• Title/Summary/Keyword: organic fruit

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Design of Cloud-Based Data Analysis System for Culture Medium Management in Smart Greenhouses (스마트온실 배양액 관리를 위한 클라우드 기반 데이터 분석시스템 설계)

  • Heo, Jeong-Wook;Park, Kyeong-Hun;Lee, Jae-Su;Hong, Seung-Gil;Lee, Gong-In;Baek, Jeong-Hyun
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.37 no.4
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    • pp.251-259
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    • 2018
  • BACKGROUND: Various culture media have been used for hydroponic cultures of horticultural plants under the smart greenhouses with natural and artificial light types. Management of the culture medium for the control of medium amounts and/or necessary components absorbed by plants during the cultivation period is performed with ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and/or IoT (Internet of Things) in a smart farm system. This study was conducted to develop the cloud-based data analysis system for effective management of culture medium applying to hydroponic culture and plant growth in smart greenhouses. METHODS AND RESULTS: Conventional inorganic Yamazaki and organic media derived from agricultural byproducts such as a immature fruit, leaf, or stem were used for hydroponic culture media. Component changes of the solutions according to the growth stage were monitored and plant growth was observed. Red and green lettuce seedlings (Lactuca sativa L.) which developed 2~3 true leaves were considered as plant materials. The seedlings were hydroponically grown in the smart greenhouse with fluorescent and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) lights of $150{\mu}mol/m^2/s$ light intensity for 35 days. Growth data of the seedlings were classified and stored to develop the relational database in the virtual machine which was generated from an open stack cloud system on the base of growth parameter. Relation of the plant growth and nutrient absorption pattern of 9 inorganic components inside the media during the cultivation period was investigated. The stored data associated with component changes and growth parameters were visualized on the web through the web framework and Node JS. CONCLUSION: Time-series changes of inorganic components in the culture media were observed. The increases of the unfolded leaves or fresh weight of the seedlings were mainly dependent on the macroelements such as a $NO_3-N$, and affected by the different inorganic and organic media. Though the data analysis system was developed, actual measurement data were offered by using the user smart device, and analysis and comparison of the data were visualized graphically in time series based on the cloud database. Agricultural management in data visualization and/or plant growth can be implemented by the data analysis system under whole agricultural sites regardless of various culture environmental changes.

Determination of Antifungal Activity on Pepper Anthracnose and Plant Growth Promoting Activity of Pleurospermum camtschaticum Root Extract (누리대 뿌리 추출물의 고추 탄저병에 대한 항균 및 생장 촉진 활성 검정)

  • Inkyu Lee;Young Sun Baek;Youn Su Lee
    • Research in Plant Disease
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    • v.29 no.3
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    • pp.268-275
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    • 2023
  • This study was conducted to confirm the utilization of Pleurospermum camtschaticum root extract as an organic agricultural material. Antioxidant activity of P. camtschaticum root extract, closely related to antibacterial activity, increased in a dose-dependent manner. In mycelial growth inhibitory activity, 100% P. camtschaticum root extract supressed over 70% for Colletotrichum coccodes and over 68% for Colletotrichum dematium. In the pepper fruit anthracnose development test, the size of the lesion decreased in a dose-dependent manner, which showed the same tendency as the previous results in inhibitory activity on mycelial growth. In the pepper seed germination and red pepper growth promotion test of P. camtschaticum root extract, oposite results was confirmed. The lower the concentration, the more the seed germination and growth promotion effects were shown. The phenol content of pepper leaves was also measured after pepper growth promotion test have been completed. The phenol content related to antibacterial activity increased in all treated groups compared to the untreated group. Therefore, the results of this study showed the possibility of development as an organic material.

