• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.543-553
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• 2017

Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is an important oil seed crop of Asia. Yields can be negatively impacted by various factors, including disease, particularly those caused by fungi which create problems in both production and storage. Foliar diseases of sesame such as Alternaria leaf blight may cause significant yield losses, with reductions in plant health and seed quality. The work reported here determined the incidence of Alternaria species infecting sesame seeds grown in the Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 428 Alternaria isolates were obtained from 105 seed samples and grouped into 36 distinct taxonomic groups based on growth pattern and morphological characters. Isolation frequency and relative density of surface sterilized and non-surface sterilized seeds showed that three isolates (A13, A47 and A215) were the most common morphological groups present. These isolates were further identified using sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and the Alternaria major allergen gene (Alt a 1). Whilst ITS of rDNA did not resolve the isolates into Alternaria species, the Alt a 1 sequences exhibited > 99% homology with Alternaria alternata (KP123850.1) in GenBank accessions. The pathogenicity and virulence of these isolates of Alternaria alternata was confirmed in inoculations of sesame plants resulting in typical symptoms of leaf blight disease. This work confirms the identity of a major source of sesame leaf blight in Pakistan which will aid in formulating effective disease management strategies.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.236-241
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• 2009

Dracocephalum argunense Fischer ex Link (Labiatae) is a perennial herbaceous plant used as valuable materials for ornamentals, honey production, and pharmaceutics. Since seed germination of this species was quite difficult, present studies were conducted to improve the germination rate by subjecting the seeds to various environmental conditions (temperature and light) and treatments (scarification, priming and seed coating). Optimum temperature for adequate germination was 20$^{\circ}C$ though it ranged from 15$^{\circ}C$ to 25$^{\circ}C$, and low temperature treatment improved germination rate. Light was required for higher germination rate in this species. The scarification of seeds resulted in much higher germination, especially by the physical treatment with sandpaper or chemical treatment with sulfuric acid for 30 seconds. Various primers with different concentrations were treated on the seeds and it was demonstrated that low temperature enhanced germination rate, regardless of kinds and concentrations of the primers. Three treatment combinations of the primers, 0.5 mM $GA_{3}$ treated for 48 hours, 0.5 mM IAA for 24 hours, and 1.0 mM IAA for 24 hours, increased the seed germination rate profoundly. Soaking treatment of inorganic salts, $KNO_{3}$ and $KH_{3}PO_{4}$, promoted germination when seeds were subjected to low temperature. Water soluble primers such as sucrose at 0.5 and 3% concentration and solid primer talc powder were effective in enhancing germination rate.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.198-204
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• 2001

$GA_3$ treatments for seeds of Perilla frutescens var. acuta Kudo were evaluated as a means of improving the percent germination, and the interactions of $GA_3$, mulching, and sowing depth on seedling emergence were investigated in late sowing. Percentage germination of seeds treated with different concentration of $GA_3$ was the most effective in 100 ppm treatment for 24 hours. The germinability according to the seeds soaking time was not significantly different over 12 hours in 100 ppm $GA_3$. At high temperature $(25^{\circ}C\;and\;30^{\circ}C)$, percentage germination was significantly increased in 100 ppm ${GA_3}$ treatment. In late sowing (1th or 15th May), seedling emergence was significantly higher in 100 ppm $GA_3$ treatment than nontreatment, and that was significantly increased when the seeds treated with 100 ppm $GA_3$ were mulched with 10 mm rice hull after molding with 5 mm soil depth.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.346-359
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• 2018

