• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.472-481
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• 2017

Agricultural field near at the abandoned metal mine and industrial area has a high possibility to be polluted by heavy metals. However, concern about chemical properties including heavy metal concentration has been increased and biological properties such as soil respiration has been minimal in heavy metal polluted field. Therefore, main objective of this research was to evaluate soil respiration as an indicator of heavy metal pollution in agricultural field. Total of 60 sampling sites including each 30 sites of abandoned metal mine and industrial area were selected and heavy metal concentration, soil respiration, and chemical properties were measured. Results showed that heavy metal concentration in metal mine area was ranged Cu: $6.21~85.23mg\;kg^{-1}$, Pb: $23.84{\sim}1,044.72mg\;kg^{-1}$, As: $1.88{\sim}691.44mg\;kg^{-1}$, Zn: $18.72{\sim}527.55mg\;kg^{-1}$, Cd: $0.58{\sim}4.27mg\;kg^{-1}$, and Cu: $0.29{\sim}30.62mg\;kg^{-1}$, Pb: $4.41{\sim}19.77mg\;kg^{-1}$, As: $2.23{\sim}11.76mg\;kg^{-1}$, Zn $39.98{\sim}109.59mg\;kg^{-1}$, Cd $0.29{\sim}0.57mg\;kg^{-1}$ for industrial area respectively. While no sampling site was exceed the threshold value of each heavy metals in industrial field, metal mine area was highly polluted with Pb, As, Zn, and Cd. Soil respiration in the metal mine and industrial area was ranged $12.05{\sim}299.80mg\;O_2\;kg^{-1}$ and $27.68{\sim}330.94mg\;O_2\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. Correlation analysis between heavy metal concentration in soil and soil respiration showed that negative correlation was observed in metal mine area while no correlation was observed in industrial area. This result might indicate that as heavy metal concentration was increased, microbial activity in soil was decreased resulting decrease of soil respiration rate. Overall, soil respiration can be used as indicator of heavy metal pollution in soil and more biological properties need to be evaluated to better understand heavy metal pollution in soil.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.123-128
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• 2006

Behcet's disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers, and ocular inflammation, and which may involve the joints, skin, central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. Although the exact pathogenesis for BD is not completely understood, it has been suggested that the disease is triggered in genetically susceptible individuals by environmental factors, such as microbial agents. It is noted that multiple genes, including MHC (major histocompatibility complex) and non-MHC genes, are implicated in the pathogenesis of BD. This study tries to determine whether IL-6 gene polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to Behcet's disease in Koreans. Gene polymorphisms were typed by VNTR (variable number of tandem repeat), RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism), DHPLC (denaturing high performance liquid chromatography).There were no evidences for genetic association conferred by the IL-6prom polymorphism. However, significant differences in the IL-6vntr genotype and allele frequencies were found between patients with BD and controls. The IL-6vntr*C allele appeared to be an additional susceptibility gene to Korean BD. Further studies in other populations and gene are required to confirm these results.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.201-205
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• 2016

In August 2015, leaf spot symptoms were observed on Korean gondre thistle (Cirsium setidens) in Youngwol, Korea. During the early stage, the symptoms appeared as one or more small gray-brown to brown spots on plant leaves. The spots showed extensive enlargement over time and eventually became large dark brown to black lesions on the whole leaf. Stemphylium species were consistently isolated from affected leaves. All isolates were identified as S. lycopersici, S. solani, or S. xanthosomatis based on morphological and cultural characteristics. The isolates were confirmed as S. lycopersici based on a multilocus sequence analysis using the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, elongation factor 1, GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase), and the noncoding region between the vacuolar membrane ATPase catalytic subunit A gene and a gene involved in vacuolar biogenesis. Pathogenicity was tested by spore suspension inoculation on wounded or unwounded gondre leaves. The lesions were observed on inoculated leaves within 3 days after inoculation, regardless of wound. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the leaf spot on gondre thistle caused by S. lycopersici in Korea or elsewhere.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.58-68
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• 2018

Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) is used as a nitrogen-fixing green manure in Korea to improve soil quality, reduce soil erosion, and suppress weeds and nematodes. In 2014, wilting sunn hemp plants were observed in green manure-cultivated fields in Wanju, Korea. Leaves of the infected plants began yellowing, starting with the lower leaves, eventually leading to their death. Moreover, a number of dark perithecia were observed on the wilting stems. Six isolates were obtained from these perithecia by single spore isolation. Based on their morphological characteristics, the isolates were identified as Fusarium udum (teleomorph: Gibberella indica). Macroconidia were slightly curved with almost hooked apical cell, and microconidia were formed on false heads by monophialides. Chlamydospores were produced abundantly in the hyphae, either singly or in clusters. To confirm the identification, multilocus sequence analysis was conducted using translation elongation factor 1 alpha (TEF), calmodulin (CAL), and histone 3 (HIS3). The sequences of TEF, CAL, and HIS3 showed 94.4~96.2%, 99.7%, and 99.6~99.8% similarity to the reference sequences of F. udum in NCBI GenBank, respectively. Pathogenicity was tested on sunn hemp and two soybean cultivars using the inoculation method of soil drenching with spore suspension. The wilting symptoms were observed only in sunn hemp and one cultivar of soybean (cv. Teagwang) after 14~21 days of inoculation. This is the first report of wilt disease in sunn hemp caused by Fusarium udum in Korea.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2015

This study was performed to optimize the preparation of frozen lotus roots. Prior to freezing, an optimal blanching condition at $100^{\circ}C$ for 5 min was established, based on the microbial growth, texture, total phenolic content (TPC), and sensory evaluation results. The blanched samples were then frozen under various freezing conditions ($-20^{\circ}C$ in a freezer for 2 hr, $-70^{\circ}C$ in a gas nitrogen convection chamber for 7 min, and $-196^{\circ}C$ in liquid nitrogen for 20 sec), and their qualities after thawing were determined. The scanning electron microscopic analysis indicated that the microstructure of the sample frozen at $-70^{\circ}C$ was similar to that of the control sample, compared with the other freezing conditions (-20 and $-196^{\circ}C$). The antioxidant activities of the frozen samples decreased compared to those of the control, but there was no significant (p<0.05) difference among the treatments. In terms of TPC, the samples frozen at -70 and $-196^{\circ}C$ had significantly (p<0.05) higher values than the sample frozen at $-20^{\circ}C$. In addition, the drip loss of the sample frozen at $-20^{\circ}C$ was higher than those of the other frozen samples. These results suggest that freezing at $-70^{\circ}C$ in a gas nitrogen convection chamber can be an optimal freezing method of producing high-quality frozen lotus roots.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.294-300
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• 2005

Contents of total aerobic bacteria, coliform, Escherichia coli, yeast, mold, and Staphylococcus aureus in meat, dairy, and fishery products were analyzed by dry rehydratable film method using 3M $Petrifilm^{TM}$ and compared against those obtained through conventional method. Two methods showed high correlations of 0.990-0.999, 0.975-0.999, 0.979-0.987, 0.978-0.984, and 0.999 for total aerobic bacteria, yeast and mold, coliform, E. coli, and S. aureus, respectively; therefore, dry rehydratable film method using 3M $Petrifilm^{TM}$ offers acceptable alternative to conventional method for enumeration of microorganisms in meat, dairy, and fishery products.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.223-229
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• 2006

