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The tetrazolium (TZ) test is a reliable but destructive method for identifying viable seeds. In this study, a non-destructive seed viability analysis method for Allium ulleungense was developed using multispectral imaging and stacking ensemble learning. Using the Videometerlab 4, multispectral imaging data were collected from 390 A. ulleungense seeds subjected to NaCl-accelerated aging treatments with three repetitions per treatment. Spectral values were obtained at 19 wavelengths (365–970 nm), and seed viability was determined using the TZ test. Next, 80% of spectral values were used to train Decision Tree, Random Forest, LightGBM, and XGBoost machine learning models, and 20% were used for testing. The models classified viable and non-viable seeds with an accuracy of 95–91% on the K-Fold value (n = 5) and 85–81% on the test data. A stacking ensemble model was developed using a Decision Tree as the meta-model, achieving an AUC of 0.93 and a test accuracy of 90%. Feature importance and SHAP value assessments identified 570, 645, and 940 nm wavelengths as critical for seed viability classification. These results demonstrate that machine learning-based spectral data analysis can be effectively used for seed viability assessment, potentially replacing the TZ test with a non-destructive method.

The genus Allium comprises some of the most commonly consumed food crops worldwide. The chloroplast genomes of A. sacculiferum, A. thunbergii, and A. taquetii are 152,444, 153,459, and 154,056 bp circular molecular genomes, respectively. The annotation results revealed the presence of 132 (89 protein-coding, 35 tRNA, and eight rRNA), 132 (86 protein-coding, 38 tRNA, and eight rRNA), and 132 (86 protein-coding, 38 tRNA, and eight rRNA) genes with 36.78%, 36.83%, and 36.88% total GC content in each genome, respectively. The chloroplast genome of each Allium species contains an 81,254, 82,473, and 83,068 bp LSC region, an 18,176, 18,006, and 17,958 bp SSC region, and a pair of 26,507, 26,490, and 26,515 bp IR regions, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 21 complete chloroplast genomes indicates that A. sacculiferum is closely related to A. koreanum; A. thunbergii and A taquetii are closely related to A. hookeri. This study shows that the three Allium species are Korean crop wild relatives that may be used to develop new Allium varieties in the future.

Ungernia sewertzowii (US) and U. victoris (UV) are medicinal plants and sources of biologically active compounds for pharmaceutical needs. The leaves of US contain 0.29–0.81% sum of alkaloids with a predominance of lycorine, which is 0.04–0.46% in leaves and 0.15–0.38% in bulbs. Lycorine is used to treat acute and chronic bronchitis. The leaves of UV contain 0.27–0.71% sum of alkaloids with a predominance of galanthamine—0.13–1.15%. Galanthamine is used to treat mild-to-moderate dementia (Alzheimer’s disease). The natural populations of US and UV are in danger as sources of income for local people. To resolve this problem, two protocols for microclonal propagation were developed to replace natural raw materials with in vitro regenerated plants. Callusogenesis of US and UV was induced on Murashige and Skoog (MS) nutrient media with 2.4D (0.5 mg/L) in combination with BAP (0.5 mg/L), Kin (0.5 mg/L), or Zea (0.5 mg/L). Direct (for US) and indirect (for US and UN) organogenesis were observed on MS with BAP (0.5 mg/L) or Kin (0.5 mg/L) in combination with IAA (0.5 mg/L) or NAA (0.5 mg/L). Direct organogenesis resulted in 3–5 bulbs of US on one explant; indirect organogenesis resulted in up to 100–150 bulbs of US and UV on one explant within 6 months, or five to six subcultures after transferring the callus to the nutrient medium. The tissue cultures of US and UV were characterized by very low data on antioxidant activity based on IC50 values for DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities, whereas in vitro regenerated plants (leaves and bulbs) had higher data. We concluded that in vitro regenerated plants are valuable sources of lycorine and galanthamine, which allow the protection of the natural populations of these two species from extinction.

