• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.282-291
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• 2022

Since the efficiency of wastewater treatment using microalgae differs depending on the metabolic characteristics of the species, it is important to understand the characteristics of target algae prior to the application in wastewater treatment. In this study, for the application of Arthrospira platensis to wastewater treatment, which is a filamentous alkaliphilic cyanobacteria, basic species specificity was identified and the possibility of application to wastewater treatment was investigated. As a result of the species specificity investigation, the specific growth rate between pH 7.0 and 11.0 showed the highest value near pH 9 at 0.25/day. The reason for the relatively low growth(0.08/day) at pH 11 was thought to be the CA(carbonic anhydrase) enzyme that is involved in carbon fixation during photosynthesis has the highest activity at pH 8.0 to 9.0, and at pH 11, CA activity was relatively low. In addition, A. platensis showed optimal growth at 400 PPFD(photosynthetic photon flux density) and 30℃, and this means that cyanobacteria such as A. platensis have a larger number of PS-I(photosystem I) than that of PS-II(photosystem II). It was speculated that it was because higher light intensity and temperature were required to sufficiently generate electrons to transfer to PS-I. Regarding the applicability of A. platensis, it was suggested that if a system using the synergistic effect of co-culture of A. platensis and bacteria was developed, a more efficient system would be possible. And different from single cocci, filamentous A. platensis expected to have a positive impact on harvesting, which is very important in the latter part of the wastewater treatment process.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.373-375
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• 2002

Lhcb genes encoding light-harvesting chlorophyll-a/b binding (LHC) proteins of photosystem (PS) II were comprehensively characterized using the expressed sequence tag (EST) databases in the green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The gene family was composed of eight Lhcb genes including four new genes, which were isolated and sequenced. The effects of light intensity on the levels of mRNAs accumulation of multiple Lhcb genes were studied under various conditions. The results indicate that Lhcb genes are coordinately regulated in response to light conditions, and repressed when the input light energy exceeded the requirement for $CO_2$ assimilation. The effects of high light on the expression of the Lhcb genes observed in the presence of an electron transport inhibitor, DCMU, and in mutants deficient in photosynthetic reaction centers suggest the presence of two alternative mechanisms for regulating the genes expression under high-light conditions.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.632-639
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• 2006

Here we examined the expression patterns and regulation of seven photosynthesis (PS) genes (puf, puc, puhA, bchC, bchE, bchF, and bchI) in the anoxygenic photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodobacter sphaeroides, based on lacZ reporter gene assay. Expression of the tested PS genes, except puhA and bchI, were strongly induced in R. sphaeroides grown under anaerobic conditions relative to that under aerobic conditions. The puhA and bchI genes appear to form the operons together with bchFNBHLM-RSP0290 and crtA, respectively. Expression of the puf, puc, and bchCXYZ operons in R. sphaeroides grown photosynthetically was proportional to the incident light intensity, whereas that of bchFNBHLM(RSP0290-puhA) was inversely related to light intensity. Expression of bchEJG was lowest under medium-light photosynthetic conditions $(10\;W/m^2)$ and highest under high light conditions $(100\;W/m^2)$. The regulation of PS genes by the three major regulatory systems involved in oxygen- and light-sensing in R. sphaeroides is as following: puf and bchC are regulated by both the PpsR repressor and the PrrBA two-component system. The puc operon is under control of PpsR, FnrL, and PrrBA system. Expression of bchE is controlled by FnrL and PrrBA two-component system, whereas bchF is regulated exclusively by PpsR. It was demonstrated that the PpsR repressor is responsible for high-light repression of bchF and that FnrL might be involved in perceiving the cellular redox state in addition to sensing $O_2$ itself.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.1093-1101
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• 2006

In the present study we studied the growth, photosynthetic traits and protective mechanisms against oxidative stress in the primary loaves of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings with or without UV-B treatment. Cucumber seedings were irradiated with UV-B for 10 days in environment-controlled growth chambers. The primary leaves irradiated with UV-B showed reduction in leaf length and decreased biomass production. The reduced biomass production seemed to be due to a negative effect of UV-B radiation on the photosynthetic process. Changes in chemical properties of leaf, such as chi a/b ratio affected photosynthesis. UV-B significantly affected chl b content compared with chi a in the light harvesting complex resulting reduced photosynthetic activity Fv/Fm decreased with an UV-B stress, suggesting that the photosynthetic apparatus, and particularly, PS II was damaged under UV-B stress. Malondialdehyde(MDA) concentration which represents the state of membrane lipid peroxidation Increased significantly under UV-B stress confirming an oxidative stress. UV-B exposure with SA solution(0.1-1.0 mM) can partially ameliorated some of the detrimental effects of UV-B stress. Leaf injuries including loss of chlorophyll and decreased ratio of Fv/Fm were reduced with combined application of UV-B and SA. ABA and JA showed similar mode of action in physiological effects on photosynthetic activities though the levels were lower than those from SA treated plants. Chloroplast ultrastructure was also affected by UV-B exposure. The thickness of leaf tissue components decreased and the number of grana and thylakoids was reduced in chloroplast applied UV-B or SA alone. At combined stress granal and stromal thylakoids were less affected. The leaves under combined stress acquired a significant tolerance to oxidative stress. From these results, it can be suggested that SA may have involved a protective role against UV-B induced oxidative damage.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.544-551
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• 2003