To develop multifunctional microbial inoculant, an insluble phosphate-solubilizing bacterium with antifungal activity was isolated from plant rhizospheric soil. On the basis of its morphological, cultural and physiological characteristics and Biolog analysis, this bacterium was identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens RAF15. P. fluorescens RAF15 showed antifungal activities against phytopathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea and Rhizoctonia solani. The optimal medium composition and cultural conditions for the solubilization of insoluble phosphate by P. fluorescens RAF15 were 1.5% of glucose, 0.005% of urea, 0.3% $MgCl_2{\cdot}6H_2\;0.01%\;of\;MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O\;0.01%,\;of\;CaCl_2{\cdot}2H_2O$, and 0.05% of NaCl along with initial pH 7.0 at $30^{\circ}C$. The soluble phosphate production under optimum condition was 863 mg/L after 5 days of cultivation. The solubilization of insoluble phosphates was associated with a drop in the pH of the culture medium. P. fluorescens RAF15 showed resistance against different environmental stresses like $10-35^{\circ}C$ temperature, 1-4% salt concentration and pH 2-11 range. The strain produced soluble phosphate to the culture broth with the concentrations of 971-1121 mg/L against $CaHPO_4$, 791-908 mg/L against $Ca_3(PO_4){_2}$, and 844 mg/L against hydroxyapatite, respectively. However, the strain produced soluble phosphate to the culture broth with the concentrations of 15 mg/L against $FePO_4$, and 5 mg/L against $AlPO_4$, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.319-326
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• 2014

Two bacterial strains, named as LE17 and LE22, were isolated from traditionally fermented soybean products in order to select lactic acid bacteria for the reduction of biogenic amines and harmful bacteria. Both strains were identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus by 16S rRNA sequence analysis and additional biochemical tests. The strain LE17 reduced the amines by 13.7% for histamine and by 25.9% for tyramine, when it grew in minimal synthetic media containing 0.1% (w/v) histamine and 0.1% tyramine at $30^{\circ}C$ for 48 h, while the strain LE22 reduced the amines by 23.7% for histamine and by 15.7% for tyramine. Both strains also had broad inhibition spectra against pathogens. Considering their properties, they could be used as starters for industrial soybean fermentation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.9
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• pp.1518-1523
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• 2013

To estimate the shelf life of red cabbage sprouts (stored at 4 and $10^{\circ}C$), the numbers of total aerobic bacteria were determined during storage. Parameters for the Gompertz model were determined and the shelf life was predicted using a modified Gompertz equation. The estimated shelf lives of red cabbage sprouts packed with polyolefin film and polyamide/polyamide/polyethylene (PA/PA/PE) film at $4^{\circ}C$ were 49.4 and 52.3 h, respectively, whereas those of red cabbage sprouts packed with polyolefin film and PA/PA/PE film at $10^{\circ}C$ were 19.7 and 22.6, respectively. The shelf life prediction equation was appropriate, based on the statistical analysis of the accuracy factor, bias factor, and mean square error. On the other hand, for red cabbage sprouts treated with aqueous $ClO_2$/fumaric acid and UV-C then packed with polyolefin film or PA/PA/PE film, the shelf life was predicted to be longer than 168 h. These results suggest that the combined treatment of aqueous $ClO_2$/fumaric acid and UV-C can be useful for improving microbial safety and extending the shelf life of red cabbage sprouts during storage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.9
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• pp.1467-1474
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• 2013

To develop a starter culture system for the fermentation of mukeunji, we introduced lactic acid bacteria and yeast isolated from mukeunji into kimchi fermentation as a single or a mixed culture. On evaluating mukeunji flavor, we found that the mixed starter kimchi prepared with two strains, ML17 and MY7, gave the best sensory score. These strains were identified as Lactobacillus (Lb.) curvatus ML17 and Saccharomyces (S.) servazzii MY7 by molecular identification method. The fermentative characteristics of starter kimchi were investigated by measuring changes in the physicochemical and microfloral characteristics during the fermentation. The decrease in pH and increase in acidity in the starter kimchi were faster compared to respective values of control kimchi. There was a gradual decrease in hardness of starter kimchi, which was still slow compared to hardness decrease in control kimchi. Microbial analysis of starter kimchi revealed that Lb. curvatus ML17 and S. servazzii MY7 were the dominant organisms during the entire fermentation period. The lactic acid and citric acid contents of starter kimchi were higher than those of the control kimchi after 90 days of fermentation. By sensory evaluation, the starter kimchi scored higher in appearance, mukeunji flavor, sourness, carbonated flavor, savory taste, texture, and overall acceptability, but lower in off-flavor than the control kimchi.