• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.278-282
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• 2024

In November 2021, sponge gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca) plants with typical downy mildew symptom were observed in Korea. Based on morphological characteristics of sporangiophores and sporangia, combined with molecular phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer rDNA and cox2 mtDNA regions, the causal pathogen was identified as Pseudoperonospora cubensis (Oomycota). This is the first report of downy mildew caused by P. cubensis on L. aegyptiaca in Korea. Given that P. cubensis exhibits high disease incidence and severity on many Cucurbitaceae crops, it could pose a significant threat to sponge gourd cultivation.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.107-110
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• 2016

In October 2014, an occurrence of gray mold was observed on young fruits of sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) in Sachunmun, Gangneung, South Korea. Symptoms included abundant mycelia growth with gray conidia on young fruits and finally rotting the fruits. The fungus was isolated from symptomatic fruits and its pathogenicity was confirmed. Based on the morphological features and sequence analysis of ITS-5.8S rDNA, G3PDH, HSP60, and RPB2 genes, the pathogen was identified as Botrytis cinerea Pers. This is the first report of gray mold caused by B. cinerea on L. cylindrica in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.540-545
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• 2009

Aloe (Aloe vera L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. var. tuberculatus Gabaj.) and sponge.gourd (Luffa cylindrica L.) are well utilized in Asian countries as traditional medicines and cosmetics, or foods. And we carried out an experiment to see if there are some specific ratios among trace metals on the plants. Though the metal concentrations varied significantly depending on the sampling periods, aloe gel is high in iron (Fe) and calcium (Ca). Cucumber fruit juice is also high in iron (Fe) and potassium (K). Sponge.gourd sap contains a high amount of zinc (Zn) and calcium (Ca). The uses of the previous 3 plant parts are considered to have some relations to their different ratios and of their trace metals.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.702-709
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• 2014

Luffa cylindrica Roem (sponge gourd) belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and has been cultivated as an ornamental plant in Korea. Recently, its cultivation area has been increased with an increase in demand for it as an ingredient in cosmetics, herbal medicines, and health supplements. We analyzed inorganic components of sap collected from land race sponge gourds. We also measured antioxidant enzyme activities and antimicrobial activities of the plant, seed, and sap to examine functional properties of sponge gourd. The sap of the sponge gourd contained high levels of K, Ca, P, and Mg, with the most abundant mineral in the sap being K ($470mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$). The amounts of Ca and Mg were 2 and 1.7 times more than those found in cucumber (Cucumis sativus), respectively. Ascorbate peroxidase was more active than catalase and superoxide dismutase in various plant parts of sponge gourd. Antioxidant activities were much lower in stems than in other plant parts such as leaves, roots, flowers, fruits, seeds, and sap. In addition, sap showed a very low level of antimicrobial activity against two food-borne pathogens, Vibrio parahaemdyticus and Propionibacterium acne, and none against the other eight tested food-borne pathogens. Antimicrobial activities against Candida albicans and Malassezia furfur, which causes dermatitis, appeared to be higher in sap than in other parts of sponge gourd plants. Overall, the antimicrobial activity against Malassezia furfur appeared to be higher than against Candida albicans.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.54-56
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• 2012

Sclerotium rot of sponge gourd occurred at the experimental field of Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services in August 2010. The infected fruits showed water-soaked and rot symptoms. White mycelial mats spread over lesions, and then sclerotia were formed on fruit and near soil line. The sclerotia were globoid in shape, 1-3 mm in size and white to brown in color. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth and sclerotia formation on PDA was $30^{\circ}C$ and the hyphal width was 4-8 ${\mu}m$. The typical clamp connections were observed in the hyphae of the fungus grown on PDA. On the basis of mycological characteristics, ITS rDNA sequence analysis, and pathogenicity to host plants, this fungus was identified as Sclerotium rolfsii Saccardo. This is the first report of sclerotium rot on sponge gourd caused by S. rolfsii in Korea.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.67-69
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• 1996

Some physical properties and inorganic components of sap from sponge-gourd(Luffa cylindrica L.) were investigated for their changes affected as collection time. Huter valves, pH, turbidity and viscosity of the sap were not different. pH value was indicated at slightly alkalinity and decreased by culturing period. Potassium, calcium and magnesium were major inorganic components of the sap and podium, zinc and iron were minor components. Copper was not detected in open culturing and also manganes way not detected in all samples.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.1014-1021
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• 1997

