Abstract. Changes in physicochemical characteristics were investigated during fruit development in 'Maehyang', 'Seolhyang', 'Keumhyang', 'Akihime', and 'Red Pearl' strawberries. Fresh weights and color parameters of strawberry fruits changed significantly during the fruit development in all cultivars. Fruit shapes of 'Maehyang' and 'Akihime' were conical, with an index of length to width being 1.5 and that of 'Seolhyang', 'Keumhyang', and 'Red Pearl' were cordate, the index being 1.3. Firmness decreased as the fruit developed in all cultivars. Contents of sugars, organic acids, ascorbic acid, and anthocyanin increased as the fruits developed while the ellagic acid content decreased. Sugars, ascorbic acid, and anthocyanin contents of 'Maehyang', 'Seolhyang', and 'Keumhyang' were higher than those of 'Akihime' and 'Red Pearl'. Results indicate that newly-bred Korean strawberry cultivars containing high levels of bioactive compounds were superior to major Japanese cultivars that have been broadly cultivated in East Asian countries.Additional key words: anthocyanin, ascorbic acid, ellagic acid, organic acid, ripening, sugar Hort.

Contents of carotenoids, phenolic compounds, volatile organic compounds, and alkaloids in leaves, internodes, fruits, and roots of tomatoes in different developmental stages were measured. Lycopene, β-carotene, and lutein were detected in all the tested parts except roots and green fruits. Lycopene content in red fruits was 49.04 μg･g -1 FW, while that in the other parts was below 40 μg･g -1 FW. β-Carotene and lutein contents in 24th leaves were 5.81 and 6.40 μg･g -1 FW, respectively, and were greater than those in the other parts. Caffeic, chlorogenic, and vanillic acids were detected in all the tested parts except roots. The content of chlorogenic acid in the 18th leaves was 40.11 μg･g -1 FW, while that in the other parts was lower than 31.00 μg･g -1 FW. The contents of caffeic and vanillic acids in the 24th leaves were 9.18 and 1.64 μg･g -1 FW, respectively, and were greater than those in the other parts. Moreover, younger leaves contained the more diverse volatile organic compounds including monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Contents of dehydro-tomatine and -tomatine were greatest in leaves, followed by internodes, roots and fruits. Younger leaves and internodes contained more dehydro-tomatine and -tomatine than older leaves and internodes. The contents of dehydro-tomatine and -tomatine in the 24th leaves were 0.89 and 1.42 mg･g -1 FW, respectively, and were greatest among all the tested parts. Our results indicated that, except lycopene, tomato leaves included greater secondary metabolites contents than red fruits. The results suggest that inedible parts of tomato plants can be used as raw material for antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, fungistats, and pesticides.

Composition of nutrient media, flower bud size, sucrose concentration, heat shock stress, and ethylene inhibitor could have marked effects on microspore embryogenesis. No microspore-derived embryos (MDE) were formed when the microspores were isolated from radish (Raphanus sativus L.) flower buds of 1.0-2.5 mm in size, whereas MDE were formed with microspores isolated from 2.5-4.5 and 4.5-6.5 mm flower buds. The microspores isolated from 2.5-4.5 mm flower buds showed high embryo yields. MDE formation was highest when 150 g L -1 sucrose was added to the half strength Nitsch & Nitsch (NLN) liquid medium, but at sucrose concentrations less than 100 g L -1 there was no MDE formation. Microspores cultured on half strength NLN liquid medium containing 0.05 mg L -1 silver nitrate (AgNO3) produced the most MDE, showing more than two-fold increase in yield compared to those cultured on medium without AgNO3. A heat shock pretreatment of microspores at 32ºC for 24 h gave high-frequency production of MDE when compare to higher or lower temperatures; no MDE were formed at 42.5ºC. The highest yield of MDE was observed when microspores were derived from 2.5-4.5 mm flower buds cultured on half strength NLN medium containing 150 g L -1 sucrose, 0.05 mg L -1 AgNO3, and precultured with heat shock pretreatment of microspores at 32ºC for 24 h, followed by incubation 25ºC for 30 days. A polyploidy test indicated that 19.7% of the microspore-derived plants were doubled haploid, other plants were haploid, and chimeras were haploid and diploid.Additional key words: double haploid, embryogenesis, flower bud, heat shock, Nitsch & Nitsch (NLN) medium, polyploidy testHort. Environ. Biotechnol. 52(5):530-535. 2011.

Embryos derived from isolated microspore culture are of great importance for producing homozygous plants for breeding. Microspore culture can reduce time and laborious effort in the breeding of Brassica plants. Microspore derived embryos (MDE) formation in broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck) was studied with different plant growth regulators (PGRs), activated charcoal, and silver nitrate (AgNO3) to determine the optimal chemical conditions in the microspore culture. A 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) concentration of 0.05 mg L -1 resulted in increased MDE formation compared to those at other BA concentrations. Compared to the 0.05 mg L -1 BA concentration, fewer MDEs were formed in BA concentrations exceeding 0.1 mg L -1 , similar to those cultured on medium without BA. However, 0.5× Nitsch & Nitsch (NLN) liquid medium supplemented with 0.05 mg L -1 napthalene acetic acid (NAA) and BA was more effective in inducing MDE formation than was BA alone. The higher MDE formation rate was observed in 0.5× NLN liquid culture medium containing 0.05 mg L -1 NAA and 0.01 mg L -1 BA. The MDE yield was significantly higher in all concentrations when activated charcoal was added to the microspore culture media. The optimal concentration of activated charcoal was 1.0 mg per petri dish, and the optimum AgNO3 concentration was 0.1 mg L -1 , which induced MDE formation to 26.2 embryos, compared to 11.6 embryos without AgNO3.

Abstract. Among the phenolic compounds that is generally present in strawberry fruits, five simple phenolics, three flavonoids, and a stilbene were tested for their antimicrobial activity against seven fungi and one oomycete. trans-Cinnamic acid showed strong antimicrobial activity, and the antimicrobial effect of the simple phenolics decreased with an increase in the number of hydroxyl groups. Phytophthora capsici was the most susceptible to the phenolic compounds tested in this study. trans-Cinnamic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and kaempferol were mainly detected in 'Seolhyang' strawberry fruits, and the total phenolic contents of the fruits decreased during their development. Extracts of the green (1-10% red color) and red (above 90% red color) strawberry fruits reduced the mycelial growth and zoospore germination rate of P. capsici, and the extract of red strawberry fruit showed strong antimicrobial activity against the zoospore germination of P. capsici. These results indicate that strawberry fruits contain antimicrobial phenolic compounds and that strawberry fruit extract can be used as a natural fungistat.