In-Jung Lee’s research while affiliated with Kyungpook National University and other places

Cannabis sativa is used for multiple purposes, notably for its medicinal properties. It produces various secondary metabolites, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, which have therapeutic value and typically produce high amounts in female plants. The growth of the global cannabis market has led to intensive breeding efforts to develop elite cultivars with enhanced secondary metabolite profiles. As a dioecious and anemophilous plant, it produces staminate and pistillate inflorescences on separate plants and relies on wind for pollination, rendering traditional propagation methods challenging owing to high genetic recombination in progeny. Consequently, asexual propagation (micropropagation) is commonly employed to maintain female clones entirely. Micropropagation/direct organogenesis is a tissue culture technique that produces numerous disease-free clone plants in vitro more rapidly than traditional rooted cuttings. Factors such as sterilization, hormonal balance, explant type, nutrient additives, carbon source, pH, and environment influence the success of cultivar-specific micropropagation. In this review, we discussed how these factors affect cannabis micropropagation based on recent findings, emphasizing the importance of optimizing cultivar-specific protocols for long-term germplasm conservation and efficient breeding based on a mechanistic background.

To promote sustainable agriculture and eco-friendly agricultural practices, beneficial microorganisms and organic amendments like humic acid (HA) have been effectively used to enhance tolerance for heavy metals (HMs) in crops. In this study, we aim to isolate, identify, and characterize a novel endophytic fungal strain that exhibits significant plant growth-promoting (PGP) properties and has the potential to alleviate lead (Pb) toxicity in tomato plants. Fusarium solani IK-105 was selected for the current study from the 13 different fungal isolates due to its highest resistance to Pb stress and significant PGP traits, validated through various in vitro analyses. Pb stress severely disrupts the morphological, physiological, and growth attributes of tomato plants. However, the application of IK-105 and HA, particularly in combination, effectively mitigates the adverse effects of Pb stress by improving leaf area, water retention, and membrane stability. These treatments also enhance shoot length and weight by 34.79 % and 4.26 %, and root length and weight by 62.22 % and 5.4 %, respectively, under Pb stress compared to their non-stressed counterparts. Photosynthetic pigments, protein, sugar, and starch contents were significantly enhanced, while enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were significantly reduced with the application of IK-105 and HA under Pb stress conditions. Application of IK-105 and HA treatments significantly reduced endogenous abscisic acid (ABA), restricted Pb uptake, and enhanced Ca and Mg levels in tomato plants. These treatments modulated the expression of genes related to phytohormones and other signaling molecules associated with HMs stress. The findings of this study revealed the potential of IK-105 and HA as sustainable solutions to mitigate the environmental impacts of HMs, promote eco-friendly agriculture practices, and contribute to the remediation of contaminated regions.

HIGH EXPRESSION OF OSMOTICALLY RESPONSIVE GENE 15 (HOS15) acts as a substrate receptor of E3 ligase complex, which plays a negative role in drought stress tolerance. However, whether and how HOS15 participates in controlling important transcriptional regulators remains largely unknown. Here, we report that HOS15 physically interacts with and tightly regulates DROUGHT‐INDUCED LIKE 19 (DIL9) protein stability. Moreover, application of exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) stabilizes the interaction between DIL9 and HOS15, leading to ABA‐induced proteasomal degradation of DIL9 by HOS15. Genetic analysis revealed that DIL9 functions downstream to HOS15 and that the drought tolerance of hos15‐2 plants was impaired in dil9/hos15 double mutants. Notably, DIL9 is directly associated with the promoter regions of ABF transcription factors and facilitates their expression, which is pivotal in enhancing ABA‐dependent drought tolerance. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that HOS15 consistently degrades DIL9 under normal condition, while stress (drought/ABA) promotes the DIL9 activity for binding to the promoter regions of ABFs and positively regulates their expression in response to dehydration.

Anthropogenic activities such as industrial pollution of water bodies possess threat to floras leading to extinction and endangerment. This study investigates the impact of industrial pollution on vegetation along River Chenab and its associated drains. Rivers and channels transporting industrial effluents have been determined to be significantly contaminated. The contamination was evidenced by the acidic and alkaline nature of industrial effluents, salinity, total dissolved solids, and the sodium absorption ratio. The research revealed that the pollution in the region severely impacts the native vegetation, resulting in a marked decline in density, frequency, relative density, and relative frequency across 10 sites, including three drain sites and one non-polluted site. Four plant species, Calotropis procera, Eclipta alba, Phyla nodiflora, and Ranunculus sceleratus exhibited tolerance to pollution and were present at all sites during all seasons. Anatomical modifications, such as increased root aerenchyma and vascular bundles, enabled these plants to thrive in polluted environments. The study highlights the importance of these species in phytoremediation and their potential for use in restoring degraded ecosystems.

