• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.97-97
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• 2017

Plant genomes include heterochromatic loci that consist of repetitive sequences and transposable elements. LTR retrotransposon is the major class of transposons in advanced plants in terms of proportion in plant genome. The elements contribute not only to genome size but also to genome stability and gene expression. A number of cases have been reported transposon insertions near genic regions affect crop traits such as fruit pigments, stress tolerance, and yields. Functional LTR retrotransposons produce extrachromosomal DNA from genomic RNA by reverse transcription that takes place within virus-like-particles (VLPs). DECREASED DNA METHYLATION 1 (DDM1) plays important roles in maintaining DNA methylation of heterochromatin affecting all sequence contexts, CG, CHG, and CHH. Previous studies showed that ddm1 mutant exhibits massive transcription of retrotransposons in Arabidopsis, but only few of them were able to create new insertions into the genome. RNA-dependent RNA POLYMERASE 6 (RDR6) is known to function in restricting accumulation of transposon RNA by processing the transcripts into 21-22 nt epigenetically activated small interfering RNA (easiRNA). We purified VLPs and sequence cDNA to identify functional LTR retrotransposons in Arabidopsis ddm1 and ddm1rdr6 plants. Over 20 LTR copia and gypsy families were detected in ddm1 and ddm1rdr6 sequencing libraries and most of them were not reported for mobility. In ddm1rdr6, short fragments of ATHILA gypsy elements were detected. It suggests easiRNAs might regulate reverse transcription steps. The highest enriched element among transposon loci was previously characterized EVADE element. It has been reported that active EVADE element is more efficiently silenced through female germline than male germline. By genetic analyses, we found ddm1 and rdr6 mutation affect maternal silencing of active EVADE elements. DDM1-GFP protein accumulated in megaspore mother cell but was not found in mature egg cell. The fusion protein was also found in early embryo and maternal DDM1-GFP allele was more dominantly expressed in the embryo. We observed localization of DDM1-GFP in Arabidopsis and DDM1-YFP in maize and found the proteins accumulated in dividing zone of root tips. Currently we are looking at cell cycle dependency of DDM1 expression using maize system. Among 10 AGO proteins in Arabidopsis, AGO9 is specifically expressed in egg cell and shoot meristematic cells. In addition, mutation of AGO9 and RDR6 caused failure in maternal silencing, implying 21-22 nt easiRNA pathway is important for retrotransposon silencing in female gametophyte or/and early embryo. On the other hand, canonical 24 nt sRNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathways did not contribute to maternal silencing as confirmed by this study. Heat-activated LTR retrotransposon, ONSEN, was not silenced by DDM1 but the silencing mechanisms require RdDM pathways in somatic cells. We will propose distinct mechanisms of LTR retrotransposons in germline and somatic stages.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2006

Understanding characteristics of claypan soils has long been an issue for researchers and farmers because the high-clay subsoil has a pronounced effect on grain crop productivity. The claypan restricts water infiltration and storage within the crop root zone, but these effects are not uniform within fields. Conventional techniques of identifying claypan soil characteristics require manual probing and analysis which can be quite expensive; an expense most farmers are unwilling to pay. On the other hand, farmers would be very interested if this information could be obtained with easy-to-use field sensors. Two examples of sensors that show promise for helping in claypan soil characterization are soil profile strength sensing and bulk soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa). Little has been reported on claypan soils relating the combined information from these two sensors with grain crop yield. The objective of this research was to identify the relationships of sensed profile soil strength and soil EC with nine years of crop yield (maize and soybean) from a claypan soil field in central Missouri. A multiple-probe (five probes on 19-cm spacing) cone penetrometer was used to measure soil strength and an electromagnetic induction sensor was used to measure soil EC at 55 grid site locations within a 4-ha research field. Crop yields were obtained using a combine equipped with a yield monitoring system. Soil strength at the 15 to 45 cm soil depth were significantly correlated to crop yield and ECa. Estimated crop yields from apparent electrical conductivity and soil strength were validated with an independent data set. Using measurements from these two sensors, standard error rates for estimating yield ranged from 9 to 16%. In conclusion, these results showed that the sensed profile soil strength and soil EC could be used as a measure of the soil productivity for grain crop production.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 1992

