• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2010

Atmospheric $CO_2$ concentrations have increased exponentially over the last century and, if continued, are expected to have significant effects on plants and soil. In this study, we investigated the effects of elevated $CO_2$ on the growth of Pinus densiflora seedling and microbial activity in soil. Three-year-old pine seedlings were exposed to ambient as well as elevated levels of $CO_2$ (380 and 760 ppmv, respectively). Growth rates and C:N ratios of the pine seedlings were also determined. Dissolved organic carbon content, phenolic compound content, and microbial activity were measured in bulk soil and rhizosphere soil. The results show that elevated $CO_2$ significantly increased the root dry weight of pine seedling. In addition, overall N content decreased, which increased the C:N ratio in pine needles. Elevated $CO_2$ decreased soil moisture, nitrate concentration, and the concentration of soil phenolic compounds. In contrast, soil enzymatic activities were increased in rhizosphere soil, including ${\beta}$-glucosidase, N-acetylglucosaminidase and phosphatase enzyme activities. In conclusion, elevated $CO_2$ concentrations caused distinct changes in soil chemistry and microbiology.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.125-139
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• 1996

The relationships between environmental factors and the establishment and growth of oak seelings were studied in the greenhouse. The early seedling performances of three oak species (Quercus mongolica, Quercus serrata, Quercus variabilis) were compared. Mean seed weight was the biggest in Q. variabilis, and the smallest in Q. serrata, and the germination rate was higher in Q. variabilis than in Q. mongolica and Q. serrata. The germination rate was significantly affected by seed weight class in Q. serrata, but not in Q. mongolica. Emergence of oak seedlings was similar in all three oak species, and especially the first leaf emergence increased about twenty days after germination. An experiment was designed using three environmental factors (light, soil moisture, fertilizer) to compare the response of the three oak species. Light and soil moisture significantly affected the seedling height growth of Q. variabilis, but the effect was marginal in Q. mongolica and Q. serrata. However, growth of seedling biomass was significant in all three oak species. In contrast, fertilizer did not affect seedling growth of any of the oak species. Q. variabilis is expected to grow well in large gaps because it is very sensitive and responds well to high light and high moisture conditions. Q. mongolica and Q. serrata are relatively tolerant to shade but may need gaps for the seelings to grow into saplings.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.143-149
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• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the graft-taking and growth of grafted cucumber seedlings as affected by light quality and blink cycle of LED modules. Four light quality treatments, namely blue, red, blue+red, white LED and four blink cycle levels of 5s/5s, 7s/3s, 9s/1s and control were provided to investigate the effect of lighting quality and blink cycle on the graft-taking and growth of grafted cucumber seedlings. Photoperiod for the control was 12/12 h. Photosynthetic photon flux, air temperature, and relative humidity for healing were maintained at $100{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, $25^{\circ}C$, and 90%, respectively. There was no significant difference in graft-taking of grafted cucumber seedlings according to light quality except the blue LED with the blink cycle of 5s/5s. Regardless of the blink cycle, there was no significant difference in graft-taking of cucumber seedlings healed under red, blue+red, and white LED modules. These results implied that the effects of light quality and blink cycle on the graft-taking were not significant. Differences in the leaf length, leaf area, and fresh weight of cucumber seedlings healed blue or red LED with the blink cycle of 9s/1s were found to be significant. There was no significant effect of the blink cycle on the growth of cucumber seedlings healed under white LED modules. The prices of white LED are gradually falling due to increased demand. Considering the manufacturing unit price of white LED modules, the cost savings of 10-15% are expected as compared to the conventional blue/red LED modules. Therefore, it was concluded that the use of white LED modules will be economical as an artificial lighting sources for healing of grafted seedlings.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.338-349
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• 2022

