• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.356-366
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• 2018

The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, is one of the most common and economically important pests of stored cereal products worldwide. Furthermore, these beetles can act as vectors for several fungal post-harvest diseases. In this study, we collected T. castaneum from 49 rice processing complexes (RPCs) nationwide during 2016-2017 and identified contaminating fungal species on the surface of the beetles. Five beetles from each region were placed on potato dextrose agar media or Fusarium selection media after wet processing with 100% relative humidity at $27^{\circ}C$ for one week. A total of 142 fungal isolates were thus collected. By sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region, 23 fungal genera including one unidentified taxon were found to be associated with T. castaneum. The genus Aspergillus spp. (28.9%) was the most frequently present, followed by Cladosporium spp. (12.0%), Hyphopichia burtonii (9.2%), Penicillium spp. (8.5%), Mucor spp. (6.3%), Rhizopus spp. (5.6%), Cephaliophora spp. (3.5%), Alternaria alternata (2.8%) and Monascus sp. (2.8%). Less commonly identified were genera Fusarium, Nigrospora, Beauveria, Chaetomium, Coprinellus, Irpex, Lichtheimia, Trichoderma, Byssochlamys, Cochliobolus, Cunninghamella, Mortierella, Polyporales, Rhizomucor and Talaromyces. Among the isolates, two known mycotoxin-producing fungi, Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium spp. were also identified. This result is consistent with previous studies that surveyed fungal and mycotoxin contamination in rice from RPCs. Our study indicates that the storage pest, T. castaneum, would play an important role in spreading fungal contaminants and consequently increasing mycotoxin contamination in stored rice.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.347-363
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• 2009

The 15,389-bp long complete mitogenome of the endangered red-spotted apollo butterfly, Parnassius bremeri (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) was determined in this study. The start codon for the COI gene in insects has been extensively discussed, and has long remained a matter of some controversy. Herein, we propose that the CGA (arginine) sequence functions as the start codon for the COI gene in lepidopteran insects, on the basis of complete mitogenome sequences of lepidopteran insects, including P. bremeri, as well as additional sequences of the COI start region from a diverse taxonomic range of lepidopteran species (a total of 53 species from 15 families). In our extensive search for a tRNA-like structure in the A+T-rich region, one $tRNA^{Trp}$-like sequence and one $tRNA^{Leu}(UUR)$-like sequence were detected in the P. bremeri A+T-rich region, and one or more tRNA-like structures were detected in the A+T-rich region of the majority of other sequenced lepidopteran insects, thereby indicating that such features occur frequently in the lepidopteran mitogenomes. Phylogenetic analysis using the concatenated 13 amino acid sequences and nucleotide sequences of PCGs of the four macrolepidopteran superfamilies together with the Tortricoidea and Pyraloidea resulted in the successful recovery of a monophyly of Papilionoidea and a monophyly of Bombycoidea. However, the Geometroidea were unexpectedly identified as a sister group of the Bombycoidea, rather than the Papilionoidea.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.187-191
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• 2004

Actin is a ubiquitous and highly conserved protein found in eukaryotic organisms. In this study, we describe the cDNA cloning and mRNA expression of an actin gene from the mulberry longicorn beetle, Apriona germari. The A. germari actin cDNA is 1524 bp containing a complete 1128 bp open reading frame that encodes a polypeptide of 376 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular weight of about 41.5 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence of the A.germari actin cDNA showed 99% protein sequence identity to Homalodisca coagulata actin, differing at only two amino acid positions, and 92-98% protein sequence identity to known insect species actins. The predicted three-dimensional structure of A. germari actin revealed the four residue hydrophobic pulg loop characteristic of the actin family. Northern blot analysis showed that A. germari actin is highly expressed in epidermis and muscle, and less strongly in midgut, but not in the fat body of A. germari larva.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.47-53
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• 2020

