Lodgepole pine: the first evidence of seed-based somatic embryogenesis and the expression of embryogenesis marker genes in shoot bud cultures of adult trees.

Of the various alternatives for cloning elite conifers, somatic embryogenesis (SE) appears to be the best option. In recent years, significant areas of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) forest have been devastated by the mountain pine beetle (MPB) in Western Canada. In an attempt to establish an SE propagation system for MPB-resistant lodgepole pine, several families displaying varying levels of resistance were selected for experimentation involving shoot bud and immature seed explants.

Spore Dispersion of Tricholoma matsutake at a Pinus densiflora Stand in Korea.

The spore of Tricholoma matsutake is considered to be the starting point of the mushroom growth cycle, but the mechanism of mycelial development from the spore stage is not yet clarified. In this study, we tried to measure how far the spores of T. matsutake disperse from a fruiting body located at a Pinus densiflora stand in Korea.

Inhibitory effect of the essential oil from Chamaecyparis obtusa on the growth of food-borne pathogens.

In this study, the antibacterial activity of essential oil from Chamaecyparis obtusa (Sieb. et Zucc) leaves and twigs was investigated. The test strains were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Legionella pneumophila, and Methicilline-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

First Report of Bursaphelenchus thailandae on Pinus densiflora in Korea.

A survey of nematodes on Pinus densiflora in Namyangju City, Gyeonggi Province, Korea was conducted in 2008. Namyangju is located in an area with pine wilt caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and monitoring of wilt has been conducted periodically. Nematodes were extracted from wood chips by the Baermann's funnel method and were cultured on a medium of Botrytis cinerea.

Changes in butterfly abundance in response to global warming and reforestation.

In the Republic of Korea, most denuded forest lands have been restored since the 1960s. In addition, the annual mean temperature in the Republic of Korea has increased approximately 1.0 degrees C during the last century, which is higher than the global mean increase of 0.

Structure-activity relationship of aliphatic compounds for nematicidal activity against pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus).

Nematicidal activity of aliphatic compounds was tested to determine a structure-activity relationship. There was a significant difference in nematicidal activity among functional groups. In a test with alkanols and 2E-alkenols, compounds with C(8)-C(11) chain length showed 100% nematicidal activity against pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus , at 0.

Isolation and characterization of osmotic stress-induced genes in poplar cells by suppression subtractive hybridization and cDNA microarray analysis.

Osmotic stress induces changes in the expression of various genes including those associated with drought tolerance, cell wall metabolism and defense. We isolated 852 cDNA clones, the expression of which is induced by osmotic stress, from cells of a hybrid poplar (Populus alba x Populus tremula var. glandulosa) by suppression subtractive hybridization after mannitol treatment.

First Report of Bursaphelenchus pinophilus on Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis).

The genus Bursaphelenchus Fuchs, 1937 contains approximately 90 species (3) that are morphologically similar. Pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (4) Nickle, 1970, is the causal organism of pine wilt disease and accurate identification is essential for diagnosis of the disease. In Korea, pine wilt disease was first reported in 1988 and devastated 6,800 ha of pine forest through 2008.

First Report of Bursaphelenchus doui on Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) in Korea.

Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) is one the major tree species in Korean plantations, but it originated from North America. Bursaphelenchus doui was collected from the wood of dead tulip trees located at Wanju in Chonnam Province, Korea. Nematodes were maintained in fungal medium culture (Botrytis cinerae) on potato dextrose agar.

Fumigant antitermitic activity of plant essential oils and components from Ajowan ( Trachyspermum ammi ), Allspice ( Pimenta dioica ), caraway ( Carum carvi ), dill ( Anethum graveolens ), Geranium ( Pelargonium graveolens ), and Litsea ( Litsea cubeba ) oils against Japanese termite ( Reticulitermes speratus Kolbe).

Plant essential oils from 26 plant species were tested for their insecticidal activities against the Japanese termite, Reticulitermes speratus Kolbe, using a fumigation bioassay. Responses varied with source, exposure time, and concentration. Among the essential oils tested, strong insecticidal activity was observed with the essential oils of ajowan ( Trachyspermum ammi ), allspice ( Pimenta dioica ), caraway ( Carum carvi ), dill ( Anethum graveolens ), geranium ( Pelargonium graveolens ), and litsea ( Litsea cubeba ).

Differential expression of a poplar SK2-type dehydrin gene in response to various stresses.

Dehydrins are group II, late embryogenesis abundant proteins that act putatively as chaperones in stressed plants. To elucidate the function of dehydrins in poplar, we isolated the SK(2)-type dehydrin gene Podhn from Populus alba x P. tremula var.

Ergothioneine contents in fruiting bodies and their enhancement in mycelial cultures by the addition of methionine.

The levels of ergothioneine (ERG), which have been shown to act as an excellent antioxidant, were determined in both fruiting bodies and mycelia of various mushroom species. We found that ERG accumulated at different levels in fruiting bodies of mushrooms and showed up to a 92.3-fold difference between mushrooms.

Identification of genes upregulated by pinewood nematode inoculation in Japanese red pine.