This study aims to investigate whether modular community planting, which entailed planting a variety of species of seedlings at high density, was more effective in restoring natural forests than the existing mature tree planting. We also investigated whether the planting density of the modular community planting facilitates growth or improves the tree layer coverage. We conducted outdoor experiments in which the samples were divided into a mature tree planting plot (control plot), where mature trees were planted at wide intervals, and a modular community planting (MCP) plot (treatment plot), where multiple seedlings were planted in high density. The MCP plot was further divided into the plot in which 3 seedlings were planted per m² and the plot of 1 seedling per m². We measured the specimens' survival rate, growth rate (tree height, crown width, and root collar diameter), and cover rate for 26 months from May 2019 and the predicted future tree height growth using the measured tree height. The survival rate and relative growth rate of the MCP were higher than those of the mature tree planting plot. The vertical coverage rate of the tree crown in the MCP exhibited complete coverage of the ground before 23 months, while the coverage rate of the mature tree planting decreased due to transplantation stress. The seedlings in the MCP, which were planted at high density, grew well and were predicted to grow higher than the mature trees in the large tree planting plot within 5 to 6.5 years after planting. It was due to multiple species, seedlings, high-density planting, and planting foundation improvements, such as soil enhancement and mulching. In other words, the seedlings planted in the MCP had a higher survival rate as their environmental adaptation after planting was better, and their early growth was also larger than the trees in the mature planting plot. The high-density mixed planting of various native species not only mitigated the inter-complementary environmental pressures but also facilitated growth by inducing competition between species. Moreover, the planting foundation improvement effectively increased the seedlings' viability and growth rate. A reduction in follow-up management costs is expected as the tree layer coverage sharply increases due to the higher planting density. In the MCP (3 seedlings per m² and 1 seedling per m²), the tree height growth was promoted with the higher planting density, and the crown width and root collar diameter tended to be larger with the lower planting density, but these differences were not statistically significant.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.166-172
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• 2003

Rockwool slabs used for hydroponic cultures are expected to have potential to be reused after breakdown as a growing medium component for hydroponic culture of vegetables and cut flowers, pot plants, or plug plants. This study was conducted to test the feasibility of using particles of used rockwool slabs (PURS) mixed with woodchips for growing plug seedlings of ‘Nokkufang’ pepper. In the first experiment growth of pepper seedlings was tested in media of steam sterilized PURS mixed with chestnut woodchips (CW), which was weatherized for six months and screened through 2.8 mm or 5.6 mm sieves, at 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 28:75 or 0:100 (%, v/v). In the second experiment growth of pepper seedlings was tested in 20 different media containing steam sterilized PURS mixed with 4 mm chestnut woodchips (CW), 4 mm pinc woodchips (PW), coir, peatmoss, or perlite. In the first experiment, there were no significant growth differences as affectcd by particle size of CW, while the overall best growth was achieved il1 the control and l00% PURS. In the second experiment, seedling growth was enhanced as compared to the control in 100% PURS or PURS mixed with peatmoss, coir, or perlite. In contrast, growth was suppressed as the proportion of peatmoss or coir mixed with PURS decreased and the proportion of CW increased. Growth was better in the PURS + peatmoss than in the 100% PURS or PURS + coir, and when woodchips were mixed with coir than peatmoss.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.2
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• pp.136-144
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• 2023

This study aimed to determine the optimal fertilization level for the production of Hovenia dulcis Thunb. seedlings. The height, root collar diameter, biomass, seedling quality index, and chlorophyll content of Hovenia dulcis container seedlings (1-0) according to six fertilization treatments (control, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 g·L^-1) were investigated. The height, root collar diameter, and biomass of Hovenia dulcis container seedlings increased with increasing fertilization, but there were no significant differences among the ≥1.5 g·L^-1 treatments, and the 2.5 g·L^-1 fertilization treatment was associated with significantly lower height growth. The seedling-quality index showed a high but non-significant difference in the ≥1.5 g·L^-1 treatment range, and the chlorophyll content was highest in the 1.5 g·L^-1 treatment group. Considering the environmental and cost aspects of fertilization, the appropriate level of fertilization required for superior container seedling production of Hovenia dulcis was 1.5 g·L^-1, and a minimum fertilization treatment of ≥0.5 g·L^-1 should be applied to meet the minimum seedling specifications. These results are expected to be used as basic data for establishing an efficient seedling-production system and stable supply of Hovenia dulcis, which is used as a medicinal and honey plant.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.243-248
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• 1995

