• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.41 no.8
• /
• pp.781-798
• /
• 2018

Plants have evolved strategies to cope with drought stress by maximizing physiological capacity and adjusting developmental processes such as flowering time. The WOX13 orthologous group is the most conserved among the clade of WOX homeodomain-containing proteins and is found to function in both drought stress and flower development. In this study, we isolated and characterized OsWOX13 from rice. OsWOX13 was regulated spatially in vegetative organs but temporally in flowers and seeds. Overexpression of OsWOX13 (OsWOX13-ov) in rice under the rab21 promoter resulted in drought resistance and early flowering by 7-10 days. Screening of gene expression profiles in mature leaf and panicles of OsWOX13-ov showed a broad spectrum of effects on biological processes, such as abiotic and biotic stresses, exerting a cross-talk between responses. Protein binding microarray and electrophoretic mobility shift assay analyses supported ATTGATTG as the putative cis-element binding of OsWOX13. OsDREB1A and OsDREB1F, drought stress response transcription factors, contain ATTGATTG motif(s) in their promoters and are preferentially expressed in OsWOX13-ov. In addition, Heading date 3a and OsMADS14, regulators in the flowering pathway and development, were enhanced in OsWOX13-ov. These results suggest that OsWOX13 mediates the stress response and early flowering and, thus, may be a regulator of genes involved in drought escape.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.299-306
• /
• 2009

Oxidative stress is the main limiting factor in crop productivity. To solve global environmental problems using the plant biotechnology, we have developed on the oxidative stress-tolerant transgenic tall fescue plants via Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation method. In order to develop transgenic tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) plants with enhanced tolerance to multiple environmental stresses, nucleotide diphosphate kinase gene under the control of CaMV35S promoter were introduced into genome of tall fescue plants. Proteomic analysis revealed that transgenic tall fescue not only accumulated NDP kinase 2 protein in their cells, but also induced several other antioxindative enzyme-related proteins. When leaf discs of transgenic plants were subjected to cold stress, they showed approximately 30% less damage than wild-type plants. In addition, transgenic tall fescue plants showed normal growth when transgenic plants were subjected to $4^{\circ}C$ for 3 days treatments. These results suggest that transgene is important in ROS scavenging by induction of antioxidative proteins, and could improve abiotic stress tolerance in transgenic tall fescue plants.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.277-283
• /
• 2015

Plant genome analyses, including Arabidopsis thaliana showed a large gene family of plant receptor kinases with various extracellular ligand-binding domain. Now intensively studies to understand physiological and cellular functions for higher plant receptor kinases in diverse and complex biological processes including plant growth, development, ligands perception including steroid hormone and plant-microbe interactions. Brassinosteroids (BRs) as a one of well know steroid hormone are plant growth hormones that control biomass accumulation and also tolerance to many biotic and abiotic stress conditions and hence are of relevance to agriculture. BRI1 receptor kinase, which is localized in plasma membrane in the cell sense BRs and it bind to a receptor protein known as BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1). Recently, we reported that BRI1 and its co-receptor, BRI1-ASSOCIATED KINASE (BAK1) autophosphorylated on tyrosine residue (s) in vitro and in vivo and thus are dual-specificity kinases. Other plant receptor kinases are also phosphorylated on tyrosine residue (s). Post-translational modifications (PTMs) can be studied by altering the residue modified by directed mutagenesis to mimic the modified state or to prevent the modification. These approaches are useful to not only characterize the regulatory role of a given modification, but may also provide opportunities for plant improvement.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.23-32
• /
• 2012

Calcium is an essential nutrient for living organisms, with key structural and signaling roles. Its deficiency in plants can result in poor biotic and abiotic stress tolerance as well as reduced crop quality and yield. Calcium deficiency in humans causes various diseases such as osteoporosis and rickets. Biofortification of calcium in various food crops has been suggested as an economic and environmentally advantageous method to enhance human intake of calcium. Recent efforts to increase the levels of calcium in food crops have used calcium/proton antiporters ($CAXs$) and modified one to increase calcium transport into vacuoles through genetic engineering. It has been reported that overall calcium content of transgenic plants has been increased in their edible portions with some adverse effects. In conclusion, biofortification of calcium will add more value in crops as well as will be beneficial for animal and human. Therefore, more fundamental studies on the mechanisms of calcium ion storage and transporting are essential for more effective calcium biofortification.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.93-106
• /
• 2015

