• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.687-696
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• 2015

Black mini tomato 'Hei-G' fruits were harvested at different stages of maturity (immature-mature green and mature-black red) and stored at different temperatures (8, 12, and $20^{\circ}C$) to investigate the quality and lycopene content during storage. Weight loss increased dramatically at higher temperature for both harvesting stages without significant differences. Firmness of immature fruits decreased below the initial level of mature fruit (8.1N) after 5, 8, and 19 days storage, when they were stored at 20, 12, and $8^{\circ}C$, respectively. Soluble solid contents of mature fruit increased at initial storage, and were higher as compared to immature fruits before deterioration at each storage temperature. Decrease in titratable acid of mature fruits depended on storage time and temperature. However, titratable acid of immature fruits showed little change during storage, and so it did not affect flavor. Hunter a value changed greatly in immature fruit stored at high temperature. Unlike ripe tomatoes, there was no significant difference in black tomato Hunter b values of immature and mature fruit at initial and 12 days storage. However, immature fruits stored at $8^{\circ}C$ did not reach full maturity and color development and ripening. High storage temperature increased lycopene production while low storage temperature blocked lycopene development. Shelf life of the immature fruits, which was evaluated by elapsed days to conventional mature stage, was 12 and 15 days when they were stored at 20 and $12^{\circ}C$, respectively. The optimum storage temperature to maintain the quality and lycopene content of mature fruits was $12^{\circ}C$. Moreover, the shelf life of mature fruits stored at $20^{\circ}C$ could reach up to 5 days.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.448-454
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• 2021

This study was conducted to the effect of low air temperature and light intensity conditions on yield and quality of tomato at the early stage of growth in Korea. Inplastic greenhouses, low temperature and low temperature with shade treatments were performed from 17 to 42 days after plant. Tomato growing degree days were decreased 5.5% due to cold treatment during the treatment period. Light intensity decreased 74.7% of growing degree days due to shade. After commencing treatments, the plant growth decreased by low temperature and low radiation except for height. Analysis of the yield showed that the first harvest date was the same, but the yield of the control was 3.3 times higher than low temperature with shade treatment. The cumulative yields at 87 days after transplanting were 1734, 1131, and 854 g per plant for control, low temperature, and low temperature with shade, respectively. The sugar and acidity of tomatoes did not differ between treatment and harvesting season. To investigate the photosynthetic characteristics according to the treatment, the carbon dioxide reaction curve was analyzed using the biochemical model of the photosynthetic rate. The results showed that the maximum photosynthetic rate, J (electric transportation rate), TPU (triose phosphate utilization), and R_d (dark respiration rate) did not show any difference with temperature, but were reduced by shading. Vcmax (maximum carboxylation rate) was decreased depending on the low temperature and the shade. Results indicated that low temperature and light intensity at the early growth stage can be inhibited the growth in the early stage but this phenomenon might be recovered afterward. The yield was reduced by low temperature and low intensity and there was no difference in quality.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2019

Objective of this study was to evaluate an optimum biochar application rate and estimate the carbon sequestration based on the soil chemical properties and growth responses for biochar application during tomatoes cultivation. The treatments consisted of control as recommended application rates of fertilizers, 0.01%, 0.03%, 0.05%, and 0.07% of biochar application(w/w, biochar:soil). For effects of soil chemical properties, the $NO_3-N$contents in the soil were peaked at 9 days after transplanting. But there was not significant difference(p>0.05) among the treatments during cultivation periods. However, $NH_4-N$ contents in the biochar treatment were lower than the control until 14 days of transplanting. $P_2O_5$ contents in the biochar treatments were lower than that of the control until 19 days after transplanting except 0.01% of biochar application plot. $K_2O$ contents in soils treated with 0.01% and 0.03% of biochar were higher until 6 days after transplanting than that in the control. For N use efficiency of biochar application, it was observed that the 0.05% biochar application plot was highest among the treatments. The highest carbon sequestration was estimated at $2.83mg\;kg^{-1}$ for 0.03% of biochar application. However, it is considered that the optimum biochar application rate was 0.05% for tomato cultivation, considering the growth characteristics and yield components.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.498-506
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• 2018

