• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.419-427
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• 2017

Background: Glycosylation of natural compounds increases the diversity of secondary metabolites. Glycosylation steps are implicated not only in plant growth and development, but also in plant defense responses. Although the activities of uridine-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs) have long been recognized, and genes encoding them in several higher plants have been identified, the specific functions of UGTs in planta remain largely unknown. Methods: Spatial and temporal patterns of gene expression were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription (qRT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and GUS histochemical assay. In planta transformation in heterologous Arabidopsis was generated by floral dipping using Agrobacterium tumefaciens (C58C1). Protein localization was analyzed by confocal microscopy via fluorescent protein tagging. Results: PgUGT72AL1 was highly expressed in the rhizome, upper root, and youngest leaf compared with the other organs. GUS staining of the promoter: GUS fusion revealed high expression in different organs, including axillary leaf branch. Overexpression of PgUGT72AL1 resulted in a fused organ in the axillary leaf branch. Conclusion: PgUGT72AL1, which is phylogenetically close to PgUGT71A27, is involved in the production of ginsenoside compound K. Considering that compound K is not reported in raw ginseng material, further characterization of this gene may shed light on the biological function of ginsenosides in ginseng plant growth and development. The organ fusion phenotype could be caused by the defective growth of cells in the boundary region, commonly regulated by phytohormones such as auxins or brassinosteroids, and requires further analysis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.147-152
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• 2006

Most plant organs develop from meristems. Rice FON1, which is an ortholog of Clv1, regulates stem cell proliferation and organ initiation. The point mutations, fon1-1 and fon1-2, disrupt meristem balance, resulting in alteration of floral organ numbers and the architecture of primary rachis branches. In this study, we identified two knockout alleles, fon1-3 and fon1-4, generated by T-DNA and Tos17 insertion, respectively. Unlike the previously isolated point mutants, the null mutants have alterations not only of the reproductive organs but also of vegetative tissues, producing fewer tillers and secondary rachis branches. The mutant plants are semi-dwarfs due to delayed leaf emergence, and leaf senescence is delayed. SEM analysis showed that the shoot apical meristems of fon1-3 mutants are enlarged. These results indicate that FON1 controls vegetative as well as reproductive development by regulating meristem size.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 2006

"Determinate" and "indeterminate" inflorescences in plants are controlled by a single recessive gene, for example, SELF-PRUNING (SP) in Solanum lycopersicum, TERMINAL FLOWER1 in Arabidopsis, CENTRORADIALIS in Antirrhinum, and CENTRORADIALIS-like gene in tobacco. Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an indeterminate species in which shoots grow indefinitely. In this study, we cloned and characterized the pepper SP-like gene (CaSP). RT-PCR revealed that the CaSP transcript accumulates to higher levels in floral buds than in other organs. Comparison of genomic DNA and cDNA sequences from indeterminate and determinate pepper plants revealed the insertion of a single base in the first exon of CaSP in the determinate pepper plants. CaSP is annotated in linkage group 8 (chromosome 6) of the SNU2 pepper genetic map and showed similar synteny to SP in tomato. Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing CaSP displayed late-flowering phenotypes similar to the phenotypes caused by overexpression of CaSP orthologs in other plants. Collectively, these results suggest that pepper CaSP is an ortholog of SP in tomato.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 1983

Flowering time of Pinus rigida Mill and Pinus taeda L, in an $F_1$-hybrid seed orchard was investigated for five years from 1971 through 1975. The two tree species flowered during late April to early May at the observation site, Flowering patterns of the two species of different sex of the same species changed yearly during the five observation years. Floral development of the two species appeared to depend largely on temperature factor during the period of the initiation of floral organs up to flowering provided that other environmental factors are normal. Six-days difference in flowing time between female inflorescence of pitch (flower later) and male inflorescence of loblolly (flower earlier) pines effectively isolated the two species reproductively on population levels. Not all of selected trees of the two species for their synchronized flowering appeared to be useful as parental trees for the establishment of $F_1$-hybrid seed orchards. With the result from this investigation the author suggested to use a modified simple recurrent selection method for pitch-loblolly hybrid pine breeding.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.50-59
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• 2018

