• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2009

To understand contribution of thermophilic microorganisms in decomposition of litter deposits on shore of lakes, we surveyed a lakeshore litter deposit for bacteria growing at $60^{\circ}C$. Ten thermophilic isolates were selected for in-depth characterization, based on their high capacity to degrade high molecular weight organic compounds. Based on phylogenetic analysis on their 16S rRNA gene sequences, all isolates were identified as Geobacillus. The optimal growth temperature and pH of the strains ranged $55{\sim}60^{\circ}C$ and 6.0${\sim}$8.0, respectively. Salinity was inhibitory to the growth of the isolates, showing marked decrease of growth rates at 3% salinity. Based on activities of hydrolytic enzymes and profiles of carbohydrate utilization (determined by API 50 CHB kit), three G. stearothermophilus strains showed patterns clearly distinctive from other isolates. Two G. kaustophilus strains also demonstrated distinctiveness in their metabolic pattern and ecological parameters. However, ecological and metabolic profiles of the other five isolates were more variable and showed some degree of digression from their phylogenetic classification. Therefore, it could be concluded that endospore-forming thermophilic bacteria in lakeshore litter deposits contribute to degradation of organic materials with diverse ecological niches while having successions similar to microbial flora in compost. We propose that the thermophilic isolates and/or their thermo-tolerant enzymes can be applied to industrial processes as appropriate mixtures.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: Soil salinity of reclaimed tidal land in Korea is highly important factor. High salinity is harmful to crop productivity. Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) is known to be salt-tolerant and has high adaptability to diverse pedo-climatic conditions. The objective of this study was to assess the changes of soil properties and crop productivity according to salt concentration in the reclaimed tidal lands. METHODS AND RESULTS: Experimental sites were selected at Saemangeum ($35^{\circ}46^{\prime}N$, $126^{\circ}37^{\prime}E$) reclaimed tidal land, and their dominant soil series were Munpo (coarse loamy, mixed, non-acid, mesic, typic Fluvaquents). H. tuberosus L were collected from 12 locations across Korea. Tubers were planted at $75{\times}25cm$ with EC 2 to $7dS\;m^{-1}$. Soil samples were periodically collected from both 0~20 cm and 20~40 cm depths of each site. Soil salinity and soil moisture contents were varied depending on weather conditions. Soil electrical conductivity varied from 1.0 to $5.9dS\;m^{-1}$, and soil moisture contents varied from 9.2 to 28.7%. The white-colored tubers of H. tuberosus L. collected from 'Yeongwol-gun' exhibited the highest height (207 cm), followed by the white-colored tubers of H. tuberosus L. collected from 'Iksan-si'(202 cm). The white-colored tubers of H. tuberosus L. collected from 'GyeongJu-si' showed the highest yield (549 kg/10a). The purple-colored tubers of H. tuberosus L. collected from 'Yeongwol-gun' showed the highest yield (615 kg/10a). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the plant height and tuber yield did not appear to be correlated. Considering yield and inulin content, the GyeongJu-si seemed to be suitable as the white-colored tubers of H. tuberosus L. and the Yeongwol-gun seemed to be suitable as the purple-colored tubers of H. tuberosus L. in the reclaimed tidal lands. However, it is necessary to consider the relationship between the inulin content and the yield.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.413-419
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• 1995

This study was conducted to find out the suitable NaCl concentration and temperature for investigating the varietal difference of salinity tolerance in Italian ryegrass. Seeds of 20 cultivars including 9 diploid and 11 tetraploid were exposed to eight levels of NaCl concentration ranging from 0 to 350mM under three temperature levels of 15, 20 and $25^{\circ}C$. The NaCl concentration(C50%) inhibited germination of 50% of the viable seeds for the cultivars at 15$^{\circ}C$ was 354mM, and those at 2$0^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$ were 342mM and 325mM, respectively. There were significant correlations among C50% at three levels of temperature, and correlation coefficient for C50% between 2$0^{\circ}C$ and 15$^{\circ}C$ was higher than that between $25^{\circ}C$ and 15$^{\circ}C$ or 2$0^{\circ}C$. C50% was positively correlated only with germination speed at 10 days after sowing when the plants were exposed to 350mM NaCl at 2$0^{\circ}C$. For the germination speed at 10 days after sowing in 350mM NaCl at 2$0^{\circ}C$, the cultivars used could be classified into three groups. Wase Aoba, Bettina, E. K -11, Tetrone, Lira Sand, Tetra Florum and Billiken belonged to the tolerant group, and Tuchi Was, Wase Yutaka, Sakura Wase, Magnolia, Limella and Delita were as the semi-susceptible group, and Atalja, Barmultra, Ajax, Liberta, LM-16, Elving and Wilo were as the susceptible group.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.108-113
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• 2014

