Contents of paeoniflorin and albiflorin in two Korean landraces of Paeonia lactiflora and characterization of paeoniflorin biosynthesis genes in peony.

BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH PURPOSE: Paeoniflorin and albiflorin are monoterpene glycosides that exhibit various medicinal properties in Paeonia species. This study explored the terpene biosynthesis pathway and analyzed the distribution of these compounds in different tissues of two Korean landraces of Paeonia lactiflora to gain insights into the biosynthesis of monoterpene glycosides in P. lactiflora and their potential applications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two Korean landraces, Hongcheon var. and Hwacheon var, of P. lactiflora were used for the analyses. Contents of the paeoniflorin and albiflorin were analyzed using HPLC. RNA was extracted, sequenced, and subjected to transcriptome analysis. Differential gene expression, KEGG, and GO analyses were performed. Paeoniflorin biosynthesis genes were isolated from the transcriptomes using the genes in Euphorbia maculata with the NBLAST program. Phylogenetic analysis of of 1-Deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DOXPS), geranyl pyrophosphate synthase (GPPS), and pinene synthase (PS) was carried out with ClustalW and MEGA v5.0. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Analysis of paeoniflorin and albiflorin content in different tissues of the two P. lactiflora landraces revealed significant variation. Transcriptome analysis yielded 36,602 unigenes, most of which were involved in metabolic processes. The DEG analysis revealed tissue-specific expression patterns with correlations between landraces. The isolation of biosynthetic genes identified 173 candidates. Phylogenetic analysis of the key enzymes in these pathways provides insights into their evolutionary relationships. The sequencing and analysis of DOXPS, GPPS, PS revealed distinct clades and subclades, highlighting their evolutionary divergence and functional conservation. Our findings highlight the roots as the primary sites of paeoniflorin and albiflorin accumulation in P. lactiflora, underscoring the importance of tissue-specific gene expression in their biosynthesis. CONCLUSION: this study advances our understanding of monoterpene glycoside production and distribution in Paeonia, thereby guiding further plant biochemistry investigations.

O- and N-Methyltransferases in benzylisoquinoline alkaloid producing plants.

BACKGROUND: Secondary metabolites such as benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIA) have attracted considerable attention because of their pharmacological properties and potential therapeutic applications. Methyltransferases (MTs) can add methyl groups to alkaloid molecules, altering their physicochemical properties and bioactivity, stability, solubility, and recognition by other cellular components. Five types of O-methyltransferases and two types of N-methyltransferases are involved in BIA biosynthesis. OBJECTIVE: Since MTs may be the source for the discovery and development of novel biomedical, agricultural, and industrial compounds, we performed extensive molecular and phylogenetic analyses of O- and N-methyltransferases in BIA-producing plants. METHODS: MTs involved in BIA biosynthesis were isolated from transcriptomes of Berberis koreana and Caulophyllum robustum. We also mined the methyltransferases of Coptis japonica, Papaver somniferum, and Nelumbo nucifera from the National Center for Biotechnology Information protein database. Then, we analyzed the functional motifs and phylogenetic analysis. RESULT: We mined 42 O-methyltransferases and 8 N-methyltransferases from the five BIA-producing plants. Functional motifs for S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent methyltransferases were retained in most methyltransferases, except for the three O-methyltransferases from N. nucifera. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the methyltransferases were grouped into four clades, I, II, III and IV. The clustering patterns in the phylogenetic analysis suggested a monophyletic origin of methyltransferases and gene duplication within species. The coexistence of different O-methyltransferases in the deep branch subclade might support some cases of substrate promiscuity. CONCLUSIONS: Methyltransferases may be a source for the discovery and development of novel biomedical, agricultural, and industrial compounds. Our results contribute to further understanding of their structure and reaction mechanisms, which will require future functional studies.

Seasonal occurrence of bark and woodboring Coleoptera in stands of Pinus densiflora (Pinales: Pinaceae) and Larix kaempferi (Pinales: Pinaceae) and monitoring method using multifunnel traps baited with pine volatiles.