Studies on the Physiological Chemistry of Seed Development in Ginseng Seed (인삼식물의 종자발육 과정에 있어서의 생리화학적 연구)

  • Hee-Chun Yang
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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    • v.17
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    • pp.115-133
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    • 1974
  • This study was done on the metabolism of chemical components during the seed development of ginseng. The changes of the chemical components were inspected in the following periods: from the early stage of flower organ formation to flowering time, from the early stage of fruiting to maturity, during the moisture stratification before sowing. From flower bud forming stage to meiosis stage, the changes in the fresh weight, dry weight, contents of carbohydrates, and contents of nitrogen compounds were slight while the content of TCA soluble phosphorus and especially the content of organic phosphorus increased markedly. From meiosis stage to microspore stage the fresh and dry weights increase greatly. Also, the total nitrogen content increases in this period. Insolub]e nitrogen was 62-70% of the total nitrogen content; the increase of insoluble nitrogen seems to have resulted form the synthesis of protein. The content of soluble sugar (reducing and non-reducing sugar) increases greatly but there was no observable increase in starch content. In this same period, TCA soluble phosphorus reached the maximum level of 85.4% of the total phosphorus. TCA insoluble phosphorus remained at the minimum content level of 14.6%. After the pollen maturation stage and during the flowering period the dry weight increased markedly and insolub]e nitrogen also increased to the level of 67% of the total nitrogen content. Also in this stage, the organic phosphorus content decreased and was found in lesser amounts than inorganic phosphorus. A rapid increase in the starch content was also observed at this stage. In the first three weeks after fruiting the ginseng fruit grows rapidly. Ninety percent of the fresh weight of ripened ginseng seed is obtained in this period. Also, total nitrogen content increased by seven times. As the fruits ripened, insoluble nitrogen increased from 65% of the total nitrogen to 80% while soluble nitrogen decreased from 35% to 20%. By the beginning of the red-ripening period, the total phosphoric acid content increased by eight times and was at its peak. In this same period, TCA soluble phosphorus was 90% of total phosphorus content and organic phosphorus had increased by 29 times. Lipid-phosphorus, nucleic acid-phosphorus and protein-phosphorus also increased during this stage. The rate of increase in carbohydrates was similar to the rate of increase in fresh weight and it was observed at its highest point three weeks after fruiting. Soluble sugar content was also highest at this time; it begins to decrease after the first three weeks. At the red-ripening stage, soluble sugar content increased again slightly, but never reached its previous level. The level of crude starch increased gradually reaching its height, 2.36% of total dry weight, a week before red-ripening, but compared with the content level of other soluble sugars crude starch content was always low. When the seeds ripened completely, more than 80% of the soluble sugar was non-reducing sugar, indicating that sucrose is the main reserve material of carbohydrates in ginseng seeds. Since endosperm of the ripened ginseng seeds contain more than 60% lipids, lipids can be said to be the most abundant reserve material in ginseng seeds; they are more abundant than carbohydrates, protein, or any other component. During the moisture stratification, ginseng seeds absorb quantities of water. Lipids, protein and starch stored in the seeds become soluble by hydrolysis and the contents of sugar, inorganic phosphorus, phospho-lipid, nucleic acid-phosphorus, protein phosphorus, and soluble nitrogen increase. By sowing time, the middle of November, embryo of the seeds grows to 4.2-4.7mm and the water content of the seeds amounts to 50-60% of the total seed weight. Also, by this time, much budding material has been accumulated. On the other hand, dry stored ginseng seeds undergo some changes. The water content of the seeds decreases to 5% and there is an observable change in the carbohydraes but the content of lipid and nitrogen compounds did not change as much as carbohydrates.

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Studies on nutrient sources, fermentation and harmful organisms of the synthetic compost affecting yield of Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Sing (양송이 수량(收量)에 미치는 합성퇴비배지(合成堆肥培地)의 영양원(營養源), 발효(醱酵) 및 유해생물(有害生物)에 관((關)한 연구(硏究))

