• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.45-57
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• 2001

Trees have the ability to undergo secondary growth and produce a woody body. This tree-specific growth is affected by the secondary vascular system and the developmental continuum of secondary phloem and xylem. Secondary growth is one of the most important biological processes on earth. Considering its economic and environmental significance, our knowledge of tree growth and development is surprisingly limited. Trees have received little attention as model species in plant science, as most Plant biology questions can be best addressed by using herbaceous model species, such as Arabidopsis. Furthermore, tree biology is difficult to study mainly due to the inherent problems of tree species, including large size, long generation time, large genome size, and recalcitrance to biotechnological manipulations. Despite all of this, one must rely on trees as models to study tree-specific questions, such as secondary growth, which cannot be studied effectively in non-woody model species. Recent advances in genomics technology provide a unique opportunity to overcome these inherent tree-related problems. Several groups, including our own, have been successful in studying the biology of wood formation with a variety of hardwood and softwood species. In this article, 1 first review the current understanding of tree growth and then discuss the recent attempts to fully explore and realize the potential of molecular biology as a tool for enhanced understanding of secondary growth.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.469-478
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• 2023

Background: Nitrogen (N) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and development. To support agricultural production and enhance crop yield, two major N sources, nitrate and ammonium, are applied as fertilizers to the soil. Although many studies have been conducted on N uptake and signal transduction, the molecular genetic mechanisms of N-mediated physiological roles, such as the secondary growth of storage roots, remain largely unknown. Methods: One-year-old P. ginseng seedlings treated with KNO₃ were analyzed for the secondary growth of storage roots. The histological paraffin sections were subjected to bright and polarized light microscopic analysis. Genome-wide RNA-seq and network analysis were carried out to dissect the molecular mechanism of nitrate-mediated promotion of ginseng storage root thickening. Results: Here, we report the positive effects of nitrate on storage root secondary growth in Panax ginseng. Exogenous nitrate supply to ginseng seedlings significantly increased the root secondary growth. Histological analysis indicated that the enhancement of root secondary growth could be attributed to the increase in cambium stem cell activity and the subsequent differentiation of cambium-derived storage parenchymal cells. RNA-seq and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that the formation of a transcriptional network comprising auxin, brassinosteroid (BR)-, ethylene-, and jasmonic acid (JA)-related genes mainly contributed to the secondary growth of ginseng storage roots. In addition, increased proliferation of cambium stem cells by a N-rich source inhibited the accumulation of starch granules in storage parenchymal cells. Conclusion: Thus, through the integration of bioinformatic and histological tissue analyses, we demonstrate that nitrate assimilation and signaling pathways are integrated into key biological processes that promote the secondary growth of P. ginseng storage roots.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2022

The precise homeostatic regulation of local auxin accumulation in xylem precursors of cambium stem cell tissues is one of the most important mechanisms for plant vascular patterning and radial secondary growth. Walls are thin (WAT1), a novel intracellular auxin transporter, contributes directly to the auxin accumulation maxima in xylem precursors. According to recent research, the auxin signaling activated pathway-related gene network was significantly enriched during the secondary growth of Panax ginseng storage roots. These imply that during P. ginseng root secondary growth, specific signaling mechanisms for local auxin maxima in the vascular cambial cells are probably triggered. This study identified four WAT1-like genes, PgWAT1-1/-2 and PgWAT2-1/-2, in the P. ginseng genome. Their expression levels were greatly increased in nitratetreated storage roots stimulated for secondary root growth. PgWAT1-1 and PgWAT2-1 were similar to WAT1 from Arabidopsis and tomato plants in terms of their subcellular localization at a tonoplast and predicted transmembrane topology. We discovered that overexpression of PgWAT1-1 and PgWAT2-1 was sufficient to compensate for the secondary growth defects observed in slwat1-copi loss of function tomato mutants. This critical information from the PgWAT1-1 and PgWAT2-1 genes can potentially be used in future P. ginseng genetic engineering and breeding for increased crop yield.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.674-682
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• 2011