This study investigated the seasonal occurrence of bark and woodboring Coleoptera in Pinus densiflora (Pinales: Pinaceae), and Larix kaempferi (Pinales: Pinaceae) stands using multifunnel traps baited with pine volatiles in Korea. The number and species of bark and woodboring beetles caught in traps baited with ethanol, α-pinene, and ethanol+α-pinene were compared to determine the effective attractants. In addition, the effects of other pine volatiles, such as (-)-ß-pinene, ß-caryophyllene, (±)-limonene, ß-myrcene, and 3-carene, were investigated. A total of 13,134 woodboring beetles from 150 species were collected from pine and larch stands from 2019 to 2020. Tomicus minor (Hartig) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adults were more attracted to traps baited with α-pinene, whereas Xyleborinus saxesenii (Ratzeburg) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Cyclorhipidion pelliculosum (Eichhoff) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and Phloeosinus pulchellus (Blandford) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adults were more attracted to traps baited with ethanol. Hylurgops interstitialis (Chapuis) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Shirahoshizo genus group, Rhagium inquisitor (Linne) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), and Rhadinomerus maebarai (Voss & Chûjô) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) were more frequently attracted to traps baited with ethanol+α-pinene than to traps baited with other attractants. The addition of 3-carene to ethanol+α-pinene enhanced the capture of H. interstitialis, R. inquisitor, and Hylobius (Callirus) haroldi (Faust) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Dark background-surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic detection of nanoplastics: Thermofluidic strategy.

This study aims to develop a cost-effective and time-efficient method for detecting nanoplastics, which have recently garnered significant attention due to their potential harmful impact on the water environment (XiaoZhi, 2021; Gigault et al., 2021; Mitrano et al., 2021; Ferreira et al., 2019). Although several techniques are available to accumulate data on microplastics, there is currently no universally accepted analytical technique for detecting nanoplastics (Gigault et al., 2021; Mitrano et al., 2021; Mitrano et al., 2019; Cai et al., 2021a; Allen et al., 2022). In this study, we have developed a substrate that exhibits Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) (Zhou et al., 2021; Lv et al., 2020; Lê et al., 2021; Hu et al., 2022; Chang et al., 2022; Yang et al., 2022; Xu et al., 2020; Jeon et al., 2021; Lee and Fang, 2022; Vélez-Escamilla and Contreras-Torres, 2022; Liu et al., 2022; Xie et al., 2023) activity over a large area and a dark background in optical (darkfield mode) vision, enabling the detection of sparkling nanoplastics on the substrate. This darkfield-based strategy allows for the point-by-point detection of single nanoplastics, offering cost and time-saving advantages over other resource-intensive analytical techniques. Our findings reveal the presence of PP nanoplastics in commonly used laboratory equipment, individual PE nanoplastics from a hot water-contained commercial paper cup, and the first detection of natural nanoplastics in coastal seawater. We believe that this technique will have a universal application in establishing a global map of nanoplastics and advancing our understanding of the environmental life cycle of plastics.

The Impact of Light Wavelength and Darkness on Metabolite Profiling of Korean Ginseng: Evaluating Its Anti-Cancer Potential against MCF-7 and BV-2 Cell Lines.

Korean ginseng is a source of functional foods and medicines; however, its productivity is hindered by abiotic stress factors, such as light. This study investigated the impacts of darkness and different light wavelengths on the metabolomics and anti-cancer activity of ginseng extracts. Hydroponically-grown Korean ginseng was shifted to a light-emitting diodes (LEDs) chamber for blue-LED and darkness treatments, while white fluorescent (FL) light treatment was the control. MCF-7 breast cancer and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV-2 microglial cells were used to determine chemo-preventive and neuroprotective potential. Overall, 53 significant primary metabolites were detected in the treated samples. The levels of ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, and Re, as well as organic and amino acids, were significantly higher in the dark treatment, followed by blue-LED treatment and the FL control. The dark-treated ginseng extract significantly induced apoptotic signaling in MCF-7 cells and dose-dependently inhibited the NF-κB and MAP kinase pathways in LPS-induced BV-2 cells. Short-term dark treatment increased the content of Rd, Rc, Rb1, Rb2, and Re ginsenosides in ginseng extracts, which promoted apoptosis of MCF-7 cells and inhibition of the MAP kinase pathway in BV-2 microglial cells. These results indicate that the dark treatment might be effective in improving the pharmacological potential of ginseng.

