• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.178-186
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• 2015

This study was carried out to determine the effects of environment controls (temperature and shading level) on germination responses and early growth of Allium thunbergii. Germination experiment was performed by pre-treatment (with low temperature and wetting treatments for 0, 20, 40 and 60 days) and temperature controls (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30). And growth experiment was performed by containers (128 and 200 cavities containers) and shading level (full sunlight (control), 35%, 50% and 75% shading). Germination rate of A. thunbergii seeds were, 20 days of seed pre-treatment, the highest at $10^{\circ}C$ (81.7%) and the more temperature went up, the more germination rate went down. As a result of surveying container and shading treatments, the height, leaf area, leaf length, leaf aspect ratio (L/W) were higher under 50% shading of 128 (24.2cm, $2.76cm^2$, 22.3cm and 223.4, respectively) and 200 (22.6cm, $2.29cm^2$, 19.4cm and 190.5, respectively) cavities container. The root was grown well under full sunlight. Specially, fresh weight of shoot (leaves+stem) was higher under 50% shading of 128 (0.241g) and 200 (0.212g) cavities container. As a result of surveying the whole experiment, A. thunbergii seeds need to pre-treatment (with low temperature and wetting treatments for 20~40 days) for high germination rate. And it is judged better growth and higher yield by maintaining 50% shading of 200 cavities container.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.251-256
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• 2010

Objective of this research was to investigate the influence of $NH_4^+$ and $NO_3^-$ ratios in liquid feeding on the growth of snapdragon 'Potomac Red' and changes in medium chemical properties. The seeds were sown into 200 plug trays and fertigated once a week with nutrient solution containing various ratios of $NH_4^+$ and $NO_3^-$ such as 0 : 100, 27 : 73, 50 : 50, 73 : 27, and 100 : 0. The total N concentrations were adjusted to 50, 100 and $150\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in plug stages of 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Determination of seedling growth and analysis of plant tissue and root medum were conducted at 56 days after sowing. The treatment of 27 : 73 ($NH_4^+:NO_3^-$) had the greatest plant height, fresh weight, and dry weight. The N and P contents in 27 : 73 ($NH_4^+:NO_3^-$) treatment based on the above ground plant tissues were 2.39 and 0.39%, respectively, which were the greatest among treatments. The elevation of $NH_4^+$ ratio in fertigation solution decreased tissue Ca and Mg contents, but that did not influence tissue K content. The variations in $NH_4^+:NO_3^-$ ratios impacted the soil solution pH and the difference among treatments had been severe since three weeks after sowing. Elevation of $NH_4^+$ ratios in fertigation solution increased electrical conductivity and concentrations of K, Ca, and Mg in soil solution of root medum. The $NH_4^+$ and $NO_3^-$ concentrations in the soil solution were high in weeks 2, 3, and 4, then decreased gradually as the biomass of seedlings increased. Medium P concentration decreased gradually as seedlings grew, but statistical differences were not observed among treatments.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.150-156
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• 2008

The influences of night break by costly artificial light sources were investigated on the photo-morphogenesis and growth of leafy perilla (Perilla ocymoides L.). The irradiation of red, blue, and three-colored light for night break significantly increased the stem length and stem diameter compared to dark. Three-colored light gave the highest fresh and dry weight of stem, followed by red and blue light. Floral induction was suppressed up to 100 days after the night break, by red and three-colored light, but the plants grown under the dark or treated with blue light showed 85% and 31% flowering rate, respectively. The time needed for floral induction after night break was 60 days in dark and 80 days in blue light. The number of leaf, leaf area, and fresh weight per plant were the highest in red and three-colored light night break, followed by blue light and dark. The photosynthetic rate observed 80 days after night break was the highest in red light, followed by blue and three-colored light. A low light compensation point of $20\;{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ was observed in three-colored light, while red and blue light tended to show higher measurements.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.371-380
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• 2018

Aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different nutrient solutions and various light qualities generated by LED on the growth and glucosinolates contents of watercress (Nasturtium officinale) grown under hydroponics for 3 weeks. The seeds of watercress were sown on crushed rockwool media and raised them for two weeks. They were transplanted in a semi-DFT (deep flow technique) hydroponics system. A controlled-environment room was maintained at $20{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ and $16{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ temperatures and $65{\pm}10%$ and $75{\pm}10%$ relative humidity (day and night, respectively), with a provided photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of $180{\pm}10{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ and a photoperiod of 16/8h. To find out the best kinds of nutrient solutions for growing watercress, Otsuka House 1A (OTS), Horticultural Experiment Station in Korea (HES), and Netherland's Proefstaion voor Bloemisterij en Gasgroente (PBG) were adapted with initial EC of $1.0-1.3dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ and pH of 6.2, irradiating PPFD with fluorescent lamps (Ex-1). Either monochromatic (W10 and R10) or mixed LEDs (R5B1, R3B1, R2B1G1, and W2B1G1) were irradiated with a differing ratio of each LED's PPFD to understanding light quality on the growth and glucosinolates contents of watercress (Ex-2). Although significant difference in the shoot growth of watercress was not found among three nutrient solutions treatments, but the root fresh weight increased by 13.7% and 55.1% in PBG and OTS compared to HES, respectively. OTS increased the gluconasturtiin content by 96% and 65% compared to PBG and HES. Compared with the white light (W10), the red light (R10) showed a 101.3% increase in the shoot length of watercress. Increasing blue light portion positively affected plant growth. The content of total glucosinolates in watercress was increased by 144.5% and 70% per unit dry weight in R3B1 treatment compared with R2B1G1 and W10 treatments, respectively. The growth and total glucosinolates contents of the watercress were highest under R3B1 among six light qualities.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to know the growth response and light use efficiency of leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) 'Yorum Cheongchukmyeon' (green leaf lettuce) and 'Hongyom Jeokchukmyeon' (red leaf lettuce) under different RGB (Red:Green:Blue) ratio in a closed-type plant factory system. The plants were hydroponically cultured with a 12-h photoperiod at $20{\sim}25^{\circ}C$, 60~70% RH and 600~900 ${\mu}mol{\cdot}mol^{-1}$ $CO_2$. The light treatments were combined in three colors LEDs (red, blue, and white) and RGB ratios (1 : 4 : 5, 5 : 0 : 5, 5 : 2 : 3, 7 : 0 : 3, 7 : 1 : 2, and 8 : 1 : 1), however, as the light intensities of treatments were different. Growth characteristic response in both lettuces were significantly as affected by interaction between cultivar and light quality, when they were grown under different light quality conditions. Plant heights of green and red leaf lettuce were the lowest in 1 : 4 : 5 and 8 : 1 : 1, respectively. The highest length and number of leaf were showed 8 : 1 : 1 and 7 : 0 : 3 for the green and 5 : 2 : 3 and 8 : 1 : 1 for the red, respectively. Shoot dry weights of green and red leaf lettuce were the heaviest in 7 : 0 : 3 and 8 : 1 : 1, respectively. Leaf width and leaf shape index were significant about cultivar and light quality. Leaf widths of green and red leaf lettuce were the largest in 8 : 1 : 1 and 5 : 2 : 3, respectively. Leaf shape index of green and red leaf lettuce were the largest in 1 : 4 : 5 and 1 : 4 : 5, respectively. Shoot fresh weight and light use efficiency were significant about cultivar and light quality. Shoot fresh weights of green and red leaf lettuce were the heaviest in 7 : 0 : 3 and 8 : 1 : 1, respectively. Light use efficiencies of green and red leaf lettuce were the highest in 7 : 0 : 3 and 5 : 0 : 5, respectively. These results suggested that the ratio of RGB was 5~7 : 0~2 : 1~3 to cultivate leaf lettuce in a plant factory system.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.296-300
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate optimal crop loads of 'Jinok' grape for unheated plastic house culture. The crop loads of 'Jinok' grapes were managed to be 1.3, 1.8, 2.2, 2.4, and 2.6t per 10a from 2012 to 2014. We measured vine growth and berry qualities. Crop loads were not significantly affected on plant height, trunk diameter, shoot length, and the internode length of 'Jinok'. However, the maturation of berries was delayed when the crop load was higher. And the harvest date was earlier about three weeks in an unheated plastic house compared to in an open field. The average berry weight was decreased by the higher crop load although higher crop loads made higher yields showing the lowest weight at 342g with the treatment of 2.6t per 10a and the highest weight at 363g with the treatment of 1.3t per 10a. Also, the soluble solids content showed a tendency that higher crop loads brought to lower degree Brix. The contents of P, K, Ca, and Mg in grape leaves and shoots were not significantly different by crop loads. To sum up, when crop loads were under the 2.4t per 10a, the berries were harvested as a marketable fruit having $15^{\circ}Brix$ in the cultivar 'Jinok' grape. This result could help to increase grower's benefit having improved quality of fruit for the sustainable production by the established cultivation techniques for the newly developed cultivar 'Jinok'.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.87-90
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• 2013

