• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.739-744
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• 2012

The plant Empetrum nigrum, valued in the traditional system of medicine, is well known for its antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. In the present work, the effect of removal of shoot apical meristem (SAM) on shoot proliferation was studied. It was observed that removal of SAM promoted shoot proliferation whereas intact tip resulted in higher survival percentage. Further, the effect of different concentrations of BA on above was also studied. During root formation the effect of light quality after treatment with IBA was investigated. For rooting, continuous red light without IBA resulted in maximum rooting percentage. The above factors when taken into consideration during micropropagation of this endangered plant can result in healthier plantlets. The results show that the species could be successfully conserved by in vitro propagation system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.4
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• pp.568-572
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• 2010

In order to develop an efficient micropropagation system for a rare tree species, Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum K. Koch, the effect of medium salt, cytokinins and auxin at different concentration were evaluated. Shoot induction from axillary bud was better on WPM medium than on MS medium. Although there was no significant differences observed in shoot induction among the salt strengths of WPM medium, whereas healthy shoots were developed on basal WPM medium. In comparison of the cytokinins affecting shoot proliferation, zeatin was better than BA, whereas BA exhibited more effectiveness on shoot elongation. In vitro root formation was better on WPM medium than on 1/2MS medium and achieved the highest rooting rate when 5.0 mg/L IBA treatment. 93% of rooted plantlets were survived on artificial soil mixture after 4 weeks of acclimatization. Above results suggest that a rare tree species, E. nigrum var. japonicum can be micropropagated via axillary bud cultures.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.633-639
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• 2012

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of ethanolic extract from the fruit of Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum (EN) on $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity. Orally provided daily for 7 days were 250-mg/kg or 500-mg/kg EN or vehicle, while $CCl_4$ (40 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected the day after the last treatment of EN. Twenty-four hours after injection of $CCl_4$, we measured serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activity of the liver. The antioxidant activities were measured with the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation. The EN showed a strong DPPH radical scavenging activity and inhibitory effect of lipid peroxidation. The ALT and AST levels in serum were greatly enhanced by the $CCl_4$ injection. However, in the EN treatment group, the levels of ALT and AST in serum were significantly reduced. Moreover, $CCl_4$ significantly increased the MDA contents and decreased the SOD and CAT activity in liver homogenates. The EN recovered MDA contents, close to that in the normal group, while the EN increased the SOD and CAT activity. These results suggest that ethanolic extract from the fruit of Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum has significant antioxidant activity and hepatic protection potential.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.110-111
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• 2005

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.325-335
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• 1999

Empetrum nigrum dominant community or Rhododendron mucronulatum and R. yedoense var. poukhanense dominant shrub community are developing above l,500m on Mt. Halla in Cheju Island, Korea. These communities were formed as a result of the forest of Abies koreana regression by grazing or erosion over a long period of time. This study was conducted using the phytosociological method and it clarified the floristic composition of the community in Cheju Island by comparing with a similar community in Japan. Also this study interpreted the development data of these communities and considered community succession. As a result of our interpretation, shrub community of Cheju Island is recognized as two associations, Festuco obinae-Empetretum nigrum ass. nov and Rhododendretum mucronulatum ass. nov. Each association of Cheju Island is composed of endemic species of Cheju Island. related to the Korean peninsula and to Japan. The two associations are divided into 8 sub-units but each community development has been created with longtime grazing and prescribed fire. Maybe the location stability by stoppage of interference and grazing will process community transition Quickly. Comparing the shrub communities of Cheju Island with Maianthemo-Rhododendretum in Kyushu, Japan, which is close geographically, both areas have the species of Miscanthetea sinesis and Ericaceae in common. But Cheju Island has more abundant species and has higher ratio of appearance of alpine plants. The shrub communities of Cheju Island and Kyushu. Japan are identified as having a different rank over Alliance.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.59-59
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• 2005

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.530-536
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• 2006

