• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.152-161
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• 2014

The in vitro antimicrobial potential of the unexplored Moringa oleifera seed coat (SC) was evaluated against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and yeast pathogens. Antimicrobial studies with various solvent extracts indicated ethyl acetate to be the best extractant, which was used for the rest of the antimicrobial studies as it tested neither toxic nor mutagenic. Gram-positive bacteria including a methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain were more susceptible with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) range of 0.03-0.04 mg/ml. The antimicrobial pharmacodynamics of the extract exhibited both concentration-dependent and time-dependent killing. Most of the test organisms exhibited a short post antibiotic effect (PAE) except Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae 1, which exhibited longer PAEs. Amongst the major phytoconstituents established, flavonoids, diterpenes, triterpenes and cardiac glycosides exhibited inhibitory properties against most of the test organisms. The identified active phytochemicals of the M. oleifera seed coat exhibited antimicrobial potential against a wide range of medically important pathogens including the multidrug-resistant bugs. Hence, the M. oleifera seed coat, which is usually regarded as an agri-residue, could be a source of potential candidates for the development of drugs or drug leads of broad spectrum that includes multidrug-resistant bugs, which are one of the greatest concerns of the $21^{st}$ century.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.96 no.3
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• pp.317-324
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• 2007

This study was carried out to obtain the several data for improving the seed supply in Pinus densiflora. Seed characteristics and germination properties according to change of cone production from 2003 to 2006 were analyzed in three plus stands of P. densiflora. P. densiflora showed good production at interval of two years in the periodicity of seed production. Seed potential and percent of filled seed (PFS) among the major seed characteristics showed positive relations to the change of cone production, whereas percent of developed seed (PDS) and seed efficiency showed opposite trend. As a result of regression analysis between seed characteristics and cone production, seed potential ($R^2=0.682$, p<0.01) and PFS ($R^2=0.161$, non-significant) presented positive correlation with cone production while PDS ($R^2=0.418$, p$R^2=0.308$, non-significant) presented negative correlation. In germination properties percent of germination (PG) showed similar tendency to cone production, while mean germination time (MGT) showed opposite tendency. As a result of regression analysis between germination characteristics and cone production, PG showed positive correlation, whereas MGT showed negative correlation. Therefore, we could expect high germination percentage and short period for germination when we harvested cones at good cone production time.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 1999

Current data on reproductive characters of endemic and native species are essential to provide a strategy for the conservation of these species. Red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. & Zucc.) is one of the dominant, native tree species in Korea, but its reproductive ecology is not well-known. In 1997, the pattern of variation in cone and seed yields contributing to the conservation of declining populations of red pines was examined. Plant height and dbh were measured, and several new cones were collected from each tagged tree after counting the number of cones on each tree. For a subset of cones sampled, the number of fertile scales, the number of seeds at three development stages (early/late aborted, and filled seed), seed wing size, wing color, and individual filled seed mass were measured. The three sites which differed significantly in mean plant size also differed in mean cone and seed production per plant. However further analyses showed that most variation in characters examined occurred among plants within sites, but not among sites. An average of 90% of the potential seeds on the cones aborted at an early developmental stage, demonstrating that early abortion is a major factor affecting the number of filled seeds per cone. Individual seed mass was the only character which exhibited significant variations among sites as well as among trees within sites. Individual seed mass was overall negatively correlated with both the percentage of late abortion and the number of old cones per plant, suggesting that both the past and current years' reproductive activities have caused variations in seed mass. The potential dispersal distance of red pine seeds is quite large. However, wing loading was correlated with seed mass and number in a complex pattern across the sites. Distribution of seeds with varied colored wings differed among sites and among trees within sites. These results suggest that red pines at different sites might possess different strategies to cope with selection pressures acting during the final phase of reproduction, from seed dispersal to establishment. Then the ‘fitted’ red pine trees at each site should be identified and managed to conserve or restore populations.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.214-214
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• 2017

