• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.249-259
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• 2013

Burkholderia glumae causes rice grain rot and sheath rot by producing toxoflavin, the expression of which is regulated by quorum sensing (QS). The QS systems of B. glumae rely on N-octanoyl homoserine lactone, synthesized by TofI and its cognate receptor TofR, to activate the genes for toxoflavin biosynthesis and an IclR-type transcriptional regulator gene, qsmR. To understand genome-wide transcriptional profiling of QS signaling, we employed RNAseq of the wild-type B. glumae BGR1 with QS-defective mutant, BGS2 (BGR1 tofI::${\Omega}$) and QS-dependent transcriptional regulator mutant, BGS9 (BGR1 qsmR::${\Omega}$). A comparison of gene expression profiling among the wild-type BGR1 and the two mutants before and after QS onset as well as gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis from differential expressed genes (DEGs) revealed that genes involved in motility were highly enriched in TofI-dependent DEGs, whereas genes for transport and DNA polymerase were highly enriched in QsmR-dependent DEGs. Further, a combination of pathways with these DEGs and phenotype analysis of mutants pointed to a couple of metabolic processes, which are dependent on QS in B. glumae, that were directly or indirectly related with bacterial motility. The consistency of observed bacterial phenotypes with GOs or metabolic pathways in QS-regulated genes implied that integration RNAseq with GO enrichment or pathways would be useful to study bacterial physiology and phenotypes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.49-55
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• 2003

The morphology of the leaves and the flowers of angiosperms exhibit remarkable diversity. One of the factors showing the greatest variability of leaf organs is the leaf index, namely, the ratio of leaf length to leaf width. In some cases, different varieties of a single species or closely related species can be distinguished by differences in leaf index. To some extent, the leaf index reflects the morphological adaptation of leaves to a particular environment. In addition, the growth of leaf organs is dependent on the extent of the expansion of leaf cells and on cell proliferation in the cellular level. The rates of the division and enlargement of leaf cells at each stage contribute to the final shape of the leaf, and play important roles throughout leaf development. Thus, the control of leaf shape is related to the control of the shape of cells and the size of cells within the leaf. The shape of flower also reflects the shape of leaf, since floral organs are thought to be a derivative of leaf organs. No good tools have been available for studies of the mechanisms that underlie such biodiversity. However, we have recently obtained some information about molecular mechanisms of leaf morphogenesis as a result of studies of leaves of the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. For example, the ANGUSTIFOLIA (AN) gene, a homolog of animal CtBP genes, controls leaf width. AN appears to regulate the polar elongation of leaf cells via control of the arrangement of cortical microtubules. By contrast, the ROTUNDIFOLIA3 (ROT3) gene controls leaf length via the biosynthesis of steroid(s). We provide here an overview of the biodiversity exhibited by the leaf index of angiosperms. Taken together, we can discuss on the possibility of the control of the shapes and size of plant organs by transgenic approaches with the results from basic researches. For example, transgenic plants that overexpressed a wild-type ROT3 gene had longer leaves than parent plants, without any changes in leaf width. Thus, The genes for leaf growth and development, such as ROT3 gene, should be useful tools for the biodesign of plant organs.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 2008

Plant-cell-wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum are the key virulence factor in pathogenesis of soft rot disease of vegetables. The production of PCWDEs is controlled in a cell density dependent manner to avoid the premature production of PCWDEs and subsequent activation of plant defense. N-oxoacyl-homoserine lactone (OHL) is essential for quorum sensing in the soft rot pathogen and the expI gene is responsible for OHL production. The ExpI homolog isolated from P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum SL940 had 94% identity with ExpI of E. carotovora subsp. carotovora scc3193 and 74% identity with Carl of E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica. The transgenic plants that express exp I uner the control of CaMV35S promoter were able to produce diffusible OHL. Transgenic plants producing OHL were very resistant to the infection of P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum. Since the PR1 gene was strongly induced and NPR1 and NPR4 were induced weakly in transgenic plants compared to the wild type, salicylic acid-dependent pathways is likely involved in the resistance to the soft rot pathogen P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum in ExpI transgenic plants.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.23
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• pp.67-72
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• 2008