This study predicted habitat distribution changes according to the current distribu seedtion 14 and future climate using the MaxEnt model for endangered Abies nephrolepis Maxim., which is vulnerable to 15 climate change and is a least-concerned species. This study aimed to predict the current distribution and future habitat distribution changes of the endangered A. nephrolepis under climate change using the MaxEnt model. The purpose was to predict the future habitat of the declining A. nephrolepis, to identify the necessity of in situ conservation, and to devise appropriate ex situ seed storage methods. The study utilized climate data from 513 GPS coordinates of A. nephrolepis habitats in South Korea to predict the changes in habitat distribution using the MaxEnt model. The seeds used in the seed experiment were collected from Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea in 2019. After confirming an initial seed filling, germination tests were performed under constant temperatures of 15, 20, and 25 °C and alternating day/night temperatures of 25/5, 25/10, 25/10, 20/15, 25/15, 30/15, and 35/15 °C. The seed germination conditions were investigated under 10 different temperature settings. For the determination of storage behavior, seeds were dried at a consistent temperature of 15 °C and relative humidity (eRH) levels of 15, 20, 30, 40, and 50%. Subsequently, the seeds were stored for three months at temperatures of −20 °C and 5 °C, and the vitality tests of the seeds were conducted. Based on these experiments, the storage characteristics of seeds were identified. The results indicated that in all SSP scenarios, it is predicted that A. nephrolepis will become extinct in its habitat by the 2090s. Therefore, it has been shown that on-site and ex situ conservation is necessary. As a result of the seed germination characteristics, the highest germination rate (52.5 ± 16.01%) was achieved at a constant temperature of 20 °C, followed by 25 °C (50.0 ± 10.81%) and 25/10 °C (47.5 ± 4.79%). The highest viability was obtained under 20% eRH (64.0 ± 0%) but was not statistically different from that determined immediately after seed collection. The moisture content was approximately 4.33% fresh weight under 15% eRH at 15 °C. A. nephrolepis seeds are classified as orthodox-type seeds, which do not lose viability at 3%–7% moisture content and after drying under 15% eRH conditions at 15 °C. In conclusion, it can be observed that the seeds can be stored long-term at −20 °C. This research was conducted as a basic study to predict the habitat distribution of the endangered species A. nephrolepis and to establish seed conservation methods. According to the results, it is deemed necessary to conduct both domestic and international analyses of the habitat of A. nephrolepis. In addition, the germination and storage characteristics of A. nephrolepis seeds were confirmed, and based on this, effective seed conservation methods were suggested.

Berberis amurensis var. latifolia Nakai is a plant native to the Ulleung Island in Korea. In this study, we aimed to identify seed dormancy-breaking and germination requirements of this species using water imbibition experiments, gibberellic acid (GA3) treatment (0, 10, 100, or 1000 mg/L), cold stratification (0, 2, 4, 8, or 12 weeks at 5 °C), move-along experiments, and phenological studies. In the water imbibition experiment, the seed weight increased by more than 120% after 24 h. Analysis of the internal morphological characteristics of the seeds revealed that the embryo in freshly matured seeds was fully grown and did not grow thereafter. The final germination percentages after 12 weeks of cold stratification at 5 °C were 49 ± 6.4% and 63 ± 3.4% under light and dark conditions, respectively. In move-along and phenological studies, a longer cold stratification treatment period resulted in a higher germination percentage; however, the warm stratification treatment did not affect germination significantly. The GA3 treatment had little effect on seed germination. Therefore, we concluded that B. amurensis var. latifolia seeds have intermediate physiological dormancy, and pre-treatment with cold stratification for 12 weeks and incubation in the dark are required for effective seed propagation.

AbstractThis study was conducted to investigate the effect of changes in soil moisture content under climate change conditions on the growth response of Quercus dentata, a representative species of the genus Quercus on the Korean peninsula. The results showed that Q. dentata germination increased by 9.4 days under climate change conditions (RCP 4.5 scenario), whereas the below-ground biomass and plant biomass increased by 1.3 and 1.2 times, respectively. However, the soil moisture treatment condition solely affected the leaf area, below-ground biomass, and plant biomass but not the germination percentage, germination speed, above-ground length, and above-ground biomass. The variance across the measured growth variables was considerably higher in the control group than in the climate change treatment group, whereas the variance was lower for lower soil moisture content. The findings suggested that under climate change conditions, Q. dentata germinated rapidly and exhibited broader leaf area and increased development below ground, which may be advantageous for the early establishment of seedlings. However, the plants may face difficulties in conditions with low soil moisture content. In conclusion, with continuous climate changes, Q. dentata seedlings are predicted to efficiently adapt to the altered soil moisture content to exhibit even more reliable growth than with the current condition. However, the growth of Q. dentata seedlings would be more difficult with severely low soil moisture content than with abundant soil moisture content, which is predicted to be detrimental to population maintenance in the long term.

Rhodotypos scandens (Thunb.) Makino is known to have a seed dispersal that is thick and stony (endocarp + seeds) and has potential as a landscaping tree seed. In several Rosaceae species, seeds are covered with a hard endocarp, making the internal seeds water-impermeable and germination difficult. Here, we analyzed the morphoanatomical traits and germination properties of R. scandens seeds. To identify ideal seed propagation conditions, we immersed R. scandens seeds in sulfuric acid for varying durations and subjected them to phytohormone (gibberellic acid A3 and fluridone) and a cold stratification (CS) (5 °C) treatment after endocarp removal (ER). The R. scandens stony seeds did not increase in mass by ≥25.0%. Following ER, the seed mass increased by ≥50.0% with water absorption when compared to the initial dry mass. Seed surfaces showed damage and cracks through scarification after 1 h of immersion in sulfuric acid, failing to germinate. A combination of ER, phytohormone treatment, and CS improved seed germination compared to ER alone (26.0 ± 5.3%). Overall, R. scandens seeds showed a dispersal with a hard endocarp from the parent plant, and a pre-treatment with ER, phytohormones, and CS was required for effective seed propagation.