Impact of Light and Dark Treatment on Phenylpropanoid Pathway Genes, Primary and Secondary Metabolites in Agastache rugosa Transgenic Hairy Root Cultures by Overexpressing Arabidopsis Transcription Factor AtMYB12.

Agastache rugosa, otherwise called Korean mint, has a wide range of medicinal benefits. In addition, it is a rich source of several medicinally valuable compounds such as acacetin, tilianin, and some phenolic compounds. The present study aimed to investigate how the Tartary buckwheat transcription factor AtMYB12 increased the primary and secondary metabolites in Korean mint hairy roots cultured under light and dark conditions. A total of 50 metabolites were detected by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS). The result showed that the AtMYB12 transcription factor upregulated the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway genes, which leads to the highest accumulation of primary and secondary metabolites in the AtMYB12-overexpressing hairy root lines (transgenic) than that of the GUS-overexpressing hairy root line (control) when grown under the light and dark conditions. However, when the transgenic hairy root lines were grown under dark conditions, the phenolic and flavone content was not significantly different from that of the control hairy root lines. Similarly, the heat map and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) result showed that most of the metabolites were significantly abundant in the transgenic hairy root cultures grown under light conditions. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) showed that the identified metabolites were separated far based on the primary and secondary metabolite contents present in the control and transgenic hairy root lines grown under light and dark conditions. Metabolic pathway analysis of the detected metabolites showed 54 pathways were identified, among these 30 were found to be affected. From these results, the AtMYB12 transcription factor activity might be light-responsive in the transgenic hairy root cultures, triggering the activation of the primary and secondary metabolic pathways in Korean mint.

Isolation and Characterization of the Genes Involved in the Berberine Synthesis Pathway in Asian Blue Cohosh, Caulophyllum robustum.

Caulophyllum robustum, commonly named Asian blue cohosh, is a perennial herb in the family Berberidaceae. It has traditionally been used for folk medicine in China. We isolated berberine from the leaves, stem, roots, and fruits of C. robustum, and this is the first report on berberine in this species. Transcriptome analysis was conducted for the characterization of berberine biosynthesis genes in C. robustum, in which, all the genes for berberine biosynthesis were identified. From 40,094 transcripts, using gene ontology (GO) analysis, 26,750 transcripts were assigned their functions in the categories of biological process, molecular function, and cellular component. In the analysis of genes expressed in different tissues, the numbers of genes in the categories of intrinsic component of membrane and transferase activity were up-regulated in leaves versus stem. The berberine synthesis genes in C. robustum were characterized by phylogenetic analysis with corresponding genes from other berberine-producing species. The co-existence of genes from different plant families in the deepest branch subclade implies that the differentiation of berberine synthesis genes occurred early in the evolution of berberine-producing plants. Furthermore, the copy number increment of the berberine synthesis genes was detected at the species level.

Acaricidal and Insecticidal Activities of Essential Oils and Constituents of Tasmannia lanceolata (Poir.) A.C.Sm. (Canellales: Winteraceae) Against Tetranychus urticae Koch (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae) and Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

The negative side effects of synthetic pesticides have drawn attention to the need for environmentally friendly agents to control arthropod pests. To identify promising candidates as botanical pesticides, we investigated the acaricidal and insecticidal activities of 44 plant-derived essential oils (EOs) against Tetranychus urticae Koch and Myzus persicae Sulzer. Among the tested EOs, Tasmannia lanceolata (Poir.) A.C.Sm. (Tasmanian pepper) essential oil (TPEO) exhibited strong acaricidal and insecticidal activity. Mortality rates of 100% and 71.4% against T. urticae and M. persicae, respectively, were observed with TPEO at a concentration of 2 mg/ml. Polygodial was determined to be the primary active component after bioassay-guided isolation of TPEO using silica gel open-column chromatography, gas chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Polygodial demonstrated acaricidal activity against T. urticae with mortality rates of 100%, 100%, 61.9%, and 61.6% at concentrations of 1, 0.5, 0.25, and 0.125 mg/ml, respectively. Insecticidal activity against M. persicae was also evident, with mortality rates of 88.5%, 85.0%, 46.7%, and 43.3% at respective concentrations of 1, 0.5, 0.25, and 0.125 mg/ml. Insecticidal and acaricidal activities of TPEO were greater than those of Eungjinssag, a commercially available organic agricultural material for controlling mites and aphids in the Republic of Korea. These findings suggest that TPEO is a promising candidate for mites and aphids control.