Seeds of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) have demanded high quality because of their high cost of seed. The optimization of the seed priming techniques that have positive effect on fast and uniform germination becomes important at the commercial level. Several factors such as solution composition, osmotic potential, and treatment duration affect seed priming response. In this study, osmotic potentials of priming solution and germination characteristics of primed seed were investigated to clarify the effects different inorganic salt types and the duration. Tomato seeds were primed in osmotic solutions that were osmotic potential ranged -1.54 to -0.45 MPa in an aerated solution of PEG 8000 (17%, 22%, 27%), and inorganic salt solution of $KNO_3$, $Na_2SO_4$, and $K_2SO_4$ (100, 200, 300mM). The seeds were treated at $20^{\circ}C$ for 2, 4, and 6 days. After each treatment, the seeds were dried to moisture content ranged 5-8% at $25^{\circ}C$. Four replications of 25 seeds per each treatments were placed in 10-cm petri dishes containing two filter papers and 3 ml of $dH_2O$ and incubated at $20^{\circ}C/30^{\circ}C$ and $15^{\circ}C$ and seedlings evaluated for abnormality after 14 days of incubation. Seed water potential (${\psi}$) was correlated with water potential of priming solution ($r^2=0.86$). Seeds primed in 100mM $KNO_3$ resulted the highest germination rate (GR, $63.9 %{\cdot}day^{-1}$) and lowest mean germination time (MGT, 2.0 days) comparing to untreated control ($23.9%{\cdot}day^{-1}$ of germination rate and 4.1 days of MGT) at $20/30^{\circ}C$, even though 96% of germination percentage were not different. Seeds primed in 100mM $KNO_3$ (${\psi}=-0.45MPa$) for 4 days showed ${\psi}=-0.38MPa$. Priming in $Na_2SO_4$, $K_2SO_4$, and PEG solution for 6 days improved MGT and GR, but not significantly than 4 days of treatment. Additionally, stepwise osmotic solution treatment with 100mM and 300mM concentration for 6 day did not showed differences with single treatment. In relation to osmotic potentials, identical osmotic potential in different inorganic salt solution showed different effect on germination characteristics.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.313-322
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• 2022

Seed-borne pathogens in crops reduce the seed germination rate and hamper seedling growth, leading to significant yield loss. Due to the growing concerns about environmental damage and the development of resistance to agrochemicals among pathogen populations, there is a strong demand for eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic chemicals in agriculture. It has been well established during the last few decades that plant seeds harbor diverse microbes, some of which are vertically transmitted and important for plant health and productivity. In this study, we isolated culturable endophytic bacteria and fungi from soybean seeds and evaluated their antagonistic activities against common bacterial and fungal seed-borne pathogens of soybean. A total of 87 bacterial isolates and 66 fungal isolates were obtained. Sequencing of 16S rDNA and internal transcribed spacer amplicon showed that these isolates correspond to 30 and 15 different species of bacteria and fungi, respectively. Our antibacterial and antifungal activity assay showed that four fungal species and nine bacterial species have the potential to suppress the growth of at least one seed-borne pathogen tested in the study. Among them, Pseudomonas koreensis appears to have strong antagonistic activities across all the pathogens. Our collection of soybean seed endophytes would be a valuable resource not only for studying biology and ecology of seed endophytes but also for practical deployment of seed endophytes toward crop protection.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2012

To assess parameters of mating system in seed orchard, such as outcrossing rates, number of potential pollen contributors, and degree of pollen contamination, seeds, produced in '77 plot of the Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora S et Z) seed orchard at Anmyeon island, were collected in 2007 and analysed by nSSR and cpSSR markers. Estimates of outcrossing rates ranged from 91.2 to 100% (mean 97.7%) on the basis of the analysis of cpSSR haplotypes and from 81.6 to 100% (mean 95.3%) on the basis of the analysis of nSSR genotypes. By cross checking of both DNA markers, seeds, presumed to be products of self pollination on the basis of single marker, were confirmed as outcrossed seeds, which resulted in cumulative outcrossing rates of 98.9%. On the basis of pooled cpSSR haplotype of each seed, the number of pollen contributors and paternal contribution rates were estimated as 14.8 and 0.512, respectively. In conclusion, considering pretty high level of outcrossing rates observed in a seed orchard, good genetic potential of the seeds, produced in '77 plot of the seed orchard of Japanese red pines at Anmyeon island, may be guaranteed. Investigated results from the analysis of mating system of Japanese red pines in a '77 plot of the seed orchard may also be expected to provide useful information for the management and establishment of the seed orchard of the progressive generation.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.513-521
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• 2023

