• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.121-131
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• 2016

In most African urban areas, Particulate Matters (PM) concentration exceeds by far the WHO limits. In these areas, plants can play a key role in removing particles. In this study, we evaluated three ornamental species (Jatropha interrigima, Ficus benjamina, Barleria prionitis) used in Abidjan (Ivory Coast). Leaf-encapsulated saturation isothermal remnant magnetisation (SIRM) were measured and the relationship between PM captured and leaf wettability were done. The sampling were performed at roadsides and Parks. Firstly, Leaf-encapsulated and total leaf SIRM were quantified and the wettability was determined by drop contact angles (DCA). Secondly, the relationship between leaf SIRM and wettability was found. Results showed that leaf SIRM was two to ten times higher at roadsides than in Parks. Total leaf SIRM was also higher on mature leaves in Main roads suggesting a particle accumulation in leaves over time especially in waxy species (Ficus benjamina). This species encapsulated other than 20% of total leaf SIRM. All tested species were highly-wettable ($40^{\circ}$ < DCA < $90^{\circ}$). Thus, Jatropha interrigima with its leaf trichomes and F. benjamina with its leaf waxes were more wettable. A significantly positive correlation was found between wettability intensity and leaf SIRM.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.224-224
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• 2017

In plants, cysteine(Cys) is decisive for protein and glutathione that acts as an indispensable sulfur grantor for methionine and many other sulfur containing secondary products. Cys formation is involved in the consecutive two reactions using two enzymes-serine acetyl transferase (SAT) and O-acetylserine (thiol)lyase (OASTL) and appeared in plant cytosol, chloroplast and mitochondria. OASTL is able to produce mimosine with 3-hydroxy-4-pyridone (3H4P) in lieu of $H_2S$ for Cys. In this report, we describe the first time cloning, purification and characterization of cytosolic(cy)OASTL from M. pudica and its expression in Escherichia coli and try to find out the cross link between this OASTL and the mimosine formation and to elucidate the metabolic role of cy-OASTL in M. pudica. The purified recombinant protein was 34.7 KDa. The optimum reaction pH and temperature was 6.5 and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively. The Michaelis constant (Km) and the Vmax value of the enzyme was $252{\pm}25{\mu}M$ and $57{\pm}3{\mu}M\;cysteine\;min^{-1}\;{\mu}g\;protein^{-1}$ for sulfide and $159{\pm}21{\mu}M$ and $58{\pm}2.4{\mu}M\;cysteine\;min^{-1}\;{\mu}g\;protein^{-1}$ for OAS subsequently. After cleaving the His-tag, we tried to observe cy-OASTL to form mimosine with appropriate substrate but it was not successful. It may be concluded that cy-OASTL of the present study is only Cys specific, not mimosine.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.205-211
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• 2016

Leaf chlorophyll content provides valuable information about physiological status of plants. However, fewer studies have investigated the difference in chlorophyll concentration in leaves of tropical afforestation tree species. Therefore, this study examines the difference in foliar chlorophyll contents of six tropical afforestation tree species namely: Tectona grandis, Pentaclethra macrophylla, Piptademiastrum africanum, Azadirachta indica, Brachystegia eurycoma and Gmelina arborea found in the relict forest in Umudike, South east, Nigeria. A single factor experiment in a completely randomised design in three replicates was employed to analyse the rate of leaf chlorophyll contents. Fisher's least significant different was used to test for significance in mean difference in foliar chlorophyll contents between tree species at 95% confidence interval using analysis of variance. The results of this study showed a significant difference in foliar chlorophyll concentration between the tree species with Tectona grandis having a higher chlorophyll concentration than other trees this could be as a result of its higher vegetative activity which increases its primary productivity followed by Pentaclethra macrophylla while Azadirachta indica having least the chlorophyll concentration. The study further revealed that other indigenous tree species like Piptademiastrum africanum and Brachystegia eurycoma have higher chlorophyll concentration. Further studies should be carry out to examine factors that have contributed informed the differences in the chlorophyll concentration of these trees species, thus this would broaden the understanding of their physiological status and equally encourage there conservation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.51-61
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• 2016

