Hang-Won Kang

Supplementation of direct-fed microbials as an alternative to antibiotic on growth performance, immune response, cecal microbial population, and ileal morphology of broiler chickens

An experiment was conducted to investigate the supplementation of direct-fed microbials (DFM) as an alternative to antibiotics on growth performance, immune response, cecal microbial population, and ileal morphology of broiler chickens. A total of 800 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross × Ross) were randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments with 4 replicate pens per treatment (50 birds/replicate pen). The 4 dietary treatments fed for 35 d were a corn-soybean meal basal diet (control); control plus 0.1% virginiamycin, as an antibiotic growth promoter (AGP); control plus 0.1% direct-fed microbials that contained Lactobacillus reuteri (DFM 1); and control plus 0.1% direct-fed microbials that contained a mixture of L. reuteri, Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (DFM 2). Results showed that dietary AGP and DFM supplementation significantly increased (P < 0.05) the BW gain of broilers during 0 to 21 d. The feed intake was reduced, whereas the feed conversion was improved significantly when birds were fed DFM 2 at 0 to 7 d of age. The white blood cell and monocyte levels were significantly higher in the DFM 2 group compared with the control. In addition, feeding DFM significantly (P < 0.05) increased the plasma immunoglobulin levels where a higher level was observed in DFM 2 compared with those of the other treatments. Neither DFM nor AGP treatments affected the cecal Lactobacillus and Salmonella content; however, cecal Escherichia coli content significantly decreased in broiler chickens fed DFM and AGP. The ileal villus height, and width and total thickness of muscularis externa were significantly increased when birds were fed DFM compared with AGP and control. These results indicate that the dietary supplementation of DFM increases the growth performance of birds at an early age, stimulates the immune response, decreases the number of E. coli, and improves the ileal morphology of broiler chickens. Thus, DFM that contained a mixture of several beneficial microorganisms could be a viable alternative to antibiotics in the broiler diets.

Genetic variation through Dissociation (Ds) insertional mutagenesis system for rice in Korea: progress and current status

A gene detection strategy using two-component Ac/Ds construct, with the mobile Ds transposon, has been developed to better understand gene functions in crops. Currently, 115,000 Ds insertion lines have been generated through the Ac/Ds gene trap system in Korea using japonica rice Dongjin as donor. Four hundred and thirty-seven mutants from 12,162 Ds-tagged lines were catalogued, including physiological and agronomic traits. Different traits were identified with distinct characteristics in terms of tillers, panicles, leaves, flowers, seed, chlorophyll content, and height. Culm and panicle length, number of panicles, and days to flowering of the Dongjin Ds population revealed high standard deviations compared with the donor cultivar. An evaluation of the Ds distribution on the chromosome revealed that 74.5% of the Ds were reinserted into gene-rich regions, making this Ac/Ds-mediated gene trap system useful in helping to gain an understanding of the function of genes and thus improve the gene-tagging system in rice.

Molecular Characterization and Physico-Chemical Analysis of a New Giant Embryo Mutant Allele (ge t ) in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The rice embryo is rich in lipid and protein bodies, bioactive chemicals such as dietary fiber, phytic acids, vitamin B and E, and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) than the endosperm. In this paper, we report a new giant embryo mutant,get, induced from somaclonal variation derived by anther culture in rice. Sequence analysis of Cytochrome P450 of the get mutant revealed thatget is a new allele of theGE gene with a single point mutation with substitution of amino acid, W395 to L395. The weight of theget mutant embryo was 3.7 times higher than normal embryo. Tocopherol and mineral content were also higher than the previously reported giant embryo rice variety, Keunnun. These results indicated that this new giant embryo rice (get) offers a promising source of genetic material in improving nutritional quality of rice especially tocopherol, essential minerals, and GABA.