Interactive effects of UV-B and Cd on growth, pigment, photosynthesis, and lipid peroxidation have been studied in Anabaena, Microcystis, and Nostoc; all the tested cyanobacteria showed differential sensitivity to different dosage of UV-B and Cd alone as well as in combination. Phycocyanin was severely affected by UV-B and Cd by all the strains; the degree of pigment bleaching was most pronounced in Anabaena followed by Microcystis and Nostoc. $UV-B_2+Cd_2$ produced nearly 83, 78, and 65% inhibition of phycocyanin in Anabaena, Microcystis, and Nostoc, respectively. The above treatment also significantly decreased the contents of Chl ${\alpha}$ and carotenoid. Presence of capsule in Microcystis protected the phycocyanin bleaching as compared to decapsulated cells. Laboratory-grown Microcystis revealed about 75 and 80% inhibition, following $UV-B_2+Cd_2$ treatment, respectively. in capsulated and decapsulated cells. Damage caused by Cd was more pronounced than UV-B. Inhibition of photosynthesis did occur in all the test strains, being maximum in Anabaena. PS II was the most sensitive component of the electron transport chain, showing 84, 80, and 70% inhibition in Anabaena, Microcystis, and Nostoc, respectively. As compared to control, significant lipid peroxidation (6.5-fold higher) was observed in Anabaena with $UV-B_2+Cd_2$, $^{14}C-uptake$ was more susceptible to Cd and Uv-B than oxygen-evolution. Approximately 84, 80, and 76% inhibition of $^{14}C-uptake$ was observed in Anabaena, Microcystis, and Nostoc, respectively. Similarly, $UV-B_2+Cd_2$ inhibited APT content of Anabaena by 87%. This ,study suggests that inhibition of carbon fixation was due to decreased ATP content of the test cyanobacteria by UV-B+Cd, where Anabaena was the most sensitive and Nostoc the most tolerant.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2005

Plants possess the ability to dissipate the excitation energy for the protection of photosynthetic apparatus from absorbed excess light. Heat dissipation is regulated by xanthophyll cycle in thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts. We investigated the mechanistic aspects of xanthophyll cycle-dependent photoprotection against low-temperature photoinhibition in plants. Using barley and rice as chilling-resistant species and sensitive ones, respectively, chilling-induced chlorophyll fluorescence quenching, composition of xanthophyll cycle pigments and mRNA expression of the zeaxanthin epoxidase were examined. Chilled barley plants exhibited little changes in chlorophyll fluorescence quenching either of photochemical or non-photochemical nature and in the photosynthetic electron transport, indicating low reduction state of PS II primary electron acceptor. In contrast to the barley, chilled rice showed a marked decline in those parameters mentioned above, indicating the increased reduction state of PS II primary electron acceptor. In addition, barley plants were shown to have a higher capacity to elevate the pool size of xanthophyll cycle pigments in response to cold stress compared to rice plants. Such species-dependent regulation of xanthophyll cycle activity was correlated with the gene expression level of cold-induced zeaxanthin epoxidase. Chilled rice plants depressed the gene expression of zeaxanthin epoxidase, whereas barley increased its expression in response to cold stress. We suggest that chilling-induced alterations in the pool size of xanthophyll cycle pigments related to its capacity would play an important role in regulating plant's sensitivity to chilling stress.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 1994

To assess the effects of plant stress by light, temperature, NaCl and soil moisture on photosynthetic activity, the fluorescence method was used for Chinese cabbage(Brassica perkinensis Rupr.), strawberry(Fragaria grandiflora Ehrh.) and citrus tree(Citrus unshiu Marc.). With decreasing the light intensity, Fv/Fm ratios of intact leaves of Chinese cabbage and strawberry increased significantly, indicating lower photochemical efficiency in PS II system, resulting in an inverse relationship with the photosynthetic activity. Chinese cabbage and strawberry that were grown at higher temperature had higher Fv/Fm ratios and photosynthetic activities, while those given high concentration of NaCl and having low soil moisture had lower values. Chinese cabbage more resistant to salt stress and requiring more water had a greater Fv/Fm ratio than strawberry. In citrus tree, Fv/Fm ratio was lower in the non-irrigated group than the irrigated one. From these results, the fluorescence method was found to be a useful tool which can be used to assess the degree of in vivo stress induced by various environmental factors.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.508-520
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• 2019