Alternaria species are common saprophytes or pathogens of a wide range of plants pre- and post-harvest. This review considers the relative importance of Alternaria species, their ecology, competitiveness, production of mycotoxins and the prevalence of the predominant mycotoxins in different food products. The available toxicity data on these toxins and the potential future impacts of Alternaria species and their toxicity in food products pre- and post-harvest are discussed. The growth of Alternaria species is influenced by interacting abiotic factors, especially water activity ($a_w$), temperature and pH. The boundary conditions which allow growth and toxin production have been identified in relation to different matrices including cereal grain, sorghum, cottonseed, tomato, and soya beans. The competitiveness of Alternaria species is related to their water stress tolerance, hydrolytic enzyme production and ability to produce mycotoxins. The relationship between A. tenuissima and other phyllosphere fungi has been examined and the relative competitiveness determined using both an Index of Dominance ($I_D$) and the Niche Overlap Index (NOI) based on carbon-utilisation patterns. The toxicology of some of the Alternaria mycotoxins have been studied; however, some data are still lacking. The isolation of Alternaria toxins in different food products including processed products is reviewed. The future implications of Alternaria colonization/infection and the role of their mycotoxins in food production chains pre- and post-harvest are discussed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.325-334
• /
• 2012

It has been known that endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum) is beneficial to tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix Scop.) because the mutualistic endophyte is able to confers tolerance against abiotic and biotic stresses to tall fescue. However, this fungal endophyte produces toxic alkaloid resulting in negative effects on animal performance. Recently, Non-toxic endophyte have been developed and inserted into tall fescue to avoid detrimental effect on animal but remaining positive influence on tall fescue. In order to keep this beneficial impact, it is essential to have endophyte infected tall fescue through vertical transmission from maternal plants to seeds. Little research has been carried out on endophyte transmission. To get basic information related to endophyte transmission, experiment was conducted to examine the effect of plant genotype on endophyte transmission under water stresses. Overall endophyte concentration in seeds was higher than that in panicles and endophyte concentration in seeds and panicles relied on plant. This study revealed that drought is not a critical component to control the endophyte transmission from maternal plants to seeds. Plant genotype is an important factor controlling the endophyte transmission from plant to seed.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.251-260
• /
• 2024

Flavobacterium is a genus within the phylum Bacteroidota that remains relatively unexplored. Recent analyses of plant microbiota have identified the phylum Bacteroidota as a major bacterial group in the plant rhizosphere. While Flavobacterium species within the phylum Bacteroidota have been recognized as pathogens in the aquatic habitats, microbiome analysis and the characterization of novel Flavobacterium species have indicated the great diversity and potential of their presence in various environments. Many Flavobacterium species have positively contribute to plant health and development, including growth promotion, disease control, and tolerance to abiotic stress. Despite the well-described beneficial interactions of the Flavobacterium species with plants, the molecular mechanisms and bacterial determinants underlying these interactions remain unclear. To broaden our understanding of the genus Flavobacterium's role in plant health, we review the recent studies focusing on their ecological niche, functional roles, and determinants in plant-beneficial interactions. Additionally, this review discusses putative mechanisms explaining the interactions between plants and Flavobacterium. We have also introduced the importance of future research on Flavobacterium spp. and its potential applications in agriculture.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.431-437
• /
• 2017