This study was conducted to examineboth the type of wood decay and the degree of degradation for the waterlogged woods (Alnus spp. and Fraxinus spp., about 5,700~5,900 year old), which were excavated at Higokri, Pyungteak in the west-coastal region of Korea. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation indicated the degradations by soft rot and bacteria were common in both woods. Erosion bacteria attacked gradually and irregularly from the secondary layer to compound middle lamella and often produced the cavity which was similar to soft-rot cavity but much smaller ones. Tunneling bacteria decomposed mainly $S_2$ layer. Though of highly degraded walls, the cells almost kept the original form with intact lignin-rich middle lamella, which were saturated by water. No marine borer's trace indicated that the sealine rise in the western coast of Korean peninsula during the climate optimum period in the holocene might not be high enough to submerge the Higokri area which locates about 2 km from the present sealine.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.1018-1026
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• 2020

Rosemary essential oil was evaluated for antifungal potentiality against six major ginseng pathogens: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Sclerotinia nivalis, Cylindrocarpon destructans, Alternaria panax, Botrytis cinerea, and Fusarium oxysporum. The in vitro fungicidal effects of two commonly used fungicides, namely mancozeb and fenhexamid, and the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of Trichoderma koningiopsis T-403 on the mycelial growth were investigated. The results showed that rosemary essential oil is active against all of the pathogenic strains of ginseng root rot, whereas rosemary oil displayed high ability to inhibit the Sclerotinia spp. growth. The highest sensitivity was S. nivalis, with complete inhibition of growth at 0.1% v/v of rosemary oil, followed by Alternaria panax, which exhibited 100% inhibition at 0.3% v/v of the oil. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of rosemary oil ranged from 0.1 % to 0.5 % (v/v). Chemical analysis using GC-MS showed the presence of thirty-two constituents within rosemary oil from R. officinals L. Camphore type is the most frequent sesquiterpene in rosemary oil composition. Mancozeb and fenhexamid showed their highest inhibition effect (45% and 30%, respectively) against A. panax. T. koningiopsis T-403 showed its highest inhibition effect (84%) against C. destructans isolate. This study may expedite the application of antifungal natural substances from rosemary and Trichoderma in the prevention and control of phytopathogenic strains in ginseng root infections.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.46-50
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• 2013

In this study, the frictional behaviors of articular cartilage against a Co-Cr alloy in two types of kinematic motions were compared. Cartilage pins were punched from the femoral condyles of porcine knee joints, and Co-Cr alloy disks were machined from orthopedic-grade rods and polished to a surface roughness ($R_a$) of 0.002. Friction tests were conducted by using a pin-on-disk-type tribotester in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) under pressures of 0.5, 1, and 2 MPa. All tests were performed in the repeat pass rotational (ROT) and the linear reciprocal (RCP) sliding motions with the same sliding distance and speed of 50 mm/s. The coefficients of friction of the cartilage against the Co-Cr alloy increased with the sliding time in both kinematic motions for all contact pressures. The maximum coefficients of friction in RCP motion were 1.08, 2.82, and 1.96 times those in ROT motion for contact pressures of 0.5, 1, and 2 MPa, respectively. As the contact pressure increased, the coefficients of friction gradually increased in RCP motion, whereas they decrease and then increased in ROT motion. The interaction between the directional change of the shear stress and the orientation of collagen fiber in the superficial layer of the cartilage could affect the change in the frictional behaviors of the cartilage. A large difference in the coefficients of friction between the two kinematic motions could be interpreted as differences in the directional change of shear stress at the contact surface.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.276-287
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• 2017

RcsA is a positive activator of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) synthesis in the Enterobacteriaceae. The rcsA gene of the soft rot pathogen Pantoea sp. strain PPE7 in Pleurotus eryngii was cloned by PCR amplification, and its role in EPS synthesis and virulence was investigated. The RcsA protein contains 3 highly conserved domains, and the C-terminal end of the open reading frame shared significant amino acid homology to the helix-turn-helix DNA binding motif of bacterial activator proteins. The inactivation of rcsA by insertional mutagenesis created mutants that had decreased production of EPS compared to the wild-type strain and abolished the virulence of Pantoea sp. strain PPE7 in P. eryngii. The Pantoea sp. strain PPE7 rcsA gene was shown to strongly affect the formation of the disease symptoms of a mushroom pathogen and to act as the virulence factor to cause soft rot disease in P. eryngii.

• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.646-650
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• 1998

Mycological characteristics of Phytophthora nicotianae var. nicotianae SPC10 (A1 type) causing Phytophthora rot of strawberry and the resistances of 11 strawberry cultivars against the pathogen were examined. Optimum temperature for the mycelial growth of the pathogen was obtained in the range of 30~35$^{\circ}C$, and the growth was completely stopped under 13$^{\circ}C$ or over 42$^{\circ}C$. Aerial mycelia were abundant on oatmeal agar (OMA), V-8 juice agar (V8A) and lima bean agar (LBA) medium, although there were slight differences, however, on cornmeal agar (CMA) medium, it was a shape of stellate without aerial mycelia. The colony shape on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium was rough and irregular whereas the mycelial growth was slow, and some aerial mycelia were only produced in the middle of PDA medium. Optimum temperature for sporangial formation was 3$0^{\circ}C$, and zoospores were mostly released at $25^{\circ}C$ from the sporangia. Sporangia were more produced in C/Z solution with pH 5. 0~6.$0^{\circ}C$ than sterilized distilled water (DSW) and distilled water (DW), and zoospores were also released much more than other solutions. Eleven strawberry cultivars such as Reiko, Hokowase, Eyeberry, Akaneko, Sistakara, Toyonoka, Nyoho, Sulhong, Suhong, Myhong and Wonkyo #3104 revealed the disease incidence up to 88.9~100% by the leaf inoculation with mycelial disk. However, Nyoho and Suhong showed higher level of resistance against the pathogen by root inoculation.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.373-380
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• 2013

A severe pink mold rot on matured asian pear (Pyrus serotina Rehder) fruit occurred in the organic farmers' orchard in Jinju, Korea in October, 2012. Decay of pear fruit appeared as a softened water-soaked symptom that was easily punctured by pressure. Later pink mycelium appeared on the surface of pear fruit and produced a mass of powdery pink conidia spores. Optimum temperature for mycelial growth of T. roseum was $25^{\circ}C$. Conidia showed hyaline, smooth, 2-celled, thick-walled with truncate bases, ellipsoidal to pyriform, and characteristically held together zig-zag chains and $10{\sim}22(34){\times}6{\sim}10(12){\mu}m$ in size. Conidiophore was erect, colorless, unbranched type, and 4-5 ${\mu}m$ width. On the basis of mycological characteristics, pathogenicity test, and molecular identification with the ITS region, the causal fungus was identified as Trichothecium roseum (Pers.) Link ex Gray.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.143-152
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• 1997

The decayed wood by Fomes pini (Thore) Lloyd required a smaller H factor than the sound wood for pulping to permanganate number 20. The H factors for the decayed wood pulping by the kraft and soda processes were reduced by 15% and 17%, respectively, in the presence of 1% anthraquinone. The wood components degraded by fungi are normally more readily solubilized in alkali than the corresponding components in sound wood. The nonphenolic ${\beta}$-O-4 type lignin model compound, veratrylglycerol-${\beta}$-guaiacyl ether(I), and phenolic model compound, syringylglycerol-${\beta}$-syringyl ether(III), were degraded by the white-rot fungi to yield ${\alpha}$-guaiacoxy-${\beta}$-hydroxypropioveratrone(II) from the former and ${\alpha}$-syringyloxy-${\beta}$-hydroxypropiosyringone(IV) from the latter. Structures of the degradation products indicated that C ${\alpha}$-oxidation could occur with white-rot fungi. It has been shown that the alkaline cleavage of ${\beta}$-aryl ether bonds in the lignin units is accelerated by the presence of ${\alpha}$-carbonyl groups.