Hardwood cutting propagation and early growth characteristics were investigated in order to develop the method of cutting propagation and to find out growth characteristics in the low altitude for in situ and ex situ conservation of Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum K. Koch, which is typical arctic alpine plants on Mt. Halla. The growth of roots and shoots was different depending on hormone concentrations or soil conditions. The survival rate, rooting rate, root growth, number of root and shoot growth increased with treatment of 100 mg/l or 500 mg/l NAA. Consequently, optimum condition of hardwood cutting was at treatment with 100 mg/l or 500 mg/l NAA. When plantlets from hardwood cuttings were exposed to the field condition, after 7 months survival rate was 73.3% without shading while $91.1{\sim}94.4%$ at shading conditions. In the green house, however, survival rate of plantlets were $95.6{\sim}97.8%$ without shading. The growth of plantlets was different depending on sites and shading conditions. Particularly, the best growth was obtained when the plantlets were grown in shading conditions. It indicates that relative humidity and light intensity are correlated with the growth in the low altitude area.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.209-220
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• 1992

We investigated major plant communities and seed dispersal patterns in areas a(alt. 2,263 ~2,350m),b(alt. 2,350~2,420m), c(alt. 2,420m) with levels of a crater on mt. paektu. Thirty two species distributed around chunji consisted of 24 perennial herbs, 1 biennial herb and 7 alpine dwarf shurbs. Their fruit types were quite diverse; capsule(11), achene(10), grain(4), legume(2), follicle(2), schizocarp(2) and drupe(1). in area a, adjancent to the chunji(lake) water surface, gramineae sp., cyperaceae sp., chrysanthemum zawadskii and bistorta ochotensis were occured as members of the major plant communities. Species of gramineae and cyperaceae seem to have become dominant because their seeds float well. Astragalus membranaceus is legume and endures the winter cold and summer drought. in area c, alpine dwarf shrubs (e. g.rhododendron redowskianum, rhododendron aureum, empetrum nigrum) were dominant. In area c, compared to a and b, the weather is drier because of strong wind and lower water holding capacity of the soil. Therefore the pattern of plants distributing around chunji is different from that in western slope on mt.paektu. environmental factor such as wind, temperature and water may contribute to the pattern.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.119-136
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• 2014

This work aims to select the potentially vulnerable plant species against climate change at alpine and subalpine belts of Mts. Sorak, Jiri, and Halla, from central, southern, southern insular high mountains of the Korean Peninsula, respectively. The selection of global warming related vulnerable plants were performed by adapting various criteria, such as flora, endemicity, rarity, floristically specific and valuable species, species composition at mountain summits, horizontal and vertical ranges of individual species, and their distributional pattern in the Korean Peninsula. Line and quadrat field surveys along the major trails from all directions at height above 1,500 meters above sea level of Mts, Sorak, Jiri and Halla were conducted each year during spring, summer, and autumn from 2010 to 2011. Based upon above mentioned eight criteria, high level of climate change related potentially vulnerable arboral plants, such as Rhododendron aureum, Taxus caespitosa, Pinus pumila, Oplopanax elatus, Vaccinium uliginosum, and Thuja koraiensis are noticed from at subalpine belt of Mt. Sorak. Species of Abies koreana, Rhododendron tschonoskii, Oplopanax elatus, Taxus cuspidata, Picea jezoensis, and Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii belong to climate change concerned vulnerable species at subalpine belt of Mt. Jiri. High level of climate change related species vulnerability is found at alpine and subalpine belts of Mt. Halla from Diapensia lapponica var. obovata, Salix blinii, Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum, Vaccinium uliginosum, Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii, Taxus cuspidata, Rhamnus taquetii, Abies koreana, Hugeria japonica, Prunus buergeriana, and Berberis amurensis var. quelpartensis. Countermeasures to save the global warming vulnerable plants in situ are required.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.44-54
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• 1992

A survey of subalpine zone (altitude is 1, 440-1, 700m) in Mt. Halla, was conducted using 37 sampling plots of l00$m^2$ size. The classification by TWINSPAN and RA. DCA ordination were applied to the study area in order to classify them based on woody plants and environmental variables. And to investigate vegetation deterioration by livestock's and user's impact on subalpine zone, seventeen plots were set up. By TWINSPAN techniques, the plant community were divided into five groups by the altitude. The dividing groups are Abies koreana-Taxus cuspidata community, Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense-Rh. mucronulatum var. ciliatum-Sasa quelpaertensis community, Ilex crenata- Elaeagnus umbellata-S. quelpaertensis community, Rh. yedoense var. poukhallense-Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii-Rh. mucronulatum var. ciliatum community and Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum-J. chinensis var. sargentii community. The species divirsity of plant community were decreased severely by livestock's and user's impact.