This experiment was conducted to find out the useful data for upland crop cultivation in the newly reclaimed tidal land. Poseung silty clay loam soil was selected, and cotton(Mogpo VII) and tall fescue were cultivated under different drainage systems and soil ameliorator applications. Soil hardness and bulk density were decreased by subsurface drainage and plastic film installed at 40cm depth of the soil. Red earth application was also effective to loosen the soil, but zeolite and gypsum made the subsoil compact. Water content of the soil was high in surface drain than that of subsurface drain or plastic film curtain plot during dry season. The water content was in order of plastic film curtain, surface drain and subsurface drain. Electrical conductivity(EC) was decreased to lower than 0.4 Simens $meter^{-1}$ ($SM^{-1}$) in the subsurface drain during rainy season, and the EC of subsurface drain was maintained a quater to an half of surface drain. The yield of cotton and tall fescue were high in order of subsurface drain, plastic film curtain and surface drain plot. The yields of cotton were increased to 36-73 % by ameliorator application, and the red earth application was more effective for tall fescue growth compare to gypsum and zeolite.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.131-135
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• 2008

Objective : Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is considered as a reversible pathophysiological condition mainly induced by continuous vascular compression of the facial nerve root exit zone (REZ) at the cerebellopontine angle. As an offending vessel, vertebrobasilar artery tends to compress much more heavily than others. The authors analyzed HFS caused by vertebrobasilar artery and described the relationships between microsurgical findings and clinical courses. Methods : Out of 1,798 cases treated with microvascular decompression (MVD) from Jan. 1980 to Dec. 2004. the causative vessels were either vertebral artery or basilar artery in 87 patients. Seventy-nine patients were enrolled in this study. Preoperatively, computed tomography (CT) or brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with 3-dimentional short range MR technique was performed and CT was checked immediately or 2-3 days after anesthetic recovery. The authors retrospectively analyzed the clinical features. the compression patterns of the vessels at the time of surgery and treatment outcomes. Results : There were 47 were male and 32 female patients. HFS developed on the left side in 52 cases and on the right side in 27. The mean age of onset was 52.3 years (range 19-60) and the mean duration of symptoms was 10.7 years. Many patients (39 cases; 49.1%) had past history of hypertension. HFS caused only by the vertebral artery was 8 cases although most of the other cases were caused by vertebral artery (VA) in combination with its branching arteries. Most frequently, the VA and the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) were the simultaneous causative blood vessels comprising 32 cases (40.5%). and in 27 cases (34.2 %) the VA and the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) were the offenders. Facial symptoms disappeared in 61 cases (77.2%) immediately after the operation and 68 cases (86.1%) showed good outcome after 6 months. Surgical outcome just after the operation was poor in whom the perforators arose from the offending vessels concurrently (p<0.05). Conclusion : In case where the vertebral artery is a cause of HFS, commonly branching arteries associated with main arterial compression on facial REZ requires more definite treatment for proper decompression because of its relatively poor results compared to the condition caused by other vascular compressive origins.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 2013

Phytophthora capsici is one of major limiting factors in production of pepper and other important crops worldwide by causing foliage blight and rot on fruit and root. Increased demand for the replacement of fungicides has led to searching a promising strategy to control the fungal diseases. To meet eco-friendly agriculture practice, we isolated microorganisms and assessed their beneficial effects on plant health and disease control efficacy. A total of 360 bacterial strains were isolated from rhizosphere soil of healthy pepper plants, and categorized to 5 representative isolates based on colony morphology. Among the 5 bacterial strains (GJ-1, GJ-4, GJ-5, GJ-11, GJ-12), three bacterial strains (GJ-1, GJ-11, GJ-12) presented antifungal activity against P. capsici in an fungal inhibition assay. In phosphate solubilization and siderophore production, the strain GJ-1 was more effective than others. The strain GJ-1 was identified as Bacillus sp. using 16S rDNA analysis. Bacillus sp. GJ-1 was also found to be effective in inhibiting other plant pathogenic fungi, including Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium ultimum and Fusarium solani. Therefore, the Bacillus sp. GJ-1 can serve as a biological control agent against fungal plant pathogens.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.178-186
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• 2012

This study was investigated for the purpose of the isolation and identification of antagonistic bacteria with antifungal activity against plant pathogens. This bacteria denominated Bacillus subtilis KYS-10 and the optimum growth condition were 4% sucrose, 1% yeast extract, 0.2% $K_2HPO_4$, pH 7, 150 rpm, $30^{\circ}C$, 8 day. The antifungal activities against nine plant pathogens determined inhibition zone size by diffusion methods. The results, G. zeae (scab) 70 mm and P. grisea KACC 40439 (blast), P. capsici KACC 40177 (phytophthora blight) and C. destructans KACC 41077 (root rot of ginseng) 40~43 mm, and C. gloeosporioides KACC 43520 (ripe rot), C. gloesporioides KACC 40003 (anthracnose), S. shiraiana KACC 41065 (stem rot) and S. shiraiana (mulberry sclerotial disease) 35~39 mm and F. Oxysporum KACC 44452 (bulb rot of ginseng) 28 mm. From these experiment results, author suggest that Bacillus subtilis KYS-10 would be developed as a biological control agent thorough the field experimet in the near future.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.205-208
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• 1987

