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Visual stimuli from green plants have positive effects on mental health. This study aimed to compare human responses to varying plant types [live, artificial, two-dimensional (2D), and three-dimensional (3D) plant models] as visual stimuli. Thirty adults (age, 29.9 ± 11.5 years) viewed each plant form while an electroencephalography (EEG) measured their brain activity. Psychological responses were assessed using the semantic differential method (SDM). No significant differences were observed among visual stimuli; however, brain activity differences varied between male and female participants. Males who observed live and artificial plants had a higher relative alpha (RA) spectrum (RAS) and relative fast alpha (RFA) spectrum frequencies at Fp1 and Fp2 (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 vs. P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), indicating greater emotional stability. Similarly, male participants who viewed 2D models had higher RA and RFA frequencies at Fp1 (P < 0.01, P < 0.01) and Fp2 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Male participants who observed 3D models exhibited higher RA, RSA, and RFA frequencies at Fp1 (P < 0.01). Live and artificial plants were deemed the most calming (P < 0.01). Both sexes found live plants to be the most pleasant (males: P < 0.01; females: P < 0.05) and natural (males: P < 0.001; females: P < 0.01). Overall, alpha wave differences were not significant among plant types, and live plants elicited a trend toward emotional stability. These findings suggest that 3D plant models can be as effective as real plants in psychophysiological applications, indicating their potential benefits for enhancing mental health in urban environments.

This study aimed to investigate the psychophysiological effects of horticultural activities on the prefrontal cortex (PFC) to understand how horticultural activities can influence mental health and cognitive function. This study involved 39 adults with an average age of 54.6 years (±12.5 years) and was conducted in a laboratory setting at Konkuk University. The impact of five different types of horticultural activities—sowing, transplanting, planting, harvesting, and packaging—on PFC oxyhemoglobin (oxy-HB) concentrations was assessed. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to measure oxy-HB levels in the PFC while participants engaged in each activity for 90 seconds. The results indicated that the overall PFC oxy-HB concentration was at its lowest during planting and at its highest during sowing (P < 0.001). In the right PFC, oxy-HB was also at its lowest during planting and at its highest during sowing (P < 0.01). In the left PFC, the lowest oxy-HB concentrations were observed during both planting and harvesting, whereas the highest oxy-HB concentrations were observed during transplanting and sowing (P < 0.001). Additionally, sex-based differences were noted, with females showing significantly lower oxy-HB concentrations during sowing (P < 0.05) and transplanting (P < 0.01) than those of males. These findings suggested that psychophysiological responses, as indicated by oxy-HB concentrations, vary depending on the type of horticultural activity and by sex.

Antimicrobial peptide gene (shiva) under the promoter of tomato phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (tPAL5) was transformed into potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants. Antimicrobial peptide gene was isolated originally from giant silk moth (Hyalophora cecropia) and modified its nucleotide seqnence to increase antimicrobial activity. Phenylalanine ammonia lyase 5 (PAL5) gene was known to express highly by wounding, irradiation, and infection by pathogens. It also expresses specifically on vessel tissues of young roots, stems, and leaves. The vector with shiva and CaMV35S promoter was also introduced into potatoes. The efficiency of regeneration was maximized at the medium containing Zeatin 2 mg/L, NAA 0.01 mg/L, GA3 0.1 mg/L. Putative transgenic potato plants were cultured on the media containing kanamycin 50 mg/L. From the tissue extracts of putative transgenic plants, GUS activity was assayed using 4-methylumbellyferyl glucuronide (MUG) as a substrate for GUS enzyme. In several transformant, GUS activity was 20- to 40-fold higher than non-transformants. Especially, one clone with CaMV35S promoter expressed ≈400-fold higher GUS activity than nontransformants. For histochemical in situ localization of GUS activity, chromogenic substrate 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-glucuronide(X-gluc) was used for staining. GUS was highly expressed in the whole tissue of the transformants under CaMV35S promoter, but the other side GUS was expressed especially in the vascular tissues of stems and leaves of transformants with tPAL5 promoter. PCR was carried out at 94 °C for 20 s, 52 °C for 20 s, and 72 °C for 60 s with 45 cycles, using NPTII gene-specific primer set. PCR amplification by NPTII-specific primers confirmed 0.5-kb band in most transformants.