The average annual and winter ambient air temperatures in Korea have risen by $0.7^{\circ}C$ and $1.4^{\circ}C$, respectively, during the last 30 years. Due to climate change, the occurrence of abnormal weather conditions has become more frequent, causing damage to vegetable crops grown in Korea. Hot pepper, chinese cabbage and radish, the three most popular vegetables in Korea, are produced more in the field than in the greenhouse. It has been a trend that the time for field transplanting of seedlings is getting earlier and earlier as the spring temperatures keep rising. Seedlings transplanted too early in the spring take a longer time to resume the normal growth, because they are exposed to suboptimal temperature conditions. This experiment was carried out to figure out the change of cellular tissue of chinese cabbage under the condition of low temperature to provide the information regarding the coming climatic change, on the performance of 'Chunkwang' chinese cabbage during the spring growing season. In our study, plant height, number of leaf, chlorophyll and leaf area was lower at the open field cultivation than heating house treatment after transplanting 50 days. Especially in fresh weight, compared with heating treatment, open field and not heated treatment were notably low with the 1/3 level. Of damage symptoms due to low temperature cabbage leaves about 10 sheets when $-3.0^{\circ}C$ conditions in chinese cabbage was a little bit of water soaking symptoms on the leaves. $-7.4^{\circ}C$ under increasingly severe water soaking symptoms of leaf turns yellow was dry. Microscopy results showed symptoms of $-3.0^{\circ}C$ when the mesophyll cell of palisade tissue and spongy tissue collapse, $-7.4^{\circ}C$ palisade tissue and spongy tissue was completely collapsed. The result of this study suggests that the growers should be cautioned not to transplant their chinese cabbage seedlings too early into the field, and should be re-transplanting or transplanting other plants if chinese cabbage are exposed to suboptimal temperature conditions ($-3.0^{\circ}C$ or $-7.4^{\circ}C$).

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.284-288
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• 2005

This study was conducted to clarify the effects of supplying methods of selenium on the growth and Se uptake of hydroponically grown tomato plants. Tomato seeds (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill. cv. Momotaro T-93, Daki Seed Co.) were sown in plug tray with fifty holes, and raised for sixty days. Tomato seedlings transplanted to coco fiber slabs were supplied with the nutrient solutions adjusted to EC $2.3dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ and pH $5.8\~6.2$ recommended by the Japanese Horticultural Experiment Station. Selenium forms used were inorganic $SeO_2$ (here in after referred to Se) and organic selenium chlenium with sugar fatty acid ester (here in after referred to chelated-Se). 10 ppm selenium solutions were treated to tomato plants with foliar applications, drenching, and foliar application plus drenching. Growth characteristics in terms of plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and chlorophyll content were significantly increased in the plot of foliar application ot Se, and in the plot of foliar application plus drenching of chelated-Se than other plots, respectively. Transported contents of selenium into the tomato fruits were highest as 0.302 ppm in the plot of foliar application plus drenching of chelated-Se. Also, it had tended to be higher in the plot of foliar application plus drenching than in the plots of foliar application or drenching in both of Se and chelated-Se. Foliar application and drenching of organic chelated-Se were effective to produce the functional tomato fruits.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.196-203
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• 2006