Background: Although a child‐ and family‐centred care (CFCC) philosophy has been emphasized and adopted for decades in paediatric critical care settings in several countries, numerous issues from parents' perspectives regarding the philosophy remain unresolved. To facilitate the full translation of CFCC into clinical practice, health care professionals need an in‐depth understanding of family experiences. Real‐life mothering experiences, including maternal roles and identities, remain largely unknown at paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in the Republic of Korea, where family visitation, presence, and participation are restricted. Aim: To explore mothering experiences at a PICU where family visitation is strictly constrained, and to identify maternal needs and values. Study Design: We conducted a qualitative descriptive study of eight individual in‐depth interviews with seven mothers of hospitalized children. Qualitative data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Findings: Five major themes, along with four subthemes, emerged: (1) shifts in maternal roles and responsibilities, (2) shifts in interpersonal relationships, (3) desire for CFCC in the PICU, (4) practising self‐defined mothering roles, and (5) reconstructing maternal identities. The themes revealed the experiences of becoming mothers of a child in a constrained PICU. Ultimately, mothers demanded that the unit improve its physical and cultural environments through, for example, liberalized family visitation and participation in the care of their children. Conclusions: Nursing professionals should lead the charge for humanizing a restrictive PICU in the Republic of Korea by ensuring a safe and open environment and mothering continuity based on child‐ and family‐centred holistic care. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Effective interventions must be developed and tested to globally establish and fully implement strong evidence‐based CFCC in PICUs; constant co‐commitment among children, families, health care professionals, and institutions is also necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tetrazolium (TZ) test is a reliable but destructive method for identifying viable seeds. In this study, a non-destructive seed viability analysis method for Allium ulleungense was developed using multispectral imaging and stacking ensemble learning. Using the Videometerlab 4, multispectral imaging data were collected from 390 A. ulleungense seeds subjected to NaCl-accelerated aging treatments with three repetitions per treatment. Spectral values were obtained at 19 wavelengths (365–970 nm), and seed viability was determined using the TZ test. Next, 80% of spectral values were used to train Decision Tree, Random Forest, LightGBM, and XGBoost machine learning models, and 20% were used for testing. The models classified viable and non-viable seeds with an accuracy of 95–91% on the K-Fold value (n = 5) and 85–81% on the test data. A stacking ensemble model was developed using a Decision Tree as the meta-model, achieving an AUC of 0.93 and a test accuracy of 90%. Feature importance and SHAP value assessments identified 570, 645, and 940 nm wavelengths as critical for seed viability classification. These results demonstrate that machine learning-based spectral data analysis can be effectively used for seed viability assessment, potentially replacing the TZ test with a non-destructive method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxalis latifolia, a perennial herbaceous weed, is a highly invasive species that poses a threat to agricultural lands worldwide. East Asia is under a high risk of invasion of O. latifolia under global climate change. To evaluate this risk, we employed maximum entropy modeling considering two shared socio-economic pathways (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5). Currently, a small portion (8.02%) of East Asia is within the O. latifolia distribution, with the highest coverages in Chinese Taipei, China, and Japan (95.09%, 9.8%, and 0.24%, respectively). However, our projections indicated that this invasive weed will likely be introduced to South Korea and North Korea between 2041 and 2060 and 2081 and 2100, respectively. The species is expected to cover approximately 9.79% and 23.68% (SSP2-4.5) and 11.60% and 27.41% (SSP5-8.5) of the total land surface in East Asia by these time points, respectively. South Korea and Japan will be particularly susceptible, with O. latifolia potentially invading up to 80.73% of their territory by 2081–2100. Mongolia is projected to remain unaffected. This study underscores the urgent need for effective management strategies and careful planning to prevent the introduction and limit the expansion of O. latifolia in East Asian countries.