Seed-borne diseases reduce not only the seed germination and seedling growth but also seed quality, resulting in the significant yield loss in crop production. Plant seed harbors diverse microbes termed endophytes other than pathogens inside it. However, their roles and application to agricultures were rarely understood and explored to date. Recently, we had isolated from soybean seeds culturable endophytes exhibiting in-vitro antagonistic activities against common bacterial and fungal seed-borne pathogens. In this study, we evaluated effects of seed treatment with endophytes on plant growth and protection against the common seed-borne pathogens: four fungal pathogens (Cercospora sojina, C. kikuchii, Septoria glycines, Diaporthe eres) and two bacterial pathogens (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. glycines, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci). Our experiments showed that treatment of soybean seeds with seed endophytes clearly offer protection against seed-borne pathogens. We also found that some of the endophytes promote plant growth in addition to the disease suppression. Taken together, our results demonstrate agricultural potential of seed endophytes in crop protection.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.670-678
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• 2017

Persimmon seeds contain considerable amounts of minerals, amino and organic acids, natural antioxidants and phenolic compounds. The objective of this study was to investigate quality characteristics and antioxidant potential of Korean persimmon seeds. The pH (4.88-4.94), color values, contents of minerals, free amino acids, organic acids, and phenolic compounds and DPPH free radical scavenging potentials of persimmon seed extracts significantly (p < 0.05) varied with the genotypes. This study showed that the seeds could be used as a source of different mineral elements (47.14-85.07 mg/kg) without any measureable amount of heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury. Similarly, considerable amounts of organic (1550.13-2413.08 mg/kg) and essential amino (50.85-54.03 mg/kg) acids and total phenolic compounds ($1227.91-1307.78{\mu}g$ gallic acid equivalent/g) were also found in the seed extracts, indicating their potential food value as a natural antioxidant. Results of the present study imply that prethanol-A, a food preservative, can be used as an effective extraction to obtain the minerals, organic and free amino acids, and phenolic compounds from the persimmon seeds, which possess a big potential to be commercially used in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.111-116
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• 2012

Nondestructive evaluation of seed viability is one of the highly demanding technologies for seed production industry. Conventional seed sorting technologies, such as tetrazolium and standard germination test are destructive, time consuming, and labor intensive methods. Near infrared spectroscopy technique has shown good potential for nondestructive quality measurements for food and agricultural products. In this study, FT-NIR spectroscopy was used to classify normal and artificially aged lettuce seeds. The spectra with the range of 1100~2500 nm were scanned for lettuce seeds and analyzed using the principal component analysis(PCA) method. To classify viable seeds from nonviable seeds, a calibration modeling set was developed with a partial least square(PLS) method. The calibration model developed from PLS resulted in 98% classification accuracy with the Savitzky-Golay $1^{st}$ derivative preprocessing method. The prediction accuracy for the test data set was 93% with the MSC(Multiplicative Scatter Correction) preprocessing method. The results show that FT-NIR has good potential for discriminating non-viable lettuce seeds from viable ones.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.42-57
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• 2011

We described the above-ground plant species composition and measured a range of soil physico-chemical properties and the composition and size of the soil seed bank in the remnant natural vegetations on the flood plains of the Han River within Seoul, South Korea. We used analysis of variance and multivariate analyses to analyse the data and S${\o}$rensen's similarity index to compare the composition of the vegetation and seed banks. The soils were circum-neutral and composed of mainly sand and silt fractions with a very limited clay component; a gradient based on sand/clay proportions was identified. The soil seed banks varied markedly between- and within-sites and had much greater species diversity than the above-ground vegetation. Two of the major dominants in the vegetation (Miscanthus saccariflorus and Phragmites australis) were found at very low densities in the seed bank. The site differences appeared to be correlated with the sand-clay gradient, suggesting that the soil properties differentially affected seed inputs into the soil, or that the processes than controlled sediment deposition during floods was also important in differentially affecting seed deposition. Lastly, there was relatively little similarity between the vegetation, dominated mainly by perennials, and the seed bank which contained a relatively large proportion of annuals and biennials. This result suggests that after disturbance caused by flooding there is the potential for many other species to colonize. This may impinge on the regeneration potential of the sites and cause concern for the future conservation of these important remnants of natural vegetation.