Comparative analysis of physicochemicals and antioxidative properties of new giant embryo mutant, YR23517Acp79, in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Nutritional and physicochemical properties of new giant embryo mutant rice (YR23517Acp79, YR) were analyzed. YR exhibited increased total protein (9.3±0.3%), lipid (3.7±1.1%), amino acid (663.28±1.9 mg/g), and mineral contents (Ca=284.0±6.2, Mg=1417.5±13.6 mg/kg). In YR brown rice four major physicochemicals, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (brown rice= 0.46±0.014 mg/g), γ-oryzanol (0.43±0.021 mg/g), vitamin B1 (6.42±0.3 mg/kg), and tocopherols (alpha= 2.68±0.1, beta=0.11±0.01, gamma=0.05±0.001 mg/100 g) increased in comparison to reported giant embryo (Keunnunbyeo, KB) and normal embryo rice (Ilmibyeo, IB). YR showed higher scavenging activities against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (0.2 g/mL=57.1±2.25) and 2,2′-Azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (0.2 g/mL=50.2±1.45) radicals but also inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production without cytotoxicity. These results indicate YR is a high quality functional rice due to its high nutrition content and antioxidant effects of physicochemicals.

One-step multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for the simultaneous detection of three rice viruses.

Rice stripe virus (RSV), Rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV), and Rice dwarf virus (RDV) are major rice-infecting viruses in Korea that can cause serious crop losses. A one-step multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (mRT-PCR) was developed for the simultaneous detection of these rice viruses. Three sets of specific primers targeted to the capsid protein coding genes of RSV, RBSDV, and RDV were used to amplify fragments that were 703 bp, 485 bp, and 252 bp, respectively. The one-step mRT-PCR assay proved to be a sensitive and rapid method for detecting the three rice viruses. This method could be used to facilitate better control of rice viruses.

Changes of Biomass of Green Manure and Rice Growth and Yield using Leguminous Crops and Barley Mixtures by Cutting Heights at Paddy

The competition between green manure and forage crops frequently occurred at agricultural field because of soil fertility and livestock feeding selection. These experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects shoot and residue for green manure and forage production by leguminous crops and barley mixtures at paddy. Field experiments were conducted at paddy soil from 2008 to 2009. Treatments consisted of mixture and interseeding of barley and leguminous crops (hairy vetch and crimson clover). These treatments were divided into cutting height of 8 and 25 cm for using of green manure and forage at once. The residue biomass of 25 cm cutting height was higher than 8 cm and were no significantly between mixture and inter-seeding. However, residues of legume crop were significantly higher at inter-seeding than mixture. The shoot biomass of 8 cm cutting height was higher than 25 cm for forage using. The production of legume crop was high at the barley and hairy vetch seeding plot. The mixture of hairy vetch and barley showed the best biomass of shoot and residue for green manure and forage using at 25 cm of cutting height. Also this treatment could be possible to rice cultivation by no fertilization. Therefore, we suggested that 25 cm cutting of hairy vetch and barley mixture could be used for green manure and forage at the same time under rice-based cropping system.

Effects of washing methods on gel properties of chicken surimi prepared from spent hen breast muscle

In this study, 2 myofibrillar protein extraction methods were compared for the preparation of chicken surimi using spent hen breast muscle. One method involved 1 washing with 0.1, 0.5, or 1% sodium chloride solution followed by 2 washings with distilled water, with homogenization and centrifugation of the breast muscle after each washing (new method; NM). The other method used only distilled water for the extraction, and washing was repeated 3 times followed by homogenization and centrifugation of the breast muscle after each washing (conventional method; CM). The redness values of the batter as well as the cooked gel were significantly lower (P < or = 0.05) by NM as compared with CM. In addition, the SDS-PAGE of NM sarcoplasmic protein fractions showed phosphorylase bands with increased staining intensity as compared with CM, indicating that brightness was related to the sarcoplasmic protein fractions. Overall, the data implied that sodium chloride solution was more appropriate for the myofibrillar protein extraction of spent hen breast muscle than the commonly used distilled water method.

Selection of Aquatic Plants Having High Uptake Ability of Pollutants in Raw Sewage Treatment