Korean bellflower (Campanula takesimana Nakai) is a rare and perennial herb with medicinal and ornamental values, is endemic to the Ulleung Island of Korea. In this study, we investigated the dormancy-release and germination characteristics of C. takesimana (Campanulaceae) seeds by subjecting them to varying temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25°C and diurnal/nocturnal temperatures of 15/6, 20/10, and 25/15°C), cold stratification periods (0, 4, 8, or 12 weeks at 5°C), and gibberellic acid (GA3) concentrations (0, 10, 100, or 1,000 mg·L-1 at 15/6°C and 25/15°C) to identify the ideal seed propagation conditions. The seeds were stimulated to germinate (at 25°C, 12-h photoperiod with fluorescent lamps at 40 ± 10 μmol∙m-2∙s-1) after cold stratification. To examine the germination characteristics, the seeds were tested for water imbibition and found to readily absorb water. The seeds exhibited underdeveloped embryos during dispersal, showed final germination of 37.00% ± 4.43 at 25°C and were not influenced by temperature. The seeds subjected to 0, 4, 8, or 12 weeks of cold stratification germinated at a success rate of 22.00% ± 4.76, 87.00% ± 6.80, 79.00% ± 2.52, and 77.00% ± 1.91, respectively. Additionally, the germination characteristics, which were based on final germination, mean germination time, and germination velocity (Timson index), were significantly greater in the seeds pretreated with 1,000 mg·L-1 GA3 at 25/15°C than in seeds pretreated with 0 mg·L-1 GA3. Overall, the seeds broke dormancy with GA3 and short-term cold stratification. Therefore, we concluded that C. takesimana seeds have non-deep, simple, morphophysiological dormancy, and pretreatment with cold stratification and GA3 is required for effective seed propagation.

Background: Smartphone addiction leads to physical, psychological, and social consequences for users, particularly for adolescent users, as psychological development is still in the process of maturation. Individual and family characteristics are shown to contribute to shaping adolescent’s behavior related to smartphone usage. Specifically, perceived parenting style and self-regulation have been reported as significant factors influencing smartphone addiction among adolescents. Objective: This study aims to identify the relationship among parenting style, self-regulation, and smartphone addiction proneness in Indonesian junior high school students. Method: This study used a cross-sectional, descriptive study design. Data collection took place in five public junior high schools in Jember from the 7th of January to the 8th of February, 2019. The total sample of this study was 158, purposively asked to fill out three questionnaires: Parental Authority Questionnaire, Self-Regulation Questionnaire, and Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale. Chi-square test and Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used to test the relationship between two variables. Result: The differences in smartphone addiction proneness between the risk group and non-risk group were significant depending on gender (p=0.004), daily smartphone usage time (p=0.025), and purpose of smartphone usage (p=0.001). A significant negative correlation was found between self-regulation and smartphone addiction proneness (r= -0.448, p=0.001). Conclusion: The current study found that 11.4% of junior high school students in Jember-Indonesia were categorized into risk groups for smartphone addiction. Gender, daily smartphone usage time, and purpose of smartphone usage showed significant differences between the risk group and the non-risk group. However, there was no difference in the parenting style of the mother between the two groups. Self-regulation showed a significant association with smartphone addiction.

Berberis koreana Palibin is an endemic plant native to Korea. In this study, we aimed to study the seed germination of this species using a water imbibition experiment, gibberellic acid (GA3) treatment (0, 10, 100, or 1000 mg·L−1), cold stratification (0, 2, 4, 8, or 12 weeks at 4 °C), move-along experiment, and phenology studies. In the water imbibition experiment, the weight of the seeds increased by more than 120% in 24 h. An analysis of the internal and external morphological characteristics of the seed revealed that the embryo was already fully grown from the fruit and did not grow thereafter. The final germination percentages for the cold stratification at 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks at 4 °C were 12 ± 3.65, 32 ± 9.09, 59 ± 1.00, 59 ± 9.59, and 71 ± 1.91%, respectively. In the move-along experiment and phenology studies, a longer low-temperature treatment period resulted in a higher germination percentage. However, the GA3 treatment had little effect on the seed germination. Our results indicate that B. koreana exhibits an intermediate physiological seed dormancy.

