• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2016

This study was to investigate the effect of salt stress on physiological characteristics such as plant growth, photosynthesis, solutes related to osmoregulation of Beta vulgaris. A significant increase of dry weight was observed in 50 mM and 100 mM NaCl. The contents of Chl a, b and carotenoid were lower in NaCl treatments than the control. On 14 day after NaCl treatment, photosynthetic rate (P_N), the transpiration rate (E) and stomatal conductance of CO₂ (g_s) were reduced by NaCl treatment. On 28 day after NaCl treatment, the significant reduction in g_s and E was shown in NaCl 200 mM. However, P_N and water use efficiency (WUE) in all NaCl treatments showed higher value than that of control. Total ion contents (TIC) and osmolality were higher than the control. On 14 day after treatment, the contents of proline (Pro) increased significantly in 200 mM and 300 mM NaCl concentration compared with control, whereas on 28 day in all treatments it was lower than that of the control. The contents of glycine betaine (GB) increased with the increase of NaCl concentration. The contents of Na⁺, Cl^-, GB, osmolality and TIC increased with the increase of NaCl concentrations. These results suggested that under severe NaCl stress conditions, NaCl treatment did not induce photochemical inhibition on fluorescence in the leaves of B. vulgaris, but the reduction of chlorophyll contents was related in a decrease in leaf production. Furthermore, increased GB as well as Na⁺ and Cl^- contents resulted in a increase of osmolality, which can help to overcome NaCl stress.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1361-1368
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• 2009

The effects of $Cd^{2+}$ ions on the Chl a fluorescence of 5 hydrophytes (e.g. Lemna, Salvinia, Ricciocarp, Nymph, Typha plants) were investigated in order to select $Cd^{2+}$-sensitive plant species and to get informations on physiological responses of plants to $Cd^{2+}$ stress. Lemna plants were most sensitive to cadmium stress, while Nymph plants were tolerant. However, in all $Cd^{2+}$-treated plants, Fv/Fm, the maximum photochemical efficiency of PS II, decreased in proportion to the increase of $Cd^{2+}$ concentration and treatment time. The Chl a fluorescence transient O-J-I-P was also considerably affected by $Cd^{2+}$ ions; the fluorescence yield decreased consid- erably in steps J, I and P in $Cd^{2+}$ treated plants, although it followed a typical polyphasic rise in non-treated plants. In Lemna plants, the functional parameters, ABS/CS, TRo/CS와 ETo/CS and RC/CS, decreased in proportion to the increase of $Cd^{2+}$ concentration, while N, Mo and Kn increased. The structural parameters, ${\Phi}po$, ${\Phi}po$/($1-{\Phi}po$), Plabs, SFlabs, Kp and RC/ABS, also decreased according to the increase of $Cd^{2+}$ concentration. Consequently, Lemna plants will be useful as a experimental model system to investigate responses of plants. And several functional or structural parameters could be applied to determine quantitatively the physiological states of plants under stresses.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.705-715
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• 2013

The response of the freshwater microalga Chlorella vulgaris to mercuric ion ($Hg^{2+}$) stress was examined using chlorophyll a fluorescence image analysis and O-J-I-P analysis as a way to monitor the toxic effects of mercury on water ecosystems. The levels of photosynthetic pigments, such as chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids, decreased with increasing $Hg^{2+}$ concentration. The maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II(Fv/Fm) changed remarkably with increasing $Hg^{2+}$ concentration and treatment time. In particular, above $200{\mu}M\;Hg^{2+}$, considerable mercury toxicity was seen within 2 h. The chlorophyll a fluorescence transient O-J-I-P was also remarkably affected by $Hg^{2+}$; the fluorescence emission decreased considerably in steps J, I, and P with an increase in $Hg^{2+}$ concentration when treated for 4 h. Subsequently, the JIP-test parameters (Fm, Fv/Fo, RC/CS, TRo/CS, ETo/CS, ${\Phi}_{PO}$, ${\Psi}_O$ and ${\Phi}_{EO}$) decreased with increasing $Hg^{2+}$ concentration, while N, Sm, ABS/RC, DIo/RC and DIo/CS increased. Therefore, a useful biomarker for investigating mercury stress in water ecosystems, and the parameters Fm, ${\Phi}_{PO}$, ${\Psi}_O$, and RC/CS can be used to monitor the environmental stress in water ecosystems quantitatively.

• Environmental Sciences Bulletin of The Korean Environmental Sciences Society
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.139-148
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• 2000

A mass balance/photochemical modeling approach was used to evaluate the sea-to-air dimethyl sulfide (DMS) fluxes in tropical regions and part of the Southern Ocean. The flux determinations were based on 10 airborne observations by ACE 1 transit flights (i.e., Flights 4-9 and 29-32). The DMS flux values for the tropical regions ranged from 1.0 to 7.4 $\mu$mole/$m^2$/day with an average estimate of 4.2$\pm$2.3 $\mu$mole/$m^2$/day. The seasonal variations in the DMS flux predicted for the equatorial Pacific Ocean based on atmospheric DMS measurements were not entirely consistent with those derived from seawater DMS measurements were not entirely consistent with those derived from seawater DMS measurements reported in previous literature. Inhomogeneities in the DMS flux field were found to cause significant shifts in the atmospheric DMS levels even in the same sampling location. Accordingly, no definitive statement can be made at this stage regarding systematic differences or agreements in the DMS flux estimates from the two approaches. Moreover, this study strongly suggests that DMS oxidation is the most likely dominant source of SO$_2$in tropical regions, which is also supported by another set of compiled observations. Finally, these SO$_2$observations indicate that, when significant data was available for both the boundary and buffer layers, the vertical SO$_2$gradient between these two zones was primarily negative.

