Outbreaks of rice blast have been a threat to the global production of rice. Members of the Magnaporthe grisea species complex cause blast disease on a wide range of gramineous hosts, including cultivated rice and other grass species. Recently, based on phylogenetic analyses and mating tests, isolates from crabgrass were separated from the species complex and named M. grisea. Then other isolates from grasses including rice were named as M. oryzae. Here, we collected 103 isolates from 11 different species of grasses in Korea and analyzed their phylogenetic relationships and pathogenicity. Phylogenetic analyses of multilocus sequences and DNA fingerprinting revealed that the haplotypes of most isolates were associated with their hosts. However, six isolates had different haplotypes from the expectation, suggesting potential host shift in nature. Results of pathogenicity tests demonstrated that 42 isolates from crabgrass and 19 isolates from rice and other grasses showed cross-infectivity on rice and crabgrass, respectively. Interestingly, we also found that the isolates from rice had a distinct deletion in the calmodulin that can be used as a probe.

Effects of cultivated conditions on antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activities of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) were determined. The cultivated variety was Shinyulmi, and they were cultivated in a conventional culture, successful cropped hairy vetch culture, successful cropped barley cultivation, successful cropped rye cultivation, successful cropped mix-seeding of hairy vetch and barley, successful cropped mix-seeding of hairy vetch and rye, and not fertilizer. The brix degree, moisture, protein, and ash content of the sweet potatoes did not significantly change with the cultivated conditions. However amylose, total dietary fiber, and mineral content had significant changes. The total polyphenol, flavonoid, and tannin content of the methanolic extracts of the sweet potato's pericarp showed significant differences from cultivated conditions, however, the sweet potato's sarcocarp did not significantly change. The highest DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of the methanolic extracts of the sweet potatoes were 958.81 and 663.53 mg TE/100 g in the sweet potato's pericarp on the successful cropped hairy vetch culture. Generally, there was a difference in antioxidant compound content and radical scavenging activity on the methanolic extract of sweet potato with cultivated conditions.

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Two sorghum(Sorghum bicolor L. Moench cv. Hwanggeumchal-susu and Miryang 3) samples were milled using different milling methods, and their physicochemical properties were tested. Particle size was classified into five groups such as pin mill and low temperature-microparticulation(LTM; 10,000, 20,000, 30,000, and 40,000 rpm). The water absorption index (WAI), water solubility index(WSI), and a rapid Visco analyzer(RVA) were used to examine particle size distribution and color differences. Particle size of sorghum flour prepared using LTM was lower than that prepared using a pin mill. Particle size was further reduced by successive dry milling of the LTM flour. Lightness of colored pigments increased when particle size decreased. The WAI of Miryang 3 pin milling(M1) flour was the lowest after LTM, and WSI was higher in the order of M2, M3, M4, and M5. LTM sorghum flour had significantly higher pasting viscosity, as determined using a rapid Visco analyzer. LTM Miryang 3 sorghum flour(M2～M5) flour showed lower breakdown viscosity and higher final viscosity compared to those of M1 flour, resulting in an increased setback value.

First pod height (FPH) is an agronomic trait for the mechanical harvesting of soybeans with combines. The seed loss could be minimized, if the FPH is higher than the height of the cutter bar in combines. Hence, developing soybeans with high FPH has become one of important breeding goals in current crop improvement programs. The objective of this study was to evaluate genetic and environmental variation of FPH in soybean and to analyze the effect of ratio of FPH to plant height (PH) on seed yield. Four genotypes were evaluated across six different environments to analyze environmental variation of agronomic traits including FPH. Three F2 populations were evaluated to analyze genetic variation and relationship between the ratio of FPH to PH and seed yield. The main effects of planting distance, genotype and seeding date were significant for FPH, but FPH is affected more by genetic factors than by environmental factors. The mean heritability value of FPH was 66% across three F2 populations. Seed yield was found to reduce with increase in the FPH/PH ratio. In conclusion, genetic factors have effect more than environments to the variation of FPH. While FPH is higher than cutting height, the smaller ratio can minimize seed yield decrease.