• Title/Summary/Keyword: MOLECULAR ECOLOGY

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Biochemical Adaptation of the Oriental Tobacco Budworm, Helicoverpa assulta, to Host-plant Defensive Compounds (기주식물 방어물질에 대한 담배나방의 생화학적 적응)

  • Ahn, Seung-Joon
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.61 no.1
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    • pp.143-154
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    • 2022
  • Plant secondary metabolites play an important role in insect-plant interactions. Herbivorous insects have various strategies to cope with the plant defensive compounds. Polyphagous insects feed on a wide variety of plant species, and their detoxification mechanisms are more complex since they tend to respond to a large array of different plant-derived chemicals. Alternatively, oligophagous insects specialize on only a few related plant species and may be expected to have a more efficient form of adaptation. This adaptation could involve either the production of large quantities of enzymes to detoxify their defensive compounds or the sequestration of the compounds or their metabolites. The oriental tobacco budworm, Helicoverpa assulta, is a specialist herbivore, feeding on a few plants of Solanaceae, such as tobacco and hot pepper. Understanding its host-plant adaptation not provides an important insight on physiology, ecology and evolution of specialist herbivores, but also gives a clue to develop management strategies of the pest species such as H. assulta. This paper briefly reviews the specialist, H. assulta, focusing on its host range, larval associations with the host plants, and detoxification mechanisms to nicotine and capsaicin, two characteristic defensive compounds derived from its two major host plants, tobacco and hot pepper, respectively. It summarizes the relevant research over the last half century and provides a future perspective on this subject.

Entomopathogenic Fungi-mediated Pest Management and R&D Strategy (곤충병원성 진균을 활용한 해충 관리와 개발 전략)

  • Lee, Se Jin;Shin, Tae Young;Kim, Jong-Cheol;Kim, Jae Su
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.61 no.1
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    • pp.197-210
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    • 2022
  • Entomopathogenic fungi can be used to control a variety of sucking and chewing insects, with little effect on beneficial insects and natural enemies. Approximately 170 entomopathogenic fungal insecticides have been registered and used worldwide, with the recent focus being on the mode of action and mechanism of insect-fungal interactions. During the initial period of research and development, the industrialization of entomopathogenic fungi focused on the selection of strains with high virulence. However, improvement in productivity, including securing resistance to environmental stressors, is a major issue that needs to be solved. Although conidia are the primary application propagules, efforts are being made to overcome the limitations of blastospores to improve the economic feasibility of the production procedure. Fungal transformation is also being conducted to enhance insecticidal activity, and molecular biology is being used to investigate functions of various genes. In the fungi-based pest management market, global companies are setting up cooperative platforms with specialized biological companies in the form of M&As or partnerships with the aim of implementing a tank-mix strategy by combining chemical pesticides and entomopathogenic fungi. In this regard, understanding insect ecology in the field helps in providing more effective fungal applications in pest management, which can be used complementary to chemicals. In the future, when fungal applications are combined with digital farming technology, above-ground applications to control leaf-dwelling pests will be more effective. Therefore, for practical industrialization, it is necessary to secure clear research data on intellectual property rights.

Embryonic Development and Metamorphosis of the Ascidian Halocynthia aurantium (붉은멍게(Halocynthia aurantium)의 배발생과 변태)

  • Kim, Gil Jung
    • Journal of Marine Life Science
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    • v.5 no.2
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    • pp.58-63
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    • 2020
  • The ascidian Halocynthia aurantium (sea peach), which belongs to the phylum Chordata, is thought to be a valuable organism of aquaculture like H. roretzi (sea pineapple), but its biological characteristics such as development and ecology are not well known. In this study, in order to obtain basic data for H. aurantium farming, the development processes of H. aurantium inhabiting the east coast of Gangwon-do were investigated and compared with those of H. roretzi, a related species. As a result, the morphology and developmental stages of the fertilized eggs, embryos and larvae of H. aurantium were very similar to those of H. roretzi. Fertilized eggs of H. aurantium took about 42.1 hours to hatch at 11℃, almost similar to 40.9 hours of H. roretzi. The time required for larvae to metamorphose into juveniles after hatching was very similar between the two species. The hatched larvae of the two species became juveniles with oral and atrial siphons after 23 days at 11℃. Both types of embryos developed slowly in seawater at low temperatures and rapidly developed at high temperatures. Fertilized eggs of H. aurantium hatched in an average of 62.3 hours at 9℃, 42.1 hours at 11℃, and 36.3 hours at 13℃, whereas those of H. roretzi hatched in an average of 60.4 hours, 40.9 hours, and 35.2 hours. Most of H. aurantium embryos did not develop normally above 15℃, so it is thought that attention is needed in the seed production processes.

