• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.117-124
• /
• 2011

Considering that the world population is expected to total 9 billion by 2050, it will clearly be necessary to sustain and even accelerate the rate of improvement in crop productivity. In the 21st century, we now face another, perhaps more devastating, environmental threat, namely climate change, which could cause irreversible damage to agricultural ecosystem and loss of production potential. Enhancing intrinsic yield, plant abiotic stress tolerance, and pest and pathogen resistance through agricultural biotechnology will be a critical part of feeding, clothing, and providing energy for the human population, and overcoming climate change. Development and commercialization of genetically engineered crops have significantly contributed to increase of crop yield and farmer's income, decrease of environmental impact associated with herbicide and insecticide, and to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from this cropping area. Advances in plant genomics, proteomics and system biology have offered an unprecedented opportunities to identify genes, pathways and networks that control agricultural important traits. Because such advances will provide further details and complete understanding of interaction of plant systems and environmental variables, biotechnology is likely to be the most prominent part of the next generation of successful agricultural industry. In this article, we review the prospects for modification of agricultural target traits by genetic engineering, including enhancement of photosynthesis, abiotic stress tolerance, and pest and pathogen resistance associated with such opportunities and challenges under climate change.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.385-390
• /
• 2014

The beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is difficult to control using chemical insecticides because of the development of insecticide resistance. Several pest control agents are used to control the beet armyworm. Entomopathogenic fungi are one of the candidates for eco-friendly pest control instead of chemical control agents. In this study, among various entomopathogenic fungal strains isolated from soil two isolates were selected as high virulence pathogens against larva of beet armyworm. Control efficacy of fungal conidia was influenced by conidia concentration, temperature, and relative humidity (RH). The isolates Metarhizium anisopliae FT83 showed 100% cumulative mortality against second instar larvae of S. exigua 3 days after treatment at $1{\times}10^7$ conidia/mL and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus FG340 caused 100% mortality 6 days after treatment at $1{\times}10^4$ conidia/mL. Both M. anisopliae FT83 and P. fumosoroseus FG340 effectively controlled the moth at $20{\sim}30^{\circ}C$. M. anisopliae FT83 was significantly affected mortality by RH: mortality was 86.7% at 85% RH and 13.4% at 45% RH. P. fumosoroseus FG340 showed high mortality as 90% at 45% RH and 100% at 75% RH 6 days after conidia treatments. These results suggest that P. fumosoroseus FG340 and M. anisopliae FT83 have high potential to develop as a biocontrol agent against the beet armyworm.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.177-183
• /
• 2008

For the development of integrated pest management system by harmonizing biological and chemical control, some experiments were carried out to select low toxic pesticides against natural enemies. Leaf dipping method, body dipping method, and diet treatment method were used for the toxicity evaluation against Microplites mediator adults. We tested 49 different pesticides (34 insecticides, 11 fungicides, 4 herbicides) at recommending concentration commonly used to control insect pests, disease and up-land weeds in chinese cabbage field. 16 insecticides, 11 fungicides, and 4 herbicides were shown to be low toxic to Microplites mediator adults in the treatment of body dipping.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.12 no.9
• /
• pp.967-976
• /
• 2003

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are present in essentially all natural and synthetic materials from petrol to flowers. In this study, indoor and outdoor VOCs concentrations of houses, offices and internet-cafes were measured and compared simultaneously with personal exposures of each 50 participants in Asan and Seoul, respectively. Also, factors that influence personal VOCs exposure were statistically analyzed using questionnaires in relation to house characteristics, time activities, and health effects. All VOCs concentrations were measured by OVM passive samplers (3M) and analyzed with GC/MS. Target pollutants among VOCs were Toluene, o-Xylene, m/p-Xylene, Ethylbenzene, MIBK, n-Octane, Styrene, Trichloroethylene, and 1,2-Dichlorobenzene. Indoor and outdoor VOCs concentrations measured in Seoul were significantly higher than those in Asan except Ethylbenzene. Residential indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios for all target compounds ranged from 0.94 to 1.51 and I/O ratios of Asan were a little higher than those of Seoul. Relationship between personal VOCs exposure, and indoor and outdoor VOCs concentrations suggested that time-activity pattern could affect the high exposure to air pollutant. Factors that influence indoor VOCs level and personal exposure with regard to house characteristics in houses were building age, inside smoking and house type. In addition insecticide and cosmetics interestingly affected the VOCs personal exposure. Higher exposure to VOCs might be caused to be exciting increase and memory reduction, considering the relationship between measured VOCs concentrations and questionnaire (p<0.05).