Phytoremediation of volatile organic compounds in indoor air involves both the plant and microbes in the media; however, removal rate is typically expressed on a leaf area basis. We determined the effect of root media volume on phytoremediation rate of volatile toluene and xylene to determine if there is a change in phytoremediation efficiency. Phytoremediation rate was calculated based on the aboveground space occupied by the plant and on the leaf area. Foliage plants of Fatsia japonica and Draceana fragrans ‘Massangeana’ were grown in different-sized pots (1, 2, 4, 6, and 12 L) that gave aerial plant to root zone volume ratios of 21:1, 21:2, 21:3, and 21:6. Total root volume and root fresh weight increased in D. fragrans with increasing media volume, whereas root density per unit of media volume decreased in both species. The efficiency of volatile toluene and xylene removal by the plants was increased as the root zone volume increased, whereas removal efficiency per unit media volume increased and then decreased. The highest volatile toluene and xylene removal efficiency was at a ratio of 21:3 (aerial plant:root zone volume) in F. japonica and 21:2 in D. fragrans. When phytoremediation efficiency was expressed on a leaf area basis, the phytoremediation rate for toluene and xylene increased progressively for both species with increasing media volume and as root volume increased. Calculating the amount of plant material needed within a home or office to obtain sufficient volatile organic compound (VOC) removal cannot be accurately predicted base solely on a leaf area (LA) or aboveground volume basis.

Grapevine cultivars have traditionally been identified based on the morphological characteristics, but the identification of closely related cultivars has been difficult because of their similar pedigree backgrounds. In this study, we developed DNA markers for genetic fingerprinting in 37 grapevine cultivars, including 20 cultivars bred in Korea. A total of 180 randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were obtained using 30 different primers. The number of polymorphic bands ranged from three (OPG-08 and OPU-19) to nine (OPV-01 and UBC116), with an average of six. RAPD markers were used in cluster analysis performed with the unweighted pair-group method of arithmetic averages (UPGMA). The average similarity value was 0.69 and the dendrogram clustered the 37 grapevine cultivars into five clusters. The relationships among the grapevine cultivars were consistent with the known pedigrees of the cultivars. The 50 RAPD fragments selected were sequenced for the development of sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. As a result, 16 of 50 fragments were successfully converted into SCAR markers. A single polymorphic band, the same size as the RAPD fragments or smaller, was amplified depending on the primer combinations in the 14 SCAR markers, and codominant polymorphisms were detected using the SCAR markers G119_412 and GB17_732. Among these markers, combination of 11 SCAR markers, GG05_281, G116_319, G146_365, G119_412, GW04_463, G169_515, G116_539, GV04_618, GV01_678, GG05_689, and GB17_732, provided sufficient polymorphisms to distinguish the grapevine cultivars investigated in this study. These newly developed markers could be a fast and reliable tool for identifying grapevine cultivars.

This study was carried out to prove the new variety's originality by using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Analysis and to develope the specific markers for distinction new variety from others to database for improving the efficiency of germplasm conservation. The RAPD procedure was used to determine genetic diversity of 13 potato varieties including seven recommended varieties of Korea and six genotypes. Genomic DNAs from the 13 genotypes were amplified using PCR and URP 2F, 4R and 8R primers. URP primers which were 20-mers were received from NIAST (National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, Suwon, Korea) and they were shown very high reproducibility because of the high annealing temperature above 55 °C. So, they were known to be very desirable primers to examine the specificity between inter and intra species in various spectra. These 13 lines have many resemblances in plant characteristics each other because `Jopung', '92N09-6', `Daekwan 68', and `Daekwan 70' were originated from `Superior', `Atlantic', `Namsuh', and `Irish Cobbler' respectively. So, there are many difficulties to distinct new variety by the naked eye. The results of this study show that 2 sets of URP primers are very useful to distinct new variety and mutants from others.