• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.230-235
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• 2008

The aquatic fern Azolla spp. is of value as a bio-fertilizer for wetland paddy. It is popular and cultivated widely in other countries like China, Vietnam, and the Philippines, but has yet to be taken up in Korea, in a big way. It fixes nitrogen as high as 3-5kg N per day, because it contains nitrogen fixing blue-green algae, Anabaena azollae. Azolla's ability to create a light-proof mat that suppresses other weeds has been used for centuries in rice production. Azolla spp. has also the capacity to take up the heavy metals such as Mercury and Chromium (75${\sim}$100%) and may be used as a bioaccumulator in the phytoremediation. Azolla meal also can be used as an unconventional feed resource has a potential as a feedstuff for livestock.

• ALGAE
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.145-148
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• 2004

As a result of the 2-year monthly monitoring of the phytoplankton community at 3 stations in Mankyeong Estuary, Korea, we learned that cyan bacterial species of the genus Anabaena occurred at most sampling points with huge salinity differences (0.1-32.5 psu). We isolated several clones of Anabaena spp. from the monitoring stations, and screen out two euryhaline and nitrogen-fixing Anabaena clones, CB-MAL21 and CB-MAL22. The two clones were grown under various environmental gradients such as temperature (20, 30, 35 and 40$^{\circ}C$), salinity (0, 2, 5, 15 and 30psu), and $PO_4^{3-}$-P concentration (0, 1.6, 8.0, 40 and 200 ${\mu}M$M). Growth of CB-MAL21 and CB-MAL22 was measured by daily monitoring of chlorophyll fluorescence from each experimental culture for more than three serial transfers. Both the two experimental clones did not grow at 0psu. Maximal growth rates of the two clones were markedly reduced at lower $PO_4^{3-}$-P concentrations showing negligible growth at 0 and 1.6 ${\mu}M$M. However, growth of CB-MAL21 was not affected by low $NO_3^--$ concentration in culture media, showing the nitrogen-fixing ability. Maximum biomass yields of the two clones decreased dramatically at 35 and 40$^{\circ}C$. Optimal growth conditions for the two experimental clones were determined to be 20-30$^{\circ}C$, 40 ${\mu}M$M $PO_4^{3-}$-P, and wide salinity range from 5.0 to over 30psu. Best growth of CB-MAL21 was shown at (20$^{\circ}C$-15psu), which is less saline and cooler condition than those (i.e., 30$^{\circ}C$-30psu) for the best growth of CB-MAL22. The euryhaline and nitrogen-fixing CB-MAL21 strain thus can be a candidate laboratory culture for the future cyan bacterial marine biotechnology in temperate coastal waters.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.5-13
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• 2008

The aquatic fern Azolla spp. is of value as a bio-fertilizer for wetland paddy, and also can be used as an ideal feed for cattle, pigs and poultry. It is popular and cultivated widely in other countries like China, Vietnam, and the Philippines, but has yet to be taken up in Korea, in a big way. It fixes nitrogen as high as 3-5kg N per day, because it contains nitrogen fixing blue-green algae, Anabaena azollae. Azolla's ability to create a light-proof mat that suppresses other weeds has been used for centuries in rice production. Azolla spp. has also the capacity to take up the heavy metals ($75{\sim}100%$) and may be used as a bioaccumulator. Moreover, Azolla meal as an unconventional feed resource has a potential as a feedstuff for livestock.

• ALGAE
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.185-193
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• 2009

Geothermal springs in India, formed as a result of volcanic or tectonic activities, are characterized by high temperature and relatively abundant reduced compounds. These thermal springs are inhabited by characteristic thermophilic organisms including cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria are among the few organisms that can occupy high temperature aquatic environments including hot springs. In alkaline and neutral hot springs and streams flowing from them cyanobacteria can form thick colourful mats that exhibit banding patterns. The present investigation involves study of mat forming cyanobacterial flora from hot springs located in Bakreswar, West Bengal, India. The important species found are Synechococcus bigranulatus, S. lividus, Gloeocapsa gelatinosa, G. muralis, Phormidium laminosum, P. frigidum, Oscillatoria princes, O. fragilis, Lyngbya lutea, Pseudanabaena sp., Calothrix thermalis, and Fischerella thermalis. Their distribution pattern in relation to physico-chemical parameters of spring water has also been studied. Three cyanobacterial strains of the above mentioned list were grown in culture and their pigment content and nitrogen fixing capacity were also studied. Nitrogen fixing capacities of Calothrix thermalis, Nostoc sp. (isolated in culture) and Fischerella thermalis are 5.14, 0.29, and 2.60 n mole $C_2H_4/{\mu}g$ of Chl-${\alpha}$/hr respectively. Carotenoid : Chlorophyll-${\alpha}$ ratio of four mat samples collected from Kharkunda, Suryakunda, Dudhkunda and bathing pool are 2.45, 1.60, 1.48, and 1.34, respectively. Higher value of Carotenoid : Chlorophyll-${\alpha}$ ratio coincided with higher temperature.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.119-136
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• 2000

Being autotrophic, algae occupy a trategic place in the biosphere. They produce oxygen both directly and indirectly through the chloroplasts of all green plants. The chloroplasts are believed to have originated from archaic prokaryotic algae through endosymbiosis with primitive eukaryotic cells. Phytoplankton and other algae regulate the global environment not only by releasing oxygen but also by fixing carbon dioxide. They affect water quality, help in the treatment of sewage, and produce biomass. They can be used to produce hydrogen which is a clean fuel, and biodiesel, and fix $N_2$ for use as a biofertilizer. Some other services of algae to the environment include restoration of metal damaged ecosystems, reducing the atmospheric $CO_2$ load and citigating global warming, reclamation of saline-alkaline unfertile lands, and production of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) involved in the regulation of UV radiation. ozone concentration, and global warming. Algae can be valuable in understanding and resolving certain environmental issues.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.443-449
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• 1988