Ungernia sewertzowii (US) and U. victoris (UV) are medicinal plants and sources of biologically active compounds for pharmaceutical needs. The leaves of US contain 0.29–0.81% sum of alkaloids with a predominance of lycorine, which is 0.04–0.46% in leaves and 0.15–0.38% in bulbs. Lycorine is used to treat acute and chronic bronchitis. The leaves of UV contain 0.27–0.71% sum of alkaloids with a predominance of galanthamine—0.13–1.15%. Galanthamine is used to treat mild-to-moderate dementia (Alzheimer's disease). The natural populations of US and UV are in danger as sources of income for local people. To resolve this problem, two protocols for microclonal propagation were developed to replace natural raw materials with in vitro regenerated plants. Callusogenesis of US and UV was induced on Murashige and Skoog (MS) nutrient media with 2.4D (0.5 mg/L) in combination with BAP (0.5 mg/L), Kin (0.5 mg/L), or Zea (0.5 mg/L). Direct (for US) and indirect (for US and UN) organogenesis were observed on MS with BAP (0.5 mg/L) or Kin (0.5 mg/L) in combination with IAA (0.5 mg/L) or NAA (0.5 mg/L). Direct organogenesis resulted in 3–5 bulbs of US on one explant; indirect organogenesis resulted in up to 100–150 bulbs of US and UV on one explant within 6 months, or five to six subcultures after transferring the callus to the nutrient medium. The tissue cultures of US and UV were characterized by very low data on antioxidant activity based on IC50 values for DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities, whereas in vitro regenerated plants (leaves and bulbs) had higher data. We concluded that in vitro regenerated plants are valuable sources of lycorine and galanthamine, which allow the protection of the natural populations of these two species from extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop a deep learning (DL) model for generating automated regions of interest (ROIs) on 99mTc-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) renal scans for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measurement. Methods: Manually-drawn ROIs retrieved from a Picture Archiving and Communications System were used as ground-truth (GT) labels. A two-dimensional U-Net convolutional neural network architecture with multichannel input was trained to generate DL ROIs. The agreement between GFR values from GT and DL ROIs was evaluated using Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and slope coefficients for linear regression analyses. Bias and 95% limits of agreement (LOA) were assessed using Bland-Altman plots. Results: A total of 24,364 scans (12,822 patients) were included. Excellent concordance between GT and DL GFR was found for left (CCC 0.982, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.981–0.982; slope 1.004, 95% CI 1.003–1.004), right (CCC 0.969, 95% CI 0.968–0.969; slope 0.954, 95% CI 0.953–0.955) and both kidneys (CCC 0.978, 95% CI 0.978–0.979; slope 0.979, 95% CI 0.978–0.979). Bland-Altman analysis revealed minimal bias between GT and DL GFR, with mean differences of − 0.2 (95% LOA − 4.4–4.0), 1.4 (95% LOA − 3.5–6.3) and 1.2 (95% LOA − 6.5–8.8) mL/min/1.73 m² for left, right and both kidneys, respectively. Notably, 19,960 scans (81.9%) showed an absolute difference in GFR of less than 5 mL/min/1.73 m². Conclusion: Our DL model exhibited excellent performance in the generation of ROIs on 99mTc-DTPA renal scans. This automated approach could potentially reduce manual effort and enhance the precision of GFR measurement in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chloroplast genome plays a crucial role in elucidating genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships. Vitis vinifera L. (grapevine) is an economically important species, prompting exploration of wild genetic resources to enhance stress resilience. We meticulously assembled the chloroplast genomes of two Korean Vitis L. species, V. flexuosa Thunb. and V. amurensis Rupr., contributing valuable data to the Korea Crop Wild Relatives inventory. Through exhaustive specimen collection spanning diverse ecological niches across South Korea, we ensured comprehensive representation of genetic diversity. Our analysis, which included rigorous codon usage bias assessment and repeat analysis, provides valuable insights into amino acid preferences and facilitates the identification of potential molecular markers. The assembled chloroplast genomes were subjected to meticulous annotation, revealing divergence hotspots enriched with nucleotide diversity, thereby presenting promising candidates for DNA barcodes. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis reaffirmed intra-genus relationships and identified related crops, shedding light on evolutionary patterns within the genus. Comparative examination with chloroplast genomes of other crops uncovered conserved sequences and variable regions, offering critical insights into genetic evolution and adaptation. Our study advances the understanding of chloroplast genomes, genetic diversity, and phylogenetic relationships within Vitis species, thereby laying a foundation for enhancing grapevine genetic diversity and resilience to environmental challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study predicted habitat distribution changes according to the current distribu seedtion 14 and future climate using the MaxEnt model for endangered Abies nephrolepis Maxim., which is vulnerable to 15 climate change and is a least-concerned species. This study aimed to predict the current distribution and future habitat distribution changes of the endangered A. nephrolepis under climate change using the MaxEnt model. The purpose was to predict the future habitat of the declining A. nephrolepis, to identify the necessity of in situ conservation, and to devise appropriate ex situ seed storage methods. The study utilized climate data from 513 GPS coordinates of A. nephrolepis habitats in South Korea to predict the changes in habitat distribution using the MaxEnt model. The seeds used in the seed experiment were collected from Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea in 2019. After confirming an initial seed filling, germination tests were performed under constant temperatures of 15, 20, and 25 °C and alternating day/night temperatures of 25/5, 25/10, 25/10, 20/15, 25/15, 30/15, and 35/15 °C. The seed germination conditions were investigated under 10 different temperature settings. For the determination of storage behavior, seeds were dried at a consistent temperature of 15 °C and relative humidity (eRH) levels of 15, 20, 30, 40, and 50%. Subsequently, the seeds were stored for three months at temperatures of −20 °C and 5 °C, and the vitality tests of the seeds were conducted. Based on these experiments, the storage characteristics of seeds were identified. The results indicated that in all SSP scenarios, it is predicted that A. nephrolepis will become extinct in its habitat by the 2090s. Therefore, it has been shown that on-site and ex situ conservation is necessary. As a result of the seed germination characteristics, the highest germination rate (52.5 ± 16.01%) was achieved at a constant temperature of 20 °C, followed by 25 °C (50.0 ± 10.81%) and 25/10 °C (47.5 ± 4.79%). The highest viability was obtained under 20% eRH (64.0 ± 0%) but was not statistically different from that determined immediately after seed collection. The moisture content was approximately 4.33% fresh weight under 15% eRH at 15 °C. A. nephrolepis seeds are classified as orthodox-type seeds, which do not lose viability at 3%–7% moisture content and after drying under 15% eRH conditions at 15 °C. In conclusion, it can be observed that the seeds can be stored long-term at −20 °C. This research was conducted as a basic study to predict the habitat distribution of the endangered species A. nephrolepis and to establish seed conservation methods. According to the results, it is deemed necessary to conduct both domestic and international analyses of the habitat of A. nephrolepis. In addition, the germination and storage characteristics of A. nephrolepis seeds were confirmed, and based on this, effective seed conservation methods were suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platycosides, saponins contained in balloon flower, which have been used as food health supplements for respiratory diseases, have diverse pharmacological effects. Platycosides exhibit better pharmacological activity by hydrolyzing their own sugars. However, to date, there have been no studies on the production of deglucosylated platycodin D suitable for food applications. In this study, Pluszyme 2000P, which was derived from Aspergillus niger, a food-grade microorganism, was used to completely convert platycoside E into deglucosylated platycodin D. For an efficient and economical production of deglucosylated platycodin D, the productivity was improved approximately 2.4 times by application of high hydrostatic pressure and the discarded balloon flower leaf was used as a substrate. As a result, deglucosylated platycodin D was produced with the highest concentration (3.49 mg/mL) and productivity (581.7 mg/L/h) reported so far. Our results contribute to functional saponin production and the related food industries.

