• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.444-450
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• 2013

A Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming, and rod-shaped bacterial strain designated FW-$6^T$ was isolated from a freshwater sample and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic approach. Strain FW-$6^T$ grew optimally at $10-42^{\circ}C$ and at pH 7.0 on nutrient and R2A agar. Strain FW-$6^T$ displayed ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity that was responsible for its ability to transform ginsenoside $Rb_1$ (one of the dominant active components of ginseng) to Rd. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain FW-$6^T$ was shown to belong to the family Sphingomonadaceae and was related to Novosphingobium aromaticivorans DSM $12444^T$ (98.1% sequence similarity) and N. subterraneum IFO $16086^T$ (98.0%). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 64.4%. The major menaquinone was Q-10 and the major fatty acids were summed feature 7 (comprising $C_{18:1}{\omega}9c/{\omega}12t/{\omega}7c$), summed feature 4 (comprising $C_{16:1}{\omega}7c/iso-C_{15:0}2OH$), $C_{16:0}$, and $C_{14:0}$ 2OH. DNA and chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of strain FW-$6^T$ to the genus Novosphingobium. Strain FW-$6^T$ could be differentiated genotypically and phenotypically from the recognized species of the genus Novosphingobium. The isolate that has ginsenoside converting ability therefore represents a novel species, for which the name Novosphingobium ginsenosidimutans sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain FW-$6^T$ (= KACC $16615^T$ = JCM $18202^T$).

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 2012

To clarify some ambiguous diagnostic characters of Callicarpa japonica Thunb. and Callicarpa dichotoma (Lour.) K. Koch in Korea (Verbenaceae), the external morphology and micromorphology (leaf, anther, pollen, fruit, in particular endocarp surface and structure) of two taxa are studied and described in detail. It is confirmed that the following characteristics (e.g., the stem outline in a cross-section, the bud shape and length, the corolla tube length and the lobe length, the pattern of the anther dehiscence and length, and the endocarp morphology) are useful for distinguishing these two taxa. In particular, following three characteristics are most useful for an identification: (1) the corolla tube length of C. japonica (2.5-4.6 mm) is longer than that of C. dichotoma (0.7-1.0 mm); (2) the anther is dehiscing by an apical pore at the anthesis of C. japonica, while it is opening by a long fissure from the apex to the base in C. dichotoma; and (3) the edge of the endocarp (lateral view) in C. japonica is concave, while in C. dichotoma it is shown to be flat. On the other hand, the teeth state on the leaf margin and the position of inflorescence are not good diagnostic characteristics for identification. Additionally, the keys for all known Callicarpa taxa in Korea are provided.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.81-98
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• 2005

Leaf morphology was examined for Prunus species from Jeju Island. Analyzed were the leaf blade length, petiole length, width of blade, number of veins and angle of the base to the mid-vein as quantitative characters and the distribution of trichome, position of glandsand leaf features qualitative characters. A total of 25 OTU were phenetically analyzed by UPGMA. The resuling phenograms slightly differ from the currently recognized taxonomic system in two points. Prunus mume was clustered with P. padus and P. buergeriana. Prunu spendula and P. yedoensis were separated from the cluster of P. jaamasakura, P. speciosa, P. sargentii and P. jamasakura var. quelpaertensis. Except for the members of subgenus Cerasus, subgenera Padus (P. buergeriana and P. padus), Microcerasus (P. japonica) and Amygdalus were well defined. Some morphological characters of leaves such as the ratio of blade length to width, the length of blade to petiole, number of veins, the distance between the gland and base, the angle of base to mid-vein, and the distribution of trichome were useful as diagnostic features for Prunus from Jeju Island.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.12-26
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• 2002

The phylogenetic relationships for 33 strains belonging to the genera Azorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium and Sinorhizobium were conducted by the sequence analyses of the ITS regions. The sequence homologies of these strains showed the high variations(28.0 - 94.9%). According to the phylogenetic analysis of ITS regions. 37 ITS clones from 33 strains of 32 species were classified into four groups. Group I included all strains of the genus Sinorhizobium as core members and R. giardinii as a peripheral member. The genus Rhizobium strains were clustered into group II which was very heterogeneous and the tree toplogy of this group were very unstable. Among the members of group II. the taxonomic position of R. radiobacter and R. rubi was not clearly identified on the basis of ITS I regions. R. undicola and R. vitis were remotely related with other Rhizobium strains including R. leguminosarum, R. galegae, R. gallicum, R. mongolense, R. tropici, R. hainanense, R. rhizogense and R. huautlense of group II were supposed to be loosely related to R. leguminosarum. While the stains of the genera Bradyrhizobium constituted group III with Azorhizobium caulindans, the strains of the genus Mesorhizobium formed group IV on the relatively high sequence homology level.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.144-155
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• 2011

The infraspecific taxa of Adonis amurensis Regel et Radde are currently known to include one subspecies (subsp. nanus Y. Lee), two varieties (var. ramosa Makino, and var. dissectipetalis Y. Lee) and two forms (for. argentatus Y. Lee, and for. viridescensicalyx Y. Lee). Among them, the remaining three taxa except for subsp. nanus and var. dissectipetalis are unified with A. amurensis. Therefore, we examined the morphological characteristics and geographical distribution of A. amurensis in effort to elucidate the taxonomic status of subsp. nanus and var. dissectipetalis. After the subsp. nanus samples had been transplanted from their type locality, i.e. highland at more than 1,000 m above sea level, to a lowland habitat, we measured the samples' morphological characteristics. The range of values we recorded of the plant height and floral diameter from the subsp. nanus samples were within the parameters used to characterize A. amurensis. Accordingly, subsp. nanus has been characterized as an ecophene of A. amurensis. It is considered as a synonym of A. amurensis. Among the populations of A. amurensis (sensu Y.Lee, author), those with highly dissected petals at their apices have previously been described as var. dissectipetalis. However, this characteristic has been observed together with obtuse or rounded petal apices not only in one population but also in a single individual. However, populations with these characteristics belong to A. pseudoamurensis due to the simultaneous development of leaves and flowers, branched stems, acute leaf apices, and petals that are shorter than sepals. Therefore, we suggest that A. amurensis var. dissectipetalis be unified with A. pseudoamurensis. Very useful characteristics for distinguishing A. amurensis from its relative species are anthesis, the presence or absence of branches, the development of scales into normal leaves, the relative length of the sepals and petals, and the position of the stipules. A. amurensis is geographically restricted to E. Asia, including E. Siberia, and especially on the Korean Peninsula, it is distributed throughout the northern provinces of Gyeonggi province and in Gangwon province, Gyeongbuk province (Mt. Bohyeon-san) and Jeonbuk province (Mt Jeoksang-san) along Baekdudaegan mountain.