• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.41-47
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• 2002

Adverse environmental conditions such as drought, high salt and cold/freezing are major factors that reduces crop productivity worldwide. According to a survey, $50-80\%$ of the maximum potential yield is lost by these 'environmental or abiotic stresses', which is approximately ten times higher than the loss by biotic stresses. Thus, Improving stress-tolerance of crop plants is an important way to improve agricultural productivity. In order to develop such stress-tolerant crop plants, we set out to identify key stress signaling components that can be used to develop commercially viable crop varieties with enhanced stress tolerance. Our primary focus so far has been on the identification of transcription factors that regulate stress responsive gene expression, especially those involved in ABA-mediated stress response. Be sessile, plants have the unique capability to adapt themselves to the abiotic stresses. This adaptive capability is largely dependent on the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA), whose level increases under various stress conditions, triggering adaptive response. Central to the response is ABA-regulated gene expression, which ultimately leads to physiological changes at the whole plant level. Thus, once identified, it would be possible to enhance stress tolerance of crop plants by manipulating the expression of the factors that mediate ABA-dependent stress response. Here, we present our work on the isolation and functional characterization of the transcription factors.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2002.04b
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• pp.41-47
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• 2002

Adverse environmental conditions such as drought, high salt and cold/freezing are major factors that reduces crop productivity worldwide. According to a survey, 50-80% of the maximum potential yield is lost by these 'environmental or abiotic stresses', which is approximately ten times higher than the loss by biotic stresses. Thus, improving stress-tolerance of crop plants is an important way to improve agricultural productivity. In order to develop such stress-tolerant crop plants, we set out to identify key stress signaling components that can be used to develop commercially viable crop varieties with enhanced stress tolerance. Our primary focus so far has been on the identification of transcription factors that regulate stress responsive gene expression, especially those involved in ABA-mediated stress response. Be sessile, plants have the unique capability to adapt themselves to the abiotic stresses. This adaptive capability is largely dependent on the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA), whose level increases under various stress conditions, triggering adaptive response. Central to the response is ABA-regulated gene expression, which ultimately leads to physiological changes at the whole plant level. Thus, once identified, it would be possible to enhance stress tolerance of crop plants by manipulating the expression of the factors that mediate ABA-dependent stress response. Here, we present our work on the isolation and functional characterization of the transcription factors.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2011

Korean ginseng is a medicinally important perennial herb from the family Araliaceae. It has been cultivated for its highly valued medicinal properties for over 1,000 years in east Asian countries such as China, Korea, and Japan. Due to its longtime cultivation in shady areas, ginseng is frequently exposed to pathogenic infections. Plants protect themselves from microbial pathogens using an array of defense mechanisms, some of which are constitutively active, while others are activated upon pathogen invasion. These induced defense responses, controlled by defense-related genes, require tradeoffs in terms of plant fitness. We hypothesize that ginseng, as with other plants, possesses regulatory mechanisms that coordinate the activation of attacker-specific defenses in order to minimize fitness costs while attaining optimal resistance. Several classes of defense-related genes are induced by infection, wounds, irradiation, and other abiotic stresses. Both salicylates and jasmonates have been shown to cause such responses, although their specific roles and interactions in signaling and development are not fully understood in ginseng. This review summarizes possible defense-related genes in ginseng based on their expression patterns against biotic and abiotic stresses and describes their functional roles.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.466-485
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• 2023