In order to provide recommendations on the most useful forage species to smallholder farmers, eleven grass and eleven legume forages grown in Abomey-Calavi in Republic of Benin were investigated for nutritive value (i.e. chemical composition and energy content) and fermentation characteristics (i.e. gas and volatile fatty acid production, organic matter degradability). The in vitro gas production technique was used, incubating the forages for 120 h under anaerobic condition with buffalo rumen fluid. Compared to legume, tropical grass forages showed lower energy (8.07 vs 10.57 MJ/kg dry matter [DM]) and crude protein level (16.10% vs 19.91% DM) and higher cell wall content (neutral detergent fiber: 63.8% vs 40.45% DM), respectively. In grass forages, the chemical composition showed a quite high crude protein content; the in vitro degradability was slightly lower than the range of tropical pasture. The woody legumes were richer in protein and energy and lower in structural carbohydrates than herbaceous plants, however, their in vitro results are influenced by the presence of complex compounds (i.e. tannins). Significant correlations were found between chemical composition and in vitro fermentation characteristics. The in vitro gas production method appears to be a suitable technique for the evaluation of the nutritive value of forages in developing countries.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.528-536
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• 2016

Although many fungicides are registered for use to control powdery mildew on cucurbits, management of resistance to fungicides in pathogen populations still remains a major challenge. Two biopesticides Regalia SC and HMO 736 were evaluated in the greenhouse and field for their efficacy against powdery mildew in squash. In greenhouses, Regalia SC alone significantly (P < 0.05) reduced powdery mildew compared to the nontreated control, and was as effective as the chemical standard Procure 480SC (triflumizole). In alternation with Procure 480SC, Regalia SC demonstrated greater or equivalent effects on reducing the disease. HMO 736 alone showed varying levels of disease control, but alternating with Procure 480SC significantly improved control efficacy. In addition, application of Regalia SC or HMO 736 each in alternation with Procure 480SC significantly increased the chlorophyll content in leaves and the total fresh weight of squash plants, when compared with the water control, Regalia SC and HMO 736 alone. In field trials, application of Regalia SC and HMO 736 each alone significantly reduced disease severity in one of two field trials during the early stage of disease development, but not during later stages when disease pressure became high. Both Regalia SC and HMO 736 each applied in alternation with Procure 480SC significantly improved the control efficacy compared to Procure 480SC alone. Results from this study demonstrated that an integrated management program can be developed for powdery mildew in squash by integrating the biopesticides Regalia SC, HMO 736 with the chemical fungicide Procure 480SC.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.34-42
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• 1991

Protection of tropical forest affects on significant reduce of tropical hardwood supply, and softwood resources will be increasingly important for the timber security in Korea. U.S. softwood log was most favorite species for Korean softwood log importers in overall import conditions except price stablization and consistency of export policy. Reduced export volume from Pacific Northwest to Korean market has been immediately replenished by rediata pine from New Zealand and Chilean plantation. Siberian timber will hardly play major roles in Korean timber market unless budding structure. softwood plywood and softwood furniture uses are enhanced. Recent rapid rise of labor cost and reducing tariff rrate in Korea provided better opportunities for import lumber in building materials market. Dry dimension lumber was relatively profitable when processed from import U.S. soft-wood log while green lumber was favorable products processed from radiata pine log in Korean lumber market. This means U.S. softwood lumber would have better opportunity to market for '2${\times}$'4 studs when wood frame housing is introduced. On the other hand while radiata pine is competitive on temporary construction lumber such as supporter and concrete forming frame in Korea. Shortage of raw material for the new capacity of board plants in Korea will be it bottle neck. Major log export countries to Korea as U.S. New Zealand and Chile showed high trade intensity indices of composite hoard produces for Korean market. As Korea efforts to diversify import sources, and tariffs are reduced to 8% as scheduled by 1994. countries of scoring higher comparative advantages as Portugal. Brazil, Austria as well as New Zealand will have better opportunity to penetrate into promised Korean composites hoard market.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.377-387
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• 2016