This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of Italian ryegrass cultivars for salt tolerance under in vitro condition. Italian ryegrass cultivars such as Greenfarm, Florida80, Kowinearly, and Hwasan101 were tested for their tolerance to various sodium chloride levels (0, 50, 150, 250, and 350 mM). The seed germination, growth, and activities of antioxidant enzymes were investigated under salt treatment. Physiological traits such as seed germination percentage, germination period, shoot and root length, and dry weight were suppressed under entire salt stress conditions. The results indicated that the highest germination percentage and shoot and root length were recorded at normal conditions. Increased sodium chloride levels caused a significant reduction in the seed germination and growth rate. Among the four tested cultivars, Italian ryegrass 'Hwasan101' could be considered as salt tolerant owing to its higher germination percentage, better seedling growth and antioxidant activities under salinity stress, whereas Greenfarm cultivar was more sensitive. The selection of Italian ryegrass cultivars for greater tolerance to saline environment would allow greater productivity from large saline lands.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.71-81
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• 2014

A survey was carried out to understand the influence of hydrology on the composition, abundance and adaptive strategies of phytoplankton in artificial Lake Hwaseong, an estuarine reservoir with seawater exchange through a sluice. Samples were collected seven times from May to October 2012. Hydrological events (seawater exchange, rainfall) resulted in a wide variation in salinity along with nutrients and turbidity. Shifts in the dominant phytoplankton composition occurred on every survey. Chlorophyll-a ranged from 9.7 to $104.1{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$. Multivariate analysis allowed us to identify the four phases on phytoplankton community change. Phase I (May~June) was characterized by small-sized Gymnodinium sp. and Heterosigma akashiwo dominated in warm temperature and high salinity derived from seawater exchange, and followed by Cylindrotheca closterium blooms due to rainfall and winds during phase II (July and September). During phase III (August), the dominance of Oscillatoria spp. was correlated with high temperature and low salinity. Abundant cryptomonads were associated with lower temperature during phase IV (October). Adaptive strategies were identified in the phytoplankton as morphological and physiological characteristics. These strategies identified small-sized flagellates as CR-strategists, fast-growing opportunistic species, which might favor the weak stratification of lake due to the seawater exchange during phase I and IV. Dominant species during phase II and III were characterized with R-strategists, medium-sized stress-tolerant species, which might favor turbulence by river flow. The results indicate that stronger stratification following the termination of seawater exchange for the freshening might intensify the predominance of smaller flagellates. In conclusion, this study suggests that hydrology may drive phytoplankton community change and blooms through the controls of salinity, turbulence and nutrients.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.312-316
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• 2015

Rhizina undulata, the causal agent of Rhizina root rot, is a soil-borne fungus occurring on coniferous trees. The destruction of coastal forests caused by R. undulata infection has been mainly associated with bonfires at camping sites. However, Rhizina root rot was observed in the western coastal forests without fire. It was hypothesized that Rhizina root rot in this area might be closely related to the soil salinity, which can facilitate the growth and survival of R. undulata. So, the variation in sodium chloride (NaCl) resistance among isolates of Rhizina undulata was compared using liquid media containing different concentrations of NaCl ranging from 0 mM to 300 mM. Our results showed that, albeit of no growth at a higher concentration of NaCl (300 mM), most of R. undulata isolates were capable of germinating and grew at up to 100 mM, indicating that NaCl resistance varies among R. undulata isolates. It was further found that isolates from coastal areas seemed to be more tolerant to NaCl than those further away the coast. We demonstrated that R. undulata could be possible to survive in coastal areas, but was lower NaCl tolerance than other fungi.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.856-862
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to optimize the slurry contents and salt concentrations for ethanol production from hydrolysates of the seaweed Eucheuma spinosum. A monosaccharide concentration of 44.2 g/l as 49.6% conversion of total carbohydrate of 89.1 g/l was obtained from 120 g dw/l seaweed slurry. Monosaccharides from E. spinosum slurry were obtained by thermal acid hydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis. Addition of activated carbon at 2.5% (w/v) and the adsorption time of 2 min were used in subsequent adsorption treatments to prevent the inhibitory effect of HMF. The adsorption surface area of the activated carbon powder was 1,400-1,600 m²/g and showed selectivity to 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) from monosaccharides. Candida tropicalis KCTC 7212 was cultured in yeast extract, peptone, glucose, and high-salt medium, and exposed to 80, 90, 100, and 110 practical salinity unit (psu) salt concentrations in the lysates. The 100 psu salt concentration showed maximum cell growth and ethanol production. The ethanol fermentations with activated carbon treatment and use of C. tropicalis acclimated to a high salt concentration of 100 psu produced 17.9 g/l of ethanol with a yield (Y_EtOH) of 0.40 from E. spinosum seaweed.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2011