This study was conducted to find out the optimum ranges of soil physical properties for red pepper growth by characterizing the relationship of soil physical properties and plant growth. Various environmental factors and soil physico-chemical properties and red pepper growth were investigated at 94 farmers fields in red pepper-growing area. Soil texture of the red pepper fields were mainly coarse loamy covering 72% of surveyed fields. Available soil depth, plowing layer and root zone were deeper, but bulk density and hardness of soils were lower in the area where red pepper grew well. The optimum ranges of soil three phases were identified as the solid phase below 50%, liquid phase above 10% and sir phase above 20%. The various soil physical properties were closely related with plant growth of red pepper which were highly influenced in order of available depth>bulk density>plowing layer>hardness>slope.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.154-162
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• 2012

This study was conducted to evaluate agronomic characteristics such as growth, quality, and yields of StMyb1R-1 transgenic potato and also to obtain the basic data for establishing assessment guidelines of transgenic potato. Three transgenic lines (Myb 1, Myb 2, and Myb 8) were cultivated under conventional irrigation, drought condition, and severe drought condition and were analyzed by comparing with wild type, non-transgenic cv. Superior. Myb 2 showed a different flower color from wild type and Myb 1 had much bigger secondary leaflets than wild type. Myb 1 and Myb 2 showed higher $P_2O_5$ content in both top and root zone and longer shaped tubers than wild type. In yield factors, transgenic lines had more tubers than wild type, however their yield decreases were severe because of the poor enlargement of tuber under water deficit condition. This tendency was noticeable in Myb 1 and Myb 2. In TR ratio, chlorophyll content, dry matter rate, and relative water content, there were no big differences between transgenic lines and wild type. Meanwhile, in phenotype, growth, quality, and yield factors, substantial equivalent was confirmed between Myb 8 and wild type. Then, Myb 8 showed the highest marketable tuber yield under conventional irrigation, while showed lower level than wild type under water deficit. Judged by this result, the enhancing droughttolerance by StMyb1R-1 gene might actually not mean the enhancement of photosynthesis or starch accumulation in tuber and, furthermore, not the yield improvement. More detailed research will be required to accurately understand the relationship between StMyb1R-1 and yield factors.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.365-372
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• 2006

A dynamic compartment model is presented to predict the contamination level of agricultural plant by $^{137}C_s$ as a result of a soil deposition. The model considered the processes of a percolation, soil mixing by a plowing before transplanting, plant uptake, leaching to a deep soil, and fixation to a clay mineral. The effects of the soil properties (pH, clay mineral, organic matter content, and exchangeable K), which are spatially varied, on a plant uptake and the leaching rates of $^{137}C_s$ in a root zone soil were modeled by the Absalom model. To test the validity of the model, the $^{137}C_s$ aggregated transfer factors(TFa) for rice plants were compared with those observed from some simulated $^{137}C_s$ soil deposition experiments, which were carried out with respect to rice plants cultivated in seventeen paddy soils of different properties for two consecutive years. Observed $^{137}C_s$ TFa values of the rice plants did not show an evident trend for the pH and clay content of the soil properties, while they increased with an increasing organic matter content or a decreasing exchangeable K concentration. Predicted $^{137}C_s$ TFa values of the rice plants were found to be comparable with those observed.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2010

Since ${NO_3}^-$ is amore favorable electron acceptor than Fe, high ${NO_3}^-$ loads function as a redox buffer limiting the reduction of Fe and following release of ${PO_4}^{3-}$ in flooded paddy soil. The effect ${NO_3}^-$ loaded through irrigation water on Fe reduction and ${PO_4}^{3-}$ release in paddy soil was investigated. Pot experiment was conducted where irrigation water containing 5 or 10 mg N $L^{-1}$ of ${NO_3}^-$ was continuously applied at 1 cm $day^{-1}$, and changes of ${NO_3}^-$, $Fe^{2+}$ and ${PO_4}^{3-}$ concentrations in soil solution at 5 and 10 cm depths beneath the soil surface were monitored as a function of time. Irrigation of rice paddy with water containing 5 mg N $L^{-1}$ of ${NO_3}^-$ led to reduced release of $Fe^{2+}$ and prevented solubilization of P at 5 cm depth beneath the soil surface. And application of irrigation water containing 10 mg N $L^{-1}$ of ${NO_3}^-$ could further suppress Fe reduction and solubilization of P through 10 cm depth soil layer beneath the surface. These results suggest that the introduction of high level ${NO_3}^-$ with irrigation water in rice paddy can strongly limit Fe reduction and P solubilization in root zone soil layer in addition to the excessive supply of N to rice plants.