Impact of Sodium Silicate Supplemented, IR-Treated Panax Ginseng on Extraction Optimization for Enhanced Anti-Tyrosinase and Antioxidant Activity: A Response Surface Methodology (RSM) Approach.

Ginseng has long been widely used for its therapeutic potential. In our current study, we investigated the impact of abiotic stress induced by infrared (IR) radiations and sodium silicate on the upregulation of antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase levels, as well as the total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of the Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) variety Yeonpoong. The RSM-based design was used to optimize ultrasonic-assisted extraction time (1-3 h) and temperature (40-60 °C) for better anti-tyrosinase activity and improved antioxidant potential. The optimal extraction results were obtained with a one-hour extraction time, at a temperature of 40 °C, and with a 1.0 mM sodium silicate treatment. We recorded maximum anti-tyrosinase (53.69%) and antioxidant (40.39%) activities when RSM conditions were kept at 875.2 mg GAE/100 g TPC, and 3219.58 mg catechin/100 g. When 1.0 mM sodium silicate was added to the media and extracted at 40 °C for 1 h, the highest total ginsenoside content (368.09 mg/g) was recorded, with variations in individual ginsenosides. Ginsenosides Rb1, Rd, and F2 were significantly affected by extraction temperature, while Rb2 and Rc were influenced by the sodium silicate concentration. Moreover, ginsenoside F2 increased with the sodium silicate treatment, while the Rg3-S content decreased. Interestingly, higher temperatures favored greater ginsenoside diversity while sodium silicate impacted PPD-type ginsenosides. It was observed that the actual experimental values closely matched the predicted values, and this agreement was statistically significant at a 95% confidence level. Our findings suggest that the application of IR irradiation in hydroponic systems can help to improve the quality of ginseng sprouts when supplemented with sodium silicate in hydroponic media. Optimized extraction conditions using ultrasonication can be helpful in improving antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activity.

A Comprehensive Study on EMI Shielding Performance of Carbon Nanomaterials-Embedded CFRP or GFRP Composites.

The rapid advancement of electrical and telecommunication facilities has resulted in increasing requirements for the development of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding composites. Accordingly, an experimental study was conducted to evaluate the EMI shielding performance of carbon nanomaterial (CNM)-embedded carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) or glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites. Nine combinations of CNMs and carbon or glass fibers were used to fabricate the composites. The synergistic effects of CNMs on the EMI shielding performance were systematically investigated. The results indicated that plate-type CNMs (i.e., graphene and graphite nanoplatelets) have more prominent effects than fiber-type CNMs (carbon nanofibers). The composites fabricated with CFRP afforded higher EMI shielding than the GFRP-based composites. Among the eighteen samples, 3% CNT-GNP in CFRP composites, which included plate-typed CNM, exhibited the best EMI shielding performances, showing 38.6 dB at 0.7 GHz. This study helps understand the shielding performance of CNM-embedded CFRP and GFRP composites in electrical and telecommunication facilities.

Field Confirmation of (Z)-9-Heptacosene and (3Z,6Z,9Z)-Tricosatriene as Key Sex Pheromone Components of Korean Conogethes punctiferalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Crambidae).