Objectives : Bombyx batryticatus L. is the dried larval form of the silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) infected by Beauveria bassiania (Bals.) Vuill. It is used as a food and medicinal resource to treat asthma, headaches, epilepsy, and convulsions in traditional Korean and Chinese medicines. However, the research of the toxicity about B. batryticatus is not enough yet. Here, we investigate the effects of potential subacute toxicity following the repeated oral administration of B. batryticatus water extract to C57BL/6 mice, at various doses of 0, 50, 150, and 450 mg/kg/day during a two-week period. Methods : The following parameters were examined during the study period: body weight, gross findings, clinical signs, organ weight, hematology, serum biochemistry, histopathology, and mortality. At the end of the treatment period, all the mice were euthanized. Results : No changes were observed in the body weights, gross findings, clinical signs, organ weights, and mortality after two weeks of administration of the B. batryticatus extract. In addition, compared with the normal control group, no noticeable treatment-related changes were observed in the hematological, serum biochemical, and histopathological parameters in the treated group following treatment with doses of up to 450 mg/kg/day. Conclusion : Based on these findings, we conclude that the treatment of mice with the water extract of B. batryticatus did not cause considerable C57BL/6 toxicity, and therefore, it could be considered safe for further pharmacological studies.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2024

Objectives : Paeng-hwal is described as an insect herbal medicine used for digestive diseases in the Dong-ui-bo-gam. The origin of this herbal medicine is limited to several small crabs, such as Helice tridens. These crab species cohabitat in the same environment and share similar morphological characteristics, making it very difficult to distinguish and collect the individual species for use in dietary supplements or herbal medicines. This study was conducted to develop a genetic identification tool for discriminating among these closely related small crab species. Methods : CO1 DNA barcode regions of 15 samples from 6 species of small crabs were analyzed to obtain the individual sequences. To identify the correct species, comparative analyses were carried out using the database of the NCBI GenBank and the NIBR. SCAR primers were designed to develop simple and rapid assay methods using inter-species specific sequences. Optimal SCAR assay conditions were established through gradient PCR, and the limit of detection (LOD) was determined. Results : Six species of small crabs (Helicana tridens, Macrophthalmus abbreviatus, Helicana tientsinensis, Helicana wuana, Chiromantes dehaani, and Hemigrapsus penicillatus), which are distributed as Paeng-hwal, were identified through CO1 sequences analysis. We also developed SCAR markers to distinguish between six small crabs at the species level. Furthermore, we established the optimal PCR assay methods and the LOD of each individual species. Conclusions : The rapid and simple SCAR-PCR assay methods were developed to identify the species and control the quality of herbal medicines for Paeng-hwal based on the genetic analyses of CO1 DNA barcodes.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.257-264
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• 2018

The recent global climate change induced the drought, flooding, and insect pest outbreaks. These caused the severe damage to crop yield in the domesticated field and occurrence change of insect pest species. The sap-sucking insect pest, aphids are common in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and cause serious yield losses. Thus, developing resistance cultivars is promising and efficient strategy to prevent the significant yield losses by aphid and screening germplasm is the essential procedure to achieve this goal. We tried to establish a resistance test indicator for foxglove aphid, Aulacorthum solani (Kaltenbach), in soybean and found that plant damage degree or infested plant damage is most suitable one. Also we screened around 1,200 of soybean germplasm including wild and cultivated species for its resistance to foxglove aphid from the various origins, and 67 soybeans, including PI 366121, showed antixenosis resistance, 31 germplasms among 67 antixenosis germplasms were showed antibiosis to foxglove aphid with non-choice test. The identified foxglove aphid resistant soybean resources showed significantly low rate in survival test. Furthermore, resistance type, (i.e., antibiosis or antixenosis) of each candidate were varied. In this research, we established the screening index for foxglove aphid resistance in soybean, and identified the resistance varieties. This result could be useful resources in breeding for new foxglove aphid resistance soybean cultivars, and provide fundamental information to investigate the resistance mechanism in soybean.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.134.1-134
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• 2003