The List of Korean Organisms Registered in the NCBI Nucleotide Database for Environmental DNA Research (환경유전자 연구를 위한 NCBI Nucleotide 데이터베이스에 등록된 국내 생물 목록 현황)

  • Ihn-Sil Kwak;Chang Woo Ji;Won-Seok Kim;Dongsoo Kong
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.55 no.4
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    • pp.352-359
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    • 2022
  • Recently, with the development of genetic technology, interest in environmental DNA (eDNA) to study biodiversity according to molecular biological approaches is increasing. Environmental DNA has many advantages over traditional research methods for biological communities distributed in the environment but highly depends on the established base sequence database. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the habitat status and classification at the genus level, which is mainly used in eDNA (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, COI, and CYTB), focusing on Korean registration taxon groups (phytoplankton, zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and fish). As a result, phytoplankton and zooplankton showed the highest taxa proportion in 18S rRNA, and macroinvertebrates observed the highest ratio in the nucleotide sequence database in COI. In fish, all genes except 18S rRNA showed a high taxon ratio. Based on the Korean registration taxon group, the gene construction of the top 20 genera according to bio density observed that most of the phytoplankton were registered in 18S rRNA, and the most significant number of COI nucleotide sequences were established in macroinvertebrates. In addition, it was confirmed that there is a nucleotide sequence for the top 20 genera in 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and CYTB in fish. These results provided comprehensive information on the genes suitable for eDNA research for each taxon group.

Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of the Brackish Water Clam (Corbicular japonica) from Seomjin River to Gwangyang Bay, South Korea (섬진강-광양만 하구 기수 재첩 (Corbicular japonica)의 분자 계통유전학적 분석)

  • Ji-Hoon Kim;Won-Seok Kim;Kiyun Park;Ihn-Sil Kwak
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.55 no.3
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    • pp.212-220
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    • 2022
  • An estuary is a water ecosystem with a high abundance of the species diversity, due to a variety of complex physicochemical factors of the area where freshwater and ocean mixed. The identification of Corbicula species in the estuary environments is difficult because of various morphological characteristics. In this study, we provide taxonomic information on Corbicula species with taxonomic difficulties using morphological and genetic analysis. This study was conducted on clams from the Seomjin River-Gwangyang Bay, one of the major production area of marsh clam in Korea. As a result, we characterized Cytocrome C Oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences of the Corbicula. The 636 bp nucleotide sequences of COI have 98% homology among Corbicula species collected from 2 sites of Seomjin River-Gwangyang Bay. The phylogenetic analysis with 17 species of Corbicula indicated that most of the species collected from Seomjin River-Gwangyang Bay were brackish water clam (Corbicula japonica), and only one Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea). The evolutionary distance between C. japonica and C. fluminea was less than 0.003. Therefore, it was confirmed that C. japonica is phylogenetically closely related to C. fluminea. In 9 species of Cyrenidae, phylogenetic tree was classified into three lineages. These results will be used as an important data for an identification of clam species by providing genetic information for Corbicula species with a morphological diversity.

Evaluation of Immune Enhancing Activity of Luthione, a Reduced Glutathione, in RAW 264.7 Macrophages (RAW 264.7 대식세포에서 환원형 glutathione인 luthione의 면역 증강 활성 평가)

  • Seon Yeong Ji;Da Hye Kwon;Hye Jin Hwang;Yung Hyun Choi
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.33 no.5
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    • pp.397-405
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    • 2023
  • Although glutathione (GSH) has been shown to play an important role in the prevention of oxidative damage as an antioxidant, studies on immune regulation by it have not been properly conducted. In this study, we investigated whether luthione®, a reduced GSH, has an immune enhancing effect in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. The results of flow cytometry and immunofluorescence experiments indicated that luthione increased phagocytic activity, a representative function of macrophages, compared to the control cells. According to the results of the cytokine array, the expression of interleukin (IL)-5, IL-1β, and IL-27 was significantly increased in the luthione-treated cells. Luthione also enhanced the production of tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-1β through increased expression of their proteins, and increased release of the immune mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 was associated with increased expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. In addition, the expression of cluster of differentiation 86, an M1 macrophage marker, was dramatically enhanced in RAW 264.7 cells treated with luthione. Furthermore, as a result of heat map analysis, we found that cytokine signaling 1/3-mediated signal transducer and activator of transcription/Janus tyrosine kinase signaling pathway was involved in the immunomodulatory effect by luthione. In conclusion, our data suggested that luthione could act as a molecular regulator in M1 macrophage polarization and enhance immune capacity by promoting macrophage phagocytic function.