Xanthomonas oryzae, a bacterial pathogen causing leaf blight disease (BLB) in rice, can cause widespread disease and has caused epidemics globally, resulting in severe crop losses of 50% in Asia. The pathogen is seed-borne and is transmitted through seeds. Thus, control of BLB requires the elimination of the pathogen from seeds. Concern about environment-friendly organic production has spurred improvements in a variety of biological disease control methods, including the use of bacteriophages, against bacterial plant pathogens. The present study explored the potential of bacteriophages isolated from diseased plant leaves and soil samples in killing the bacterial pathogen in rice seeds. Eight different phages were isolated and evaluated for their bacteriolytic activity against different pathogenic X. oryzae strains. Of these, a phage designated ${\varphi}XOF4$ killed all the pathogenic X. oryzae strains and showed the broadest host range. Transmission electron microscopy of ${\varphi}XOF4$ revealed it to be a tailed phage with an icosahedral head. The virus was assigned to the family Siphoviridae, order Caudovirales. Seedlings raised from the seeds treated with $1{\times}10^8pfu/ml$ of ${\varphi}XOF4$ phage displayed reduced incidence of BLB disease and complete bacterial growth inhibition. The findings indicate the potential of the ${\varphi}XOF4$ phage as a potential biological control agent against BLB disease in rice.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.122-128
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• 2023

The present study was conducted to analyze agronomic characteristics of 8 ecotypes of Arundinella hirta (A. hirta) and the correlation among them. Changes in phenotypic characteristics of 8 ecotypes were measured at equal intervals of time from May to September. Among ecotypes, Jangsoo-1 has the highest plant height (172.33 cm), number of leaves (9.00) and leaf length (55 cm) while the ecotype Youngduk has the highest leaf width (1.57 cm), fresh mass (26.63 g), dry mass (7.06 g), number of spikelets per spike (53.33), amount of seeds per spike (0.74 g) and amount of seeds per 10 spikes (7.23 g). The ecotype Jinju-1 has the shortest plant height (119 cm) and leaf number (6.33), while Okgye-2 has shortest leaf length (30.67 cm), leaf width (0.93 cm), fresh mass (12.60 g), dry mass (3.30 g), spike length (30.33 cm), spikelet per spike (39.67), amount of seeds per spike (0.61 g) and amount of seeds per 10 spikes (6.00 g). Correlation coefficients were estimated among the studied agronomic characteristics which showed positive and significant association with each other. In the present study, the agronomic data collected would be useful to understand the potential of A. hirta as a forage resource and helpful in selecting the high-yielding genetic resource for future forage improvement.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.50-60
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• 1976

For finding out the proper method of developing Buxus koreana var. insularis, this study was carried out in Pokil-Do, Wan-Do, Chonnam, in 1975. The ecology, morphology and characteristics of the plant were mainly investigated and analyzed. The results are summarized as follows; 1. The small islands of the southern sea of Korea; Pokil-Do, Chin-Do and So-Huk-San-Do, turn out to be the site of the natural communities of B. koreana var. insularis. 2. The growth of the plant is fairly good in the acid soil of these islands. 3. This vegetation of composed as the three-layered communities, these communities consit of Camellia, Buxus and Cares. 4. The plant is a board leaved evergreen shrub that is tolerant to shade and native to the temperate zone. 5. The size of the leaves, fruits and seeds is slightly larger than those of B. koreans. 6. As fruiting and germination of the seeds are favorable. it is easy for us to make a number of seedlings. 7. The proper times for sowing and harvesting the seeds are around the middle of July and August, respectively. 8. The seedlings is difficult to grow in the naked ground because the germinated seeds are seriously damaged by frost. 9. The plant growth per annum is about 8 to 10cm in height, 1.5mm in diameter. It is graceful looking as the branches and leaves as of the dense foliage type 10. It is possible to develop the plant in many ways, such as; ornamental plant, bee plant, sculptural and industrial materials.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.154-159
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• 1998

