Eun-Mo Lee

Transgenic cucumber fruits that produce elevated level of an anti-aging superoxide dismutase

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) plays an important role in cellular defense against oxidative stress in aerobic organisms. To generate cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) fruits producing high yields of SOD for an anti-aging cosmetic material as a plant bioreactor, the CuZnSOD cDNA (mSOD1) from cassava was introduced into cucumber fruits by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation using the ascorbate oxidase promoter with high expression in fruits. The bialaphos-resistant shoots were selected on medium containing MS basal salts, 2 mg l−1 BA, 0.1 mg l−1 IAA, 300 mg l−1 claforan, and 2 mg l−1 bialaphos. After 6 weeks of culture on the selection medium, the shoots were transferred to MS medium containing 1 mg l−1 IAA, 300 mg l−1 claforan, 2 mg l−1 bialaphos to induce roots. Southern blot analysis confirmed that the mSOD1 gene was properly integrated into the nuclear genomes of three cucumber plants tested. The mSOD1 gene was highly expressed in the transgenic cucumber fruits, whereas it was expressed at a low level in the transgenic leaves. The SOD specific activity (units/mg protein) in transgenic fruits was approximately 3 times higher than in those of non-transgenic plants.

Efficient Propagation by Bioreactor System of Korean Native Ginger in Seosan Region

To establish an efficient propagation method through airlift bioreactor system of Zingiber officinale Rosc. Korean native Seosanjong, the effect of different factors and bioreactors on cultured plantlets were investigated. The highest number of plantlets, fresh weight per plant was obtained from explants when cultured in MS liquid medium including 0.3 mg/L NAA and 2.0 mg/L kinetin for 40 days. A 10 L bottle type bubble bioreactor, compared with 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask, was more efficient, producing 4.7 plantlets or from 1.5 to 1.6 times more than did the Erlenmeyer flask. The results demonstrate a rapid mass propagation method for scaling up production of normal ginger using the airlift bioreactor.