• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.196-200
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• 1993

A full understanding of the interdependence of leaf nitrate (($No_3$￣) metabolism and symbiotic nitrogen($N_2$) fixation in legume crops is needed to help maximize the use of both N sources as well as to improve forage quality through the inhibition of leaf nitrate accumulation. The present work examines the effects of added nitrate, the level of which are 0,2,4,8 and 12mM, on the nodule formation and leaf nitrate utilization and on the possibility of inducing nitrate-toxicity to livestocks in two alfalfa varieties, ' Vernal ' of grazing type and ' Victoria ' of hay type. Higher level of exogeneous nitrate resulted in the increased above-ground dry weight. Nodulation was inhibited severely when more than 8mM NO$_3$￣ was supplied to alfalfa plants, and leaf nitrate reductase reached a maximunm at 4mM nitrate supply. The $V_{max}$of nitrate reductase in leaves of Vernal was similar to that of Victoria, whereas the $K_m$ of Vernal was higher than that of Victoria. High accumulation of leaf nitrate, $4{\times}10^{-5}$ g/g leaf fresh weight, was shown at 12mM nitrate supply, which was thought to be not enough to induce nitrate-toxicity to livestocks.icity to livestocks.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.27-30
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• 2001

When root initiation ratio of cut alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) stems was examined in several medium conditions containing different IBA concentration, Highest root initiation ratio was confirmed at 1.0~1.5 mg/$\ell$ of IBA and the ratio was 70~75%. When the stems from regenerated shoots from callus were treated at 8 kinds of medium for 10 days, the root iniation result was 10 (50%) at 1/2 SH-0 medium, 10 (50%) at SH-0 medium, 12 (60%) at SH-0.5IBA medium, 15 (75%) at SH-1.0IBA medium, 15 (75%) at SH-1.5IBA medium. 10 (50%) at SH-2.0IBA medium, 9 (45%) at SH-2.5IBA medium and 8 (40%) at SH-3.0IBA medium.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.584-593
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• 2021

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare fenugreek (FG) with alfalfa (Alf) in ruminal fermentation and methane (CH4) production in vitro. Methods: Whole-plant FG harvested at 11- and 15-wk and Alf harvested at early and mid-bloom maturities, alone or as 50:50 mixture of FG and Alf at the respective maturity, were assessed in a series of 48-h in vitro batch culture incubations. Total fermentation gas and methane gas production, dry matter (DM) disappearance, volatile fatty acids, microbial protein and 16S RNA gene copy numbers of total bacteria and methanogens were determined. Results: Compared to early bloom Alf, FG harvested at 11-wk exhibited higher (p<0.05) in vitro DM and neutral detergent fibre disappearance, but this difference was not observed between the mid-bloom Alf and 15-wk FG. Regardless plant maturity, in vitro ruminal fermentation of FG produced less (p<0.001) CH4 either on DM incubated or on DM disappeared basis than that of Alf during 48-h incubation. In vitro ruminal fermentation of FG yielded similar amount of total volatile fatty acids with higher (p<0.05) propionate percentage as compared to fermentation of Alf irrespective of plant maturity. Microbial protein synthesis was greater (p<0.001) with 11-wk FG than early bloom Alf as substrate and 16S RNA gene copies of total bacteria was higher (p<0.01) with 15-wk FG than mid-bloom Alf as substrate. Compared to mid-bloom Alf, 15-wk FG had lower (p<0.05 to 0.001) amount of 16S RNA methanogen gene copies in the whole culture during 48-h incubation. Conclusion: In comparison to Alf, FG emerges as a high quality forage that can not only improve rumen fermentation in vitro, but can also remarkably mitigate CH4 emissions likely due to being rich in saponins.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.19.1-19.15
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• 2022

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is an important food and feed crop which rich in mineral sources. The WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) gene family plays important roles in plant development and identification of putative gene families, their structure, and potential functions is a primary step for not only understanding the genetic mechanisms behind various biological process but also for genetic improvement. A variety of computational tools, including MAFFT, HMMER, hidden Markov models, Pfam, SMART, MEGA, ProtTest, BLASTn, and BRAD, among others, were used. We identified 34 MsWOX genes based on a systematic analysis of the alfalfa plant genome spread in eight chromosomes. This is an expansion of the gene family which we attribute to observed chromosomal duplications. Sequence alignment analysis revealed 61 conserved proteins containing a homeodomain. Phylogenetic study sung reveal five evolutionary clades with 15 motif distributions. Gene structure analysis reveals various exon, intron, and untranslated structures which are consistent in genes from similar clades. Functional analysis prediction of promoter regions reveals various transcription binding sites containing key growth, development, and stress-responsive transcription factor families such as MYB, ERF, AP2, and NAC which are spread across the genes. Most of the genes are predicted to be in the nucleus. Also, there are duplication events in some genes which explain the expansion of the family. The present research provides a clue on the potential roles of MsWOX family genes that will be useful for further understanding their functional roles in alfalfa plants.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.390-398
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• 2024

