• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2022

The genus Prunus (family: Rosaceae) consists of over 400 plant species and exhibits vast biodiversity worldwide. Given the wide distribution of this genus, its taxonomic classification is important. Anatomical characteristics are conserved and stable and can therefore be used as an important tool for the taxonomic characterization of plants. Therefore, this study aimed to assess and document the anatomical characteristics of the leaf, stem, and seed of P. africana using micrographs and photographs for possible use in the identification, quality control, and phylogenetic analysis of the species. The anatomical sections of a young stem revealed a cortex consisting of isodiametric parenchyma cells, druse crystals, primary vascular bundles, and pith. The mature stem bark majorly consisted of the rhytidome, with the periderm densely arranged in multiple layers; a cluster of stone cells; and sclerenchyma. The leaf sections were hypostomatic, with stomata sizes ranging from 18.90-(22.34)-26.90 × 15.41-(18.40)-21.22 ㎛. The leaf sections showed the presence of characteristic druse crystals, vascular bundles, and mesophyll layers. The pericarp contained the epicarp, mesocarp, and endocarp, with their thickness being approximately 350-400, 300-350, and 30-50 ㎛, respectively. In addition, it contained a seed testa with a thickness of approximately 50-60 ㎛. The morphological and anatomical characteristics observed in P. africana leaves, stems, and seeds in this study could serve as useful data for the taxonomic identification of this species.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.338-352
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• 2022

Herein, water and ethanol extracts were obtained from the leaves, branches, kernels, and pericarp of Quercus gilva and subsequently analyzed for antioxidant activity and circadian rhythm regulation effects. Candidate components that may affect circadian rhythm and antioxidant activity were investigated to discover potential functional materials. Antioxidant activity was analyzed via 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity assays, showing that the hot water extract exhibited higher activity than that of the ethanol extract. In particular, the branch extract showed high antioxidant activity. By measuring total contents of polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins, the hot water branch extract showed the highest concentrations, highlighting their significant contribution to the antioxidant activity. Examination of the circadian rhythm regulation of each extract showed that the ethanol extract exhibited greater impacts on the circadian rhythm amplitude compared to the water extract. The branch ethanol extract induced circadian rhythm amplitude changes via clock gene Bmal1 expression regulation. Determination of 12 phenolic compound concentrations showed that the branch ethanol extract contained many phenolic compounds, including catechin. This suggests that these com- pounds affected circadian rhythm regulation. In conclusion, the hot water branch extract has potential as an natural antioxidant material, while the corresponding ethanol extract has potential as a functional material for regulating circadian rhythm.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.660-672
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• 2022

The target of rapamycin complex (TORC) plays a key role in plant cell growth and survival by regulating the gene expression and metabolism according to environmental information. TORC activates transcription, mRNA translation, and anabolic processes under favorable conditions, thereby promoting plant growth and development. Tomato fruit ripening is a complex developmental process promoted by ethylene and specific transcription factors. TORC is known to modulate leaf senescence in tomato. In this study, we investigated the function of TORC in tomato fruit ripening using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of the TORC genes, TOR, lethal with SEC13 protein 8 (LST8), and regulatory-associated protein of TOR (RAPTOR). Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression levels of tomato TORC genes were the highest in the orange stage during fruit development in Micro-Tom tomato. VIGS of these TORC genes using stage 2 tomato accelerated fruit ripening with premature orange/red coloring and decreased fruit growth, when control tobacco rattle virus 2 (TRV2)-myc fruits reached the mature green stage. TORC-deficient fruits showed early accumulation of carotenoid lycopene and reduced cellulose deposition in pericarp cell walls. The early ripening fruits had higher levels of transcripts related to fruit ripening transcription factors, ethylene biosynthesis, carotenoid synthesis, and cell wall modification. Finally, the early ripening phenotype in Micro-Tom tomato was reproduced in the commercial cultivar Moneymaker tomato by VIGS of the TORC genes. Collectively, these results demonstrate that TORC plays an important role in tomato fruit ripening by modulating the transcription of various ripening-related genes.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.996-1002
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• 2010

Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to measure the ploidy level of three different sports from 'Campbell Early' ($Vitis$ $labruscana$) grape. Results of the study showed different ploidy levels. FCM analysis for 'Campbell Early' grape which contains 2C DNA diploid cells showed single peak around 35-40 while 'Kyoho' grape with 4C DNA tetraploid cells had a different level of 70-80. However, analysis of the sports displayed a histogram with 2 peaks containing both 2C and 4C nuclei. There was no difference in histograms of 2C DNA flesh and pericarp; on the other hand, 4C DNA flesh type of sports had a different histogram from that of the 2C DNA pericarp. Chromosome numbers of diploid ('Campbell Early'), tetraploid ('Kyoho'), and three sports were counted under the microscope. 'Campbell Early' and 'Kyoho' have 38 and 76 chromosomes, respectively. Three different sports are mixoploids with mixtures of diploid and tetraploid cells. Microscopic observations of shoot apical meristems in sports from 'Campbell Early' grape were carried out to determine the type of plant chimera. 'Campbell Early' grape (diploid) and 'Kyoho' grape (tetraploid) showed that both had 2 tunica layers covering corpus cells, while the three different sports had tunica layers showing mostly oblique division. Most cells from 'Kyoho' grape were larger than 'Campbell Early' grape. Cells from L-2 and L-3 layers of the three sports were similar to 'Kyoho' grape in size, although all cells in L-1 surface layer were uniform in size like 'Campbell Early' grape. Results of FCM analysis indicated that both normal and polyploid cells could be intermixed in sports and could become mixoploidy consisting of diploid and tetraploid. All sports used in the tests were periclinal chimera plants with two distinct L-1 and L-2 cell layers. The result of this study suggests that all three sports which originated from 'Campbell Early' grape might be 2-4-4 type chimera formation.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2014

The present study was conducted to establish an effect and a proper concentration for treatment with gibberellic acid ($GA_3$) and thidiazuron (TDZ), resulting with increase berry size and yield in Gaeryangmeoru grapes. Berry size was increased by treatment with $GA_3$, and the fruit clusters obtained for the groups treated with $GA_3$ concentrations of 100 and $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ were bigger. The berry number was also enhanced in $GA_3$ treated groups, but the soluble solid content and acidity was not significantly different. Damage caused by $GA_3$ treatment, such as peel pollination and berry shatter, was observed in the group with $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. The berry size was larger in group treated with a high concentration of $GA_3$ and TDZ respectively than in those treated with low concentrations in the treatment mixed $GA_3$ and TDZ; however, fruit with low soluble solid content and high acidity was harvested after $GA_3$ and TDZ treatment due to delay of berry ripening. The pericarp tissue layers were not changed, but the distance from the epidermis layer to vascular bundle tissue was increased as a result of $GA_3$ and TDZ treatment. Therefore, $GA_3$ and TDZ did not affect an cell division but not cell size, resulting in an enlarged berry size. It is necessary to treat plant growth regulators 2~3 times and immediately after berry set to enhance berry set rate, because the period of berry set is short. This study suggests that the proper concentration for enhancing berry size and set were up to $100mg{\cdot}L^1$ $GA_3$ or $50mg{\cdot}L^{-1}GA_3+1.25mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ TDZ, and it is necessary to pay attention to harvest mature fruits because of the delay of ripening caused by the usage of TDZ.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.50 no.spc1
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• pp.161-166
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• 2005

Objectives of this study were to select inbred lines which have a good eating quality and desirable segregates during inbreeding of waxy corn. The 64 inbred lines showed a large variance in their kernel shape and weight. 100-kernel weight, pericarp thickness, kernel length, kernel width, and kernel thickness ranged $11.7\~37.3g,\;11\~77{\mu}m,\;5.8\~9.6mm,\;6.5\~10.0mm$, and $4.1\~6.8mm$, respectively. The physicochemical analysis of 64 waxy corn inbred lines showed crude protein, crude fat, free sugar, and amylopectin content ranging $8.7\~15.8\%,\;2.3\~5.8\%,\;1.1\~11.0\%,\;and\;78.5\~93.8\%$, respectively. The texture property analysis of 64 inbred lines by texture analyzer showed a big difference. Gumminess, hardness, and chewiness of 64 inbred lines ranged $91\~383,\;181\~394,\;and\;73\~370$, respectively. The principal component analysis for 14 characteristics related to kernel quality showed that $73.1\%$ of the total variation could be attributed to the first five principal components. Biological meaning of the principal component was explained clearly by the correlation coefficient between principal components and characters. The first principal component appeared to correspond to small kernel and bad eating quality, The second principal component appeared to correspond to large kernel and good eating quality. The 64 inbred lines were classified into 8 groups by the cluster analysis using the first and second principal component. Among the groups, group VII and VIII included inbred lines with good eating quality that had thin pericarp thickness, low protein content, large kernel, and soft tenderness.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.519-525
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• 2012

Effects of cultivated conditions on antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activities of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) were determined. The cultivated variety was Shinyulmi, and they were cultivated in a conventional culture, successful cropped hairy vetch culture, successful cropped barley cultivation, successful cropped rye cultivation, successful cropped mix-seeding of hairy vetch and barley, successful cropped mix-seeding of hairy vetch and rye, and not fertilizer. The brix degree, moisture, protein, and ash content of the sweet potatoes did not significantly change with the cultivated conditions. However amylose, total dietary fiber, and mineral content had significant changes. The total polyphenol, flavonoid, and tannin content of the methanolic extracts of the sweet potato's pericarp showed significant differences from cultivated conditions, however, the sweet potato's sarcocarp did not significantly change. The highest DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of the methanolic extracts of the sweet potatoes were 958.81 and 663.53 mg TE/100 g in the sweet potato's pericarp on the successful cropped hairy vetch culture. Generally, there was a difference in antioxidant compound content and radical scavenging activity on the methanolic extract of sweet potato with cultivated conditions.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.50 no.spc1
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• pp.152-160
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• 2005