Mulberry (Morus sp.) of the family Moraceae is very economically important in Asian countries including Korea, because its leaf and fruit have been commercially used in sericulture and horticultural industries. Therefore it is necessary to develop the optimal production system for rapid and cost-effective propagation of mulberry. Our studies focused on establishing an acclimatization method for the successful plantlet production of new cultivar 'Cheongsu' which was transferred ex vitro after in vitro culture. In particular, effect of abscisic acid (ABA) addition into the last subculture medium on plantlet response to subsequent ex vitro transfer and its growth was investigated. During acclimatization, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of ABA-pretreated plantlets were significantly lower than those of non-treated plantlets. Net photosynthetic rate of ABA-pretreated plantlets decreased after ex vitro transfer but increased after 14 days, and it was mostly higher than that of non-treated plantlets. Moreover, relative water content as well as chlorophyll contents and its ratio were also higher in ABA-pretreated plantlets. On the other hand, proline was considerably higher than in control plantlets. After 1 month of ex vitro transfer, survival rate of ABA-pretreated plantlets was 85.6%, which increased by 29.1% in comparison with control (56.5%). More vigorous growth was also observed in ABA-pretreated plantlets. From these results, it was found that application of ABA to the last subculture medium could improve acclimatization and promote survival of mulberry plantlets after ex vitro transfer, inducing water stress tolerance and alleviating abiotic stresses.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.582-592
• /
• 2012

Microorganisms present in the rhizosphere soil plays a vital role in improving the plant growth and soil fertility. Many kinds of fertilizers including chemical and organic has been approached to improve the productivity. Though some of them showed significant improvement in yield, they failed to maintain the soil properties. Rather they negatively affected soil eventually, the land became unsuitable for agricultural. To overcome these problems, microorganisms have been used as effective alternative. For past few decades, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been used as effective inoculants to enhance the plant growth and productivity. PGPR improves the plant growth and helps the plant to withstand biotic and abiotic stresses. AM fungi are known to colonize roots of plants and they increase the plant nutrient uptake. Spore associated bacteria (SAB) are attached to spore wall or hyphae and known to increase the AMF germination and root colonization but their mechanism of interaction is poorly known. Better understanding the interactions among AMF, SAB and PGPR are necessary to enhance the quality of inoculants as a biofertilizers. In this paper, current knowledge about the interactions between fungi and bacteria are reviewed and discussed about AMF spore associated bacteria.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
• /
• 2017.06a
• /
• pp.149-149
• /
• 2017

The RING (Really Interesting New Gene) finger proteins are known to play crucial roles in various abiotic stresses in plants. In this study, we report on RING finger E3 ligase, ${\underline{O}ryza}$ ${\underline{s}ativa}$ ${\underline{s}alt$-, ${\underline{A}BA}$- and ${\underline{d}rounght}$ stress-${\underline{i}nduced}$ RING finger ${\underline{p}}rotein{\underline{1}}$ gene (OsSAD1). In vitro ubiquitination assay demonstrated that unlike OsSAD1, a single amino acid substitution ($OsSAD1^{C168A}$) of the RING domain showed no E3 ligase activity, supporting the notion that the activity of most E3s is specified by a RING domain. Result of Yeast-Two hybridization, In vivo protein degradation assay supports that OsSAD1 interacting with 3 substrate, OsSNAC2, OsGRAS44 and OsPIRIN1, and mediates proteolysis of 3 substrates via the 26S proteasome pathway. Subcellular localizations of OsSAD1 while approximately 62% of transient signals were detected in cytosol, 38% of signals were showed nucleus. However, transiently expression of OsSAD1 was detected in cytosol 30% while as 70% of nucleus under 200 mM salt treated rice protoplasts. Results of bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) showed that two nucleus-localized proteins (OsSNAC2 and OsGRAS44) interacted with OsSAD1 in the both cytosol and nucleus. Heterogeneous overexpression of OsSAD1 Heterogeneous overexpresssion of OsSAD1 in Arabidopsis exhibited sensitive phenotypes with respect to Salt-, mannitol-responsive seed germination, seedling growth. In ABA conditions, OsSAD1 overexpression plants showed highly tolerance phenotypes, such as root length and stomatal closure. Our findings suggest that the OsSAD1 may play a negative regulator in salt stress response by modulating levels of its target proteins.