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of acupuncture & moxibustion therapy on the hair follicle growth of skin 5 days and 10 days by macroscopic, microscopic and immunohistochemical methods. The results were as follows : Macroscopic hair follicle growth of plum-blossom needle treated group and strong moxibustion treated group was more increase than that of control group. Microscopic hair follicle growth of plum-blossom needle treated group and strong moxibustion treated group was hair growing cycle, anagen phase VI and that of control group and weak moxibustion treated group was hair growing cycle, anagen phase IV. Immunohistochemical observations on the expression of various growth factors, enzyme and receptor in hair follicle cycle after local treatment of acupuncture & moxibustion therapy are as follows: Expression of fibroblast growth factor was more intense in epidermis in plum-blossom needle treated group, epidermis and secondary hair germ cells in strong moxibustion treated group than control group. Expression of epidermal growth factor was more intense in epidermis in all experimental groups, and secondary hair germ cells in moxibustion treated group than control group. Expression of c-kit receptor was more intense in epidermis, secondary hair germ cells, outer root sheath in all experimental groups than control group. Expression of protein kinase C-${\alpha}$ was more intense in epidermis, secondary hair germ cells, outer root sheath in all experimental groups than control group. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor was more intense in epidermis, bulge, secondary hair germ cells, outer root sheath in plum-blossom needle treated group and strong moxibustion treated group than control group. We concluded that acupuncture & moxibustion therapy related to the expression of various growth factors, enzymes and receptor on the hair growth cycle for hair growth.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.331-339
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• 2022

Deforestation and conservation of coniferous forest have been recognized as critical issues in Korea due to climate change. The main purpose of this research was to monitor changes of secondary metabolite contents and growth of Korean fir (Abies koreana) according to the temperature change in Mt. Halla. The Korean fir located at three different regions, Yeongsil, Witseoreum, and Jindallaebat, was monitored in April, July, and October from 2016 to 2018 and secondary metabolites, specifically lutein, α-carotenoid, and β-carotenoid, were analysed with high performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that average concentrations of lutein, α-carotenoid, and β-carotenoid were 0.82 - 23.30, 0.02 - 2.01, and 0.11 - 2.84 ㎍·g-1 and the highest concentration of secondary metabolite was observed in October compared to April and July. The average length and width of Korean fir in the three regions were 11.84 - 20.70 and 1.78 - 2.41 mm from 2016 - 2018. A correlation analysis showed that the concentrations of all three secondary metabolites were negatively correlated with temperature and a significant difference was observed between temperature and lutein concentration in Korean fir. Overall, growth and production of secondary metabolites in Korean fir highly depended on the temperature, and global warming thus might have an adverse effect on the growth and physiological changes of Korean fir in Mt. Halla.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.305-308
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• 2002

Decursinol angelate, a new anticancer agent, was produced by root cultures of Angelica gigas Nakai. In addition, difference of specific yields between primary and secondary root was investigated. It was found that specific yield of secondary root was much higher than that of primary root at various conditions, so that it was thought that the formation and growth of secondary root were feasible. From this point of view, effects of root segmentation and plant growth regulators (NAA, IBA) on root morphology and decursinol angelate production were examined. Root segmentation increased secondary root mass and product formation. On the other hand, addition of NAA or IBA at various concentrations promoted secondary root formation and production of decursinol angelate significantly. Five-fold increase of production was obtained at 4 mg/L of IBA compared to control without NAA and IBA.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.220-228
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• 2024