This study was conducted to elucidate the germination characteristics and dormancy types in Maianthemum dilatatum (A. W. Wood) A. Nelson and J. F. Macbr. M. dilatatum seeds were collected from the Nari Basin on Ulleungdo Island, South Korea and used in a water imbibition test; the seed weight increased by approximately 20% within 48 h. The embryo-to-seed ratio at the time of seed dispersal was 0.57 ± 0.03. When the seeds were incubated under light and dark conditions, they germinated under dark conditions, and the germination rate was higher at 25 °C than at 20 °C. However, the final germination rates under dark conditions were 27.4 ± 3.6 and 47.1 ± 7.6%, respectively. Under 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks of cold stratification treatment, the highest germination rate of 83.6 ± 3.6% was observed at 25 °C at 12 weeks of cold stratification treatment, the germination start date was decreased by more than 10 d, and the mean germination time (MGT) was shortened from 50 d to 39 d. However, the germination rate, germination start date, and MGT did not differ significantly among the gibberellic acid hormone treatments. Therefore, it was evident that M. dilatatum demonstrated physiological dormancy (PD) that can broken by cold stratification treatment and dark conditions.

Vaccinium oldhamii Miq. is an edible berry; however, little is known about its seed dormancy-break and germination. Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate the seed-dormancy break and germination characteristics of V. oldhamii. The results showed that the length and width of the seeds of V. oldhamii were 2.4588 ± 0.0273 mm and 1.7028 ± 0.0248 mm, respectively, the filled percentage was 49.0 ± 3.0%, and the 1000-seed weight was 0.9453 g. Additionally, water imbibition test showed that the seed weight of V. oldhamii increased by more than 70% after 24 h, indicating the absence of physical dormancy. Embryo length measured at dispersal and just before germination did not differ significantly. There was no significant difference in E:S (Embryo:Seed) ratio in length at the time of seed dispersal (0.6780 ± 0.0258) and before germination (0.7370 ± 0.0469), indicating the absence of morphological dominance. Temperature treatments showed that the germination of the seed was 0, 6.0, 6.0, 20.0, and 0% under 15, 20, 25, 25/15, and 15/6 °C, respectively. However, treatment with 250 ppm of GA3 increased the germination of the seeds to 22.0, 36.0, 32.0, 40.0, and 1.0%, respectively. Additionally, treatment with 500 ppm of GA3 increased the germination to 34.6, 40.0, 40.0, 46.0 %, respectively. These results indicated that the seeds of V. oldhamii exhibited Nondeep physiological dormancy (Nondeep PD). Overall, the findings of this study showed that treatment with 500 ppm of GA3 at 25/15 °C can effectively break the dormancy of V. oldhamii seeds, which could facilitate further research on the species.

