• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.208-232
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• 1984

A survey was conducted on the vegetation of Seogmo island, which is small island (ca. 41 okm2) located about 1km west of Kanghwa island in the central Korea, from Aug. 1983 to May 1984. Based on the field data, actual vegetation map and potential natural vegetation map were made. The island is covered with broad-leaved trees dominated with Quercus variabilis. The dominance diversity curves obtaiend in different associations are grouped in two types, lognormal distribution forms at the undisturbed vegetation and geometric series at the disturbed or rocky sites. It seems that the curves show to us the nature of their ecocline by the hypothesis of some investigators, i.e. Random niche boundary hypothesis, niche preemption hypothesis, lognormal distribution and logarithmic series. Total numbers of vascular plant species of the island were recorded 108 families, 348 genera, 475 species, 73 variaties and 7 forma. And Pte.-Q Index, 0.93, and Fisher's Index, 589.8, were higher than those in neighboring islands.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.347-351
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• 2014

Inflammation is one mechanism through which cancer is initiated and progresses, and is implicated in the etiology of other conditions that affect cancer risk and prognosis, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and visceral obesity. Emerging human evidence, primarily epidemiological, suggests that walnuts impact risk of these chronic diseases via inflammation. The published literature documents associations between walnut consumption and reduced risk of cancer, and mortality from cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, particularly within the context of the Mediterranean Diet. While encouraging, follow-up in human intervention trials is needed to better elucidate any potential cancer prevention effect of walnuts, per se. In humans, the far-reaching positive effects of a plant-based diet that includes walnuts may be the most critical message for the public. Indeed, appropriate translation of nutrition research is essential for facilitating healthful consumer dietary behavior. This paper will explore the translation and application of human evidence regarding connections with cancer and biomarkers of inflammation to the development of dietary guidance for the public and individualized dietary advice. Strategies for encouraging dietary patterns that may reduce cancer risk will be explored.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.199-217
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• 2023

People with higher genetic predisposition to obesity are more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and healthy plant-based foods may be associated with reduced risks of obesity and other metabolic markers. We investigated whether healthy plant-foods-rich dietary patterns might have inverse associations with cardiometabolic risk factors in participants at genetically elevated risk of obesity. For this cross-sectional study, 377 obese and overweight women were chosen from health centers in Tehran, Iran. We calculated a healthy plant-based diet index (h-PDI) in which healthy plant foods received positive scores, and unhealthy plant and animal foods received reversed scores. A genetic risk score (GRS) was developed based on 3 polymorphisms. The interaction between GRS and h-PDI on cardiometabolic traits was analyzed using a generalized linear model (GLM). We found significant interactions between GRS and h-PDI on body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.02), body fat mass (p = 0.04), and waist circumference (p = 0.056). There were significant gene-diet interactions for healthful plant-derived diets and BMI-GRS on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p = 0.03), aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.04), alanine transaminase (p = 0.05), insulin (p = 0.04), and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (p = 0.002). Adherence to h-PDI was more strongly related to decreased levels of the aforementioned markers among participants in the second or top tertile of GRS than those with low GRS. These results highlight that following a plant-based dietary pattern considering genetics appears to be a protective factor against the risks of cardiometabolic abnormalities.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.147-154
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• 2005

A survey for vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) status was undertaken in three different industrially polluted sites at Uyyakondan channel of Senthanneerpuram area in Trichy, India. The soils and the effluents were acidic, and contained higher Zn (621 to 711 ppm) than the other heavy metals, such as Cu, Pb, and Ni. Eighteen plant species were collected from the rhizosphere soils, and 13 species were positive for VAM colonization. Fifteen VAM fungal species were isolated from the plant species. The number of VAM fungal spores from the soils ranged from 45 to 640 per 100 g of soil. There was a significant correlation observed between the number of spores and percentage root colonization, as exemplified by Acalypha indica (45 and 20%, respectively) and Paspalum vaginatum (640 and 98%, respectively). Hostspecific and site-specific associations were observed in site 2; particular VAM species, Gigaspora gigantea and Glomus fasciculatum, were specific to particular host plants, Phyllanthus maderaspatensis and A. indica, respectively, even though Eclipta prostrata and Physalis minima were maximally associated with 8 VAM species. G. fasciculatum was found in 11 plant species and predominant VAM species. These results led us to conclude that VAM fungi are associated with a majority of the plants in the industrial polluted sites and support the plants to survive in the acidic soils, polluted with heavy metals of the industrial effluents.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.437-447
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• 2012