Pine wilt disease caused by the pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Buhrer) Nickle, has destroyed huge areas of pine forest in East Asia, including Japan, China and Korea. No protection against PWN has been developed, and the responses of pine trees at the molecular level are unrecorded. We isolated and analyzed upregulated or newly induced genes from PWN-inoculated Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb.

Male-produced aggregation pheromone blend in Platypus koryoensis.

The ambrosia beetle, Platypus koryoensis , is a vector of Korean oak wilt disease, which causes massive mortality of oak trees (mainly Quercus mongolica ) in Korea. So that a semiochemical-based control method could be developed, its aggregation pheromone was investigated. Whole body extract and body part extracts of male and female P.

Genetic variation of Picea jezoensis populations in South Korea revealed by chloroplast, mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers.

Genetic variation associated with Picea jezoensis populations of South Korea was investigated using chloroplast (cp), mitochondrial (mt) and nuclear DNA markers. In South Korea, P. jezoensis is distributed across a very restricted area, being found on the summits of three mountains: Mts.

Breeding and Screening of Lentinula edodes Strains Resistant to Trichoderma spp.

Trichoderma spp. cause large crop losses of the cultivated shiitake mushroom, Lentinula edodes. We bred several shiitake strains that are resistant to Trichoderma spp.

Effect of new rotenoid glycoside from the fruits of Amorpha fruticosa LINNE on the growth of human immune cells.

A new compound, rotenoid isoflavone glycoside named, 6'-O-beta-D: -glucopyranosyl-12a-hydroxydalpanol was isolated from the methanolic (MeOH) fruit extract of Amorpha fruticosa LINNE by means of multi-stage column chromatography. Immuno-modulatory activities of this new glycoside were compared with the partitioned fractions of Amorpha fruticosa LINNE. Both of the fractions and purified single compound showed a 19% relatively low cytotoxicity at a maximum concentration of 1.

Fumigant antifungal activity of essential oil components from Acorus gramineus against three phytopathogenic fungi.

Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry led to the identification of 26 compounds in Acorus gramineus essential oil. The antifungal activity of the identified compounds was tested singularly by using standard compounds. Allyl isothiocyanate and cis-asarone showed inhibition rates of 100% against P.

Supplementation of methionine enhanced the ergothioneine accumulation in the Ganoderma neo-japonicum mycelia.

The methods for increasing the production of ergothioneine (ERG) were investigated by using the mycelial culture of several mushroom species, primarily Ganoderma neo-japonicum. We first found that ERG was accumulated at the different levels in mycelia and fruiting bodies, respectively, depending on the mushroom species. As a result of adding various amino acids to the mycelial culture medium, methionine (Met) was shown to be the most effective additive.

First Report of Pine Wilt Disease on Pinus koraiensis in Korea.

Pine wilt disease is one of the most important forest tree diseases, especially in the East Asian countries of Japan, China, and Korea. The causal agent, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (3), is transmitted by the insect vectors, pine sawyer beetles (Monochamus spp.).

First Report of the European Type of Bursaphelenchus mucronatus on Korean Pine (Pinus koraiensis) in Korea.

More than 70 species of Bursaphelenchus have been reported and they are morphologically very similar. The pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) is a causal agent of pine wilt and accurate identification is essential for diagnosis of the disease. However, many other saprophytic nematodes are found in dead trees and some of them have high morphological similarity to B.

Nematicidal activity of plant essential oils and components from coriander (Coriandrum sativum), Oriental sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis), and valerian (Valeriana wallichii) essential oils against pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus).

Commercial essential oils from 28 plant species were tested for their nematicidal activities against the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Good nematicidal activity against B. xylophilus was achieved with essential oils of coriander (Coriandrum sativum), Oriental sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis), and valerian (Valeriana wallichii).

Factors influencing the production of water-soluble endopolysaccharides and exopolysaccharides from Lentinus lepideus and their effects on immune cytokine production.

An efficient method to produce water-soluble polysaccharides from Lentinus lepideus is described. The productivity of both endopolysaccharides (PPS) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) was compared under various culture conditions. The effect of treating their own PPS and EPS on immune cytokine production was also studied in relation to culture factors.

Molecular characteristics of two laccase from the basidiomycete fungus Polyporus brumalis.

Two laccase cDNAs, pblac1 and pblac2, were cloned from a white-rot fungus strain, Polyporus brumalis (KFRI 20912). The cloned cDNAs consisted of 1,829 bp and 1,804 bp, and their open reading frames encoded proteins of 520 and 524 amino acids, with calculated molecular masses of approximately 55.9 kDa and 56 kDa, respectively.

Toxicity of plant essential oils and their components against Lycoriella ingenua (Diptera: Sciaridae).

Plant essential oils from 20 plant species were tested for their insecticidal activity against larvae of Lycoriella ingenua (Dufour) (Diptera: Sciaridae) by using a fumigation bioassay. Good insecticidal activity (>90%) against larvae of L. ingenua was achieved with essential oils of caraway seed Carum carvi (L.