Objective of this research was to determine the effect of application level of fused superphosphate (FSPP) in root media containing granular micronutrient fertilizers (MF) on growth of marigold 'Orange boy' in plug culture. To achieve this, three granular micronutrient mixes such as MF 1, MF 2, and MF 3 were produced and incorporated into three root media, peatmoss+composted pine bark (1:1, v/v, PB), peatmoss+composted rice-hull (1:1, v/v, PR), and peatmoss+composted saw-dust (1:1, v/v, PS), at a rate of $0.3g{\cdot}L^{-1}$. Elevated application level of FSPP in PS medium containing each of MF resulted in increase of plant growth such as plant height, plant width, stem diameter, fresh weight and dry weight at 35days after sowing. The dry weight in the treatment of MF 1, MF 2, MF 3, and control fertilized with $9.0g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ of FSPP were 0.066g, 0.103g, 0.077g, and 0.095g per plant, respectively. These results indicated that each of MF affected marigold plug seedlings differently. The application level of FSPP resulted in the heaviest fresh and dry weight in PR medium were $9.0g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in MF 1, $3.0g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in MF 2, $9.0g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in MF 3, and $6.0g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in control. Elevated application level of FSPP in PB medium containing each of the micronutrient mix increased fresh and dry weight. The general trends in response of plant growth to elevated FSPP were linear and quadratic. The dry weight in the treatment of MF 1, MF 2, MF 3, and control fertilized with $9.0g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ of FSPP in PB medium were 0.131g, 0.104g, 0.137g, and 0.111g per plant at 35days after sowing. These results indicated that MF 1 and MF 3 performed better than MF 2 and control treatments in growth of marigold plug seedlings.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.319-325
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• 2018

The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of different fertilizer combinations on the growth, yield, and fruit quality of 'Duke' blueberry cultivar and the water quality of growth medium. The experiment was carried out with three year old 'Duke' blueberry bushes which were cultivated in containers ($60{\times}80{\times}40cm$) filled with 130 L peat moss and 40 L pearlite (v/v). Sawdust was used as the mulch in growth containers. Three different fertilizer combinations (FC) i.e., FC-1 consisted with standard solution, FC-2 consisted with nitrogen reduced by 10% from FC-1, and FC-3 consisted with nitrogen reduced by 20% from FC-1 were tested while, the ground water used as the control. The effects of different fertilizer combinations on shoot diameter, shoot length, number of shoots, leaf length, SPAD value (the relative content of chlorophyll), berry weight, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, and yield per bush in 'Duke' blueberry were examined. Also, the effects of different fertilizer combinations on pH, EC, $NH_4$ and $NO_3$ in 'Duke' blueberry growth medium were monitored. The highest pH and lowest EC, $NH_4$ and $NO_3$ in growth medium was recorded with control treatment during the experiment period. The maximum shoot diameter (3.7 mm) and shoot length (35.7 cm) was recorded for the FC-1. Highest number of shoots (47%) were recorded from 'Duke' blueberry bushes supplemented with FC-1 compared to other treatments. The fertilizer combinations supplemented with nitrogen showed significant influence on leaf length and SPAD value compared to control 'Duke' blueberry bushes. However, the fruit quality attributes, i.e., berry weight, soluble solids content, and titratable acidity were not significant different among fertilizer treatments. The significantly highest yields per bush were recorded for FC-1, FC-2, and FC-3, as 2.2, 2.9, and 2.7 kg, respectively compared to control (0.2 kg). Although, the FC-1 was supplemented with highest nitrogen content it resulted low yield per bush while having high number of shoots and vigorous growth.