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), a member of the genus Begomovirus, is one of the most important viruses of cultivated tomatoes worldwide, mainly causing yellowing and curling of leaves with stunting in plants. TYLCV causes severe problems in sub-tropical and tropical countries, as well as in Korea. However, the mechanism of TYLCV infection remains unclear, although the function of each viral component has been identified. TYLCV C4 codes for a small protein involved in various cellular functions, including symptom determination, gene silencing, viral movement, and induction of the plant defense response. In this study, through yeast-two hybrid screenings, we identified TYLCV C4-interacting host proteins from both healthy and symptom-exhibiting tomato tissues, to determine the role of TYLCV C4 proteins in the infection processes. Comparative analyses of 28 proteins from healthy tissues and 36 from infected tissues showing interactions with TYLCV C4 indicated that TYLCV C4 mainly interacts with host proteins involved in translation, ubiquitination, and plant defense, and most interacting proteins differed between the two tissues but belong to similar molecular functional categories. Four proteins-two ribosomal proteins, S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase, and 14-3-3 family protein-were detected in both tissues. Furthermore, the identified proteins in symptom-exhibiting tissues showed greater involvement in plant defenses. Some are key regulators, such as receptor-like kinases and pathogenesis-related proteins, of plant defenses. Thus, TYLCV C4 may contribute to the suppression of host defense during TYLCV infection and be involved in ubiquitination for viral infection.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.16-27
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• 2019

Generative and vegetative parts of the cactuses have had a long-lasting position in folk medicine and their effects could partly be confirmed in scientific experiments. Nowadays, the cactus, fruits, and cladodes are the focus of many studies because of their desirable properties. Therefore, the summarized reports of valuable properties of medicinal plants may be a good way to familiarize researches with a new source of drugs with lower side effects and higher efficacy. Opuntia dillenii, a well-known member of the Cactaceae family, is used as a medicinal plant in various countries and grows in the desert, semi-desert, tropical and sub-tropical areas. It shows diverse pharmacological activities such as: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, hypotensive etc. OD fruit also possesses valuable constitutes for instance: betalains, ascorbic acid, total phenol, protein as well as essential elements which suggest the significant potential of this plant as a complementary therapy against several pathological conditions. This review describes experimental evidence about pharmacological and therapeutic potential of OD in order to give the basis of its application in the prevention and treatment of some chronic diseases. More studies on OD can help better understanding of its pharmacological mechanism of action to explain its traditional uses and to identify its potential new therapeutic applications.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.234-240
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• 2013

Increasing global $CO_2$ concentration and temperature is leading to the phenomenon of global warming and impacting the growth of plants. In order to determine the effects of global warming on the woody plants of Korea, five woody species, Pinus densiflora (Korea's dominant species), Ginkgo biloba (a commonly used street tree), Quercus glauca (dominant species in sub-tropical forests), Quercus gilva and Abeliophylum distichum (both endangered species), were grown at control (ambient $CO_2$+ambient temperature) and treatment (elevated $CO_2$+elevated temperature) conditions in a glasshouse, and were monitored for their ecological response. Shoot lengths and number of leaves were measured once a month from April to October in 2010, and were again measured in November 2011. Shoot lengths of P. densiflora, G. biloba and Q. glauca were not significantly affected by elevated $CO_2$ and temperature conditions. However. those of Q. gilva and A. distichum were both higher for plants grown under treatment than for those grown under control. The number of leaves of five woody species was not significantly affected by elevated $CO_2$ and temperature. These results indicate that P. densiflora, G. biloba and Q. glauca react more favorably than Q. gilva and A. distichum (each of which are designated as endangered plants) under global warming situations.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2013

Tropical plants of mango(Mangefera indica), dragon fruit(Hylocereus undatus), and atemoya(Annona cherimola ${\times}$ A. squamosa) are cultivated in Jeju, Korea. A pest survey on those tropical fruits was conducted from 2008 to 2011. Major pests of Mango were thrips, aphid, mealybug, and lepidoptera species. Thrips palmi and Scirtothrips dorsalis were the most important pests in mango fields. T. palmi mainly injured the leaf but S. dorsalis injured the leaf and fruit. Lepidoptera mango pests injured leaves but some larva of Adoxophyes honmai injured fruit surface around the stem. Aphid pests, Aphis gossypii and Myzus persicae, injured the shoots and Pseudococcus kraunhiae occurred on the stem and fruit. Ant species, A. gossypii, and S. litura, were important pests on dragon fruit. Ants and aphid occurred and injured the stem, flower, and fruit. Spodoptera litura larva severely injured the stem. Among the atemoya pests, S. litura and Homona magnanima caused severe damage.