Microbes associated with plants significantly influence the development and health of the plants. The diversity and function of microbiomes associated with the long-sepal Donggang pasque-flower (DPF) plant, an endemic and endangered species in karst ecosystems, remain unexplored. In this study, we investigated the features of bacterial communities associated with the rhizosphere and roots of DPF plants and their functions in plant growth promotion. The DPF plants were collected from natural and cultivated habitats, and their 16S rDNA was sequenced to assess the bacterial community structures. The bacterial microbiota was more diverse in wild than in cultivated plants. The core bacterial microbiota commonly functioned as endophytes in both wild and cultivated DPF plants, although there were some differences. The identified bacterial strains benefited plants through nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, or phytohormone production, inducing measurable growth differences in Arabidopsis thaliana. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report the bacterial community structures associated with the rhizosphere soil and roots of DPF plants in karst ecosystems. The bacterial strains isolated in this study could be used to aid sustainable growth and restoration of rare plants in karst ecosystems. Our systematic research on the microbiomes associated with these endangered plants will contribute to their conservation as well as development of better cultivation.

Berberis amurensis var. latifolia Nakai is a plant native to the Ulleung Island in Korea. In this study, we aimed to identify seed dormancy-breaking and germination requirements of this species using water imbibition experiments, gibberellic acid (GA3) treatment (0, 10, 100, or 1000 mg/L), cold stratification (0, 2, 4, 8, or 12 weeks at 5 °C), move-along experiments, and phenological studies. In the water imbibition experiment, the seed weight increased by more than 120% after 24 h. Analysis of the internal morphological characteristics of the seeds revealed that the embryo in freshly matured seeds was fully grown and did not grow thereafter. The final germination percentages after 12 weeks of cold stratification at 5 °C were 49 ± 6.4% and 63 ± 3.4% under light and dark conditions, respectively. In move-along and phenological studies, a longer cold stratification treatment period resulted in a higher germination percentage; however, the warm stratification treatment did not affect germination significantly. The GA3 treatment had little effect on seed germination. Therefore, we concluded that B. amurensis var. latifolia seeds have intermediate physiological dormancy, and pre-treatment with cold stratification for 12 weeks and incubation in the dark are required for effective seed propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhodotypos scandens (Thunb.) Makino is known to have a seed dispersal that is thick and stony (endocarp + seeds) and has potential as a landscaping tree seed. In several Rosaceae species, seeds are covered with a hard endocarp, making the internal seeds water-impermeable and germination difficult. Here, we analyzed the morphoanatomical traits and germination properties of R. scandens seeds. To identify ideal seed propagation conditions, we immersed R. scandens seeds in sulfuric acid for varying durations and subjected them to phytohormone (gibberellic acid A3 and fluridone) and a cold stratification (CS) (5 °C) treatment after endocarp removal (ER). The R. scandens stony seeds did not increase in mass by ≥25.0%. Following ER, the seed mass increased by ≥50.0% with water absorption when compared to the initial dry mass. Seed surfaces showed damage and cracks through scarification after 1 h of immersion in sulfuric acid, failing to germinate. A combination of ER, phytohormone treatment, and CS improved seed germination compared to ER alone (26.0 ± 5.3%). Overall, R. scandens seeds showed a dispersal with a hard endocarp from the parent plant, and a pre-treatment with ER, phytohormones, and CS was required for effective seed propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isoflavone glycosides are commonly biotransformed into isoflavone aglycones due to the superior biological activities of the latter. Wild soybeans contain a higher isoflavone content than domesticated soybeans due to their high level of genetic diversity. In this study, we cloned and characterized a thermostable β-galactosidase from the extreme thermophile Thermoproteus uzoniensis for potential application in isoflavone conversion in Korean wild soybeans. The purified recombinant enzyme exhibited a maximum specific activity of 1103 μmol/min/mg at pH 5.0 and 90 °C with a half-life of 46 h and exists as a homodimer of 113 kDa. The enzyme exhibited the highest activity for p-nitrophenyl (pNP)-β-D-galactopyranoside among aryl glycosides and it hydrolyzed isoflavone glycosides in the order genistin > daidzin > ononin > glycitin. The enzyme completely hydrolyzed 2.77 mM daidzin and 3.85 mM genistin in the seed extract of wild soybean after 80 and 70 min with productivities of 1.86 and 3.30 mM/h, respectively, and 9.89 mM daidzin and 1.67 mM genistin in the root extract after 180 and 30 min, with the highest productivities of 3.30 and 3.36 mM/h, respectively, compared to other glycosidases. Our results will contribute to the industrial production of isoflavone aglycone using wild soybean and this is the first report on the enzymatic production of isoflavone aglycones from isoflavone glycosides in wild soybeans.

Seedlings of Pterocarpus indicus were grown in both well-watered and drought stress conditions in phytotron. Seedlings grown under well-watered and drought stress conditions were exposed to either combined or without ozone of 200 ppb for one month. First, the physiological responses to elevated ozone levels indicated a decreased biomass. The seedlings grown in arid soil and exposed to ozone showed less biomass than those grown in arid soil but not exposed to ozone. Moreover, all the seedlings except the well-watered and unexposed ones showed a significantly lower photosynthetic rate (PN) over time. However, with the accumulation of ozone injuries, the antioxidant enzyme activities increased overall. In the study results, when exposed to ozone, the well-watered seedlings exhibited more antioxidative enzyme activity than did the seedlings grown in arid soil. Generally, P. indicus in arid soil suffered less damage from elevated ozone than did the well-watered plants.