Morphological Characteristics and URP-PCR Analysis of Hypocrea sp., a Weed Mould of Oyster Mushroom Cultivation (느타리버섯 유해균 Hypocrea sp.의 형태 및 URP-PCR 분석)

  • Seo, Geon-Sik;Kim, Byung-Ryun;Park, Myeung-Soo;Kim, Min-Kyung;Yu, Seung-Hun
    • The Korean Journal of Mycology
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.86-94
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    • 2002
  • Recently a serious outbreak of weed mould caused by a species of Hypocrea occurred in oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) substrates in Korea. The disease was characterized by a rapid infestation of the oyster mushroom substrates by Hypocrea sp. and subsequent inhibition of fructification of the mushroom. In spite of it's serious losses to the oyster mushroom industry in Korea, etiology and ecology of the disease have not been studied. Morphological characteristics of the fungus were examined and molecular characteristics of the fungus were compared with those of the green moulds (Trichoderma spp.) isolated from oyster mushroom bed. Stromata formed superficially on suface of the substrates were pulvinate to effuse or irreguler, initially white but becoming yellowish brown, measuring $6.0{\sim}13.0{\times}3.0{\sim}11.0mm$. Perithecia were globose to subglobose, immersed in stroma, $223{\sim}263\;(Ave.239.9){\times}167.3{\sim}231\;(Ave.204.1){\mu}m$ in size. Asci were unitunicate, cylindrical, nonamyloid, $82.7{\sim}124.8\;(Ave.103.3){\times}4.1{\sim}5.1\;(Ave.4.9){\mu}m$ in size, 16 part-spored. Ascospores were bullet-shaped or somewhat oblong, hyaline, bicellular, roughened or warted, $5.4{\sim}7.4\;(Ave.6.5){\times}3.6{\sim}5.5\;(Ave.4.7){\mu}m$ in size. This fungus readily form the stroma on PDA. Mycelia on PDA nearly invisible and without cottony aerial mycelium. Optimum temperature for mycelial growth of this fungus was $25^{\circ}C$ on PDA and its growth rate was 15 mm per day. This species did not grow at below 10 and above $35^{\circ}C$. Phialides in culture enlarged in the middle and aggregated to penicillate type. They were very variable, shorted ampulliform and occasionally curved when matured, but cylinderical when young, measuring $11.9{\sim}24.3\;(Ave.\;14.7){\times}2.9{\sim}3.9\;(Ave.\;3.4){\mu}m$ when matured and $7.2{\sim}14.0\;(Ave.\;10.8){\times}2.8{\sim}4.9\;(Ave.\;3.5){\mu}m$ when young. Phialosopres were ovoid to ellipsoid, smooth, measuring $3.5{\sim}7.2\;(Ave.\;4.5){\times}2.6{\sim}3.3\;(Ave.\;2.9){\mu}m$. Nineteen isolates of Hypocrea sp. were analyzed on the basis of molecular characteristics and classified into phenotypic groups. On the basis of RAPD, URP-PCR, the fungus was confirm to monoclonal, and was classified as a different taxon from reported species of Hypocrea and Trichoderma and supposed to be a new species not previously reported in literature.

숙성 토하젓의 기능성분 및 토하젓 소스 개발에 관한 연구

  • 박복희
    • Proceedings of the SOHE Conference
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    • 1997.12a
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    • pp.39-43
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    • 1997
  • Toha-jeod was manufactured by seven methods ; low salt group (L:15% sodium chloride), high salt g group (H:23% sodium chloride), 50% conventional soybean sauce group (S), low salt group containing 2% w wheat bran (W2%-L), high saIt group containing 2% wheat bran (W2%-H),high salt group containing 2% wheat bran (W2%-H), high salt group containing 4% wheat bran (W4%-H). After these seven groups were refrigerated at $4{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, they were sampled at intervals of three months and analyzed functional components. The free amino acid in Toha-jeod which are omitine, glutamic acid, leucine, alanine, lysine and valine increased gradually up to six months of fermentation and decreased by nine months. Conventional soybean sauce group increased continuously during the fermentation process. Hypoxanthine was altered almost among other nueletides. ATP was not detected, IMP and inosine had disapapted after the six months fermentation. Polyene fatty acids and n-3 fatty acids were decreased and s saturated fatty acids were not altered in the group containing wheat bran during fermentation. In the Hunter values, the group containing wheat bran and high salt group showed lower level than the group n not containing wheat bran and low salt group. Redness indicating the value of Toha-jeod increased as Toha-jeod was fermentated. Low salt group and conventional soybean sauce group were superior to other groups in the extent of redness. As the fermentation of Toha-jeod progressed for a long time, molecular weight distribution tended to become less molecular and the formation of chitin oligosaccharides was increased significantly. After nine months of fermentation, 24.75% chitin oligosaccharides [($GlcNAd_4$ ~ ($GlcNAd_8$, M.W. 823~1789] were created in the high salt group containing 2% wheat bran. [($GlcNAd_6$. M.W. 1236J , that is NACOS-6, which was reported as an antitumor activity material, was present in 4.01~4.37% of total Toha chitin content. 66.30% chitin oligosaccharides were created in conventional soybean sauce.