Background: Duodichogamy is the rarest form of dichogamy in angiosperms, which is characterized by flowering in the sequence of male${\rightarrow}$female${\rightarrow}$male. Disentangling factors promoting duodichogamy require the discovery of more duodichogamous species in angiosperms. However, extremely limited information on duodichogamous species makes it difficult to make general conclusions. Given the inflorescence morphology and flowering characteristics, the Meliaceae family is highly likely to contain duodichogamous species. Methods: We selected 48 individuals from 20 populations in Korea and investigated their flower morphology, arrangement of flowers by sexual condition within inflorescences, and flowering phases and duration of male and female flowers of Toona sinensis (Meliaceae) for 5 years (2011-2015) to determine if the species shows duodichogamous flowering. Results: Toona sinensis belonging to Meliaceae possessed functionally unisexual flowers with rudimentary parts of the opposite sex. The floral organs in male were larger than those in female, except for ovary length and width. In dichasium, male flowers were observed on primary or lateral branches, whereas female flowers were borne only on lateral branches. Overall, individuals from six different populations flowered in the male${\rightarrow}$female${\rightarrow}$male sequence, thereby male is blooming far longer than female flowers at the level of individual trees (male vs. female = 17-20 days vs. 2-4 days). Conclusions: This is the first study to report a duodichogamously flowering species, T. sinensis, within Meliaceae. Several flowering characteristics observed from T. sinensis may be important clues used to discover additional duodichogamous Meliaceae species. Short flowering period and relatively small number of female flowers, which is analogous to reduced ovule numbers observed in other duodichogamous species, may intensify male-male competition in T. sinensis. This study contributed to narrowing down potential candidates of duodichogamy based on their geographic distributions and flowering time.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.215-219
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• 2003

Optimal shoot regeneration and transformation conditions of root type chicory (Cichorium intybus L. var. sativus cv Cesare) were studied. Leaf explants were co-cultured with Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which contained NPTII as a selectable marker and a rice homeotic gene, OsMADS1, that encodes a MADS-domain-containing transcription factor. After one day of co-cultivation, explants were transferred to selection media consisting of MS basal medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L BAP, 0.1 mg/L IAA, 70 mg/L kanamycin, and 250 mg/L cefotaxime. PCR and Southern blot analyses revealed stable integration of the OsMADS1 gene in the chicory genome. Four-teen original transgenic plants ($T_o$ plants) were acclimatized in the greenhouse and examined for their morphological characters. Most of the transgenic plants showed altered morphologies, such as short, bushy, and early-flowering phenotypes with reduced apical dominance. Additionally, half of the transgenic plants exhibited altered leaf shapes, and 4 out of 14 plants were sterile. These phenotypes were inherited by the next generation. Northern blot analysis confirmed expression of the OsMADS1 gene in both floral and vegetative organs.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 1960

Since the peculiar virus disease of chinese date tree (Zizyphus jujuba Mill. var. inermis Rehd.) has been noted in South Korea around 1950, 70% to 80% of the economically important trees have been either completely destroyed or infected with the virus, severe damage has been noted, particularly, across the area ranged from middle east to the middle part of Korea, including Seoul area. Yoon-Koock-Byung in 1958 first reported the disease and descirbed it might be caused by a kinds of yellows. But he did not conform in his paper that the disease is pecisely caused by yellows virus. The authors, hereby intend to identify the true cause of the desease of the chinese data tree by studying the external symptoms of the disease and the internal morphological characteristics of the diseaset plant which shows various abnormalities in contrast to the healthy checks. In view of fact that leaves of the infected plants become yellowish in color similar to the peach yellows, aster yellows, it is likely to be identifiable as the common yellows. Furthermore, the abnormal characteristics observed by the authors are as follow: The floral organs such as petals, sepals, stamens, and pistil turn into vegetative leaves, the leaves on heavily infected plant appear as small sized one and also showing as a common witch's broom like symptom. There are also an occuring of numerous advantitious shoots developed from both of stems and roots. The amount of photosynthetic starch grains increases in parenchymatous cells, necrosis takes place in mesophyll, Particularly, Palisade Parenchyma in the leaves of infected plants are distinguished in contrast to the healthy checks. From the symptoms and the present experimetns described above, the authors are believed that the disease of chinese data tree is not caused by the yellows. It appears the disease is rather similar to the symptoms of sandal spike virus which was noted in India early in this centry. But the host plant of standal disease, Santalum albun L. and the insect vector, Jassus indicus Wal., have never been reported in Korean flora and the founa. The termperature and the otehr environmental factors is quite different Korea and India. Thus the authors believe that the peculiar disease must be an endemic new virus origin in Korea and must be called as "shoot cluster disease of chinese date tree."

