• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.394-403
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• 2023

In the pursuit of sustainable and environmentally-friendly agricultural practices, we conducted an extensive study on the rhizosphere bacteria inhabiting soils that have been devoid of chemical fertilizers for an extended period exceeding 40 years. Through this investigation, we isolated a total of 80 species of plant growth-promoting rhizosphere bacteria and assessed their potential to enhance plant growth. Among these isolates, Burkholderia cepacia CD2 displayed remarkable plant growth-promoting activity, making it an optimal candidate for further analysis. Burkholderia cepacia CD2 exhibited a range of beneficial characteristics conducive to plant growth, including phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, denitrification, nitrate utilization, and urease activity. These attributes are well-known to positively influence the growth and development of plants. To validate the taxonomic classification of the strain, 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed its placement within the Burkholderia genus, providing further insights into its phylogenetic relationship. To delve deeper into the potential mechanisms underlying its plant growth-promoting properties, we sought to confirm the presence of specific genes associated with plant growth promotion in CD2. To achieve this, whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed by Plasmidsaurus Inc. (USA) utilizing Oxford Nanopore technology (Abingdon, UK). The WGS analysis of the genome of CD2 revealed the existence of a subsystem function, which is thought to be a pivotal factor contributing to improved plant growth. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that Burkholderia cepacia CD2 has the potential to serve as a microbial fertilizer, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers.

• Proceedings of The Korean Society of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology Conference
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.12-14
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• 2011

Crop growth simulation models have been developed as research and management tools. When these models are needed to incorporate new knowledge on phenology and physiology of crops, programming languages have been used for development and documentation of these models. However, researchers may have limited skill in programming languages. Furthermore, software developer may find it challenging to improve the crop models because documentation of the models are rarely available. The Unified Modeling Language (UML) can provide a simple approach for development and documentation of model. A template for implementation of the model can be obtained using the UML, which would facilitate code re-use and model improvement.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.968-975
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• 2018

In the course of screening for microbes with nematicidal activity, we found that Enterobacter asburiae HK169 displayed promising nematicidal activity against the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, along with plant growth-promoting properties. Soil drenching of a culture of HK169 reduced gall formation by 66% while also increasing root and shoot weights by 251% and 160%, respectively, compared with an untreated control. The cell-free culture filtrate of the HK169 culture killed all juveniles of M. incognita within 48 h. In addition, the nematicidal activity of the culture filtrate was dramatically reduced by a protease inhibitor, suggesting that proteolytic enzymes contribute to the nematicidal activity of HK169. In order to obtain genomic information about the HK169 isolate related to its nematicidal and plant growth-promoting activities, we sequenced and analyzed the whole genome of the HK169 isolate, and the resulting information provided evidence that the HK169 isolate has nematicidal and plant growth-promoting activities. Taken together, these observations enable the future application of E. asburiae HK169 as a biocontrol agent for nematode control and promote our understanding of the beneficial interactions between E. asburiae HK169 and plants.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.194-203
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• 2009

$HpaG_{Xooc}$, from rice pathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola, is a member of the harpin group of proteins, eliciting hypersensitive cell death in non-host plants, inducing disease and insect resistance in plants, and enhancing plant growth. To express and secret the $HpaG_{Xooc}$ protein in Bacillus subtilis, we constructed a recombinant expression vector pM43HF with stronger promoter P43 and signal peptide element nprB. The SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis demonstrated the expression of the protein $HpaG_{Xooc}$ in B. subtilis. The ELISA analysis determined the optimum condition for $HpaG_{Xooc}$ expression in B. subtilis WBHF. The biological function analysis indicated that the protein $HpaG_{Xooc}$ from B. subtilis WBHF elicits hypersensitive response(HR) and enhances the growth of tobacco. The results of RT-PCR analysis revealed that $HpaG_{Xooc}$ induces expression of the pathogenesis-related genes PR-1a and PR-1b in plant defense response.

• Mycobiology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.147-153
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• 2018

Certain beneficial microorganisms isolated from rhizosphere soil promote plant growth and induce resistance to a wide variety of plant pathogens. We obtained 49 fungal isolates from the rhizosphere soil of paprika plants, and selected 18 of these isolates that did not inhibit tomato seed germination for further investigation. Based on a seed germination assay, we selected four isolates for further plant tests. Treatment of seeds with isolate JF27 promoted plant growth in pot tests, and suppressed bacterial speck disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pathovar (pv.) tomato DC3000. Furthermore, expression of the pathogenesis-related 1 (PR1) gene was higher in the leaves of tomato plants grown from seeds treated with JF27; expression remained at a consistently higher level than in the control plants for 12 h after pathogen infection. The phylogenetic analysis of a partial internal transcribed spacer sequence and the b-tubulin gene identified isolate JF27 as Aspergillus terreus. Taken together, these results suggest that A. terreus JF27 has potential as a growth promoter and could be used to control bacterial speck disease by inducing resistance in tomato plants.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.244-251
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• 2005