Aecial host ranges of four Gymnosporangium species causing cedar-apple rust diseases, G. asiaticum, G. cornutum, 5. japonicum and G. yamadae, were investigated through artificial inoculation. Thirteen species of nine genera among Rosaceous plants, which have been reported as social hosts in Korea, were inoculated with fresh teliospores spores in early days of May of 2000 and of 2001, respectively. In the results, we re-confirmed that there was highly specific relationship between the rust species and aecial hosts and report new aecial hosts of four Gymnosporangium species. Teliospores of G. cornutum collected from Juniperus rigida successively produced spermogonia and aecia only on Sorbus alntifolia, the first report on host alteration of G. cornutum in Korea. Positive responses by teliospores of G. japonicum from J. chinenis of Suwon and from J. chinenis var. horizontalis of Jeju island were obtained only on P. villosa. Crataegus pinnatifida was confirmed as a new aecial host of G. viatium. Until this time, G. ymadae was believed to have Malus as the aecial host. However, teliospores of G. yamadae collected from J. chinensis var. kaizuka successively formed spermogonia and aecia on the leaves of Chaenomeles lagenaria, C. sinensis, Pyrus pyrtifolia var, culta, P. ussuriensis, Malus pumila and M. sileboldii. The date for maturation of spermogonia and aecia, and symptom development varied according to the rust fungi and aecial host plants, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.133.2-134
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• 2003

Cedar-apple rust fungi had been collected at 36 sites throughout the country from 1984 to 2001 and deposited at the Herbarium of Korea Forest Research Institute (HKFRI). We conducted the morphological examination on the dried specimens by light and scanning electron microscopy and as results six Gymnosporangium species were identified. Three species, G. asiaticum, G. clavaritforme and G. yamadae, were previously described in Korea, while the other three species, G. cornutum, G. globosum, and G. japonicum were new to Korea. Here we present the detailed morphological descriptions, distribution, host ranges and keys to species in both aecial and telial stages of each species. Some morphological characteristics related with telial formation on trees were newly identified; witches brooms for G. asiaticum, small galls for G. yamadae and telial formations on trunk for G. japonicun Geographically G. asiaticum and G. yamadae distributed widely throughout Korea, while the others were collected only at the limited locations. Eight Juniperus species as telial hosts and fifteen Rosaceous plants as aecial hosts were confirmed to be new in Korea.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.71-74
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• 2005

A LIM protein gene homologue of the CRP (cysteine­rich protein) family in the whiter-spotted flower chafer, Protaetia brevitarsis, was cloned. The P. brevitarsis LIM protein cDNA encodes a 92 amino acid polypep­tide with a predicted molecular mass of 10,030 Da and a pI of 8.57. The P. brevitarsis LIM protein contains the cysteine-rich consensus sequence of LIM domain and the glycine-rich consensus sequence observed in the cysteine-rich protein family 1 (CRPl). The potential nuclear targeting signal is retained. The deduced amino acid sequence of the P. brevitarsis LIM protein cDNA showed 92$\%$ identity to another beetle, Apriona germari LIM protein. Northern blot analysis showed that P. brevitarsis LIM protein is highly expressed in epidermis and midgut, but not in the fat body.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.6
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• pp.777-784
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to develop evaluation indices for forest landscape classification. The indices were chosen to enable forest managers to establish effective landscape management strategies through three times of focus group interviews and email survey with experts. The 13 landscape evaluation indices were finally divided into four categories. They were ecological health (degree of green naturality, degree of ecological naturality, disease and insect damage, crown vitality), aesthetic visual quality (naturalness, harmony, diversity, traditionality, aesthetic appreciation, rarity), and sensitivity (level of tourism/recreational use), interruptions (damaged land, artificial structures). The five-level was suggested for the forest landscape classification system.