This study was carried out to investigate selectable criteria in evaluating waxy corn $F_1$ hybrids for developing good eating quality waxy corn variety. The physicochemical property analysis of 6 waxy corn $F_1$ hybrids - Chalok1, Chalok2, Heugjeomchal, Yeonnongl, Chalok4, and Suwon45- showed a range of $11.2\~13.1\%$ for crude protein, $5.1\~6.0\%$ for crude fat, $91.8\~92.6\%$ for amylopectin, and $4.5\~6.6\%$ for free sugar content. The pericarp thickness which is one of the most important characteristics related to tenderness in waxy corn was ranged $34\~47{\mu}m$ in 4 waxy corn hybrids - Yeonnongl, Chalok4, Suwon45, and Heugjeomchal. On the other hand, it was ranged $64\~81{\mu}m$ in Chalok1 and Chalok2. The amylogram analysis by rapid visco analyzer showed that in fresh waxy corn hybrid (DAP25), all amylogram properties except setback were higher in Yeonnongl, Chalok4, and Suwon45 compared to those of Chalokl, Chnlok2, and Heugjeomchal. However, in matured waxy corn hybyids (DAP45), the result was the opposite - the amylogram properties were higher in Chalokl, Chalok2, and Heugjeomchal than those of Yeonnongl, Chalok4, and Suwon45. The texture analysis showed that gumminess, chewiness, and hardness increased dramatically with the time after the cooking in Chalokl and Beugjeomchal. On the other hand, these above pyoperties did not change as rapidly with the time in Yeonnongl, Chalok4, and Suwon45. Gumminess, chewiness, and hardness did not increase much within 6 hours after steamingr but increased significantly 32 hours after steaming. Therefore, we have reached a conclusion that texture analysis of cooked waxy corn should be carried out 6 hours after steaming. In the sensory evaluation, Yeonnongl, Chalok4, and Suwon45 revealed higher palatability -6.8, 7.1, and 6.9 respectively - than. that of Chnlokl, Chalok2, and Heugjeomchal. The palatability analysis of 6 waxy corn hybrids showed palatability positively correlating with free sugar content,100-kernel weight, kernel length, kernet width, and consistency, but negatively correlating with pericarp thickness, hardness, gumminess, and chewiness.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.311-319
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• 2010

Four saponins (1~4) were isolated from Akebia quinata pericarp through bioassay-guided fractionation. Pericarps of A. quinata were extracted with ethanol and sequentially fractionated with dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and water. Compounds 1~4 from the butanol fraction were identified as 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin (${\delta}$-hederin), 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1${\rightarrow}$2) ${\alpha}$-L-arabinopyranoly oleanolic acid (${\beta}$-hederin), 3-O-${\beta}$-D-xylopyranosyl (1${\rightarrow}$3) ${\alpha}$-L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin (saponin C), and 3-O ${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1${\rightarrow}$2) ${\alpha}$-L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin (${\alpha}$-hederin) based on the spectroscopic evidences, respectively. Oleanolic acid and hederagenin were identified as the corresponding sapogenins by acid-hydrolysis. These compounds exhibited strong cytotoxic activity in MTS [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxy-methoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H- tetrazolium, inner salt] assay on HepG2 cells. ${\beta}$-Hederin obviously attenuated the expression of bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic protein. All of the compounds also induced the activity of caspase-3, an apoptotic enzyme, while ${\alpha}$-hederin was the most potent activator of the enzyme. Our data demonstrate for the first time the apoptosis-inducing activity of A. quinata. These results suggest that A. quinata could be used as a potential source of natural cancer chemopreventive agents.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the ear and kernel characteristics of waxy corn during ripening by double cropping, and to understand the pattern of starch accumulation in endosperm of waxy corn kernels. Chalok4 and Ilmichal were sown at April 20 (first cropping) and July 20 (second cropping) in 2011~2012. The accumulated temperature from silking to harvesting was about $590{\sim}630^{\circ}C$. It takes 23~24 days when Chalok4 and Ilmichal were sown in April 20, but July 20 sowing takes 32~35 days. Ear length and kernel set length were significantly shorter in second cropping (p<0.05). Kernel length, kernel width, 100-kernel weight, and starch content of waxy corn were increased as ears matured (p<0.05). Growth temperature was getting decreased during the ripening stage of second cropping, the rate of ear and kernel development had slowed. Starch granules started to accumulate in the cells around the pericarp, then developed in the cells around the embryo. In the second cropping, starch granules in the kernel of waxy corn were less compact than the first cropping, harvesting time of waxy corns can be extended. These results will be helpful to farmers for double cropping of waxy corn cultivation and management.