Excess runoff contaminated with N and P can impact the quality of downstream water. It has been known that aquatic plants improve the water quality through their intake of organic or inorganic nutrients. This study was conducted to select aquatic plants having high purification ability for nutrient N and P, and mineral nutrients related to EC such as K, Ca, Na, Cl, and in raw sewage water in greenhouse. We assessed nutrient phytoremediation potential of alien hydrophyte and hydro-crop as well as native landscape hydrophyte to select suitable aquatic plant applied to artificial wetland and buffering site of stream-side. The amount of irrigation water during whole growing period of aquatic plane ranged from 225 L to 444 L . Oryza sativa, Typha orientalis, Zizania latifolia, Aster subulatus, Coix lachryma-jobi var. mayuen, Paspalum disdichum var. indutum which had high biomass consumed the large amount of irrigation water over 350 L . As a result of analysis of water purification effect N and P content of shoot biomass, and media soil after experiment, Oryza sativa, Zizania latifolia, Aster subulatus, Coix lachryma-jobi var. mayuen, Paspalum distichum var. indutum showed high purification ability about eutrophication elements such as T-N and T-P. It is presented that Pistia stratiotes, Eichhornia crassipes, and Paspalum distichum var. indutum had excellent purification ability about K, Ca, Na, and Cl. Moreover, Paspalum distichum var. indutum greatly removed in row sewage water.

Differential Tolerance of Rice Cultivars to Mesotrione-Contained Herbicides

Greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate tolerance of six rice cultivars, three IndicaJaponica rice (long grain, cv. Dasanbyeo, Segejinmi and Hanareumbyeo) and three Japonica rice (short grain, Nampyung, Ilpumbyeo and Junamjosaeng) cultivars, to mesotrione+pretilachlor (MP) and bensulfuron-methyl+mesotrione+pretilachlor+pyriftalid (BMPP) in transplanting rice. Two herbicides were applied at 90 g and 180 g a.i. to three to four leaf stage rice at 5 and 15 days after transplanting, respectively. Related study was also conducted to compare for IndicaJaponica and Japonica rice cultivars at different MP rates. Response to two herbicides varied with respect to rice cultivars and herbicide rates. All IndicaJaponica rice cultivars exhibited susceptible to both MP and BMPP as reflected by increased visual injury, shorter plant height and higher plant dry matter reduction when compared with nontreated rice cutlivars. The degree of foliar chlorosis by MP at 90 g a.i. was 5~6 at 7 days after treatment(DAT) but it was decreased to 3~6 at 14DAT. The degree of leaf chlorosis treated with 180 g a.i. MP was 6~7 at 7DAT and it was also decreased to 3~8 at 14 DAT. The plant hight of IndicaJaponica rices was inhibited by 18~43% at application of 90 g a.i. MP and 30~50% at 180 g a.i. MP. The dry matter reduction was greater than that of plant height inhibition, showing 46~73% at 90 g a.i. MP and 65~82% at 180 g a.i. MP. Similar leaf chlorosis injury and growth inhibition of rice cultivars was observed in the BMPP treatment. The injury and growth inhibition by MP and BMPP increased with increase in herbicide rate from 90 g a.i. to 180 g a.i. . However, most of the Japonica cultivars are tolerant to MP and BMPP at both rates. There was no visible leaf chlorosis but plant height and dry matter production were slightly reduced at 180 g a.i. . Based on value determined in reduction of shoot dry weight for MP, the IndicaJaponica rice showed 12.9 fold lower compared with the Japonica rice. The result indicates that rice cultivars vary in tolerance to herbicides of MP and BMPP and IndicaJaponica rices were more susceptible than the Japonica rices to the MP and BMPP.

Comparative studies on major nutritional components of black waxy rice with giant embryos and its rice bran

The concentration of nutrients in brown rice is mainly associated with embryo size. Various beneficial components have been purified from rice bran. Recently developed black waxy rice with a giant embryo (‘Milyang 263’, BGE), which is the get mutant of the GE gene, was selected and analyzed to produce high quality nutritional components. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) content in BGE rice bran, one of the most important nutritional compounds in rice, showed a 10.6-fold increase (2.66±0.48 mg/g) compared to that of BGE brown rice (0.25±0.01 mg/g). In addition, brown rice and BGE rice bran showed enriched amylopectin (94.5±0.5 and 97.0±0.0%) and bioactive anthocyanin [Cy-3-G: 75.15±4.18 (brown rice), 82.97±0.81 (rice bran) and Pn-3-G: 1.52±0.50 (brown rice), 4.33±0.20 (rice bran); mg/100 g] contents. These results suggest that BGE rice bran can be used as an excellent raw material to efficiently produce high quality essential amino acids, cyanidin-3 glycoside-enriched anthocyanins, and GABA.