Purpose: Lycopene, a carotenoid with anti-oxidant properties, occurs naturally in tomatoes and pink grapefruit. Although the beneficial effects of lycopene on various disorders have been established, little attention has been paid to the possible anti-diabetic effects of lycopene focusing on ${\beta}$-cells. Therefore, this study investigated the potential of lycopene to protect ${\beta}$-cells against apoptosis induced by a cytokine mixture. Methods: For toxicity experiments, the cells were treated with 0.1 ~ 10 nM of lycopene, and the cell viability in INS-1 cells (a rat ${\beta}$-cell line) was measured using a MTT assay. To induce cytokine toxicity, the cells were treated with a cytokine mixture (20 ng/mL of $TNF{\alpha}$ + 20 ng/mL of IL-$1{\beta}$) for 24 h, and the effects of lycopene (0.1 nM) on the cytokine toxicity were measured using the MTT assay. The expression levels of the apoptotic proteins were analyzed by Western blotting, and the level of intracellular reactive oxidative stress (ROS) was monitored using a DCFDA fluorescent probe. The intracellular ATP levels were determined using a luminescence kit, and mRNA expression of the genes coding for anti-oxidative stress response and mitochondrial function were analyzed by quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR. Results: Exposure of INS-1 cells to 0.1 nM of lycopene increased the cell viability significantly, and protected the cells from cytokine-induced death. Lycopene upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and reduced the expression of the Bcl-2 associated X (Bax) protein. Lycopene inhibited apoptotic signaling via a reduction of the ROS, and this effect correlated with the upregulation of anti-oxidative stress response genes, such as GCLC, NQO1, and HO-1. Lycopene increased the mRNA expression of mitochondrial function-related genes and increased the cellular ATP level. Conclusion: These results suggest that lycopene reduces the level of oxidative stress and improves the mitochondrial function, contributing to the prevention of cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis. Therefore, lycopene could potentially serve as a preventive and therapeutic agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of International Agriculture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.313-319
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to provide the basis for the vegetable seedlings export research and policy establishment by analyzing vegetable seedlings export status from the agricultural quarantine statistics in Korea and the changes of temperature and relative humidity during the vegetable seedlings shipping export transportation to Japan. From 2007 to 2016, various vegetable seedlings such as cabbage, tomatoes, cucumber, onion and etc., have been exported to more than 20 countries around the world. The main exporting country of vegetable seedlings for commercial purposes is Japan, and the major exported seedlings to Japan in 2016 were fruit vegetable grafted seedlings such as eggplant, tomato, cucumber, watermelon and pepper. Total export amount of the fruit vegetable seedlings to Japan in 2016 were 2,575,446 seedlings and it is approximately 0.7 to 1.6 million dollars. The grafted seedlings exported to Japan were consumed for urban agriculture and farm use. Shipping transportation took about 24 hours in the process of receiving the package ${\rightarrow}$ shipment ${\rightarrow}$ quarantine (Busan port) ${\rightarrow}$ Quarantine (Japan Shimonoseki Port). The growing demand for vegetable seedlings due to the development of urban agriculture in Japan and the growing interest and demand for vegetable grafting seedlings in neighboring countries such as Russia will be an opportunity to expand the export size of Korean vegetable grafting seedlings. In order to expand the export of vegetable seedlings in Korea, it is necessary to ensure further active government policy and research on the production of export seedlings, seedlings storage and transportation technology and analysis of exporting countries' market information.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.322-327
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• 2019

This study was conducted to improve the performance of automatic grafting robot using image recognition technique. The stem diameters of tomatoes and cucumber at the time of grafting were $2.5{\pm}0.3mm$ and $2.2{\pm}0.2mm$ for scions and $3.1{\pm}0.7mm$ and $3.6{\pm}0.3mm$ for rootstocks, respectively. The grafting failure was occurred when the different height between scions and rootstocks were over 4 mm and below 2 mm due to the small contact area of both cutting surface. Therefore, it was found that the height difference at the cutting surface of 3 mm is appropriate. This study also found that grafting failure was occurred when the stem diameters of both scions and rootstocks were thin. Therefore, it was suggested to use at least one stem with thicker than the average stem diameter. Field survey on the cutting angle of stems by hand were ranged from 13 to 55 degree for scions and 15 to 67 degree for rootstocks, respectively, which indicates that this could cause the grafting failure problem. However, the automatic grafting robot developed in this study rotates the seedlings 90 degree and then the stems are cut using a cutting blade. The control part of robot use all images taken from grafting process to determine the distance between a center of both ends of stem and a gripper center and then control the rotation angle of a gripper. Overall, this study found that The performance of automatic grafting robot using image recognition technique was superior with the grafting success rates of cucumber and tomato as $96{\pm}3.2%$ and $95{\pm}4%$, respectively.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.230-236
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• 2022