Recently, insufficient attractiveness of Conogethes punctiferalis Guenée adult males to sex pheromone, -(E)-10-hexadecenal and (Z)-10-hexadecenal, has been reported. To identify the other essential components of sex pheromone, male and female body extracts were analyzed. Two hydrocarbon components, (Z)-9-heptacosene (Z9-27:HC) and (3Z,6Z,9Z)-tricosatriene (Z3,Z6,Z9-23:HC), were identified from only female body extract. There was a significant difference in the electroantennogram (EAG) response of male antennae to Z3,Z6,Z9-23:HC and Z9-27:HC at all test concentrations compared to the response to the hexane control. In field attraction testing, the addition of Z9-27:HC and Z3,Z6,Z9-23:HC to binary aldehyde pheromones significantly increased trap catches of C. punctiferalis male adults. Based on the female and male body extract analysis and field attraction test, Z9-27:HC and Z3,Z6,Z9-23:HC were determined to be other essential sex pheromone components of the Korean C. punctiferalis population. No significant difference was observed in the number of male captures between the bucket trap and delta trap. Pheromone traps with a color close to yellow shade attracted more male adults than traps with a color close to blue shade.

Comparative Transcriptomics for Genes Related to Berberine and Berbamine Biosynthesis in Berberidaceae.

Berberine and berbamine are bioactive compounds of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) present in Berberis species. The contents of berbamine are 20 times higher than berberine in leaf tissues in three closely related species: Berberis koreana, B. thunbergii and B. amurensis. This is the first report on the quantification of berberine compared to the berbamine in the Berberis species. Comparative transcriptome analyses were carried out with mRNAs from the leaf tissues of the three-species. The comparison of the transcriptomes of B. thunbergii and B. amurensis to those of B. koreana, B. thunbergii showed a consistently higher number of differentially expressed genes than B. amurensis in KEGG and DEG analyses. All genes encoding enzymes involved in berberine synthesis were identified and their expressions were variable among the three species. There was a single copy of CYP80A/berbamunine synthase in B. koreana. Methyltransferases and cytochrome P450 mono-oxidases (CYPs) are key enzymes for BIA biosynthesis. The current report contains the copy numbers and other genomic characteristics of the methyltransferases and CYPs in Berberis species. Thus, the contents of the current research are valuable for molecular characterization for the medicinal utilization of the Berberis species.

Acaricidal Activities of Dioscorea japonica Thunb. (Dioscoreales: Dioscoreaceae) Extract and its Constituents Against the Two-spotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae).

The acaricidal activities of 86 plant extracts were investigated under laboratory conditions. The ethanol extract of Dioscorea japonica Thunb. root showed the strongest acaricidal activity, with 89.3% mortality against two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch adults at a 2 mg/ml concentration. Bioassay-guided isolation of D. japonica root extract using silica gel open column chromatography, gas chromatography (GC), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified palmitic acid as the primary active compound. The acaricidal activities of palmitic acid against T. urticae were 91.2% and 69.7% at concentrations of 1 and 0.5 mg/ml, respectively. Among nine saturated fatty acids with carbon chains ranging from C8 to C26, the most vigorous acaricidal activity was observed with octanoic acid, followed by palmitic acid, and decanoic acid at a 1 mg/ml concentration. The acaricidal activity of the other fatty acids was less than 40% mortality at a 1 mg/ml concentration. These results indicate that a suitable carbon length is essential for fatty acids to exhibit acaricidal activity. The acaricidal efficacy of Eungjinssag (EJSG), an organic agricultural material authorized for the management of mites in the Republic of Korea, was compared to D. japonica root extract. At concentrations above 1 mg/ml, the acaricidal activity of D. japonica root extract was stronger than that of EJSG. The results of this study show that D. japonica root extract and palmitic acid are promising candidates as new environmentally-friendly control agents against two-spotted spider mite, which is one of the most severely damaging agricultural arthropod pests.

Comparison of yield and metabolites according to the types of hilling materials utilized during Glehnia littoralis sprout vegetable cultivation.

Various hilling materials (rice hulls, pine sawdust, and perlite) were compared to produce sprout vegetables using beach silvertop (Glehnia littoralis Fr. Schm. ex Miq.). We have investigated the yield, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant capacities (DPPH, ABTS), phenolic compounds, and volatile compounds of G. littoralis sprout vegetables. Comparing the yield and phenolic compounds according to the hilling materials, the rice hulls treatment was the most and followed by sawdust and perlite. The leaves and stems of G. littoralis sprout vegetable contain approximately 27 volatile compounds. The sawdust treatment had a pine scent even during the hilling process, and these scent components were entirely absorbed by the stem. The result suggested that sawdust treatment, like rice hulls, had a high yield and high content of beneficial compounds, but the stem of G. littoralis had a pine tree scent, reducing the inherent scent of G. littoralis.