The effects of rice-straw annual application on nitrogen fixing microbial flora in the soil of paddy fields and their biological activities were investigated. Experiments were performed in both NPK fertilizer applied soil and rice-straw applied soil of Agricultural Station in Aomori-ken, Japan. The following results were obtained. 1. The ARA by phototrophs was significantly increased in both soil plots. From the soil plot in which 300ppm-nitrogen was applied, the increase of ARA began to be seen from three weeks later. On the other hand, 33ppm-nitrogen applied soil plot and non-nitrogen applied soil plot showed the ARA increase from the beginning. The amount of ARA by non-phototrophs was only one-tenth of that by phototrophs. 2. For the first three weeks, the phototrophic bacteria (mainly Rhodopseudomonas) were predominant in both soil plots. Since then, as the ARA rapidly increased, the proliferation of blue-green algae forming heterocysts was remarkably promoted. Such effects were more distinct in the rice-straw annually applied soil plot than in the NPK fertilizer annually applied soil plot. 3. The degree of proliferation of blue-green algae depended on the amount of applied nitrogen. While Anabaena, Nostoc and Cylindrospermum were largely proliferated in the non-nitrogen applied soil plot, Cylindrospermum and Calothrix were in the 33ppm-nitrogen applied soil plot, but Calothrix tended to predominated in the 100ppm-nitrogen applied soil plot.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.166-172
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• 1992

The identification on blue-queen algae which were collected from paddy rice fields of the whole nation was carried out in 1991. The blue-green algae identified were 20 species in 5 families including 7 species in the Chroococcaceae. 1 species in the Chamaesiphonaceae. 1 species in the Pleurocapsaceae, 6 species in the Nostocaeae and 5 species in the Oscillatoriaceae. Among the blue-green algae, 6 species in 4 genera including Cylindrospernum, Anabaenopsis, Anabaena and Nostoc were characterized by heterocysts concerning with nitrogen fixation capacity. A concentrated population of Oscillatoria spp. induced soil flakes with blue tint in paddy rice fields. The genera. Spirulina and Oscillatoria, showed their specific motility.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.399-405
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• 1984

The results of these experiments which were carried out to investigate the effects of rice straw for nitrogen metabolism and acetylene reducing activity, during rice plants were cultured under the percolated condition, are as follows. Azotobacter had tendency to increase with the passage of time, but decreased when rice straw was added. Population change of Clostridia was little as rice grew. Blue green algae increased until heading stage but decreased after the stage. And the application of rice straw increased the number of microorganisms. Thiorhodaceae were never detected, but yeast tended to increase slightly with passing time. Acetylene reducing activity was increased with increasing the number of nitrogen fixing microorganisms, and nitrogen fixing activity was between 0.2kg N/10 a and 0.4kg N/10 a during the growing season of rice plants. Though acetylene reducing activity was promoted by the use of rice plants on non-plant area, but the activity was not clearly affected by percolation.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.149-159
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• 1988

This study was made to investigate the effect of pesticides on microflora to nitrogen metabolism, nitrification and nitrogen fixing activity in the submerged soil. The results are summarized as follows; Pesticides treatment leaded to the inhibition of $NH_4{^-}$-oxdizers, $NO_3{^-}$-reducer, and denitrifying bacteria population. $NO_2{^-}$-oxdizers were inhibited by cabamate compounds, carbofuran and MIPC. Simetryne seemed to stimulate the denitrifying bacteria at 60 days after incubation. Generally, formation of $NO_2{^-}$ and $NO_3{^-}$ tended to decrease by pesticides application. Pesticides application stimulated Azotobacter and Clostridia populations, while simetryne inhibited Athiorhodaceae and Thiorhodaceae. However acephate seemed to be stimulatory to blue-geen algae. $C_2H_2$-reducing activity by acephate was clearly appeared. The change of $C_2H_2$-reducing activity did not seems to be affected by pesticides application.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 1977

Acetylene-ethylene($C_2H_2-C_2H_4$) assay was carried out to find the heterotrophic nitrogen-fixing activities and distribution of nitrogen fixers in eleven different soil series which are located in Kyeonggi province. Following are the summaries of this study. 1. Acetylene-reducing activities were higher in Gwanghwal, Mangyeong and Buyong series which are derived from fluviomarine deposite than in Yeongsan, Hamchang and Pyeongtack series which are observed from continental alluvial plain. The lowest activities are observed in Yecheon, Hoegog, and Jisan series which are situated in local valley region. 2. Estimated amouts of $N_2$ per annum fixed by $N_2$-fixing heterotrophs were about 3.2kg in fuluvio marine soils, 2.6kg in continental alluvial plain and 2.0kg/10a in local valley region, respectively. 3. Azotobacter and Beijerinckia were not detected in any of the ten different soil series except in Pyeongtaeg series. However, Clostridia, anaerobic nitrogen fixer, was detected in order of ${\times}10^2$. It is assumed that these population are not enough to contribute to the nitrogen supply by the biological fixation in paddy soil. 4. For the assesment of heterotrophic nitrogen fixation in paddy soil, it must be presumed that aerobes, anaerobes and phototrophs which can grow on nitrogen free media may greatly contribute for the asymbiotic netrogen fixation.