• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.212-218
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• 2019

Background: Allelopathy has been suggested as one potential mechanism facilitating the successful colonisation and expansion of invasive plants. The impacts of the ongoing elevation in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) on the production of allelochemicals by invasive species are of great importance because they play a potential role in promoting biological invasion at the global scale. Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. elatior), one of the most notorious invasive exotic plant species, was used to assess changes in foliar mono- and sesquiterpene production in response to CO₂ elevation (389.12 ± 2.55 vs. 802.08 ± 2.69 ppm). Results: The plant growth of common ragweed significantly increased in elevated CO₂. The major monoterpenes in the essential oil extracted from common ragweed leaves were β-myrcene, DL-limonene and 1,3,6-octatriene, and the major sesquiterpenes were β-caryophyllene and germacrene-D. The concentrations of 1,3,6-octatriene (258%) and β-caryophyllene (421%) significantly increased with CO₂ elevation. Conclusions: These findings improve our understanding of how allelochemicals in common ragweed respond to CO₂ elevation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.273-285
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• 2005

Genetic variation of notorious invasive plants, common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) and giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida L.) were examined using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA. A total of 18 different ITS types were detected from 156 individuals of common ragweed sampled mainly from the southern part of Korean peninsula whereas four types were identified from 46 individuals of giant ragweed. High sequence diversity observed from common ragweed in Korean populations was interpreted as multiple introduction. Genetic recombination was suggested as possible method for the production of some of the ITS types while point mutation was mainly responsible for the origin of the sequence diversity. This study provided some of basic genetic information needed for understanding of the evolutionary process in ragweed during invasion.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2010

Competitive ability, allelopathy, made the common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. elatior ) one of the most dangerous weeds in Korea. The aim of this research was to evaluate the role of common ragweed as test species under laboratory bioassay and glasshouse conditions. Inhibition effect of the leaf extract was higher than that of stem and root parts extracts on germination and seedling growth of weeds. The 5% concentration of leaf extract of common ragweed inhibited the germination rate of Echinochloa crus-galli, Digitaria sanguinalis and Cyperus microiria by 68.3, 74.6 and 87.3%, respectively, as compared to the control. Generally, increasing incorporation concentration inhibited seedling growth of weeds. Incorporation of 5% common ragweed residue significantly reduced the plant length of E. crus-galli, D. sanguinalis and C. microiria by 48, 63 and 68%, respectively, as compared to the control. Also, the values of dry weight were 72, 78 and 71%, respectively. Contrarily, the emergence rate of soybean and corn was not affected by the incorporation of 5% concentration of common ragweed residue. However, the dry weight was inhibited by 37 and 28%, respectively. These results suggest that common ragweed had the ability to control some weed species using toxic compounds like natural herbicide.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.396-404
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• 2010

Phenolic compounds, which are products of secondary metabolism, have been demonstrated to be widespread growth substances in plants. The objectives of this study were to identify the phenolic compounds in common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. elatior) by HPLC and to evaluate their effects on germination and seedling growth of three weed species. Under controlled conditions in Petri dishes at $25^{\circ}C$, $10^{-3}$ and $10^{-4}$ M solutions of phenolic compounds were evaluated in seed germination tests. Four phenolic compounds (caffeic acid, O-coumaric acid, ${\rho}$-coumaric acid and ferulic acid) in common ragweed plant were identified and their concentration was increased from the stage before flowering through full flowering stage. Treatment of O- and ${\rho}$-coumaric acids delayed the seed germination of Digitalia ciliaris, while the treatment of caffeic acid delayed the seed germination of Echinochloa crus-galli. In time to 50% germination ($T_{50}$), phenolic compounds at $10^{-4}$ M promoted in Cyperus microiria and E. crus-galli but the level of $10^{-3}$ M delayed the $T_{50}$ of those weeds. The O-coumaric acid inhibited seed germination and seedling growth of the tested weeds and especially it perfectly inhibited the root growth of E. crus-galli.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.322-329
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• 2012