Effect of Cyclic Shear Fatigue under Magnetic Field on Natural Rubber Composite as Anisotropic Magnetorheological Elastomers.

With the development and wide applicability of rubber materials, it is imperative to determine their performance under various conditions. In this study, the effect of cyclic shear fatigue on natural-rubber-based anisotropic magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) with carbonyl iron particles (CIPs) was investigated under a magnetic field. An anisotropic MRE sample was prepared by moulding under a magnetic field. Cyclic shear fatigue tests were performed using a modified electromechanical fatigue system with an electromagnet. The storage modulus (G') and loss factor in the absence or presence of a magnetic field were measured using a modified dynamic mechanical analysis system. Under a magnetic field, fatigue exhibited considerable effects to the MRE, such as migration and loss of magnetised CIPs and suppressed increase in stiffness by reducing the energy loss in the strain cycle. Therefore, the G' of the MRE after fatigue under a magnetic field was lower than that after fatigue in the zero field. The performance of the MRE, such as absolute and relative magnetorheological effects, decreased after subjecting to cyclic shear fatigue. In addition, all measured results exhibited strain-dependent behaviour owing to the Payne effect.

Design of Self-Healing EPDM/Ionomer Thermoplastic Vulcanizates by Ionic Cross-Links for Automotive Application.

The development of smart elastomeric materials with inherent self-repairing abilities after mechanical damage has important technological and scientific implications, particularly in regard to the durability and life cycle of rubber products. The interest in self-healing materials for automotive applications is rapidly growing along with the increasing importance of vehicle scratch quality and quantity. The creation of a reversible network by noncovalent ionic cross-linking in elastomer/rubber blends is an effective approach to generate the self-healing phenomenon, with reprocessing and recycling properties. In this work, thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) were prepared using ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) polymers and high-acid-containing thermoplastic ionomers. Along with the general EPDM, maleic anhydride grafted EPDM (EPDM-g-MAH) was also used for the preparation of the TPVs. The strategy was based on a simple ionic crosslinking reaction between the carboxyl groups present in the ionomer and zinc oxide (ZnO), where the formation of reversible Zn2+ salt bondings exhibits the self-healing behavior. The heterogeneous blending of EPDM and ionomers was also used to investigate the thermal and mechanical properties of the TPVs. The experimental findings were further supported by the surface morphology of the fracture surfaces viewed using microscopy. The self-healing behavior of the TPVs has been identified by scratch resistance testing, where the EPDM-g-MAH TPVs showed excellent healing efficiency of the scratch surface. Therefore, this work provides an efficient approach to fabricate new ionically cross-linked thermoplastic vulcanizates with excellent mechanical and self-repairing properties for the skins of automotive interior door trims and instrument panel applications.

Identification of Sex Pheromone Components of Korean Dioryctria abietella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Population and Synergism of Pheromone and Pine Cone Volatile Blends.

(9Z,11E)-tetradecadienyl acetate (9Z,11E-14:OAc) and (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-pentacosapentaene (C25 pentaene), known as the sex pheromone of the European Dioryctria abietella population, were identified in the Korean D. abietella population. The ratio of 9Z,11E-14:OAc to C25 pentaene extracted from female pheromone glands was 1:23. The electroantennogram (EAG) response of male antennae to 9Z,11E-14:OAc was stronger than to C25 pentaene, whereas an opposite EAG response was observed in female antennae. Major volatile compounds in mature Korean pine cone (Pinus koraiensis), such as limonene, myrcene, and (-)-α-pinene, elicited dose-dependent EAG responses of male and female antennae. In field attraction testing, traps baited with 100:1,000, 100:2,000, and 100:3,000 ug of 9Z,11E-14:OAc to C25 pentaene were the most attractive to male D. abietella. More males were attracted to traps baited with 9Z,11E-14:OAc+C25 pentaene+limonene than traps baited with 9Z,11E-14:OAc+C25 pentaene. This showed that limonene acted as a synergist to sex pheromone. Delta traps, wing traps, and diamond traps were superior to bucket traps for capturing D. abietella males. This study showed that pheromone traps baited with 100:1,000 ~ 100:3,000 ug of 9Z,11E-14:OAc to C25 pentaene and limonene will be useful for the exact monitoring of D. abietella flight phenology in Pinus koraiensis Sieb. & Zucc. (Pinales: Pinaceae) forests.