Background: Panax ginseng, one of the valuable perennial medicinal plants, stores numerous pharmacological substrates in its storage roots. Given its perennial growth habit, organ regeneration occurs each year, and cambium stem cell activity is necessary for secondary growth and storage root formation. Cytokinin (CK) is a phytohormone involved in the maintenance of meristematic cells for the development of storage organs; however, its physiological role in storage-root secondary growth remains unknown. Methods: Exogenous CK was repeatedly applied to P. ginseng, and morphological and histological changes were observed. RNA-seq analysis was used to elucidate the transcriptional network of CK that regulates P. ginseng growth and development. The HISTIDINE KINASE 3 (PgHK3) and RESPONSE REGULATOR 2 (PgRR2) genes were cloned in P. ginseng and functionally analyzed in Arabidopsis as a two-component system involved in CK signaling. Results: Phenotypic and histological analyses showed that CK increased cambium activity and dormant axillary bud formation in P. ginseng, thus promoting storage-root secondary growth and bud formation. The evolutionarily conserved two-component signaling pathways in P. ginseng were sufficient to restore CK signaling in the Arabidopsis ahk2/3 double mutant and rescue its growth defects. Finally, RNA-seq analysis of CK-treated P. ginseng roots revealed that plant-type cell wall biogenesis-related genes are tightly connected with mitotic cell division, cytokinesis, and auxin signaling to regulate CK-mediated P. ginseng development. Conclusion: Overall, we identified the CK signaling-related two-component systems and their physiological role in P. ginseng. This scientific information has the potential to significantly improve the field-cultivation and biotechnology-based breeding of ginseng.

• Mycobiology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.506-511
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• 2019

We investigated the antifungal activities of an endophytic fungus identified as Acaromyces ingoldii, found on a loblolly (Pinus taeda L.) pine bolt in Louisiana during routine laboratory microbial isolations. The specific objectives were to determine the inhibitory properties of A. ingoldii secondary metabolites (crude extract) on the mycelial growth of a brown-rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum and a white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor, and to determine the effective concentration of A. ingoldii crude preparation against the two decay fungi in vitro. Results show the crude preparation of A. ingoldii from liquid culture possesses significant mycelial growth inhibitory properties that are concentration dependent against the brownrot and white-rot fungi evaluated. An increase in the concentration of A. ingoldii secondary metabolites significantly decreased the mycelial growth of both wood decay fungi. G. trabeum was more sensitive to the inhibitory effect of the secondary metabolites than T. versicolor. Identification of specific A. ingoldii secondary metabolites, and analysis of their efficacy/specificity warrants further study. Findings from this work may provide the first indication of useful roles for Acaromyces species in a forest environment, and perhaps a future potential in the development of biocontrol-based wood preservation systems.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.285-292
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• 1990

In order to elucidate the formation of reaction tissues during the transition from primary to secondary growth, the developmental anatomy was conducted in the first internode of Ginkgo biloba seedling in horizontal position. The righting of the horizontal first internode took place at the middle portion and gradually proceeded to the base during the primary growth. Reaction tissues were formed corresponding to the righting movement in the horizontal first internode. During the transition from primary to secondary growth, compression wood was gradually developed on the lower side only. The anatomical features of compression wood also extended longitudinally to the lower side of the vertical portion where it coincided with the lower side of the horizontal first internode occurs acropetally from basal to apical portion. Eventually, some of the anatomical features of compression wood occurred at the primary growth. And the typical compression wood is gradually established during the secondary growth. On the other hand, the lower side tracheid and ray were longer and higher than those of the upper side in the horizontal first internode. However, difference in the width of ray was not observed between the lower and upper sides.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1231-1240
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• 2021

Members of the genus Bacillus are known to play an important role in promoting plant growth and protecting plants against phytopathogenic microorganisms. In this study, 21 isolates of Bacillus spp. were obtained from the root micro-ecosystem of Suaeda glauca. Analysis of the 16S rRNA genes indicated that the isolates belong to the species Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus velezensis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus aryabhattai and Brevibacterium frigoritolerans. One of the interesting findings of this study is that the four strains B1, B5, B16 and B21 are dominant in rhizosphere soil. Based on gyrA, gyrB, and rpoB gene analyses, B1, B5, and B21 were identified as B. amyloliquefaciens and B16 was identified as B. velezensis. Estimation of antifungal activity showed that the isolate B1 had a significant inhibitory effect on Fusarium verticillioides, B5 and B16 on Colletotrichum capsici (syd.) Butl, and B21 on Rhizoctonia cerealis van der Hoeven. The four strains grew well in medium with 1-10% NaCl, a pH value of 5-8, and promoted the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana. Our results indicate that these strains may be promising agents for the biocontrol and promotion of plant growth and further study of the relevant bacteria will provide a useful reference for the development of microbial resources.