Although reactive oxygen species (ROS) are inevitable by-products of many redox reactions in eukaryotic cells, they play a crucial role as signaling molecules in many cellular processes for development and defense response to abiotic stresses. The biphasic ROS production which was peaked twice in a first transient phase and a second massive phase was occurred after treatment of abiotic stress such as oxidative stress, high salinity. This biphasic generation of ROS was followed by the biphasic production of stress hormone, ethylene. The mechanism of interactions between ROS and ethylene biosynthesis is studied in tobacco (Nicotiana tabaccum L.) plants under the abiotic stresses. The stress-induced ethylene production was significantly inhibited in RbohD-AS and RbohF-AS, in which antisense expression of NADPH oxidase genes was performed. The accumulation of ROS, which was determined by DAB and DCFH-DA staining, was significantly decreased after abiotic stresses in transgenic plants. The suppression of signaling with ethylene and ROS induced more tolerance in response to abiotic stress. The transgenic plants were more tolerant in MS medium supplemented with salinity stress in contrast with wild-type. Stress-induced cell damage determined by DNA fragmentation was decreased at phase II in those transgenic plants. Therefore, the first burst of ROS is more responsible for making a role as a signaling molecule during stress-induced response. These results suggested that ethylene and ROS act in a positive feedback cycle that results in mutual enhancement of ethylene and ROS production during stress-induced cell death.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2015

Four halophilic bacteria were isolated from a salt water tank of more than 25% above salinity used for production of salt. HJS1 and HJS6 strains were identified as having ${\beta}$-glucosidase producing capabilities at high salinity. ${\beta}$-Glucosidase produced from these bacterial strains showed the best activity at 56-79 U/ml in NaCl (0-5%), showing the highest ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity at NaCl 3%. A salt tolerant ${\beta}$-glucosidase can maintain at least 75% activity of the enzyme in 0-20% NaCl concentration. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains HJS1 and HJS6 shows 99.8% similarity with Roseivivax roseus $BH87090^T$. Those sequences were registered as AB971835 and AB971836 in the NCBI GenBank. DNA-DNA hybridization test revealed that both strains showed 90.1 to 90.3% hybridization values with R. roseus $BH87090^T$, which was the closest phylogenetic neighbor. Major Cellular fatty acids of strains HJS1 and HJS6 were $C_{16:0}$, $C_{18:1}$ ${\omega}7c$, $C_{19:0}$ cyclo ${\omega}8c$ and 11-methyl $C_{18:1}$ and the major quinone was Q-10. Their fatty acid composition and quinone were very similar to Roseivivax roseus $BH87090^T$. Meanwhile, Roseivivax roseus $BH87090^T$ did not produce any ${\beta}$-glucosidase. Based on the molecular and chemotaxonomic properties, strains HJS1 and HJS6 were identified as members of Roseivivax roseus.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.687-693
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• 2013

Coastal sand dunes have been seriously damaged caused by the development thoughtless for the environment and coastal erosion and destruction due to artificial structures like coast roads and breakwater. Hereupon, in this study we made a library of rhizobacteria that have the plant growth-promoting ability for plant rhizosphere of indigenous plants inhabiting in a coastal sand dune as well as the strong tolerance to salt, and evaluated the plant growth-promoting ability of these strains. Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of rhizobacteria on the growth rate of saline tolerant plants in sandy soil; selected out the most useful micro-organism for the restoration of a damaged sand dune. The effect of inoculation of strains selected from the first experiment on the growth of Peucedanum japonicum and Arundo donaxes planted in a coastal sand dune was evaluated. As a result, Bacillus aerius MH1RS1 had plant growth promoting activities: indole acetic acid (IAA) production, siderophores and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACC deaminase) activity, and also had a salinity tolerance. Also, in case of Peucedanum japonicum, the length of stems and weights of roots were enhanced by the inoculation of B. aerius MH1RS1. Fresh weights of stems and weights of roots in experimental group were, in particular, increased by 25% comparing with the control group. For an Arundo donax in experimental group, plant length increased by 18%, and weight of roots by 20% which is significant.