  • Shin, Gwan-Chull
    • The Korean Journal of Mycology
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    • v.7 no.1
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    • pp.13-73
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    • 1979
  • These studies were conducted to investigate nutrient sources and supplementary materials of synthetic compost media for Agaricus bisporus culture. Investigation were carried out to establish the optimum composition for compost of Agaricus bisporus methods of out-door fermentation and peakheating with rice straw as the main substrate of the media. The incidence and flora of harmful organisms in rice straw compost and their control were also studied. 1. When rice straw was used as the main substrate in synthetic compost as a carbon source. yields were remarkably high. Fermentation was more rapid than that of barley straw or wheat straw, and the total nitrogen content was high in rice straw compost. 2. Since the morphological and physico-chemical nature of Japonica and Indica types of rice straw are greatly dissimilar. there were apparent differences in the process of compost fermentation. Fermentation of Indica type straw proceeded more rapidly with a shortening the compost period, reducing the water supply, and required adding of supplementary materials for producing stable physical conditions. 3. Use of barley straw compost resulted in a smaller crop compared with rice straw. but when a 50%, barley straw and 50% rice straw mixture was used, the yield was almost the same as that using only rice straw. 4. There were extremely high positive correlations between yield of Agaricus bisporus and the total nitrogen, organic nitrogen, amino acids, amides and amino sugar nitrogen content of compost. The mycerial growth and fruit body formation were severely inhibited by ammonium nitrogen. 5. When rice straw was used as the main substrate for compost media, urea was the most suitable source of nitrogen. Poor results were obtained with calcium cyanamide and ammonium sulfate. When urea was applied three separate times, nitrogen loss during composting was decreased and the total nitrogen content of compost was increased. 6. The supplementation of organic nutrient activated compost fermentation and increased yield of Agaricus bisporus. The best sources of organic nutrients were: perilla meal, sesame meal, wheat bran and poultry manure, etc. 7. Soybean meal, tobacco powder and glutamic acid fermentation by-products which were industrial wastes, could be substituted for perilla meal, sesame meal and wheat bran as organic nutrient sources for compost media. B. When gypsum and zeolite were added to rice straw. physical deterioration of compost due to excess moisture and caramelization was observed. The Indica type of straw was more remarkable in increase of yield of Agricus bisporus by addition of supplementing materials than Japonica straw. 9. For preparing rice straw compost, the best mixture was prepared by 10% poultry manure, 5% perilla meal, 1. 2 to 1. 5% urea and 1% gypsum. At spring cropping, it was good to add rice bran to accelerate heat generation of the compost heap. 10. There was significantly high positive correlation (r=0.97) between accumulated temperature and the decomposition degree of compost during outdoor composting. The yield was highest at accumulated temperatures between 900 and $1,000^{\circ}C$. 11. Prolonging the composting period brought about an increase in decomposition degree and total nitrogen content, but a decrease in ammonium nitrogen. In the spring the suitable period of composting was 20 to 25 days. and about 15 days in autumn. For those periods, the degree of decomposition was 19 to 24%. 12. Compactness of wet compost at filling caused an increase in the residual ammonium nitrogen. methane and organic acid during peak heating. There was negative correlation between methane content and yield (r=0.76)and the same was true between volatile organic acid and yield (r=0.73). 13. In compost with a moisture content range between 69 to 80% at filling. the higher the moisture content, the lower the yield (r=0.78). This result was attributed to a reduction in the porosity of compost at filling the beds. The optimum porosity for good fermentation was between 41 and 53%. 14. Peak heating of the compost was essential for the prevention of harmful microorganisms and insect pests. and for the removal of excess ammonia. It was necessary to continue fer mentatiion for four days after peak heating. 15. Ten species of fungi which are harmful or competitive to Agaricus bisporus were identified from the rice compost, including Diehliomyces microsporus, Trichoderma sp. and Stysanus stemoites. The frequency of occurrance was notably high with serious damage to Agaricus bisporus. 16. Diehliomyces microsporus could be controlled by temperature adjustment of the growing room and by fumigating the compost and the house with Basamid and Vapam. Trichoderma was prevented by the use of Bavistin and Benomyl. 17. Four species of nematodes and five species of mites occured in compost during out-door composting. These orgnanisms could be controlled through peakheating compost for 6 hours at $60^{\circ}C$.