Salinity and cadmium exposure to agrarian land lowers crop yield and imposes toxicity in the food chain, ultimately affecting sustainable agriculture. Melatonin (Mel) and calcium (Ca) have been reported as potent regulators of plant growth and stress resistance. Based on this scenario, this study investigated the sole and combined effects of Mel and Ca on improving the antioxidant properties, mineral content, germination of sprout, and stress tolerance of soybean seedlings under salt and cadmium (Cd) stress. Optimal doses of 20 µM Mel and 1 mM Ca were identified to enhance sprout quality and seed germination. Treatments with Mel > 20 µM inhibited germination, while the combination of Mel (20 µM) and Ca (1 mM) significantly improved germination, mineral content (Ca, P, K), and antioxidant properties, including DPPH(2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) activity, polyphenols, flavonoids, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. However, melatonin > 50 µM could completely cease the sprouting, whereas a Ca concentration of up to 10 mM was observed to be normal in sprouting. Additionally, this combination reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and enhanced the proline, indicating decreased oxidative stress in soybean seedlings under stress conditions. Among various treatments tested, the Mel-Ca combination was most effective in enhancing sprout biomass, antioxidant activity, and seed viability under Salt+Cd stress. These findings underscore the synergistic role of Ca in optimizing melatonin pretreatment for stress mitigation in soybean seeds and also address the precaution for a possible negative impact of melatonin effects.

Invasive weed species exhibit both advantages, such as the potential for allelo-chemicals in bioherbicide development, and risks, including their threat to crop production. Therefore, this study aims to identify an allelochemical from Solidago altissima, an invasive weed species. The dose-dependent effects of S. altissima shoot and root extracts (SSE, SRE) on the signaling in the forage crop Trifolium repens and germination in various weed species (Echinochloa oryzicola, Cyperus microiria, Alopecurus aequalis, Portulaca oleracea, and Amaranthus retroflexus) were evaluated. The results showed that the T. repens seedlings treated with root extracts exhibited a significant decrease in plant height, dry weight, and chlorophyll content, along with an increase in H2O2 levels. Additionally, antioxidant activities, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase enzyme activities, were significantly elevated in T. repens treated with SRE. Moreover, SRE treatment significantly inhibited the seed germination of all tested weed species in a concentration-dependent manner. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of S. altissima root extract identified a high concentration of methyl kolavenate, a clerodane diterpene predicted to act as a phytotoxic agent. These findings highlight the potential of S. altissima for the development of crop-protective agents while emphasizing its potential risks in agriculture.

Agricultural development is crucial for the economic growth of any nation. However, food scarcity remains a significant concern due to various environmental factors such as climate change, soil degradation, urbanization, and the unsustainable use of natural resources. These factors, coupled with the excessive use of agrochemicals and biodiversity loss, pose serious challenges that demand immediate attention. Traditional agricultural practices often fall short in addressing these complex issues due to their labor-intensive nature, inefficiency, and nontargeted approaches. Nanotechnology presents a promising solution that can potentially enhance food security, improve productivity, and reduce environmental impacts. The application of nanotechnology in agriculture could lead to increased efficiency of inputs and a reduction in associated losses. This is particularly important in combating biotic stress, which continues to cause significant losses in various crops, with many pathogens developing resistance, complicating the fight against them. Using nanomaterials in agriculture has shown promise in addressing these stresses, highlighting their potential for broader application. Furthermore, the inefficient use of agrochemicals is a growing concern for the ecosystem. As a result, there is a continuous search for innovative strategies to tackle these challenges. This chapter explores the application of nanomaterials in managing various plant stresses, detailing their mechanisms, and providing future directions for their effective use while minimizing residual negative effects.

Global climate change, rapid increase in human population, and ecological stress limit crop production. Conventional strategies failed to mitigate the adverse effects on crops. A relatively new branch of nanoparticle research, termed “green synthesized nanoparticles” (GNPs), uses plant extract instead of hazardous chemicals that affect non-targeted places applied to agriculture to gain sustainability. Green synthesis seeks to support agricultural systems in sustainably maintaining agricultural production. The incorporation of green synthesized nanoparticles has the potential to revolutionize traditional farming methods by permitting the precise delivery of targeted biomolecules. A comprehensive study on a molecular level to explore the mechanism of action and effects of green synthesized nanoparticles by which plants and nanoparticles (NPs) interact to enhance plant stress tolerance and optimization of NP consumption is necessary to boost crop yields. Moreover, green synthesized nanoparticles are a well-known technology that can construct contemporary agricultural methods. In conclusion, this technology is at the forefront of using nanoscale advances to maximize crop protection and yield in an environmentally friendly manner.