The Chinese artichoke (Stachys affinis syn. S. sieboldii) is a widely cultivated crop, and its rhizome is used as a medicinal vegetable. To investigate the causes of viral diseases in Chinese artichokes, the infection rates of four virus species infecting Chinese artichoke were investigated. Since the Chinese artichoke propagates through its tuber, this study aimed to determine whether viral transmission to the progeny is possible through the tuber, by identifying the virus present in the tuber and investigating its accumulation. First, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed to detect viruses using total RNA extracted from the flowers, leaves, and tubers of Chinese artichoke plants. Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) and Chinese artichoke mosaic virus (ChAMV) had high infectivity in Chinese artichoke and most plants were simultaneously infected with AMV and ChAMV. These viruses were present in all tissues, but their detection frequency and accumulation rates varied across different tissues of the Chinese artichoke. Also, we sequenced the coat protein (CP) genes of AMV and ChAMV to investigate genetic variations of virus between the leaf and tuber. It provides information on CP gene sequences and genetic diversity of isolates identified from new hosts of AMV and ChAMV. This study offers valuable insights into the distribution and spread of the ChAMV and AMV within Chinese artichoke plants, which have implications for the management and control of viral infections in crops.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.291-302
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• 1998

The purpose of this study is to clarify the effect of plant growth regulator "Uniconazole-P" on the control of growth and seed producrtion of pasture plants under grown in sward conditions. Four species examined were orchard grass, timothy, red clover and alfalfa. Uniconazole-P concentrations were control(0), 20ppm and 40ppm, and foliar sprayed on canopy structures at the floral differentiation stages of grasses and at the begining of flowering stages of legumes, respectively. 1. Yield components and seed yield components of grasses and legumes were responded differently between Uniconazole-P concentrations, species and the stages of growth. 2. At early heading stages, the plant length and culm length of grasses were reduced by Uniconazole-P treatments. On the contrary, the dry weight of ears per area and chlorophyll concentrations were increased by Uniconazole-P treatments. 3. At seed ripening stages, the number of ears, dry weight of a tiller, dry weight of a ear, dry weight of ears per area and dry weight of seeds in orchardgrass, and the number of ears, dry weight of a ear, dry weight of ears per area, dry weight of seeds and harvest index in timothy were increased by Uniconazole-P treatments. 4. At early flowering stages, the plant length and total length of internodes were reduced by Uniconazole-P treatments. On the contrary, total length of branches and chlorophyll concentrations of red clover and alfalfa were increased by Uniconazole-P treatments. Particularly, the number of inflorescences and dry weight of inflorescences of red clover was increased greatly by Uniconazole-P treatments. 5. At seed ripening stages, the plant length of both of legumes were reduced by Uniconazole-P treatments. On the contrary, the dry weight of a inflorescence, dry weight of inflorescences per area, dry weight of seeds and harvest index of alfalfa was increased by Uniconazole-P treatments. 6. Seed production of grasses by Uniconazole-P treatments can be explained as following processes at each stage of growth. 1) reduced in plant length and culm lengths at early heading stages, 2) increased in number of ears and dry weight of a ear at both of stages, and 3) increased in dry weight of ears per area, dry weight of seeds and harvest index at seed ripening stages. 7. Seed production of legumes by Uniconazole-P treatments can be explained as following processes at each stage of growth. 1) reduced in plant length and total length of internodes and increased in number of branches and total length of branches at early flowering stages, 2) increased in number of inflorescences and dry weight of inflorescences at both of stages, and 3) increased in dry weight of seeds and harvest index at seed ripening stages.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2009

Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is a thrombolytic agent important in fibirn clot lysis. T-PA causes fibirn-specific plasminogen activation. Six binary vectors harboring t-PA and its derivative genes were cloned and expressed in transgenic alfalfa plants. The insertion of the t-PA and its derivative genes in genomic DNA of alfalfa plants was confirmed by PCR. The presence of the t-PA and its derivative transcripts in total RNAs of the transgenic alfalfa leaves was verified by RT-PCR. ELISA experiments demonstrated that the highest level of recombinant t-PA expression was $75.1{\mu}g$/ total soluble protein (mg) in alfalfa plants. The amount of recombinant t-PA and its derivative proteins in transgenic plants was estimated to range from 9.7 to $39.5{\mu}g$/ total soluble proteins (mg). Western blot analysis of the transformed alfalfa leaves revealed bands of approximately 68-kDa recombinant t-PA and its derivative proteins. The fibrinolysis of recombinant t-PA and its derivative proteins was confirmed by a fibrin plate assay (range from 3.2 to 8.1 cm). The results presented provide information for the development of an additional production of recombinant human proteins having pharmaceutical applications using transgenic plants.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2002