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.291-297
• /
• 2000

This study was conducted to find out the environmental factors affecting the differences in the half-life of the insecticide cyfluthrin in soil between field and laboratory tests carried out in 1998. Degradation and leaching of cyfluthrin in soil were examined under various environmental conditions that were considered to affect the residuality. Cyfluthrin was degraded 1.9 times faster in non-sterilized soil than in sterilized soil and 1.2 times at $25^{\circ}C$ than at $15^{\circ}C$. The half-lives of cyfluthrin were 61.4 days under the dark condition and 4.5 days under sunlight, and those were 11.8 days under the open condition and 23.8 days under the closed condition. The half-lives of the authentic compound and the commercial product of cyfluthrin were 15 and 1 day in the field test and 26 and 3 days in the laboratory test, respectively. Cyfluthrin was rapidly degraded with an increase in soil moisture content and decomposed faster in the alkaline solution of pH 12 than in the acidic solution of pH 3, but the half-life of cyfluthrin did not make any difference between pH 6.4 of the field test soil and pH 5.6 of the laboratory test soil. Cyfluthrin was immobile in soil from the results that $81{\sim}94%$ of the initial amount remained in the $0{\sim}2\;cm$ layer of the soil column regardless of the amount and time of rainfall after the chemical treatments. From viewing the abovementioned results, soil moisture content, sunlight and formulation type affected greatly soil microbes and volatilization affected slightly, and temperature, pH and rainfall did not affect the big difference in the half-life of cyfluthrin in soil between the field and laboratory tests in the year of 1998.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.279-286
• /
• 2015

Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV) is a polydnavirus symbiotic to C. plutellae parasitizing young larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. Several CpBV genes play important roles in suppressing immune responses of the parasitized larvae. This study tested a hypothesis that the CpBV genes inducing host immunosuppression could be applied to develop a potent recombinant baculovirus. Based on a previous study, a recombinant baculovirus expressing CpBV-ELP1 (AcMNPV-ELP1) was selected and multiplied using larvae of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua. The recombinant viruses were produced in a yield of $5{\times}10^{10}$ polyhedral inclusion body (PIB)/larva. The cultured AcMNPV-ELP1 exhibited a much higher pathogenicity against S. exigua larvae. However, its insecticidal activity was varied among larval instars of S. exigua, in which first and late instars were high susceptible. Spray of the recombinant baculovirus ($5{\times}10^6PIB/mL$) exhibited higher control efficacy (${\approx}$ 88%) against S. exigua larvae infesting cabbage than a chemical insecticide, tebufenozide, at 7 days after treatment. These results indicate that AcMNPV-ELP1 mass-cultured using host insect system is highly pathogenic and can be applied to develop a novel microbial control agent.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.52 no.4
• /
• pp.437-448
• /
• 2013