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of plant age on germination and distribution of seed specific gravity and to find a reason of low germination rate in seeds harvested from young plants, which could be valuable information for the improvement of seed germination in Bupleurum falcatum L. The germination rates of Korean native cultivar were 35% and 4% higher in 1-year-and 2-year-old plants, respectively, than Misshimasaiko (三鳥柴胡) and showed no significant difference between 1- and 2-year-old plants. However, in Misshimasaiko, seed germination rates of 1-year-old plants were $22.7{\sim}23.0%$ lower than those of $2{\sim}3-year-old$ plants. The relative frequency of seeds over 1.00 specific gravity in Misshimasaiko was $33{\sim}34%$ higher in $2{\sim}3-year-old$ plants compared to 52% of 1-year-old plant, but no difference was found between plant ages in Korean native cultivar. Considering varietal difference, the germination rate of seeds with the same specific gravity was not affected by plant age in Korean native cultivar, but in Misshimasaiko it was greatly different between 1-year-old $(5.0{\sim}17.5%)$ and $2{\sim}3-year-old$ plants $(22.5{\sim}55.0)%$. From these results, it was assumed that differences in germination rate among seeds from different plant ages were caused not only by seed specific gravity but also by some other factors.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2005

In order to detect casual agents associated with ear blight of rice, seed samples of 'Ilmi-byeo' and 'Daesan-byeo', susceptible cultivars were collected from 28 regions on a nationwide scale. Finally 23 fungi including Bipolaris oryzae($10.3\%$), Alternaria alternata ($10.2\%$), Cladosporium sp. ($7.5\%$), Nigrospora oryzae($5.2\%$) and Phoma sorghina ($6.3\%$) from seeds of 'Ilmi-byeo', and 13 fungi including N. oryzae ($15.1\%$), A. alternata ($9.6\%$) and Curvularia lunata ($2.2\%$) from seeds of 'Daesan-byeo' were detected. In case of discolored seeds caused by rice ear blight, B. oryzae($15.5\%$), A. alternata ($5.5\%$), Fusarium graminearum ($8.0\%$), N. oryzae($5.2\%$) and P. sorghina ($4.5\%$) were detected even from the hulled rice of Ilmi-byeo.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.136-142
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• 2016

Lespedeza species are mainly used for wildlife food and cover and for erosion control. The germination of these species can be enhanced after a fire occurrence in forest, which is known as fire-activated seeds to germinate. While the heat treatment could break seed dormancy of Lespedeza, its germination rate was quite low. We investigated that chemical scarification could promote germination of L. tomentosa. Seeds were soaked in 100% sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) for 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, 192, and 384 min, and then washed in distilled water for 24 h. Very few seeds were germinated in control (H₂SO₄ for 0 min). More than 90% of seeds were germinated in H₂SO₄ for 24, 48, and 92 min. However, some damage was observed in roots and cotyledons of seedling dipped in H₂SO₄ for a long time. To search the optimal soaking time in H₂SO₄ without defects, seeds scarified in H₂SO₄ for 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, and 300 min were sown the commercial soil medium. Seeds treated with H₂SO₄ for 90 min and 150 min emerged by about 92% and 84%, respectively. Therefore, H₂SO₄ treatment could break the seed dormancy of Lespedeza species, and especially in case of L. tomentosa the optimal treatment time in sulfuric acid was one to two hours. Germination of L. tomentosa began promptly following the scarification and was completed within about one month, indicating that seeds has no physiological dormancy, just has physical dormancy.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.635-644
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• 2016

Birds play a main role in the formation and change of forest structures as they are seed-dispersal agents. This study aims to identify birds consuming fruits and seeds of the tree and their associated fruits and seeds on Jeju Island in the context on the forest restoration in Korea. We conducted field surveys twice a month from 2013 to 2015 at nine study sites located across Jeju Island and collected available photographic and observation records. A total of 50 species of birds consuming fruits and seeds of the tree were identified and birds belonging to Bombycillidae, Pycnonotidae, Zosteropidae, Sturnidae and Fringillidae were confirmed as major birds consuming fruits and seeds of the tree. Gulping was the dominant type of feeding as well as crushing, but relationship between the size of a bird and the number of fruit and seed species used by the bird was not significant. We also documented that 118 fruit and seed species were consumed by birds and that shrubby fruits and seeds were more consumed by birds than those of other plant types. The relative consumption rate of fruits and seeds ranged from 0.02 to 0.44, but five species were the most important fruits and seeds for birds. Our finding suggest that avian frugivorous gulpers will benefit the seed dispersal, especially of five fruiting plants, providing useful baseline data for forest restoration and urban park design.