Studies were carried out on the preparation of several kinds of pulps from Sponge gourd fiber by KP, ASP, SP PAP, AP and addition of AQ pulping process. These unbeaten and beaten pulping fibers were observed their characteristics and fiber structure by SEM, FQA, Image analyzer and Micro projector. The results were summarized as follows; 1) The cooking condition which is the possible defibrilation of Shives are KP base($160^{\circ}C$, 2hr.), ASP base($155^{\circ}C$, 4hr.), PAP base($160^{\circ}C$, 1hr.). From the results, the kappa no. had the range of 12, 25, 10 each other. 2) The pulp yields of sponge gourd fiber obtained the range of KP 50~55%, ASP&60~70% and PAP 45~50%. SP base have the highest and contnets of KP&PAP base are much the same as woods. 3) Increasing amount of NaOH on Pulping was accelerated the defibrilation of Shives and was changed a morphology of pulping fiber quality such as fiber length, curl and kink index. 4) Addition of AQ on pulping process of sponge gourd fiber had a affect to raise the rate of delignification while protecting cellullosic components against degradation, especially defibrilation was very excellent, beated pulp much more easily and increased the fibrilation. 5) ASP system have higher bulk density, fiber bonding and protecting cellullosic components against degradation than KP or PAP. 6) The color reactions of the "C" stain solution showed blue or blue-gray with clean and transparency thin cell wall.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.193-203
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• 1977

Three sterol fractions; 4-desmethyl-, 4-monomethyl-, and 4,4-dimethylsterol, separated by thin layer chromatography from the unsaponifiables of five Cucurbitaceae (cucumber, watermelon, sponge cucumber, gourd and snake gourd) seed oils were analyzed by gas liquid chromatography and combined gas liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. ${\alpha}$-Spinasterol, ${\Delta}^{7,22,25}$-stigmastatrienol and ${\Delta}^{7,25}$-stigmastadienol isolated from the 4-desmethylsterol fraction were identified by IR, NMR and mass spectrometry.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.373-378
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• 1991

The skin and fleshy substance on the net fiber of sponge-gourd fruit pressed mechanically was removed with 0.2% NaOH solution in $3{\sim}5$ hours. The treatment of 0.2% NaOH with 0.02% Monopol(non-ionogenic polyoxethylen derivative) as surfactnat and with 0.1% $Ca(OCl)_2$ as bleaching agent enhanced the effect to remove the fleshy substance and improve the quality of net fiber. Also, the wet hardness and tensile strength of net fiber were controlled by the crosslinkage of the fiber with glu tardialdehyde, glyoxal, and formalin, respectively. The net fiber was stable on the acid and alkaline solutions. Also the range of temperature to degradate the fiber was $338{\sim}385^{\circ}C$. These values indicated a fair stability. The improved net fiber can be used for raw material of bath, dish washing, oil and gas filter, and many kinds of decorations.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.366-372
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• 1991

The volatile components, normal hydrocarbons, organic acids, and nonvolatile fatty acids in the various parts of Luffa cylindrica(L.) Roemer(sponge-gourd) were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. More than 150 volatile components were separated and thirty seven components were identified and quantified. The contents of essential oil were 0.05%, 0.05%, and 0.08% on a dried weight base in leaves, stem, and seeds respectively. Fruit juice and sap contained 0.06% and 0.03% oil on the fresh weight base. Twenty six components of normal hydrocarbons in leaves, stem, seed, and unripe fruit were separated, identified, and quantified. The total concentrations of the hydrocarbons were $75.5\;{\mu}g/g$ in leaf, $52.0\;{\mu}g/g$ in stem, $46.6\;{\mu}g/g$ in fruit juice, and $32.8\;{\mu}g/g$ in seed fractions. The major hydrocarbons in leaves, stem, and fruit juice were $nC_{25}$, $nC_{27}$, $nC_{29}$, and $nC_{31}$, $nC_{16}$, $nC_{17}$, $nC_{18}$, and $nC_{19}$ were abundant in seeds mainly. The concentration of malonic acid among the five organic acids was highest in leaves, stem, and flowers. Unripe fruit contained 24.5 mg/g of the five organic acids and malic and citric acids were higher. The concentrations of palmitic, linoleic, and linolenic acids were higher concentration in the various parts of sponge-gourd and palmitic acid was distributed in the most parts. The concentrations of organic and fatty acids in the sap were negligible.