Agrochemicals for the plant-disease control are criticized severely for causing environmental pollution and residual problems, and consequently microbial disease control agents are expected to be safer and more economical for sustainable agriculture. Treatment of biological control agents to seed requires the use of effective delivery systems that allow full expression of the benefical qualities of the bioprotectant. For the activation and establishment of bioprotectant around the plant seed which are able protect the seeds and seedlings from pathogen attack, the optimal liquid coating formulation was obtained using 2% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (binder), 20% sesame dregs (solid particulate material), and dried spore of Bacillus subtilis YBL-7 (bioprotectants, 10 mg/g of seed). Suppressive of root rot was demonstrated in pot trials with coated kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seeds. Coated seeds with B. subtilis YBL-7 spore in F. solani-infested soil reduced disease incidence by 85% to 90% after 30 days.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.94 no.2 s.159
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• pp.103-107
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• 2005

Typical phytoplasma whiches' broom symptoms were observed in Ash (Fraxinus rhynchophylla Hence) in Korea. The symptoms of the disease were showing abnormally small leaves, shorted internodes and proliferation of shoots. Examination of fluorescent and electron microscopy of leaf midribs revealed numerous phytoplasma bodies localized in the phloem tube cells. The phytoplasmas were detected in all the symptomatic samples by the amplification with phytoplasma specific primer pair P1/P7 consistently, and the expected size was 1.8 kb. However, the phytoplasma DNA was not detected in healthy seedlings. Based on sequence analysis of amplified region, this phytoplasma has close homologies with eqilodium phyllody, mulberry dwarf, and aster yellow phytoplasmas, 99.95%, 99.79% and 99.78%, respectively, This phylogetic analysis indicates that ash witches' broom phytoplasma should be classified in the aster yellow group 16SrVI and clearly distinct from the ash yellow group 16SrVII.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.292-296
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• 2003

Effects of aybusculayr mycorrhizal fungus (aMF), Glomus manihot, on plant growth and nutrient uptake on pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seedlings were evaluated in the nursery experiment. Five different strains of pepper, Chungok, Shingang, Manitta, Gonggongchil, and Shintaeyang, were used in this study. Total fresh weight, nutrient (nitrogen, phosphate and potassium) uptake were increased in all strains inoculated with G. manihot alone and G. manihot and rock phosphate over control at 2 weeks after seeding. Plant weight and phosphate uptake in plants treated with AMF were significantly higher (P< 0.05) than those of control at 6 weeks after seeding. The treatment with G. manihot and rock phosphate gave better plant performance than the treatment with G. manihot alone at 6 weeks after seeding. The lengths of pathogenic symptom on pepper by Phytophthora capsici were reduced significantly by the inoculation of G. manihot spores, Therefore, it would be expected that AMF can be used as the biocontrol agent on pathogens in pepper.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to control root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita on pumpkin seedling with 10%, 20% coffee ground compost and 1% plant velvet bean powder (plain skin bean, leopard skin bean, hole plant, bean pod). Among the root-knot nematode insecticide treatments, the velvet bean plant powder was the highest mortality rate with 83.2% in greenhouse condition. In addition, the root-knot nematode second juvenile mortality significantly increased with the lapse of processing time for each concentration of leopard skin velvet bean extract in vivo. After 24 hours, the mortality rate of root-knot nematode showed the highest at 1.2% and 2.4% of leopard skin velvet bean extract. The growth promoting effect of seedlings pumpkin, 20% of coffee ground compost treatments inhibited the growth of pumpkin seedlings and 1% the tiger pattern velvet beans powder was the most to promote the growth of pumpkin seedlings. However, the results indicated that the organic materials of velvet beans and coffee ground compost are expected to be able to effectively control the root-knot nematode and further studies will be needed for the concentration and application methods.