Hemipteran bugs, which were previously considered as secondary pests, have currently become important pests of numerous crops. Among them, Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) is a major species that occurs in Korea, Japan, China, and South Asian countries. Riptortus pedestris infests leguminous crops like soybean, vetches, and red clover; fruit trees like persimmon and yuju; and grains like barley, foxtail millet, broomcorn, and sorghum. Riptortus pedestris causes the greatest damage to soybean, as it is the most suitable host for the bug. Feeding damage during pod formation significantly reduces the yield of soybean. Currently, 17 insecticides, including diazinon and etofenprox, are registered for the control of hemipteran bugs in Korea, and growers apply insecticides two to three times on a regular basis. Aggregation pheromone traps are widely used as a monitoring tool and partial control measure. The aggregation pheromone of R. pedestris attracts conspecific adults and nymphs and is used for food exploitation rather than sexual attraction. In addition, the pheromone serves as a kairomone for egg parasitoids such as Gryon japonicum (Ashmead) and Ooencyrtus nezarae Ishii. As a new method of pest management, nonviable host eggs were included in the pheromone trap to catch R. pedestris and propagate parasitoids. As a part of cultural practices, resistant soybean varieties with specific color and size of pod and control of flowering time through the alteration of planting date can be used. For the effective management of R. pedestris in the near future, development of cultural practices that can support natural control factors and the use of multiple control tactics are needed.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.722-730
• /
• 2000

The residual concentration and half-life time of synthetic pyrethroid insecticide cyfluthrin in potato and soil were investigated by gas chromatography (GC). The pesticide in potato was extracted with n-hexane, filtered and concentrated. The concentrated phase was transferred to the Sep-Pak silica gel column and purified with acetonitrile and acetone for the analysis by gas chromatography equipped with electron capture detector (GC-ECD). From the standard additional experiments with 0.01 and $0.1{\mu}g$, the recoveries were 85-87% and the detection limit was 0.005 ng. The soil sample was extracted with acetone and dichloromethane. The organic phase was concentrated and redissolved with n-hexane and analyzed with GC-ECD after cleaned with Sep-Pak column. From the standard additional experiments with 0.01 and 0.1 ng, the recoveries were 84-88% and the detection limit was 0.005ng. The half-life time of cyfluthrin in the silty clay was 25 days in the room laboratory and 0.6 days in the fieJd test whereas it was 38 days and 0.5 days for each in case of silty loam.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.45 no.2 s.143
• /
• pp.195-200
• /
• 2006

This study was carried out to clarify the biologies and morphological characteristics of Rhynchaenus sanguinipes. Also some chemicals were tested to screen the effective insecticide for the control of the species. Up to date, Zelkova serrata has been hewn as host plant of Rhynchaenus sanguinipes, which shows serious damage in this country. In the present study, Ulmus pumila was first found as host plant in this study. Body lengths of larvae, pupa and adult were 4.53$\pm$0.30 mm, 3.30$\pm$0.42 mm and 2.96$\pm$0.12 mm, respectively. The overwintered adult of the species emerged on early April to late April, and adult of nekt generation emerged on early May to late May, Pupal periods were 10, 7.2, 5.1 and 4 days on 16, 20, 24 and 28$^{\circ}C$, respectively. The lower developmental threshold temperature was 5.8$^{\circ}C$. Four braconid parasitoids were found as natural enemies, which emerged mainly on late April to early June. Insecticidal activities with treatments of fenitrothion 50% EC, indoxacarb 30% WG, ethofenprox 20% EC and thiacloprid 10% SC was investigated against adult of R. sanguinpes, and they showed >90% mortality.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.391-400
• /
• 2005

This study was undertaken to survey the pesticides used under the greenhouse cultivation of 9 vegetable crops including cucumber, tomato, strawberry, eggplant, hot pepper, paprika, lettuce, perilla leaves and green onion in the Southern area during the period of 2003-2004. The total number of farmers investigated was 202 which consisted of 124 conventional growers and 78 environment-friendly growers. The farmers were requested to record with respect to the crop's name, cultivation acreage, growing practices (conventional/environment-friendly), use purpose, pesticide kinds, usage quantity and application time of pesticides. The average usage quantity of pesticides for the 9 crops was 3.30 kg ai/ha in conventional growing and 0.47 kg ai/ha in environment-friendly growing. The average application time of pesticides was 11 times in conventional and 2 times in environment-friendly growing, with more than 90% cases as a foliar application. The number of active ingredients of pesticides was 34 in conventional and 10 in environment-friendly growing on the average per crop. The purpose of pesticide application was as a fungicide in 56% cases and as an insecticide in 43% cases.