• BMB Reports
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.358-363
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• 2002

Chemical and photochemical processes during storage and preparation rapidly degrade retinol, the most active form of vitamin A. therefore, the efficacy of incorporation into liposomes in order to modulate the kinetics of retinol degradation was investigated. Retinol was readily incorporated into multilamellar liposomes that were prepared form soybean phosphatidylcholine; the extent of the incorporation was 98.14±0.93% at pH 9.0 at a ratio of 0.01 : 1 (wt:wt) retinol : phospholipid. It was only marginally lower at higher retinol concentrations. The pH of the hydration buffer had a small effect. The incorporation efficiency ranged from 99.25±0.47% at pH 3 to 97.45±1.13% at pH 11. The time course of the retinol degradation in the aqueous solution in liposomes was compared to that of free retinol and free retinol with α-tocopherol under a variety of conditions of pH(3, 7, and 11), temperature(4, 25, 37, and 50℃), and light exposure(dark, visible, and UV). The retinol that was incorporated into the liposomes degraded significantly slower than the free retinol or retinol with α-tocopherol at pH 7 and 11. At pH 3, where the free retinol degrades rapidly, the degradation kinetics were similar in liposomes and the presence of α-tocopherol. At pH 7.0 and 4℃ in the light, for example, free aqueous retinol was completely degraded within 2 days, while only 20% of the retinol in the liposomes were degraded after 8 days. In general, the protective effect of the liposome incorporation was greater at low temperatures, at neutral and high pH, and in the dark. The results suggest that protection is greater in the solid, gel phase than in the fluid liquid crystalline phase lipids. These results indicate that the incorporation into liposomes can extend the shelf-life of retinol under a variety of conditions of temperature, pH, and ambient light conditions.

• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.256-262
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• 2000

In this study the disassembly process of chlorophyII (ChI)protein complexes of a stay-green mutant (ore10 of Arabidopsis thaliana) was investigated during the dark incubation of detached leaves. During this dark-induced senescence (DIS), the Chi loss was delayed in the mutant, while the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) or Fv/Fm was accelerated when compared with the wild type (WT) leaves. This indicates that the decrease in Fv/Fm is a separate process and not causally-linked to the degradation of Chi during DIS of Arabidopsis leaves. In the native green gel electrophoresis of the Chi-protein complexes, which was combined with an additional twodimensional SDS-PAGE analysis, the delayed senescence of this mutant was characterized by the appearance of an aggregate at 1 d or 2 d, as well as very stable light harvesting complex II (LHCII) trimers until 5 d after the start of DIS. The polypeptide composition of the aggregates varied during the whole DIS at 5 d. Dl protein appeared to be missing in the aggregates. This result supports the idea of a faster depletion of functional PSH in the mutants compared with WT, as suggested by the earlier reduction of Fv/Fm and the stable Chl a/b ratio in the mutants. At 5 d, the WT leaves also often showed aggregates, but the polypeptide composition was different from those of ore10. The results presented suggest that the formation of aggregates, or stable LHCII trimers in the stay-green mutants, is a way to structurally protect Chi-protein complexes from serious proteolytic degradation. Detailed disassembly processes of Chi-protein complexes in WT and ore10 mutants are discussed.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2001

The deteriorative effect of ultraviolet-B(UV-B) radiation on photosynthesis was assessed by the simultaneous measurement of O$_2$ evolution and chlorophyll(Chl) fluorescence in green pepper. UV-B was given at the intensity of 1 W$.$m$\^$-2/, a dosage often encountered in urban area of Seoul in Korea, to detached leaves. Both Pmax and quantum yield of O$_2$ evolution was rapidly decreased, in a parallel phase, with increasing time of UV-B treatment. Chl fluorescence parameters were also significantly affected. Fo was increased while both Fm and Fv were decreased. Photochemical efficiency of PSII(Fv/Fm) was also declined, although to a lesser extent than Pmax. Both qP and NPQ were decreased similarly with increasing time of UV-B treatment. However, PS I remained stable. The addition of lincomycin prior to UV-B treatment accelerated the decline in Fv/Fm to some extent, suggesting that D1 protein turnover may play a role in overcoming the harmful effect of UV-B. The amount of photosynthetic pigments was less affected than photosynthetic response in showing decline in Chl a and carotenoids after 24 h-treatment. Presumptive flavonoid contents, measured by changes in absorbance at 270 nm , 300 nm and 330nm, were all increased by roughly 50% after 8 h-treatment. Among antioxidant enzymes, activities of catalase and peroxidase were steadily increased until 12h of UV-B treatment whereas ascorbate perxidase, dehydroascorvate reductase and glutathione reductase did not show any significant change. The results indicate that deteriorative effect of UV-B on photosynthesis precedes the protection exerted by pigment synthesis and antioxidant enzymes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1737-1746
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• 2013

