• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.226-233
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• 2010

An intensive study of the embryology of Gymnospermium microrrhynchum was conducted to provide information regarding a discussion of the phylogenetic relationships of the genus, which is yet unstudied. Our results indicated that Gymnospermium is similar to other genera of Berberidaceae in terms of its embryological features. Nevertheless, newly reported and unique features are the well-developed endothelium and the undifferentiated seed coat type. Until the study of Gymnospermium, it may have been considered to be closer to Caulophyllum and Leontice in the tribe Leonticeae. These three genera share many morphological features as well as molecular similarities, by which they are kept in the same tribe, Leonticeae. However, very little detailed embryological data regarding these genera have been published thus far. Gymnospermium was characterized according to the basic type of anther wall formation as well as its glandular tapetum, successive cytokinesis in the microspore mother cell, two-celled mature pollen grains, anatropous and crassinucellate ovules with a nucellar cap, well-developed endothelium, its Polygonum type of embryo sac formation, its nuclear type of endosperm formation, and its undifferentiated seed coat type. In comparison with Nandina, there are many differences, such as the dehiscence of the anther, the cytokinesis in the microspore mother cells, the shape of the megaspore dyad, and the seed characteristics. Although we had no available detailed embryological information regarding Caulophyllum and Leontice, which are genera that are more closely related to Gymnospermium, we could deduce from the phylogenetic relationship that Gymnospermium, Caulophyllum, and Leontice are more closely related to each other than other genera of Berberidaceae on the basis of the seed characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.245-258
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• 2000

Somatic embryogenesis has become a major tool in the study of plant embryology, as it is possible in culture to manipulate cells of many plant species to produce somatic embryos in a process that is remarkably similar to zygotic embryogenesis. Traditionally, the process has been studied by an examination of the ex vitro factors which influence embryo formation. Later structural, physiological and biochemical approaches have been applied. Host recently, molecular tools are being used. Together, these various approaches are giving valuable information on the process. This article gives an overview of somatic embryogenesis by reviewing information on the morphogenesis, physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology of the process. Topics covered include a brief description of the factors involved in the production of embryogenic cells. Carrot cell suspension is most commonly used, and the development of a high frequency and synchronous system is outlined. At the physiological and biochemical lev-els various topics, including the reactivation of the cell cycle, changes in endogenous growth regulators, amino acid, polyamine, DNA, RNA and protein metabolism, and embryogenic factors in conditioned medium are all discussed. Lastly, recent information on genes and molecular markers of the embryogenic process are outlined. Somatic embryogenesis, the best example of totipotency in plant cells, is not only an important tool in studies in basic biology, but is potentially of equal significance in the micropropagation of economically important plants.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.260-266
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• 2012

Because the embryological features of Jeffersonia dubia are poorly understood, we conducted the first embryological study comparing it to other related genera of Berberidaceae. Important embryological features of J. dubia are as follows: the anther is tetrasporangiate, anther wall formation confirms basic type, glandular tapetum cells are two nucleate, the epidermis persistent, and the endothecium develops fibrous thickenings, anther dehiscence by two valves, meiosis in a microspore mother cell is accompanied by simultaneous cytokinesis, microspore tetrads are usually tetrahedral, pollen grains two cells at the time of anthesis. The ovule is bitegmic, anatropous and crassinucellate, archesporium single celled, development of the embryo sac Polygonum type, a mature embryo sac is ellipsoidal in shape. Endosperm formation is of Nuclear type and embryogeny Onagrad type. Seeds are arillate and seed coat exotestal type. Embryological comparisons showed that Jeffersonia resemble to Epimedium and Vancouveria rather than Berberis and Mahonia in some features, like as number of tapetal cells, cytokinesis in meiosis, and thickness of exotesta. It also resembles to Gymnospermium in mode of anther wall formation, number of tapetal cells, formation of nucellar cap, and nature of antipodal cells. Nevertheless, Jeffersonia and Gymnospermium differ from several other embryological features and molecular data too. Therefore, embryological evidences support that Jeffersonia is closely related with Epimedium and Vancouveria.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.496-507
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• 2023

The in vitro organogenesis is one of important issues in plant embryology, and somaclonal variations are existing in calli and/or regenerants induced from a process of the organogenesis with in vitro circumstances. In this study, expressions of organogenesis-related genes were evaluated and genetic stability of regenerants derived from the process of in vitro organogenesis were measured using ISSR markers in Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra', Poaceae. The expressions of organogenesis-related genes were detected all of regenerants at the process of the organogenesis. All ISSR markers produced with an average of 71 bands per in vitro-cultured regenerants, and the scorable bands were varied from two to eight with an average of 5.14 bands per a primer. The polymorphism rates of the in vitro regenerants were higher than that of mother plants (1.4%), showing 4.1% (pot-cultured regenerants), 4.3% (field-cultured regenerants), 4.2% (in vitro-cultured regenerants), 5.6% (calli with green shoots) and 1.4% (calli), respectively. The genetic similarity matrix (GSM) among all accessions ranged from 0.747 to 1.0 with a mean of 0.868. GSM of the regenerants showed differences (from 0.972 to 1.00) compared with that of mother plants (0.991). According to the clustering analysis, two independent groups were divided into; the one is mother plants and regenerants cultured at room and open field, the other is regenerants cultured in vitro. The results give a new insight for understanding the dynamics of organogenesis in monocot plant.

• CELLMED
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.31.1-31.7
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• 2012

Curcuma longa belongs to the family Zingiberaceae and can be found in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is widely used in Asiatic countries, especially India and South East Asia where it is cultivated commercially as a condiment. Its rhizomes exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-human immunodeficiency virus, anti-bacterial, antioxidant effects, nematocidal activities, antiproliferative and antiangiogenic activities and are of pharmaceutical importance. Another relevant medicinal property exhibited by it is antidiabetic property which is reviewed here. Studies on the efficacy of crude C.longa extracts against type 2 diabetes in murine models reveal that it demonstrates a hypoglycemic effect by lowering the blood glucose levels under in vivo conditions. Clinical studies have revealed the safety of curucmin (major principle component exhibiting pharmaceutical properties from C.longa) on humans but with very low bioavailability. In view of its effective hypoglycemic effect and its low bioavailability, further studies are needed for the characterization of the bioactive principles and formulating the development of C.longa extracts as a novel anti-diabetic therapeutic agent.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.85 no.4
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• pp.667-679
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• 1996

Clonal forestry and reforestation programmes are especially interested now in development and application of controllable biotechnological systems based on the production of conifer somatic embryos in bioreactors with their following drilling and/or storage in the form of "artificial seeds". Modern achievements in conifer somatic embryogenesis has guided the development not only of biotechnological systems in forestry, but also of basic research in conifer embryology, cell and molecular biology. At the present time, the level of development of applied research on conifer somatic embryogenesis is well ahead our understanding of this complex phenomenon. The "bottleneck" situation in relation between basic and applied sciences will eventually lead to the appearance of "weak points" in biotechnological systems. In the present review, the major advances and the most pressing problems in the application of conifer somatic embryogenesis both to forest biotechnology and to basic research are in the focus of attention.