Crop productivity can be obstructed by various biotic and abiotic stresses and thus these stresses are a threat to universal food security. The information on the use of viruses providing efficacy to plants facing growth challenges owing to stress is lacking. The role of induction of pathogen-related genes by microbes is also colossal in drought-endurance acquisition. Studies put forward the importance of viruses as sustainable means for defending plants against dual stress. A fundamental part of research focuses on a positive interplay between viruses and plants. Notably, the tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) possess the capacity to safeguard tomato host plants against severe drought conditions. This study aims to explore the combined effects of TYLCV, ToCV, and drought stress on two tomato cultivars, Money Maker (MK, UK) and Shalala (SH, Azerbaijan). The expression of pathogen-related four cellulose synthase gene families (CesA/Csl) which have been implicated in drought and virus resistance based on gene expression analysis, was assessed using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method. The molecular tests revealed significant upregulation of Ces-A2, Csl-D3,2, and Csl-D3,1 genes in TYLCV and ToCV-infected tomato plants. CesA/Csl genes, responsible for biosynthesis within the MK and SH tomato cultivars, play a role in defending against TYLCV and ToCV. Additionally, physiological parameters such as "relative water content," "specific leaf weight," "leaf area," and "dry biomass" were measured in dual-stressed tomatoes. Using these features, it might be possible to cultivate TYLCV-resistant plants during seasons characterized by water scarcity.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.189-192
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• 2001

We have investigated the effects of abiotic and biotic stresses on leaf senescence using transgenic tobacco plants, in which cellular contents of polyamines were increased by introducing the genes of polyamine and ethylene biosynthesis in sense or antisense orientation. These transgenic plants showed accumulations of polyamines at higher levels than were found in wild-type. Stress-induced senescence was attenuated in transgenic plants cpmpared with wild-type plants, in terms of total chlorphyll loss and phenotypic changes after oxidative stress of hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$), high salinity, acid stress (pH3.0), ABA and fungal pathogen(phytophothora parasitica pv.Nicotianae). Transcripts for antioxidant enzyme, glutathionine-S-transferase and catalase, were also more abundant in transgenic plants than wild-type plants. These result suggested that higher expression of those genes caused a broad-spectrum resistance to abiotic stress/biotic stress. These phenomena indicate that polyamines may play an important role in contributing to the antioxidant defense function in plants. Our findings suggest that facilitate the improvement of stress tolerance of crop plants.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.376-381
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• 2008

The discovery of RNA silencing inhibition by virus encoded suppressors or low temperature leads to concerns about the stability of transgenic resistance. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) has been previously characterized to be essential for transgene-mediated RNA silencing. Here we showed that low temperature led to the inhibition of RNA silencing, the loss of viral resistance and the reduced expression of host RdRp homolog (NtRdRP1) in transgenic T4 progeny with untranslatable potato virus Y coat protein (PVY-CP) gene. Moreover, RNA silencing and the associated resistance were differently inhibited by potato virus X (PVX) and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) infections. The increased expression of NtRdRP1 in both PVX and TMV infected plants indicated its general role in response to viral pathogens. Collectively, we propose that biotic and abiotic stress factors affect RNA silencing-mediated resistance in transgenic tobacco plants and that their effects target different steps of RNA silencing.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.61-74
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• 2004

Hydraulic engineers and scientists working on river restoration recognize the need for a deeper understanding of natural streams as a complex and dynamic system, which involves not only abiotic elements(flow, sediments) but also biotic components. From this point of view, the role played by riverine vegetation dynamics and flow conditions becomes essential. Hydro-mechanic interaction between flow and flexible plants covering a river bed is studied in this paper and some previous works are discussed. Measurements of turbulence and flow resistance in vegetated open channel were performed using rigid and flexible tube. Measuring detailed turbulent velocity profiles within and above submerged and flexible stems allowed to distinguish different turbulent regimes. Some interesting relationships were obtained between the velocity field and the deflected height of the plants, such as a reduced drag coefficient in the flexible stems. Turbulent intensities and Reynolds stresses were measured showing two different regions : above and inside the vegetation domain. In flexible vegetated open channel, the maximum values of turbulent intensities and Reynolds stresses appear above the top of canopy. Method to predict a flow resistance in flexible vegetated open channel is developed by modifying an analytical model proposed by Klopstra et al. (1997). Calculated velocity profiles and roughness values correspond well with flume experiments. These confirm the applicability of the presented model for open channel with flexible vegetation. The new method will be verified in the real vegetated conditions in the near future. After these verifications, the new method should be applied for nature rehabilitation projects such as river restorations.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.265-274
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• 2008