The present study was conducted to examine the response of Pterocarpus indicus to elevated ozone by comparing the effects between well-watered and soil drought treatments. The ozone concentration was 200 ppb and the exposure was conducted for a month with well-watered and soil drought treatments in chamber environmental conditions. Elevated ozone-induced visible injuries to P. indicus varied among the well-watered environmental conditions, with the appearance of light green chlorosis in the SWO seedlings over time. However, in the SDO seedlings, no difference was visible between drought and drought with ozone treatment. Shriveled leaves were evident because of the water deficiency. Moreover, elevated ozone induced leaf stomata injury and a harsh abaxial surface, whereas drought stress induced less injured stomata because of stomata closing. In addition, the palisade tissues exhibited smaller chloroplasts, damaged thylakoid, increased plastoglobuli, decreased starch grain and thinner cell walls on the upper leaf surface. Thus, the SDO seedlings were less influenced by elevated ozone stress than SWO seedlings due to the reduced ozone absorption which caused by stomata closing to prevent water loss.

In this study, we determined the germination response in the seeds of the rare plant Pseudolysimachion pusanensis (Y. N. Lee) Y. N. Lee to different temperatures. P. pusanensis seeds were collected from the Baekdudaegan National Arboretum, South Korea, in November 2019, and dried. Dry seeds were placed at constant and alternating temperatures (5 °C, 10 °C, 15 °C, 20 °C, 25 °C, 30 °C, and 35 °C) to determine their germination percentage (GP). The seeds were exposed to 59 temperature combinations ranging from 5 °C to 43 °C using a thermal gradient plate. The photoperiod was set at 12:12 h (light:dark) and germination assays were performed five times a week. Subsequently, the seed GP and the number of days required to reach 50% of the germination (T50) were determined. The highest final GP was 94.38%, with a T50 value of 9.26 d at 15 °C. However, the mean germination time was 12.5 d at 15 °C, and linear regression using 1/T50 revealed that the base temperature ranged from 2.69 °C to 4.68 °C. These results for P. pusanensis seeds stored in a seed bank provide useful data for the native plants horticulture industry and can also be utilized for storage management.

In recent years, the rapid development of genetically modified (GM) technology has raised concerns about the safety of GM crops and foods for human health and the ecological environment. Gene flow from GM crops to other crops, especially in the Brassicaceae family, might pose a threat to the environment due to their weediness. Hence, finding reliable, quick, and low-cost methods to detect and monitor the presence of GM crops and crop products is important. In this study, we used visible near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy for the effective discrimination of GM and non-GM Brassica napus, B. rapa, and F1 hybrids (B. rapa X GM B. napus). Initially, Vis-NIR spectra were collected from the plants, and the spectra were preprocessed. A combination of different preprocessing methods (four methods) and various modeling approaches (eight methods) was used for effective discrimination. Among the different combinations, the Savitzky-Golay and Support Vector Machine combination was found to be an optimal model in the discrimination of GM, non-GM, and hybrid plants with the highest accuracy rate (100%). The use of a Convolutional Neural Network with Normalization resulted in 98.9%. The same higher accuracy was found in the use of Gradient Boosted Trees and Fast Large Margin approaches. Later, phenolic acid concentration among the different plants was assessed using GC-MS analysis. Partial least squares regression analysis of Vis-NIR spectra and biochemical characteristics showed significant correlations in their respective changes. The results showed that handheld Vis-NIR spectroscopy combined with chemometric analyses could be used for the effective discrimination of GM and non-GM B. napus, B. rapa, and F1 hybrids. Biochemical composition analysis can also be combined with the Vis-NIR spectra for efficient discrimination.

Platycosides are the functional saponins present in balloon flowers that exert diverse biological effects, and which can be further improved by their deglycosylation. Deapiose-xylosylated platycodin D, which is absent in balloon flowers, can be generated only by cytolase PCL5 by acting on platycoside E. To improve cytolase PCL5-catalyzed production of deapiose-xylosylated platycodin D from platycoside E, we explored the use of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP). At an HHP of 150 MPa, the optimal temperature of cytolase PCL5 activity for converting platycoside E into deapiose-xylosylated platycodin D shifted from 50 to 55 °C, and increased the activity and stability of the enzyme by 5- and 4.9-fold, respectively. Under HHP, the enzyme completely converted 1 mM platycoside E into deapiose-xylosylated platycodin D within 4 h, with a 3.75-fold higher productivity than that under atmospheric pressure. Our results suggest that the application of HHP is a potential method for the economical production of platycosides and enzyme-catalyzed biotransformation of functional saponins.