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Studies on the Chemical Compositions of Citrus junos in Korea (한국산유자(韓國産柚子)의 화학적성분(化學的成分)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究))

  • Jung, Ji-Heun
    • Applied Biological Chemistry
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    • v.17 no.1
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    • pp.63-80
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    • 1974
  • The chemical components of Citrus junos produced in Korea were divided into two parts; common and special components respectively. In the former the relation between the physiological effects of the plant and its ripening process was observed periodically while the latter was analyzed the ripening fruits for their effective utilization as food. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The analytical result of seasonal change showed that the rind ratio was higher than the flesh ratio and on a regional basis, the rind ratio was higher in the islands than on land areas. 2. In the experiment the moisture was increased until the third period, but afterwards it was made constant. While the content of crude fat, cellulose, ash, total acid and soluble non-nitrogen material were decreased until the third period and the cotent of cellulose and total acid were continuousely redused until the last period. In con trast with the above the content of reducing sugars was increased but the content of crude fat, cellulose, ash, crude protein and soluble non-nitrogen material were increased until last period. 3. The content of vitamin C was richer in the rind than in the flesh, in the Korean species than in the Japanese. 4. Free sugars; xylose, fructose, glucose were richer in the rind than in the flesh. 5. The content of volatile organic acids was richer in the rind than in the flesh. Among them, volatile acids, acetic acid, formic and n-valeric acid were found in the rind and formic acid, acetic acid and propionic acid were deteceed in the flesh. 6. The total content of non-volatile acids was richer in the flesh than in the rind. In the kind of non-volatile acids, citric acid,glutaric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid and an unknown acid were found in the rind and citric acid, malic acid, succinic acid, oxalic acid, glutaric acid and malonic acid in the flesh. 7. Three kinds of aromatic components: D-limonene, ${\alpha}-pinene$, p-cymene and seven other kinds of unknown aromatic components were detected in neutral essential oils. Among them, D-limonene seemed to be main aromatic component in the fruits. 8. From the above results it is confirmed that both rind and flesh of the ripened fruit could be utilized for food effectively, and unripened fruits are suitable for producing citric acid, ripened fruits are also useful for producing juice.

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Study of Oil Palm Biomass Resources (Part 5) - Torrefaction of Pellets Made from Oil Palm Biomass - (오일팜 바이오매스의 자원화 연구 V - 오일팜 바이오매스 펠릿의 반탄화 연구 -)

  • Lee, Ji-Young;Kim, Chul-Hwan;Sung, Yong Joo;Nam, Hye-Gyeong;Park, Hyeong-Hun;Kwon, Sol;Park, Dong-Hun;Joo, Su-Yeon;Yim, Hyun-Tek;Lee, Min-Seok;Kim, Se-Bin
    • Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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    • v.48 no.2
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    • pp.34-45
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    • 2016
  • Global warming and climate change have been caused by combustion of fossil fuels. The greenhouse gases contributed to the rise of temperature between $0.6^{\circ}C$ and $0.9^{\circ}C$ over the past century. Presently, fossil fuels account for about 88% of the commercial energy sources used. In developing countries, fossil fuels are a very attractive energy source because they are available and relatively inexpensive. The environmental problems with fossil fuels have been aggravating stress from already existing factors including acid deposition, urban air pollution, and climate change. In order to control greenhouse gas emissions, particularly CO2, fossil fuels must be replaced by eco-friendly fuels such as biomass. The use of renewable energy sources is becoming increasingly necessary. The biomass resources are the most common form of renewable energy. The conversion of biomass into energy can be achieved in a number of ways. The most common form of converted biomass is pellet fuels as biofuels made from compressed organic matter or biomass. Pellets from lignocellulosic biomass has compared to conventional fuels with a relatively low bulk and energy density and a low degree of homogeneity. Thermal pretreatment technology like torrefaction is applied to improve fuel efficiency of lignocellulosic biomass, i.e., less moisture and oxygen in the product, preferrable grinding properties, storage properties, etc.. During torrefacton, lignocelluosic biomass such as palm kernell shell (PKS) and empty fruit bunch (EFB) was roasted under an oxygen-depleted enviroment at temperature between 200 and $300^{\circ}C$. Low degree of thermal treatment led to the removal of moisture and low molecular volatile matters with low O/C and H/C elemental ratios. The mechanical characteristics of torrefied biomass have also been altered to a brittle and partly hydrophobic materials. Unfortunately, it was much harder to form pellets from torrefied PKS and EFB due to thermal degradation of lignin as a natural binder during torrefaction compared to non-torrefied ones. For easy pelletization of biomass with torrefaction, pellets from PKS and EFB were manufactured before torrefaction, and thereafter they were torrefied at different temperature. Even after torrefaction of pellets from PKS and EFB, their appearance was well preserved with better fuel efficiency than non-torrefied ones. The physical properties of the torrefied pellets largely depended on the torrefaction condition such as reaction time and reaction temperature. Temperature over $250^{\circ}C$ during torrefaction gave a significant impact on the fuel properties of the pellets. In particular, torrefied EFB pellets displayed much faster development of the fuel properties than did torrefied PKS pellets. During torrefaction, extensive carbonization with the increase of fixed carbons, the behavior of thermal degradation of torrefied biomass became significantly different according to the increase of torrefaction temperature. In conclusion, pelletization of PKS and EFB before torrefaction made it much easier to proceed with torrefaction of pellets from PKS and EFB, leading to excellent eco-friendly fuels.