Polyurethane Sponge with a Modified Specific Surface for Repeatable Oil-Water Separation.

Oil spill accidents contaminate the oceanic environment and cause economic distress, and they continue to occur. Many methods have been developed to restore waters contaminated with spilled oil. However, still most commercially available methods are not environmentally or economically sustainable solutions. Therefore, there is a need for the development of sustainable materials with running water treatment capabilities. In recent years, a polyurethane (PU) sponge-based adsorbent has been reported as an oil-water separation and reusable adsorbent. This is because the porous 3D structure of the PU sponge provides a large surface area. However, as the PU sponge has a carboxyl group and an amino group, it exhibits hydrophilicity, so surface modification is essential for oil-water separation. Therefore, to modify the surface of PU to have hydrophobic/oleophilic properties, a hydrophobic/oleophilic adsorbent (HOA) was prepared using graphite and polydimethylsiloxane. On the basis of this, a PU sponge, a porous material, was used to manufacture an adsorbent that can be used in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. The prepared HOA can selectively adsorb water or oil and can be reused. Furthermore, continuous oil-water separation is possible through a simple flow of fluid. Therefore, it is confirmed that the studied HOA can have great potential for ocean restoration in the future as an adsorbent that mitigates the disadvantages of the currently commercialized method.

Effect of disinfecting harvesting knives with sodium hypochlorite on soft rot infection of Kimchi cabbage.

This study evaluated the effect of sterilizing harvesting knives with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) on soft rot in Kimchi cabbage. Knives were infected with Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc), sterilized with NaOCl (100, 200, and 300 mg/L), and used to cut Kimchi cabbage slices, which were incubated for 70 h in a 28 °C incubator. In Kimchi cabbage slices cut with a Pcc-inoculated knife without NaOCl sterilization, symptoms began to appear after 20 h, and approximately 60% of the cabbage slices were infected after 70 h of incubation. In contrast, in cabbage cut with a sterilized knife, soft rot symptoms were delayed, and they began to appear after 40 h of incubation in the 200 mg/L-treated. The expression levels of PG10, PG12-1, PG12-3, WRKY 33, MPK3, ACO1, and ACO2 were increased in infected plants, and NaOCl treatment decreased these expression levels. Transmission of soft rot can be minimized by disinfecting harvesting knives with 200 mg/L NaOCl.

Analysis of genome variants in dwarf soybean lines obtained in F6 derived from cross of normal parents (cultivated and wild soybean).

Plant height is an important component of plant architecture and significantly affects crop breeding practices and yield. We studied DNA variations derived from F5 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) with 96.8% homozygous genotypes. Here, we report DNA variations between the normal and dwarf members of four lines harvested from a single seed parent in an F6 RIL population derived from a cross between Glycine max var. Peking and Glycine soja IT182936. Whole genome sequencing was carried out, and the DNA variations in the whole genome were compared between the normal and dwarf samples. We found a large number of DNA variations in both the dwarf and semi-dwarf lines, with one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) per at least 3.68 kb in the dwarf lines and 1 SNP per 11.13 kb of the whole genome. This value is 2.18 times higher than the expected DNA variation in the F6 population. A total of 186 SNPs and 241 SNPs were discovered in the coding regions of the dwarf lines 1282 and 1303, respectively, and we discovered 33 homogeneous nonsynonymous SNPs that occurred at the same loci in each set of dwarf and normal soybean. Of them, five SNPs were in the same positions between lines 1282 and 1303. Our results provide important information for improving our understanding of the genetics of soybean plant height and crop breeding. These polymorphisms could be useful genetic resources for plant breeders, geneticists, and biologists for future molecular biology and breeding projects.