This study was carried out to produce two-flowered seedlings, harvest them early in a greenhouse, and extend the harvest period. This study was carried out to effectively produce the second truss blooming seedlings to harvest tomatoes early and extend the harvest period. For production of the second truss blooming seedlings (one stem), the nutrient solution EC was supplied at 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 dS·m^-1, and dynamic management (3.0 → 3.5 → 4.5 dS·m^-1). The seedling period was 60 days, which was 20-40 days longer than conventional seedlings, and 10 days longer than the first truss blooming seedlings (cube seedlings). The plant height was 78 and 77 cm in EC 2.5 dS·m^-1 and dynamic management respectively, which was shorter than EC 1.5 dS·m^-1 with 88 cm. As for the EC in the cube before formulation, dynamic management had the highest EC 5.5 dS·m^-1, and the cube supplied with EC 1.5 dS·m^-1 had the lowest. The production yield by treatment did not a difference among in the second truss blooming seedlings, but the first truss blooming seedlings showed lower productivity than second truss blooming seedlings. The second truss blooming seedling were harvested 35 days after planting on June 4, the first harvest date, and the first truss blooming were harvested in 42 days on June 11th. There was no difference in plant height and root growth due to bending at frequency planting. In the study on the production of the second truss blooming seedlings (two stem), the nutrient solution EC was supplied under 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 dS·m^-1, and dynamic management (3.0 → 3.5 → 4.5 dS·m^-1). The seedling period was 90 days, which was 40-50 days longer than conventional seedlings and 10 days longer than the first truss blooming seedlings (cube seedlings). Plant height was 80 and 81 cm in EC 2.0 dS·m^-1 and 2.5 dS·m^-1 respectively, but was the shortest at 73 cm in dynamic management. EC in the medium increased as the seeding period increased in all treatments. The dynamic management was the highest with EC 5.1 dS·m^-1. There was no difference in yield among EC treatments in the second truss blooming seedlings, which had a longer seeding period of about 10 days, produced 15% more than the first truss blooming seedlings. In order to shorten the plant height of the second truss blooming seedlings, it is judged that the most efficient method is increasing the concentration of nutrient solution.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.82-91
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• 2022

Recently, several in vitro studies have reported antiviral activity of agents of systemic acquired resistance against plant virus infection, but the approach has not been applied in a wide range of agricultural fields. The objective of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of the exogenous application of salicylic acid (SA), chitosan (CH), or eugenol (EG) in tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) infection of greenhouse-grown tomato plants. In vitro, the initial time of symptom was observed in TYLCV-infected plants (VP) of the resistant cultivar 'Superdotaerang' at 12 days post inoculation (dpi) after application of antiviral agents. At 32 dpi, the disease rate of TYLCV in the CHT+VP (0.1% chitosan and virus infected control) treated plants was 87.5%, lower than that of the other treatment. However, the virus content in the CHT+VP treated plants was higher than those of the other treatments, and SA, EG, and CH did not show significant effect on plant height or shoot and root fresh weight. Our results from summer-cultivated greenhouse-grown tomatoes show that none of the tested agents had an inhibitory activity on viral infection or yield of tomato 'Dotaerangsola'cultivar. In contrast, all treated 'TY Giants' cultivars that possessed TYLCV resistance genes Ty-1 and Ty-3a did not show typical symptoms and the virus content was remarkably lower than those in the TYLCV treated plants in 'Superdotaerang'. The results of this research indicated that the planting of resistant tomato cultivars was effective method instead of using SA, EG, and CH (known as resistance-inducing factors for control) of TYLCV in the field.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.416-422
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• 2023