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are multifunctional proteins encoded by a large gene family divided into Phi, Tau, Theta, Zeta, Lambda and DHAR classes on the basis of sequence identity. The Phi(F) and Tau(U) classes are plant-specific and ubiquitous. Their roles have been defined as herbicide detoxification and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Fifty-two members of the GST super-family were identified in the Arabidopsis thaliana genome, 13 members of which belong to the Phi class of GSTs (AtGSTFs). Based on the sequence similarities of AtGSTFs, 11 BAC clones were identified from Brassica rapa. Seven unique sequences of ORFs designated the Phi class candidates of GST derived from B. rapa (BrGSTFs) were detected from these 11 BAC clones by blast search and sequence alignment. Some of BrGSTFs were present in the same BAC clones indicating that BrGSTFs could also be clustered as usual in plant. They were mapped on B. rapa linkage group 2, 3, 9 and 10 and their nucleotide and amino acid sequences were highly similar to those of AtGSTFs. In addition, in silico analysis of BrGSTFs using Korea Brassica Genome Project 24K oligochip and microarray database for cold, salt and drought stresses revealed 15 unigenes to be highly similar to AtGSTFs and six of these were identical to one of BrGSTFs identified in the BAC clones indicating their expression. The sequences of BrGSTFs and unigenes identified in this study will facilitate further studies to apply GST genes to medical and agriculture purposes.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.35 no.1 s.120
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• pp.88-93
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• 2007

Since the 1990s, the application of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars has increased in newly-constructed Korean golf courses as opposed to the previously-used zoysiagrass. However, there have been few reports studying the selection and characterization of these Kentucky bluegrass cultivars under Korean weather conditions. A total of 12 Kentucky bluegrass cultivars were tested for their adaptability in environmental stresses during summer conditions in Korea in order to select the best Kentucky bluegrass cultivars for use in Korean golf courses. This study found that two Kentucky bluegrass cultivars ('Midnight' and 'Bluestone') maintained their green throughout the summer season and had a high degree of root density, as compared to the other cultivars tested. These two cultivars also had a good rate of coverage in the early growth period. These characteristics make them suitable for application on sports fields and golf courses, which receive many divots and the frequent replacement of turfgrass sod caused by both biotic and abiotic stress. Two other cultivars, the 'Ginney' and 'Nuglade', also displayed good visual quality and high rate of coverage under summer conditions. In conclusion, the 'Midnight' and 'Bluestone' cultivars performed well in areas including the maintenance of their green color, the number of roots and the rate of coverage during the summer months. These characteristics are necessary for golf courses sports fields, which receive many divots and requirethe frequent replacement of turfgrass. further research on a range of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars, including a sensitivity test for many pathogens and recovery rates from a variety of stresses, is required in the near future.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.105-117
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• 2020

Abiotic stress is one of the most serious problems in plant productivity because it dramatically delays plant growth and development. One of the abiotic stresses, soil salinity, has an adverse effect on plant growth, particularly in areas where irrigation is necessary like semiarid Asia and Africa. Among several physiological parameters, anthocyanin accumulation is a valuable indicator of the condition of the plant, and it tends to increase under salt stress conditions because of its protective role in such an environment. Consequently, it may be important to search for well adapted genotypes for upcoming climate changes. Anthocyanins are known to have important roles in defense against biotic and abiotic stresses, providing important functions for protecting plant cells from reactive oxygen species. In this study, we investigated the anthocyanin accumulation between two Korean sorghum genotypes, Sodamchal and Nampungchal. The two genotypes were subjected to a regulated salinity condition, and the anthocyanin contents were evaluated in both. In Nampungchal, the anthocyanin content increased with 150 mM NaCl treatment during the time course of the experiment. However, the anthocyanin content of Sodamchal decreased in the same condition. The measured values of the anthocyanin content should be useful to identify the intensity of the salt tolerance in Sorghum bicolor L. Furthermore, we studied gene expression profiling of salt stress related genes with qRT-PCR. These results suggest that Nampungchal is a more tolerant genotype to salt stress compared to Sodamchal. This information should be useful for breeding salt-resistant cultivars in sorghum.