Purpose: Aeroallergens are important causative factors of allergic diseases. Previous studies on aeroallergen sensitization rates investigated patients groups that had visited pediatric allergy clinics. In contrast, we investigated sensitization rates in a general population group of elementary school to teenage students in Incheon, Jeju, and Ulsan. Methods: After obtaining parental consent, skin-prick tests were performed on 5,094 students between March and June 2010. Elementary school students were tested for 18 common aeroallergens, whereas middle and high school students were tested for 25 allergens. The 25 allergens included Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, pollen (birch, alder, oak, Japanese cedar, pine, willow, elm, maple, Bermuda grass, timothy grass, rye grass, orchard grass, meadow grass, vernal grass, mugwort, Japanese hop, fat hen, ragweed, and plantain), and mold (Penicillatum, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Alternaria). Results: The sensitization rates in descending order were 25.79% (D. pteronyssinus ), 18.66% (D. farinae ), 6.20% (mugwort), and 4.07% (willow) in Incheon; 33.35% (D. pteronyssinus ), 24.78% (D. farinae), 15.36% (Japanese cedar), and 7.33% (Alternaria) in Jeju; and 32.79% (D. pteronyssinus), 30.27% (D. farinae), 10.13% (alder), and 8.68% (birch) in Ulsan. The dust mite allergen showed the highest sensitization rate among the 3 regions. The sensitization rate of tree pollen was the highest in Ulsan, whereas that of Alternaria was the highest in Jeju. The ragweed sensitization rates were 0.99% in Incheon, 1.07% in Jeju, and 0.81% in Ulsan. Conclusion: The differences in sensitization rates were because of different regional environmental conditions and distinct surrounding biological species. Hence, subsequent nationwide studies are required.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.189-200
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• 2016

The species distribution model would be a useful tool for understanding how invasive alien species spread over the country and what environmental variables contribute to their distributions. This study is focused on the potential distribution of two invasive alien species, the common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and knotgrass (Paspalum distichum) in the Korean Peninsula. The maximum entropy (Maxent) model was used for the prediction of their distribution by inferring their climatic environmental requirements from localities where they are currently known to occur. We obtained their presence data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and the Korean plant species databases and bioclimatic data from the WorldClim dataset. As a results of the modelling, the potential distribution predicted by global occurrence data was more accurate than that by native occurrence data. The variables determining the common ragweed distribution were precipitation of the driest month and annual mean temperature. Both annual and the coldest quarter mean temperatures were critical factors in determining the knotgrass distribution. The Maxent model could be a useful tool for the prediction of alien species invasion and the management of their expansion.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-29
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• 2022

This study surveyed the Mt. Teomo·Hyeolgu and surrounding areas in Ganghwa Island, located in Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, to identify vascular flora and alien plants to be used as basic data for systematic management of the remarkable plants and biodiversity conservation. The survey was carried out 13 times from March 2019 to October 2020. The identified vascular flora of Mt.Teomo·Hyeolgu was 101 families, 321 genera, 517 species, 13 subspecies, 38 varieties, 5 forms, and 573 taxa. They accounted for about 12.35% of a total of 4,641 taxa of vascular plants in Korea. The identified Northern lineage plants, endemic plants, and rare plants on the Korean Peninsula as designated by IUCN were 68 taxa, 10 taxa, and 9 taxa, respectively. 69 taxa were classified as floristic target species. Three taxa, including Maui sedge [Carex thunbergii var. appendiculata (Trautv. & C.A.Mey.) Ohwi] were identified s Class IV and 14 taxa, including Violet Stanavoi clematis (Clematis fusca var. violacea Maxim.) were identified as Class III. The naturalized plants that appeared in the study site were 63 taxa, including daisy fleabane [Erigeron annuus(L.) Pers.], common ragweed [Ambrosia artemisiifoliaL.] and Canadian fleabane [Conyza canadensis(L.) Cronquist]. The above three species were found to have spread throughout Ganghwa Island and surrounding areas such as Seokmo Island, Gyodong Island, and Gimpo city. As introduced disturbing plants like prickly lettuce [Lactuca scariola L.], bur cucumber [Sicyos angulatus L.] and field dock [Rumex acetosella L.] have been newly reported in the Mt. Teomo·Hyeolgu area, mid- to long-term conservation measures should be established for native plants, such as remarkable plants, and also management measures like physical removal should be prepared at an early stage.