Impacts of Oyster Shell and Peat Treatments on Soil Properties in Continuous Watermelon Cropping Greenhouse Plots (패화석 및 이탄 처리가 수박 연작지 토양의 특성에 미치는 영향)

  • Ahn, Byung-Koo;Lee, Jin-Ho;Lee, Young-Han
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.43 no.4
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    • pp.438-445
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    • 2010
  • Soils in continuous monoculture cropping system generally have a number of physical and chemical problems. Thus, we studied to investigate selected soil properties in continuous watermelon cropping plots with applications of different soil management practices: 1) conventional farming practice (CFP), 2) chemical fertilizer management practice (FMP), the FMP with different amounts, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 t $ha^{-1}$, of oyster shell meal application (FMP-OS 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 t $ha^{-1}$), and 3) the FMP with different amounts, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 t $ha^{-1}$, of peat application (FMP-PT 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 t $ha^{-1}$) and also to evaluate watermelon quality. Soil pH slightly increased only in the FMP-OS 1.5 t $ha^{-1}$ plot, while it was not changed or decreased a little in other plots. The contents of soil organic matter (SOM) expectedly increased in the FMP-PT plots, whereas it markedly decreased in the FMP-OS plots. The concentrations of exchangeable cations, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, and $K^+$, in soils were mostly dropped down in most of the FMP and FMP-PT plots. Otherwise, the exchangeable $Ca^{2+}$ concentration increased a bit in the FMP-OS plots. Also, the concentrations of water-soluble anions, $NO_3^-$, $Cl^-$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$, and ${PO_4}^{3-}$, in soils mostly declined in all the plots applied with the different management practices during the study years. Due to the cation and anion decreases, the electrical conductivity (EC) values in the soils were greatly reduced in the plots. Thus, the soil management practices applied, especially oyster shell meal and peat treatments, might be useful to control soil conditions. However, watermelon quality, such as sugar content and fruit weight, would not be associated with the soil management practices applied.

Chemical Composition of Prunus mume Flower Varieties and Drying Method (매화의 품종과 건조방법에 따른 화학성분 조성)

  • Kim Yong-Doo;Jeong Myung-Hwa;Koo I-Ran;Cho In-Kyung;Kwak Sang-Ho;Kim Bo-Eun;Kim Ki-Man
    • Food Science and Preservation
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    • v.13 no.2
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    • pp.186-191
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    • 2006
  • Prunus mume is extensively cultivated as a fruit and medicinal plant in Korea. Recently, prunus mume has a pressing problem with an increase of prunus mume cultivation area in southern part in Korea. Chemical properties of prunus mume flower to determine the optimum processing varieties for tea were investigated. Three kinds of samples treated with fresh, freeze dry and shade dry were used. The content of moisture, crude ash, crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat and nitrogen free extract of prunus mume flower varieties were to $82{\sim}85%,\;0.2{\sim}0.6%,\;2.5{\sim}3.1%,\;2.5{\sim}3.1%,\;0.6{\sim}0.8%\;and\;10{\sim}11%$ respectively. The main component of free sugars in prunus mume flower was glucose and those of organic acids were citric and malic acids. 17 kinds of amino acids were determined from prunus mume flower. The total amino acid contents of Cheongchuk, Baeagaha and Goseong were 760.47 mg%, 624.01 mg% and 807.41 mg%, respectively. Aspartic acid, glutamic acid and lysine were the major component in 3 cultivars. The content of K was much higher than Ca, Mg, Na, fe and Zn. The major fatty acids of prunus mume flower were myristic acid, palmitoleic acid me oleic acid. As a result of analysis, there were no significant differences among the three cultivars of prunus mume flower and drying method.