Natural and beneficial associations between plants and bacteria have demonstrated potential commercial application for several agricultural crops. The sunflower has acquired increasing importance in Brazilian agribusiness owing to its agronomic characteristics such as the tolerance to edaphoclimatic variations, resistance to pests and diseases, and adaptation to the implements commonly used for maize and soybean, as well as the versatility of the products and by-products obtained from its cultivation. A study of the cultivable bacteria associated with two sunflower cultivars, using classical microbiological methods, successfully obtained isolates from different plant tissues (roots, stems, florets, and rhizosphere). Out of 57 plant-growth-promoting isolates obtained, 45 were identified at the genus level and phylogenetically positioned based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing: 42 Bacillus (B. subtilis, B. cereus, B. thuringiensis, B. pumilus, B. megaterium, and Bacillus sp.) and 3 Methylobacterium komagatae. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis showed a broad diversity among the Bacillus isolates, which clustered into 2 groups with 75% similarity and 13 subgroups with 85% similarity, suggesting that the genetic distance correlated with the source of isolation. The isolates were also analyzed for certain growth-promoting activities. Auxin synthesis was widely distributed among the isolates, with values ranging from 93.34 to 1653.37 ${\mu}M$ auxin per ${\mu}g$ of protein. The phosphate solubilization index ranged from 1.25 to 3.89, and siderophore index varied from 1.15 to 5.25. From a total of 57 isolates, 3 showed an ability to biologically fix atmospheric nitrogen, and 7 showed antagonism against the pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The results of biochemical characterization allowed identification of potential candidates for the development of biofertilizers targeted to the sunflower crop.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.320-331
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• 2019

Background: Dioecious plant species having both male and female plants have been investigated regarding sex-related characteristics such as sex ratio, sex-differential resource requirements, and spatial segregation of the sexes. Habitat loss and fragmentation are major threats to the survival of plant populations, but dioecious species are particularly more prone to such habitat degradation than non-dioecious species because of their dimorphic sexual system. We examined the sex-related demographics of two Ilex cornuta populations being different regarding land use history. Methods: During 2016-2017, we examined I. cornuta trees with a basal diameter ${\geq}1.5cm$ in the Yongsu-ri population (YS population) and the Gotjawal Provincial Park population (GP population). Plant sex (male, female, or unsexed) was identified. The tree size (basal diameter and height of the main stem), clonal production (the ramet numbers per genet), and vitality for each clone were measured. The associations between population, sex, tree size, clonal production, and vitality were examined using ANOVAs and contingency table analyses. Finally, point pattern analyses using O-ring statistics were conducted to assess spatial patterns. Results: Upon excluding unsexed trees, the YS population with 74 trees was significantly male-biased (0.66), while the GP population with only 26 trees had a 1:1 sex ratio. In both populations, males and females did not differ in tree size. Although the mean number of ramets differed significantly between populations, females tended to produce more ramets than males. The proportion of weak trees was significantly higher in the YS than in the GP population. Neither population showed evidence of spatial segregation of the sexes. Conclusions: The two populations of dioecious I. cornuta are characterized by the small number of trees and relatively high frequencies of non-reproductive trees. Both indicate that these populations are quite susceptible to environmental and genetic stochasticity. On the other hand, the differences between populations in sex ratio, clonal production, and vitality suggest that conservation efforts for I. cornuta need to be population-specific. In order to help recover and enable this vulnerable species to persist, it is necessary to find ways to enhance their sexual reproduction and simultaneously reduce habitat disturbances due to anthropogenic activities.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.149-159
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• 2002