The induction of growth promotion on numerous crops by rhizobacteria is a well documented phenomenon. In case of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), fruit yield is higher in replant soil than that in fresh soil. To investigate what kind of rhizobacterium is involved, microbial community in rhizosphere and on rhizoplane of tomato plants from each soil was analyzed by dilution plating on selective media. Many Gram-negative bacteria and actinomycetes were isolated from tomato in replant soil. One Gram-negative rhizobacterium isolated was identified as Pseudomonas putida based on its biochemical characteristics, fatty acid methyl ester analysis and 16S rDNA sequence. This bacterium designated strain 17 inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas corrugata, and increased growth of tomato seedlings. In addition, its culture filtrate inhibited conidial germination of plant-pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, F. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum, and Nectria radicicola. Scanning electron microscopy revealed strain 17 colonized and persisted on the epidermal surfaces of tomato radicles and roots. These results suggest that P. putida strain 17 may serve as a biological control agent to suppress multiple soil-borne diseases for tomato plants. Increased microbial populations that suppress deleterious microorganisms including pathogens could be one of the major factors in increased tomato yield in replant soil.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.220-228
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• 2024

Background: Panax ginseng, one of the valuable perennial medicinal plants, stores numerous pharmacological substrates in its storage roots. Given its perennial growth habit, organ regeneration occurs each year, and cambium stem cell activity is necessary for secondary growth and storage root formation. Cytokinin (CK) is a phytohormone involved in the maintenance of meristematic cells for the development of storage organs; however, its physiological role in storage-root secondary growth remains unknown. Methods: Exogenous CK was repeatedly applied to P. ginseng, and morphological and histological changes were observed. RNA-seq analysis was used to elucidate the transcriptional network of CK that regulates P. ginseng growth and development. The HISTIDINE KINASE 3 (PgHK3) and RESPONSE REGULATOR 2 (PgRR2) genes were cloned in P. ginseng and functionally analyzed in Arabidopsis as a two-component system involved in CK signaling. Results: Phenotypic and histological analyses showed that CK increased cambium activity and dormant axillary bud formation in P. ginseng, thus promoting storage-root secondary growth and bud formation. The evolutionarily conserved two-component signaling pathways in P. ginseng were sufficient to restore CK signaling in the Arabidopsis ahk2/3 double mutant and rescue its growth defects. Finally, RNA-seq analysis of CK-treated P. ginseng roots revealed that plant-type cell wall biogenesis-related genes are tightly connected with mitotic cell division, cytokinesis, and auxin signaling to regulate CK-mediated P. ginseng development. Conclusion: Overall, we identified the CK signaling-related two-component systems and their physiological role in P. ginseng. This scientific information has the potential to significantly improve the field-cultivation and biotechnology-based breeding of ginseng.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.109-120
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• 2004

To obtain basic information for precision agriculture, spatial variability of rice growth condition was evaluated in 100m ${\times}$100m paddy field. The rice growth condition of four hundred locations in the field were investigated to analyze the spatial variability of their properties ; SPAD, plant length and tiller number. Geostatistical analysis was carried out to examine within-field spatial variability using semivariograms and kriged maps as well as descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics showed that the coefficient of variation for SPAD, plant length, and tiller number exceeded 5.70 %, suggesting a relatively high variability. Geostatistical analysis indicated a high spatial dependence for all the properties except for the second tiller number. The range of spatial dependence was about 20 m for SPAD, plant length, and tiller number. Based on the results of spatial dependence, kriged maps were prepared for the properties to analyse their spatial distribution in the field. The results reflected the history of field management. In conclusion, the need for site-specific field management and possibility of precision agriculture were demonstrated even in an almost flat paddy field.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.142-147
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• 2015

The artificial light sources for growth of plant are usually high-pressure sodium lamp, metal haloids lamp, and fluorescent light; however, these light sources have relatively weaker Red and Blue lights that are necessary for growth of plants. Especially the effect of Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD) is pointed out as the weakness. Meanwhile, LED light source can be selected by specific wavelength to greatly improve the effect of PPFD. In this regard, this paper aims to investigate the promotion of plant growth by measuring photosynthetic photon flux density (hereafter referred to as PPFD) according to changes in light quality of the LED light sources. Towards this end, LED light sources for plant growth were produced with 4 kinds of mono-chromatic lights and 6 kinds of combined lights by mixing red, blue, green and white lights. A comparative analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of optical properties and PPFD on plants (green leaf lettuce) using the produced light sources. The results monochromatic light has fastest growth rate, but plant growth conditions have poor. This being so, mixed light is suitable for the green leaf lettuce.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.63-74
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• 1998

In the study, the feasibility of deposit soil in river and stream bed as a subsitute for conventional plant soil was investigated through the analysis of soil characteristics and germination/growth rate for 75 days. Proper mixtures among sediments from various places were compared to optimize the germination and growth rate of plant in the ratio of 2 : 1 and 3 : 1 (sand : deposit). From the results, it could be concluded that the sediment mixed 3 : 1 showed most favorable germination and growth conditions for pansy and the sediment containing enough amount of silt and clay components showed most favorable conditions for marigold. Consequently, the feasibility of sediments as a substitutional plant soil was evaluated to be high, once the sediments were properly mixed for each specific plant.