IbMYB1, a transcription factor (TF) for R2R3-type MYB TFs, is a key regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis during storage of sweet potatoes. Anthocyanins provide important antioxidants of nutritional value to humans, and also protect plants from oxidative stress. This study aimed to increase transgenic potatoes' (Solanum tuberosum cv. LongShu No.3) tolerance to environmental stress and enhance their nutritional value. Transgenic potato plants expressing IbMYB1 genes under the control of an oxidative stress-inducible peroxidase (SWPA2) promoter (referred to as SM plants) were successfully generated through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Two representative transgenic SM5 and SM12 lines were evaluated for enhanced tolerance to salinity, UV-B rays, and drought conditions. Following treatment of 100 mM NaCl, seedlings of SM5 and SM12 lines showed less root damage and more shoot growth than control lines expressing only an empty vector. Transgenic potato plants in pots treated with 400 mM NaCl showed high amounts of secondary metabolites, including phenols, anthocyanins, and flavonoids, compared with control plants. After treatment of 400 mM NaCl, transgenic potato plants also showed high DDPH radical scavenging activity and high PS II photochemical efficiency compared with the control line. Furthermore, following treatment of NaCl, UV-B, and drought stress, the expression levels of IbMYB1 and several structural genes in the flavonoid biosynthesis such as CHS, DFR, and ANS in transgenic plants were found to be correlated with plant phenotype. The results suggest that enhanced IbMYB1 expression affects secondary metabolism, which leads to improved tolerance ability in transgenic potatoes.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1998

The susceptibility of chilling-resistant spinach plants. and of chilling-sensitive squash plants to photoinhibition was compared in terms of the activity of photosystem II, in relation to the deuce of fatty acid unsaturation of chloroplast membrane lipids. From thylakoid membranes of the plants. monogalactosyl diacylgtycerol, digalactosyl diacylglycerol. sulfoquinovosyt diacylglycerol, and phosphatidylglycerol were seperated as major lipid classes. It was found that the content of cis-unsaturated fatty acids of phosphatidylglycerol was greater by 32% in spinach than that in squash. When leaf disks were exposed to light at 5$\circ$C, 15$\circ$C and 25$\circ$C, photochemical efficiency of photosystem II. measured as the ratio of the variable to the maximum fluorescence of chlorophyll, declined markedly in squash plants, as compared to spinach plants. When leaf disks were exposed to strong light in the presence of lincomycin, an inhibitor of protein synthesis in chloroplasts, photoinhibition was accelerated in the two types of plants. Moreover, lincomycin treatment abolished the differences in the degree of susceptibility to strong light, which had been observed between the two types of plants. When the extent of photoinhibition of photosystem II-mediated electron transport was compared in thylakoid membranes isolated from the two types of plants, there were no differences in the degree of inactivation of photosystem II activity. However, when intact leaf disks were exposed to strong light either at 10$\circ$C or at 25$\circ$C, and then were allowed to recover either at 17$\circ$C or at 25$\circ$C in dim light. chilling-resistant plants such as spinach and pea showed marked recovery from photoinhibition, in contrast to chilling-sensitive plants, such as squash and sweet potato. whose recovery was strongly dependent on the temperature. These findings are discussed in relation to the unsaturation of fatty acids in membrane phosphatidylglycerol. It appears that fatty acid unsaturation of membrane lipids accelerates the recovery of photosystem H from photoinhibition, without affecting the photo-induced inactivation process of photosystem II associated with photoinhibition.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.300-310
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• 2016

Pathogen infection in plants induces complex responses ranging from gene expression to metabolic processes in infected plants. In spite of many studies on biotic stress-related changes in host plants, little is known about the metabolic and phenotypic responses of the host plants to Pseudomonas cichorii infection based on image-based analysis. To investigate alterations in tomato plants according to disease severity, we inoculated plants with different cell densities of P. cichorii using dipping and syringe infiltration methods. High-dose inocula (${\geq}10^6cfu/ml$) induced evident necrotic lesions within one day that corresponded to bacterial growth in the infected tissues. Among the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters analyzed, changes in quantum yield of PSII (${\Phi}PSII$) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) preceded the appearance of visible symptoms, but maximum quantum efficiency of PSII ($F_v/F_m$) was altered well after symptom development. Visible/near infrared and chlorophyll fluorescence hyperspectral images detected changes before symptom appearance at low-density inoculation. The results of this study indicate that the P. cichorii infection severity can be detected by chlorophyll fluorescence assay and hyperspectral images prior to the onset of visible symptoms, indicating the feasibility of early detection of diseases. However, to detect disease development by hyperspectral imaging, more detailed protocols and analyses are necessary. Taken together, change in chlorophyll fluorescence is a good parameter for early detection of P. cichorii infection in tomato plants. In addition, image-based visualization of infection severity before visual damage appearance will contribute to effective management of plant diseases.