Dwarf bamboo(Sasa borealis) is a dominant understory species in the various forest types in Korea. The objective of this study was to investigate vegetation structure of Sasa borealis and effects of Sasa on the growth of overstory tree species along the forest development after clearcutting. Three representative stand types with and without S. borealis in Baekwoonsan, Chonnam province were selected in 1998 for this study: uncutting stands(natural deciduous forests with overstory vegetation), 1987-cutting stands (11 years after clearcutting), and 1993-cutting stands(5 years after clearcuting). Vegetation type was largely classified into Sasa borealis dominant type and Sasa borealis recessive or absent type. The former composed of four associations including Quercus serrata-Carpinus laxiflora / Sasa borealis community, Cornus controversa-Morus bombysis / Sasa borealis community, Styrax japonica-Styrax obassia / Sasa borealis association, Zelkova serrata / Sasa borealis community. The latter divided into six associations including Quercus serrata / Lindera erythrocarpa community, Cornus controversa / Lindera erythrocarpa community, Quercus serrata / Acer pseudosieboldianum / Deutzia glabrata community, Fraxinus rhynchophylla-Quercus serrata / Lindera erythrocarpa / Euonymus alataus community, Rubus crataegifolius-Hydrangea macrophylla community, Rubus crataegifolius-Lespedeza bicolor community. Distribution of Sasa, borealis by developmental stages of forests showed that in natural stands was dominant understory, but was various pattern in two cutting stands. Mean annual ring growth of Quercus serrata and Carpinus laxiflora during the last 35 years had not been affected by presence of Sasa, based on comparisons in annual ring growth between Sasa-present and Sasa-absent stands. In conclusion, dense crown of Sasa borealis suppressed the invasion of other shrubs or annuals and facilitated later stages of plant succession by promoting growth of shade-tolerant tree species after clear cutting.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.33-46
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• 1970

Pinus densiflora stands are common secondary forest communities on infertile soils in Korea. The stands are results of long severe past biotic pressure such as cutting, burning and grazing. These could be regarded as biotic climax in Korea. Because of their prevalent occurrence, relatively simple species and age composition, and their domestic economic importance, study of their distributional patterns may give some basic knowledge for better utilization of land resources in Korea. To detect distributional patterns and interspecific associations ten pine stands, each of which was homogenious with respect to topography and physiognomy, were subjectively selected from pine stands in Kyunggi Province near Seoul in 1969 and were made object of this study. Four contiguous systematic samples of count for trees, shrubs and seedlings from belt transects were collected from homogeneous areas within ten natural pine stands. The belt transect was 64m or 128m in length, and 1m, 2m or 4m in width. Basic units within the transect ranged from 64 to 256. The data from the contiguous transects were analysed in terms of multiple split-plot experiment. Departure from randomness of stem distribution, i.e., pattern, was tested in terms of variance mean ratio. For the detection of association between species, correlation coefficient was calculated for different block sizes. The values of ${\gamma}$ were tested by the usual t-test. Fine trees within one of the stands showed significant regular distribution through out the blocks. Within other eight stands pines were randomly distributed at basic unit with 4$\times$4m, 2$\times$2m, 2$\times$1m and 1$\times$1m. One significantly clumped distribution at basic unit 2$\times$2m, however, was observed from one of the pine stands. These randomly distributed groups were themselves significantly regularly distributed throughout the blocks for four pine stands. For the other four pine stands, in addition to the random distribution at the basie unit(the primary random group), randomly distributed groups with 32m dimension(the secondary random groups) were also observed. Both the primary and the secondary random groups were significantly regularly distributed at the rest of blocks. Pine seedlings were not distributed randomly thoughout the blocks. Within three of the ten stands they were contagiously distributed. Important shrub species underneath pines such as Querus serrata, Q. acutissima, Leapedeza intermedia, Rhododendron Yedoense var. poukhanenae, Juniperus utilis, Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum shnwed consistently similar distributional pattern with the pine at each stand. The shrub species pairs; Rhododendron Yedoense var. poukhanenae/Quercus serrata, Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum/Lespedeza intermedia were significantly negatively associated from 1m to 4m dimensional block sizes but became significantly positively associated from 8m sized blocks on. On the other hand the shrub species pairs; Lespedeza intermedia/Robinia Pseudoacacia, and Lespedeza bicolor var, japonica/Lespedeza intermedia were also significnalty negatively associated from 1m to 8m sized blocks but became significantly positively associated from 16m sized blocks on. The associational pattern between Rhododendron mucronul tun var. poukhanenae and Lespedeza intermedia was not consistent throughout the stands. In some stands negative associations were observed throughout the blocks except NS 32. From these observatons micro-edaphic variation within the pine stands seems not to be great enough to cause distributinal difference of pine trees within the ten pine stands. Among each species and pine seedings, however, the edaphic variation within the pine stands may be great enought to cause distributional variation.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.397-410
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• 2018

