Earticle

Acrylamide is present as a contaminant in heated food products, predominantly from the precursor asparagine. Nonanchored inter simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) are arbitrary multiloci markers produced by PCR amplification with a microsatellite primer. In order to assess the feasibility of microsatellite primers as markers for DNA damage, the study was conducted on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) exposed to different concentrations of acrylamide. Polymorphisms were abundant among plant samples treated with acrylamide in comparison to control (untreated one) tested with 4- tri-nucleotide, 2 tetra-nucleotide, and 3- dinucelotide primers. The primer (CCG)4 was the best tested primer to generate polymorphism between the DNA of plants treated or not by acrylamide. Polymorphisms became evident as the presence and absence of DNA fragments in treated samples compared with the untreated one. The highest number of DNA variation on ISSR patterns was observed at the micromollar concentrations of acrylamide. Acrylamide was able to induce DNA damage in non concentration-dependent manner with effectiveness at micromollar concentrations. This study demonstrated that ISSR markers can be highly reliable for identification of DNA damage induced by acrylamide.

Jatropha curcas L. is an oil bearing species with many uses and considerable economic potential as a biofuel crop. Salt stress effect on growth, ion accumulation, contents of protein, proline and antioxidant enzymes activity was determined in callus and seedling to understand the salt tolerance of the species. Exposure of callus and seedling to salt stress reduced growth in a concentration dependent manner. Under salt stress Na content increased significantly in both callus and seedling whereas, differential accumulation in the contents of K, Ca, and Mg was observed in callus and seedling. Soluble protein content differed significantly in callus as compared to seedling, however proline accumulation remained more or less constant with treatments. The proline concentration was ~2 to 3 times more in callus than in seedling. Salt stress induced qualitative and quantitative differences in superoxide dismutase (SOD; E.C. 1.15.1.1) and peroxidase (POX; E.C. 1.11.1.7) in callus and seedling. Salt induced changes of the recorded parameters were discussed in relation to salinity tolerance.

Twenty-eight of 44 Indian Ceropegia species are endemic and their survival is threatened. As a step towards conservation, we implied in vitro methods for the sustainable propagule production in C. hirsuta, C. lawii, C. maccannii, C. oculata and C. sahyadrica. Effects of explant, growth regulators, sucrose and photoperiod were studied. High frequency microtuber production was achieved with the seedling-apical buds, grown on MS medium containing 4-6 mg l-1 BAP, 3-8% (w/v) sucrose, under continuous illumination. Each microtuber, when subcultured proliferated to form a cluster of secondary microtubers. Every primary and secondary microtuber bore at least one shoot-bud and a root primordium. Each tuber (formed with any of the significantly effective treatments) weighed more than 500 mg, enough to plant directly in non-sterilized soils. Microtubers could be produced and proliferated round the year. Proliferation could be solely attributed to in vitro procedures as these plants bear solitary tubers in vivo. Microtubers could be sprouted in vitro to prepare ready to pot plantlets. As, this novel method succeeded for all five species, though they belong to different eco-physiological backgrounds, we recommend its implementation in the conservation programs for a broader range of Ceropegia species, supported by other integrated strategies.

Based on the former researches, this article studied the influence of cone harvesting of Korean pine on the regeneration of Korean pine trees and the life of animals in Mt. Changbai Nature Reserve. When the cone matures, scales of the cone do not open so the seeds can not be released automatically. And the seeds, if left inside, are hard to germinate and can not grow further into seedlings. The seeds of Korean pine have deep dormancy characteristics. Natural regeneration of Korean pine is very poor under mother trees. Hoarding behavior of dispersing animals not only helps animals for food shortage period but also contributes to the dispersion of seeds of Korean pine. Among those hoarding animals, squirrel and Eurasian nutcrackers are found to be the most important dispersing agents for the seeds of Korean pine. After cone harvesting, the number of those dispersers reduced a lot since the seeds of Korean pine are very important food for them. Seed quantity of Korean pine on surface layer became very few and most of them only showed single distribution. Most of the seeds were buried under litter layer and showed a single or 2-4 seeds/cluster distribution. The case of more than 4 seeds in one cluster was few. The seed quantity of Korean pine forest on steep slopes of the research area was only 0.3% of the seed quantity in 1980 for the same forest type. If seed source of Korean pine are not protected, Korean pine forest in Mt. Changbai Nature Reserve would not maintain present feature in the future.

본 연구에서 충청남도의 국도 121 km를 대상으로 로드킬 현황조사를6회에 걸쳐 실시한 결과 총94개체가 발견되었다.그리고 도로의 구조에 따른 로드킬 발생현황은2차선 44회(1.13회/km), 3차선 1회(1.90회/km), 4차선 23회(0.35회/km)로 나타났다. 또한, 도로의 토지이용에 따른 로드킬 발생은 산지와 농경지의 경우 26회, 농경지와 농경지의 경우 25회, 산지와 산지의 경우 20회 등으로 나타났다. 아울러 야생동물의 로드킬을 방지하기 위해서는 도로의 구조 및 시설물 등에 대해 세심한 배려가 필요하다.

This study conducted 6 times of roadkill investigations in national road 121 km (about 10%) of Chungcheongnam-do. As a result of the investigation, 94 individuals were found dead on the road. The roadkill statuses by construction of road were 44 times (1.13 times/km) at two traffic lanes, 1 time (1.90 times/km) at three lanes, and 23 times (0.35 times/km) at four traffic lanes. Also, land use on the frequency of roadkill were 26 times between mountain region and cultivated land, 25 times between cultivated land and cultivated land, and 20 times between mountain region and mountain region. So, particular attention is needed at the construction and facilities of road to reduce roadkill.

산림 훼손지 비탈면 녹화에 주로 사용되는 관목류 7종에 대한 인발저항실험을 실시하였다. 조사수종의 평균인발력은 두릅나무 37.26 kgf, 버드나무 34.56 kgf, 국수나무 26.00kgf의 순으로 측정되었으며, 뿌리의 근원경 및 뿌리체적이 크면 클수록 인발력은 높게 산출되었다. 뿌리 근원경과 뿌리 체적에 대한 인발력은 산딸기나무가 가장 상관관계가 높았으며,산초나무가 가장 낮았다.그리고 뿌리의 근원경에 따른 인발력은 대부분 유의적인 차이가 있는 것으로 나타났으며,뿌리체적에 따른 인발력은 뿌리체적이20 ml미만에서만 수종간의 인발력 차이가 있는 것으로 나타났다.

Pull-out resistance tests of root were carried out for 7 shrub species which are mainly used greening of deteriorated forest slope. Mean pull-out resistance forces of Aralia elata, Salix koreensis and Stephanandra incisa were 37.26 kgf, 34.56 kgf and 26.00 kgf, respectively. The pull-out resistances were high as collar diameter and volume of the root increased. Correlations between root collar diameter and root volume were high in Rubus crataegifolius, but on the other hand, the correlation was lowest in Zanthoxylum schinifolium. There were significant differences in pull-out resistance by root collar diameters, and the difference of pull-out resistance by species showed only below 20 ml root volume.