In this study, the effects of alfalfa hay included in different ratios of 60%(A), 50%(B), 40%(C) and 30%(D) for the diets of young weaned Korean native goats were investigated on feed intake, digestibilities of nutrients, nitrogen retention, average daily gain and feed efficiency. Crude protein contents of experimental diets were 18% in all treatments. The contents of ADF, NDF and crude ash were higher in A as 26.1, 37.0 and 9.0% compared to the lowest values in D of 20.3, 30.4 and 6.6%. However the contents of non-structural carbohydrates was in the opposite tendency. Daily feed intake (DM) was highest in A (414.4g) and B (417.7g) and significantly (p<0.05) lower in D(362.6g). Dry matter intake per metabolic basal weight (DM g/kg of $BW^{0.75}$ ) were highest in A(73.9g) and lowest in D(64.0g). Average daily gain and feed efficiencies were in the range of 33.3~48.7g and 8.1~13.4% respectively with no statistical differences, however with the increasing trends according to higher percent of roughage in the diets. Digestibilities of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ADF, NBF, crude ash (CA) and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) were in the tendency of becoming higher according to higher ratios of concentrate but becoming lower according to higher ratio of alfalfa hay in the diets fed to Korean native goats. Nitrogen retention was lowest in A (1.8g, 15.5%) and highest in D (2.7g, 25.7%). In overall, inclusion of 30~40% alfalfa hay as a roughage in the diets of weaned Korean native goats was superior to the higher rates of inclusion of alfalfa hay in aspects of average daily gain and feed efficiency. The fixed 18% of crude protein content in the diets was efficient for the growth of weaned goats.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2009

The experiment was conducted from 2007 to 2008. The experimental roughages include five sources and 25 species in all; grasses and legumes: 5 species (mixed grasses, orchardgrass, tall fescue, alfalfa, white clover), native grasses and weeds: 5 species (mixed native grasses, Miscanthus sinensis Anderss, Arundinella hirta (Thunb.) Tanaka, barnyard grass, short awn, forage crops and straw: 5 species (barley 4- hairy vetch, wheat 4- hairy vetch, rye silage, barley silage, baled rice straw), browse and fallen leaves: 5 species (mixed browse, oriental white oak browse, Quercus serrta Thunb., browse oriental cherry fallen leaves, Japanese chestnut fallen leaves), and imported hay and straw: 5 species (timothy hay, tail fescue straw, annual ryegrass straw, klinegrass hay, alfalfa hay). Ten dairy goats (Saanen) were selected which had nearly the same body weight (25kg). The experiment was carried out on the dairy goats farm at Geumsan-Cun in Chungnam province. The chemical composition and dry matter digestibility of each roughage source and species were significantly different at the sampling area, plant species, growth stages and cutting period. Among all the 25 species of roughages, the favorite intake species order by dairy goats was observed like this: mixed grasses, white clover, alfalfa and the lower intake species order was baled rice straw and rye silages. The dairy goats ate more roughages which had low fibrous contents, but high dry matter digestibility. On the other hand, compared to each roughage source, the goat's favorite roughage were grasses and legumes (34.6%) among the trial species. Based on the result, it is reconfirmed that the food habit of dairy goats seems to be closer to that of graters.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.129-134
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• 1983

Importance has been increased on farming mechanization in harvesting, handling and processing of forage in Korea. Small grasslands are most spread and popular in Korea in comparison with those of Europe and America. Therefore shearing characteristics of some major forage crops should be studied to be contributed to the basic data to develop a moderate size forage harvester being suitable to the small grassland. They were studied on six kinds of forage crops - reed canarygrass, alfalfa, red clover, orchardgrass, meadow fescue and birdsfoot trefoil-in regarding with moisture content levels and shearing angles. The results were as follows; 1. The increase rate of the linear density in relation to the diameter was greater in red clover than other kinds, and order of increase rate in greatness was reed canarygrass, alfalfa and meadow fescue. 2. The increase rates of the maximum shear forces were high in relation to their cross - sectional area in alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil with hard stems, and the shear energy were comparatively large in orchardgrass and meadow fescue with soft stems, also reed canarygrass and red clover had high values in both the maximum shear force and the shear energy. 3. The shear energy per unit area or shear strength in relation to moisture content showed concave curves with the minimum values at about 70%w. b. which was in the beginning stage of drying in meadow fescue and orchardgrass, nevertheless reed canarygrass and red clover had convex curves with the maximum values at about 40%w.b. 4. The shear force in relation to the shear angle decreased generally with decrease of shear angle from $90^{\circ}$ to $70^{\circ}$ or $50^{\circ}$.