Fertilizer Management Practices with Rice Straw Application for Improving Soil Quality in Watermelon Monoculture Greenhouse Plots (시비관리 및 생 볏짚 처리가 수박연작 시설재배지 토양에 미치는 영향)

  • Ahn, Byung-Koo;Lee, Young-Han;Lee, Jin-Ho
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.43 no.1
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    • pp.75-82
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    • 2010
  • Indoor cultivation plots for watermelon plant mostly have salt-accumulation problem because of continuous cropping especially with the heavy applications of chemical fertilizers. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate selected soil properties and watermelon growth condition as affected by the application of different farming practices in the salt-affected soils of greenhouse plots used for continuous watermelon production. Five different practice conditions in the experimental plots were applied, 1) a conventional farming practice (CFP), 2) a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) fertilizer management practice (FMP), and 3) the FMP with different amounts (5, 10, and 15 ton $ha^{-1}$)of fresh rice straw treatments (FMP-RS), for three years of study. As comparing with CFP plots, soil organic matter content gradually increased during the experimental years, whereas it decreased in the FMP only plot. Soil pH was not changed in the CFP and FMP plot, but it declined in the FMP-RS plots; however, it increased again from the third year in the FMP-RS plots with applying 10 and 15 ton $ha^{-1}$ of RS treatments. The concentrations of exchangeable cations, $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$, except $K^+$, and water-soluble anions, ${NO_3}^-$, $Cl^-$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$ and ${PO_4}^{3-}$, markedly decreased in FMP and FMP-RS plots. In particular, the application of rice straw tended to significantly decrease the ion concentrations, especially most anions, in the first year, but there was no more decrease in the second and third study years. With relation to the ion concentrations, the changes of electrical conductivity (EC) after applying the management practices showed very similar to those of the ion concentrations. In addition, incidence of withered watermelon plant after applying the management practices dramatically declined from approximately 20% in the CFP plot to 3.5% in the FMP-RS plots. Water melon fruit weight was also improved by the management practices, especially FMP-RS. Therefore, the fertilizer and/or fresh rice straw application management practices are beneficial to improve salt-affected soils and watermelon plant growth condition.

Inhibitory Effects of Prunus mume Solvent Fractions on Human Colon Cancer Cells (매실 분획물에 의한 인체 대장암세포 억제 효과)

  • Kim, Jeong-Ho;Cho, Hyun-Dong;Won, Yeong-Seon;Heo, Ji-An;Kim, Ji-Young;Kim, Hwi-Gon;Han, Sim-Hee;Moon, Kwang-Deog;Seo, Kwon-Il
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.29 no.11
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    • pp.1227-1234
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    • 2019
  • Prunus mume, also known as maesil, is a popular fruit consumed in East Asia (Korea, Japan, and China). It contains high amounts of organic acids, minerals, and polyphenols and has been used as a medication for fever, vomiting, and detoxification. In this study, the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of solvent fractions from maesil were evaluated using sulforhodamine B (SRB) assays, morphological evaluations, Hoechst 33258 staining, and western blotting. Addition of the maesil methanol fraction (MMF) and the maesil butanol fraction (MBF) significantly and dose-dependently decreased the cell viability of HT-29 human colon cancer cells. Colony-forming assays confirmed that the MMF and MBF treatments decreased colony numbers when compared with untreated control cells. Treatment of HT-29 cells with MMF and MBF caused a distortion of the cell morphology to a shrunken cell mass. Treatment with MMF and MBF also dose-dependently increased nuclear condensation and the formation of apoptotic bodies in HT-29 cells. Treatment with MMF and MBF significantly and dosedependently increased the expression of Bax (a pro-apoptotic protein), caspase-3, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and decreased the expression of Bcl-2 (an anti-apoptotic protein). MMF significantly and dose-dependently inhibited cell proliferation induced by bisphenol A, an environmental hormone. Therefore, MMF may have potential use as a functional food and as a possible therapeutic agent for the prevention of colon cancer.