Objectives: An association between dietary patterns and mental health in children has been suggested in a series of studies, yet detailed analyses of dietary patterns and their effects on ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) are limited. Methods: We included 4569 children who had dietary intake data as part of the CHEER (Children's Health and Environmental Research) study conducted nationwide from 2005 to 2010. We assessed ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) by the DuPaul's ADHD Rating Scales and dietary intake by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Using intake data, we constructed five dietary patterns: "Plant foods & fish," "Sweets," "Meat & fish," "Fruits & dairy products," and "Wheat based." Results: The overall proportion of ADHD was 12.3%. Boys (17.8%) showed a higher rate of ADHD than girls (6.5%). The total intake of calories (85 kcal) and plant fat (2g) in the ADHD group was significantly higher than that of the normal group. ADHD was significantly negatively associated with dietary habits such as having breakfast and meal frequency, and positively associated with eating speed, unbalanced diet, overeating, and rice consumption. Regarding dietary patterns, the "Sweets" category was relevant to high ADHD risk (OR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.15 for Q5 vs. Q1) in a linear relationship. An inverse, non-linear association was found between "Fruits & dairy products" and ADHD (OR 0.55, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.76 for Q4 vs. Q1). Conclusions: Our study confirms both positive and negative associations between diet and ADHD in elementary school age children. Moreover, linear or nonlinear associations between diet and ADHD draw attention to the possible threshold role of nutrients. Further studies may consider characteristics of diet in more detail to develop better intervention or management in terms of diet and health.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.1-21
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• 1959

1. The plant communities on Mt. Sulak, a typical alpine mountain in central Korea was researched from the standpoint of ecological survey. 2. The plant on this mountain can largely be classified into 2 categories, the warm zone (below 1100m) and the frigid zone. The former is again classified into a broad-leaved tree formation and a needle-leved tree formation, and the latter is calssified into a broad-leaved tree formation and needle-leaved tree formation, and shrub formation. 3. The broad-leaved tree formation in the warm zone can largely be classified into a Carpinus laxiflora-syringa Palibiniana var. kanibayashi association(1), a Carpinus erosa-Acer Pseudo-sieboldianun association(2), and a Quercus mongolica- Tripterygium Regelii association(3). 4. The needle-leaved tree formation in the warm zone can also largely ben classified into a Pinus densiflora- Miscanthus sinensis association(4), Abies holophylla- Tripterygium regelii association(5), Pinus kordiensis- Rhododendron schlippenbachii association(6) In the association(4), the canopy of the Pinus densiflora is gradually being occupied by the Quercus mongolica which is one kind of broad-leaved trees. 5. We can fully see a DryoPteris type of the flour layer plant type in the association (3) and also see a Sasamorpha type in the association (5). 6. The broad-leaved tree formation in the frigid zone can largely be classified into Quercus mongolica- Rhododendron schlippenbachii association (8). The constituents of tree and subtree layers in (7) and (8) associations are similar to those association (3), but the constituents of the shrub layer are different from those of associtation (3) due to the difference in height. 7. The needle-leaved formation in the frigid zone can largely be classified into Thuja koraiensisRodgersia podophylla var. viritis association (9) and Abies nephrolepis-Acer tschonoskii var. rubripes asscciation (10). The species of alpine plants or subalpine plants are gradually increased in this formation. 8. The shrub formation can also largely be classified into a Rhododendron mucronulatum- Patrinia saniculaefolia association (11) and Pinus pumila associatio (12). Association (12) has largely developed on the windy place. Association (12) was burned due to the bombing during the Korean war, but now we recoginized there occurred an invasion of Tripterygium Regelii in such a place. 9. The herb layer species which constitute the shrub formation are mostly alpine or subalpine plants of small size, and their kinds are also very few. 10. The growth of the Moss layer is especially good because of the varied conditions of the habitat. The kinds which can easily be seen are the genus of Thunidium, Haplocladium, Brachythecium, Macromitrium, Holonitrium, Atrichum, Schwstchkeopsis, Grimmia, Hedwigia, Rhynchostegium and Mnium. 11. The genus of the Sphagnum densly grows like a mat at the acid and moisturous place above 1100m. The authors should express their thanks to father. Yang Kisup, Dean of Catholic Medical College, Prof. Yoon Doksuen, from their valuable advice. Thanks arealso due to Prof. Numata, Chiba University, Prof. Takagi, Nagoya University and Prof. Ando, Hiroshima University in Japan for his kind help and identification of Bryophytes.