Virus-induced gene silencing for in planta validation of gene function in cucurbits.

Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a powerful tool for high-throughput analysis of gene function. Here, we developed the VIGS vector pCF93, from which expression of the cucumber fruit mottle mosaic virus genome is driven by the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter to produce viral transcripts in inoculated plants. To test the utility of the pCF93 vector, we identified candidate genes related to male sterility (MS) in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), which is recalcitrant to genetic transformation.

Incidence of Alternaria Species Associated with Watermelon Leaf Blight in Korea.

Alternaria leaf blight is one of the most common diseases in watermelon worldwide. In Korea, however, the Alternaria species causing the watermelon leaf blight have not been investigated thoroughly. A total of 16 Alternaria isolates was recovered from diseased watermelon leaves with leaf blight symptoms, which were collected from 14 fields in Korea.

Characterization of QTLs and Candidate Genes for Days to Heading in Rice Recombinant Inbred Lines.

Understanding the gene mechanisms controlling days to heading (DH) is important in rice breeding for adaption in the target environment. Using a recombinant inbred line population derived from the cross between two rice cultivars, Koshihikari and Baegilmi, we identified three consistent quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for DH for two years, , , and on chromosomes 3, 6, and 7, respectively. While Baegilmi contributed the allele for early heading at and with the additive effect of five days each, Koshihikari contributed the allele for early heading at with the additive effect of three days.

Genome-wide SNP discovery and core marker sets for assessment of genetic variations in cultivated pumpkin ( spp.).

Three pumpkin species , , and are commonly cultivated worldwide. To identify genome-wide SNPs in these cultivated pumpkin species, we collected 48 F cultivars consisting of 40 intraspecific hybrids (15 , 18 , and 7 ) and 8 interspecific hybrids ( x ). Genotyping by sequencing identified a total of 37,869 confident SNPs in this collection.

An evolutionarily conserved non-synonymous SNP in a leucine-rich repeat domain determines anthracnose resistance in watermelon.

A non-synonymous SNP of CC-NBS-LRR was firstly mapped to confer resistance to anthracnose in watermelon. Newly proposed LRR domain harboring the SNP is evolutionary conserved in the Cucurbitaceae and Fabaceae. Anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum devastates many plants.

De novo-based transcriptome profiling of male-sterile and fertile watermelon lines.

The whole-genome sequence of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai), a valuable horticultural crop worldwide, was released in 2013.

Identification of the subgenomic promoter of the coat protein gene of cucumber fruit mottle mosaic virus and development of a heterologous expression vector.

Heterologous gene expression using plant virus vectors enables research on host-virus interactions and the production of useful proteins, but the host range of plant viruses limits the practical applications of such vectors. Here, we aimed to develop a viral vector based on cucumber fruit mottle mosaic virus (CFMMV), a member of the genus Tobamovirus, whose members infect cucurbits. The subgenomic promoter (SGP) in the coat protein (CP) gene, which was used to drive heterologous expression, was mapped by analyzing deletion mutants from a CaMV 35S promoter-driven infectious CFMMV clone.

Major Quantitative Trait Loci and Putative Candidate Genes for Powdery Mildew Resistance and Fruit-Related Traits Revealed by an Intraspecific Genetic Map for Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus).

An intraspecific genetic map for watermelon was constructed using an F2 population derived from 'Arka Manik' × 'TS34' and transcript sequence variants and quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to powdery mildew (PMR), seed size (SS), and fruit shape (FS) were analyzed. The map consists of 14 linkage groups (LGs) defined by 174 cleaved amplified polymorphic sequences (CAPS), 2 derived-cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence markers, 20 sequence-characterized amplified regions, and 8 expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeat markers spanning 1,404.3 cM, with a mean marker interval of 6.

Transcriptome profiling of differentially expressed genes in floral buds and flowers of male sterile and fertile lines in watermelon.

Background: Male sterility is an important mechanism for the production of hybrid seeds in watermelon. Although fruit development has been studied extensively in watermelon, there are no reports on gene expression in floral organs. In this study, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed in two near-isogenic watermelon lines (genic male sterile [GMS] line, DAH3615-MS and male fertile line, DAH3615) to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to male sterility.

Infectivity and complete nucleotide sequence of cucumber fruit mottle mosaic virus isolate Cm cDNA.

Three isolates of cucumber fruit mottle mosaic virus (CFMMV) were collected from melon, cucumber, and pumpkin plants in Korea. A full-length cDNA clone of CFMMV-Cm (melon isolate) was produced and evaluated for infectivity after T7 transcription in vitro (pT7CF-Cmflc). The complete CFMMV genome sequence of the infectious clone pT7CF-Cmflc was determined.

The hepatoprotection of caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid, major compounds of Perilla frutescens, against t-BHP-induced oxidative liver damage.

Perilla frutescens leaves are often used in East Asian gourmet food. In this study, we investigated the hepatoprotective effects of caffeic acid (CA), rosmarinic acid (RA), and their combination. P.

Brief report: genome sequence and construction of an infectious cDNA clone of Ribgrass mosaic virus from Chinese cabbage in Korea.

Ribgrass mosaic virus (RMV) has severely decreased the production and lowered quality of Chinese cabbage co-infected with Turnip mosaic virus (63.4%) in Korea. The complete genome sequence of RMV isolated from Brassica rapa ssp.

Alteration of floral organ identity by over-expression of IbMADS3-1 in tobacco.

The MADS-box genes have been studied mainly in flower development by researching flower homeotic mutants. Most of the MADS-box genes isolated from plants are expressed exclusively in floral tissues, and some of their transcripts have been found in various vegetative tissues. The genes in the STMADS subfamily are important in the development of whole plants including roots, stems, leaves, and the plant vascular system.

Statistical optimization of growth medium for the production of the entomopathogenic and phytotoxic cyclic depsipeptide beauvericin from Fusarium oxysporum KFCC 11363P.

The production of the entomopathogenic and phytotoxic cyclic depsipeptide beauvericin (BEA) was studied in submerged cultures of Fusarium oxysporum KFCC 11363P isolated in Korea. The influences of various factors on mycelia growth and BEA production were examined in both complete and chemically defined culture media. The mycelia growth and BEA production were highest in Fusarium defined medium.

Identification and characterization of aluminum tolerance loci in Arabidopsis (Landsberg erecta x Columbia) by quantitative trait locus mapping. A physiologically simple but genetically complex trait.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity, which is caused by the solubilization of Al3+ in acid soils resulting in inhibition of root growth and nutrient/water acquisition, is a serious limitation to crop production, because up to one-half of the world's potentially arable land is acidic. To date, however, no Al tolerance genes have yet been cloned. The physiological mechanisms of tolerance are somewhat better understood; the major documented mechanism involves the Al-activated release of Al-binding organic acids from the root tip, preventing uptake into the primary site of toxicity.

Plant virus cDNA chip hybridization for detection and differentiation of four cucurbit-infecting Tobamoviruses.

A plant virus cDNA chip was developed by using viral cDNA clones and microarray technology. The cDNA chip was designed for detection and differentiation of the four species of selected cucurbit-infecting tobamoviruses [target viruses: Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV); Cucumber fruit mottle mosaic virus (CFMMV); Kyuri green mottle mosaic virus (KGMMV); and Zucchini green mottle mosaic virus (ZGMMV)]. The chip consisted of cDNA clones of the four cucurbit-infecting tobamoviruses, two target-related tobamoviruses, and another three unrelated plant viruses.