Interplay between Cymbidium mosaic virus (CymMV)/Odontoglossum ringspot virus (ORSV) and its host plant Phalaenopsis equestris remain largely unknown, which led to deficiency of effective measures to control disease of P. equestris caused by infecting viruses. In this study, for the first time, we characterized viral small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs) profiles in P. equestris co-infected with CymMV and ORSV through small RNA sequencing technology. CymMV and ORSV small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) demonstrated several general and specific/new characteristics. vsiRNAs, with A/U bias at the first nucleotide, were predominantly 21-nt long and they were derived predominantly (90%) from viral positive-strand RNA. 21-nt siRNA duplexes with 0-nt overhangs were the most abundant 21-nt duplexes, followed by 2-nt overhangs and then 1-nt overhangs 21-nt duplexes in infected P. equestris. Continuous but heterogeneous distribution and secondary structures prediction implied that vsiRNAs originate predominantly by direct Dicer-like enzymes cleavage of imperfect duplexes in the most folded regions of the positive strand of both viruses RNA molecular. Furthermore, we totally predicted 54 target genes by vsiRNAs with psRNATarget server, including disease/stress response-related genes, RNA interference core components, cytoskeleton-related genes, photosynthesis or energy supply related genes. Gene Ontology classification showed that a majority of the predicted targets were related to cellular components and cellular processes and performed a certain function. All target genes were down-regulated with different degree by vsiRNAs as shown by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Taken together, CymMV and ORSV siRNAs played important roles in interplay with P. equestris by down modulating the expression levels of endogenous genes in host plant.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.408-419
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• 2006

A pot experiment was conducted for two years to evaluate the effects of purified Si fertilization combined with $^{15}N$ on the nutrient uptake, plant growth characteristics, and photosynthetic characteristics of rice in water melon cultivated soil. In 2002, plant height was positively affected at 25 DAT (Day After Transplanting) by Si fertilization in 100%N treatment. However, in 2003, plant height at 25 DAT was negatively affected by Si fertilization in low N level but it was reversed in high N level with initial increase of plant height. Tiller number per pot was positively affected by N and Si fertilization level, especially for high N fertilized treatment. Leaf color was positively affected by Si fertilizatlon in no N fertilized pots, however, Si was not effected in 50%N and 100%N fertilized treatments. N harvest index (NHI) increased with increased Si fertilization in no N plots, however it decreased with increasing of N fertilization level. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) decreased with increasing of fertilized N but Si fertilization increased NUE in 50%N plots, however, it was not different by the Si fertilization level in 100%N plots. In 50%N+200%Si plots, NUE was greatest with 130 and shoot N content was $16.2g-N/m^{2}$. N content ($g/m^{2}$) in rice plant increased with increasing Si fertilization in no N plots at panicle initiation stage, 50 and 100%N plots at heading stage and all N treatment at harvesting time. This was mostly more efficient in late growth stage than early growth stage. The concentration (%) of P and K increased with increasing N fertilization level at heading and harvesting but it was not significantly different by the Si fertilization treatment except a little decreasing with increasing Si fertilization level at heading. Potassium content was also not significantly related with N fertilization level except increasing with Si fertilization level at panicle initiation stage. Plant Ca content (%) decreased with increasing of Si fertilization at heading stage and Si fertilization increased Ca content at panicle initiation stage and heading stage and it increased with increasing of Si fertilization level. Photosynthetic activity was not directly related with Si fertilization amount, however, Fluorescent factors, Fv'/Fm' and PsII, were positively affected by Si fertilization level. In conclusion, N fertilization in Si 200% fertilized condition should be reduced by about 50% level of recommended N fertilization for rice cropping in green-house water-melon cultivated paddy field. However, improvement of Ps by Si fertilization could not be attributed to Ps activity in the same leaf area but because of increased total leaf area per pot improved fluorescent characteristics.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.86-93
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• 2019

Plant growth and morphology are affected by light environments. The morphogenesis and growth of the plants growing in plant factories are different from those grown under sunlight due to the effect of far-red light included in sunlight. The objective of this study was to compare the morphogenesis and growth of cucumber plants grown under artificial sunlight, high pressure sodium lamp (HPS), and HPS with additional far-red light (HPS+FR). The artificial solar (AS) with a spectrum similar to sunlight was manufactured using sulfur plasma lamp, incandescent lamp, and green-reducing optical film. HPS was used as a conventional electrical light source and far-red LEDs were added for HPS+FR. The optical properties of each light source was analyzed. The morphogenesis, growth, and photosynthetic rate were compared in each light source. The ratio of red to far-red lights and phytochrome photostationary state were similar in AS and HPS+FR. There were significant differences in morphology and growth between HPS and HPS+FR, but there were no significant differences between AS and HPS+FR. SPAD was highest in HPS, while photosynthetic rate was higher at AS and HPS. Although the photosynthetic rate in HPS+FR was lower than HPS, the growth was similar in AS. It was because canopy light interception was increased by longer petioles and larger leaf areas induced by FR. It is confirmed that the electrical light with additional far-red light induces similar photomorphogenesis and growth in sunlight spectrum. From the results, we expect that similar results will be obtained by adding far-red light to electrical light sources in plant factories.