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.403-410
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• 2017

Background: Prenyltransferases catalyze the sequential addition of isopentenyl diphosphate units to allylic prenyl diphosphate acceptors and are classified as either trans-prenyltransferases (TPTs) or cis-prenyltransferases (CPTs). The functions of CPTs have been well characterized in bacteria, yeast, and mammals compared to plants. The characterization of CPTs also has been less studied than TPTs. In the present study, molecular cloning and functional characterization of a CPT from a medicinal plant, Panax ginseng Mayer were addressed. Methods: Gene expression patterns of PgCPT1 were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. In planta transformation was generated by floral dipping using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Yeast transformation was performed by lithium acetate and heat-shock for $rer2{\Delta}$ complementation and yeast-two-hybrid assay. Results: The ginseng genome contains at least one family of three putative CPT genes. PgCPT1 is expressed in all organs, but more predominantly in the leaves. Overexpression of PgCPT1 did not show any plant growth defect, and its protein can complement yeast mutant $rer2{\Delta}$ via possible protein-protein interaction with PgCPTL2. Conclusion: Partial complementation of the yeast dolichol biosynthesis mutant $rer2{\Delta}$ suggested that PgCPT1 is involved in dolichol biosynthesis. Direct protein interaction between PgCPT1 and a human Nogo-B receptor homolog suggests that PgCPT1 requires an accessory component for proper function.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2023

Naturalized populations of two alien plants were newly found, and we describe their morphological characteristics and habitats with photographs. One is a member of Juncaceae, Juncus torreyi Coville, and was newly found at a pool of a beach in Gangwon-do. This rush is native to North America and belongs to the sect. Ozophyllum (subgen. Juncus) according to certain morphological characteristics, such as its racemose inflorescence, the absence of floral bracteole, and unitubular leaves with perfect septa. J. torreyi is easily distinguishable from Korean rushes by its long rhizomes with swollen nodes and globular head with 25-100 flowers. Its introduction into Japan and Europe was reported, but the ecological risk associated with its over-dispersal is not known. The other alien plant is a submerged plant, Egeria densa Planch. (Hydrocharitaceae), which was found in streams in Gyeongsangbuk-do and ditches in the Busan-si area, both of which being in the watershed of the Nakdong River. Egeria densa is similar to Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle, which is native to Korea. However, it is distinguished from H. verticillata by its larger flowers and lack of overwintering organs. This alien plant is native to South America and was introduced for aquarium gardening and naturalized around the world. Egeria densa is treated as a malignant weed due to its asexual reproduction and rapid growth. Size changes and the number of populations of E. densa must be investigated.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.84 no.4
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• pp.495-501
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• 1995

Betula pendula and B. platyphylla var. japonica seedlings and/or grafts growing inside and outside of a plastic-greenhouse were treated with growth regulators to induce flowering at early stages of seedling and graft developments. The seedlings began to develop female catkins visibly in eight to nine months after seeding and in five months after the first treatment of growth regulators. Thirty three percents of the seedlings grown under controlled environment in the plastic-greenhouse with sufficient nutrient supply developed female catkins both in control plants and in the plants treated with IAA, $GA_3$ and kinetin, while none on the control plants grown in the field showed any sign of the development of floral organs. Sixty seven percents of the seedlings treated with ABA and SADH grown in the Plastic-greenhouse developed female catkins. All the seedlings treated with 6.24 mM of SADH developed female catkins. SADH treatment to 2-5 year old seedlings and grafts of birch had a tendency of positive effect on inducing and increasing the flowering of the two birch species.