toxicity of the cinnamon oil constituents and 21 (E)-cinnamaldehyde related compounds regarding the nymphs of M. pruinosa was evaluated using a leaf-dipping bioassay. Based on 24 h $LC_{50}$ values, hydro-cinnamic acid ($1.55mg/cm^2$) is the most toxic compound, followed by geranic acid ($1.59mg/cm^2$). The $LC_{50}$ values of 11 of the compounds including cinnamaldehyde are between $1.60mg/cm^2$ and $4.94mg/cm^2$. Low toxicities and no toxicity were observed with the other 15 ($5.24mg/cm^2$ to $13.47mg/cm^2$) and two compounds, respectively. Also, the toxicities of the cinnamon oil constituents and 21 cinnamaldehyde related compounds regarding the M. pruinosa adults were evaluated using a direct-spray method. The toxicity of eugenol (10.81 mg) is the most toxic compound for the adults of M. pruinosa, followed by geranic acid (30.68 mg). The $LC_{50}$ values of nine of the compounds including cinnamaldehyde are between 59.16 mg and 96.70 mg. Low toxicities and no toxicity were observed with the other 15 (105.44 mg to 255.76 mg) and three compounds, respectively. The spray formulations that comprise cinnamon bark and cinnamon green leaf oils resulted in 82.3% and 82.9% mortalities, respectively, toward the M. pruinosa adults in a ginseng field. Global efforts to reduce the level of highly toxic synthetic insecticides in agricultural environments justify further studies on cinnamon oils to ascertain whether the corresponding active principles can act as insecticides, when they are applied as a direct spray with contact action, for the control of M. pruinosa populations.