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Distribution Patterns and Ecological Characters of Paulownia coreana and P. tomentosa in Busan Metropolitan City Using MaxEnt Model (MaxEnt 모형을 활용한 부산광역시 내 오동나무 및 참오동나무의 분포 경향과 생태적 특성)

  • Lee, Chang-Woo;Lee, Cheol-Ho;Choi, Byoung-Ki
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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    • v.35 no.2
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    • pp.87-97
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    • 2017
  • Paulownia species has long been recognized in Korean traditional culture and the values of the species have been researched in various focuses. However, studies on distribution and ecological characteristics of the species are still needed. This study aimed to identify distribution trends and ecological characteristics of two Paulownia species in Busan metropolitan city using the MaxEnt model. The MaxEnt model was established based on the environmental factors such as positioning information of the Paulownia species, topography, climate and degree of anthropogenic disturbance potentiality (ADP), which was collected in the on-site research. The study verified that the accuracy of the model was appropriate as the AUC value of Paulownia coreana and P. tomentosa was 0.809, respectively. In terms of the distribution trends of the two Paulownia species in the research area depending on the distribution model, they were both mainly distributed in downtown where built-up area and bare ground were densely concentrated. The potential distribution area of the two species was identified as $137.4km^2$ for P. coreana and $135.0km^2$ for P. tomentosa. The distribution probability was high in Jung-gu, Dongrae-gu, Busanjin-gu and Yeonje-gu. As a result of the analysis on contribution of the environmental factors, it was turned out that the degree of anthropogenic disturbance potentiality (ADP) contributed to distribution of P. coreana and P. tomentosa by about 50%, and the contribution of the environmental factors had a positive correlation with the degree of ADP. The elevation had a negative correlation with both the two species, which was considered because the species must compete more with native species in natural habitats as the altitude above sea level rises. The research findings demonstrated numerically that the distribution of P.coreana and P. tomentosa depended on artificial activities, and indicated the relevance with the Korean traditional landscape. These findings are expected to provide meaningful information in using, preserving and restoring Paulownia species.

아까시나무(Robinia pseudo-acacia)종자 단백질의 전기 영동 변이

  • 김창호;이호준;김용옥
    • The Korean Journal of Ecology
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    • v.16 no.4
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    • pp.515-526
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    • 1993
  • In order to study the ecotypic variation of Rohinia pseudo-acacia L. distributed in southern area of Korean peninsula, 15 local populations(Daejin, Sokcho, Kangneung, Mt. Surak, Hongcheon, Kwangneung, Namhansanseong, Chungju, Yesan, Andong, Jeonju, Dalseong, Changweon, Mokpo and Wando), located from $34^{\circ}18'N\;to\;38^{\circ}36'N$, were selected based on the latitudes and geographical distances. Seeds of these populations were collected and protein contents of seeds and their band patterns were investigated. The seed proteins of all populations were electrophoresed on SDS-polyacrylamide gel. Total number of protein bands were 35, whose molecular weights ranged from 17, 258 daltons to 142, 232 daltons. The number of bands of seed proteins was 23 in Dalseong and Hongcheon and was 32 in Daejin and Sokcho, showing an increasing tendency in the number of bands as the latitude goes high. The local populations were classified into 3 local types based on protein analysis: the middle north east coastal type(Daejin, Sokcho. Kangneung), the central type (Mt. Surak, Hongcheon, Kwangneung, Namhansanseong, Chungju) and the southern type(Yesan, Andong, Jeonju, Dalseong, Changweon, Mokpo, Wando). According to the results of cluster analysis by UPGMA based on the similarity index(c0efficient of Jaccard) of the patterns, 3 local types were subdivided further into 6 types: the middle north east coastal type(Sokcho, Kangneung), the north central type I (Mt. Surak, Hongcheon), the north central type II (Narnhansanseong, Chungju, Daejin), the north central type III (Kwangneung), the south central type (Yesan, Dalseong, Jeonju) and the southern type(Andong, Changweon, Mokpo, Dalseong, Wando). The No. 12 band of the separated seed proteins showed the highest colored density in the preparations from all the populations. The No. 11~13 and No. 23~28 bands also showed high densities. As a whole, southern type populations (Changweon, Mokpo, Wando) showed high protein contents and high colored density. Total protein contents of the seeds in each population were variable from 9. 68mg / g (Mt. Surak) to 17.30mg/g (Jeonju), showing an increasing trends toward low latitudes.

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