This study was aimed to determine the changes in CO₂ concentration according to the temperatures of daytime and nighttime in the CO₂ supplemental greenhouse, and to compare calculated supplementary CO₂ concentration during winter and spring cultivation seasons. CO₂ concentrations in experimental greenhouses were analyzed by selecting representative days with different average temperatures due to differences in integrated solar radiation at the growth stage of leaf area index (LAI) 2.0 during the winter season of 2022 and 2023 years. The CO₂ concentration was 459, 299, 275, and 239 µmol·mol^-1, respectively at 1, 2, 3, and 4 p.m. after the CO₂ supplementary time (10:00-13:00) under the higher temperature (HT, > 18℃ daytime temp. avg. 31.7, 26.8, 23.8, and 22.4℃, respectively), while it was 500, 368, 366, 364 µmol·mol^-1, respectively under the lower temperature (LT, < 18℃ daytime temp. avg. 22.0, 18.9, 15.0, and 13.7℃, respectively), indicating the CO₂ reduction was significantly higher in the HT than that of LT. During the nighttime, the concentration of CO₂ gradually increased from 6 p.m. (346 µmol·mol^-1) to 3 a.m. (454 µmol·mol^-1) in the HT with a rate of 11 µmol·mol^-1 per hour (240 tomatoes, leaf area 330m²), while the increase was very lesser under the LT. During the spring season, the CO₂ concentration measured just before the start of CO₂ fertilization (7:30 a.m.) in the CO₂ enrichment greenhouse was 3-4 times higher in the HT (>15℃ nighttime temperature avg.) than that of LT (< 15℃ nighttime temperature avg.), and the calculated amount of CO₂ fertilization on the day was also lower in HT. All the integrated results indicate that CO₂ concentrations during the nighttime varies depending on the temperature, and the increased CO₂ is a major source of CO₂ for photosynthesis after sunrise, and it is necessary to develop a model formula for CO₂ supplement considering the nighttime CO₂ concentration.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.225-236
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• 2019

BACKGROUND: Hydroponics is one of the methods for evaluating plant production using the inorganic nutrient solutions, which is applied under the artificial light conditions of plant factory system. However, the application of the conventional inorganic nutrients for hydroponics caused several environmental problems: waste from culture mediums and high nitrate concentration in plants. Organic nutrients are generally irrigated as a supplementary fertilizer for plant growth promotion under field or greenhouse conditions. Hydroponic culture using organic nutrients derived from the agricultural by-products such as dumped stems, leaves or immature fruits is rarely considered in plant factory system. Effect of organic or conventional inorganic nutrient solutions on the growth and nutrient absorption pattern of green and red leaf lettuces was investigated in this experiment under fluorescent lamps (FL) and mixture Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs). METHODS AND RESULTS: Single solution of tomatoes (TJ) and kales (K) deriving from agricultural by-products including leaves or stems and its mixed solution (mixture ration 1:1) with conventional inorganic Yamazaki (Y) were supplied for hydroponics under the plant factory system. The Yamazaki solution was considered as a control. 'Jeockchima' and 'Cheongchima' lettuce seedlings (Lactuca sativa L.) were used as plant materials. The seedlings which developed 2~3 true leaves were grown under the light qualities of FL and mixed LED lights of blue plus red plus white of 1:2:1 mixture in energy ratio for 35 days. Light intensity of the light sources was controlled at 180 μmol/㎡/s on the culture bed. The single and mixture nutrient solutions of organic and/or inorganic components which controlled at 1.5 dS/m EC and 5.8 pH were regularly irrigated by the deep flow technique (DFT) system on the culture gutters. Number of unfolded leaves of the seedlings grown under the single or mixed nutrient solutions were significantly increased compared to the conventional Y treatment. Leaf extension of 'Jeockchima' under the mixture LED radiation condition was not affected by Y and YK or YTJ mixture treatments. SPAD value in 'Jeockchima' leaves exposed by FL under the YK mixture medium was approximately 45 % higher than under conventional Y treatment. Otherwise, the maximum SPAD value in the leaves of 'Cheongchima' seedlings was shown in YK treatment under the mixture LED lights. NO₃-N contents in Y treatment treated with inorganic nutrient at the end of the experiment were up to 75% declined rather than increased over 60 % in the K and TJ organic treatment. CONCLUSION: Growth of the seedlings was affected by the mixture treatments of the organic and inorganic solutions, although similar or lower dry weight was recorded than in the inorganic treatment Y under the plant factory system. Treatment Y containing the highest NO₃-N content among the considered nutrients influenced growth increment of the seedlings comparing to the other nutrients. However effect of the higher NO₃-N content in the seedling growth was different according to the light qualities considered in the experiment as shown in leaf expansion, pigmentation or dry weight promotion under the single or mixed nutrients.