To investigate the growth response of various crop species to mycorrhizal inoculation, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were applied to Glycine max, Vigna angularis, Senna tora, Hordeum vulgare var. hexastichon. Zea mays, Sorghum bicolor, Allium tuberosum, Solanum melongena, and Capsicum annuum. The biomass of the inoculated crops was measured every two weeks for the 12-week growth period. By measuring biomass, we calculated the mycorrhizal responsiveness of the nine crop species. Among the nine crop species, four species showed a significant response to mycorrhizal inoculation. The shoot biomasses of V. angularis, C. annuum, A. tuberosum, and S. tora significantly increased with mycorrhizal inoculation.
Biomass ; Capsicum ; Chive ; Fungi ; Hordeum ; Solanum melongena ; Sorghum ; Soybeans ; Zea mays

In this study, we characterized sporadically occurring sclerotium rot caused by Sclerotium rolfsii in Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Roth.) in farm fields in Sacheon, Korea. The initial symptom of the disease was water-soaked, which progressed to rotting, wilting, blighting, and eventually death. Further, mycelial mats spread over the lesions near the soil line, and sclerotia formed on the scaly stem and leaves. The sclerotia were globoid, 1~3 mm, and white to brown. The optimum temperature for growth and sclerotia formation on potato dextrose agar (PDA) was 30degrees C. The diameter of the hypae ranged from 4 to 8 microm. Clamp connection was observed on PDA medium after 5 days of incubation. Based on the mycological characteristics, internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis, and pathogenicity test, the causal agent was identified as Sclerotium rolfsii Saccardo. This is the first report of sclerotium rot in Chinese chive caused by S. rolfsii in Korea.
Agar ; Allium ; Allyl Compounds ; Chive ; Glucose ; Humans ; Korea ; Sequence Analysis ; Soil ; Solanum tuberosum ; Sulfides

Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora are well-known coccidian protozoa that can cause waterborne and foodborne diarrheal illnesses. There have been a few reports regarding contamination in different vegetables with Cryptosporidium, but no data are available regarding the sources of Cyclospora infections in Korea. In the present study, we collected 6 kinds of vegetables (perilla leaves, winter-grown cabbages, chives, sprouts, blueberries, and cherry tomatoes) from July 2014 to June 2015, and investigated contamination by these 2 protozoa using multiplex quantitative real-time PCR. Among 404 vegetables, Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora were detected in 31 (7.7%) and 5 (1.2%) samples, respectively. In addition, Cryptosporidium was isolated from all 6 kinds of vegetables, whereas Cyclospora was detected in 4 kinds of vegetables (except perilla leaves and chives). Cryptosporidium (17.8%) and Cyclospora (2.9%) had the highest detection rates in chives and winter-grown cabbages, respectively. Cryptosporidium was detected all year long; however, Cyclospora was detected only from October to January. In 2 samples (sprout and blueberry), both Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora were detected. Further investigations using TaqI restriction enzyme fragmentation and nested PCR confirmed Cryptosporidium parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis, respectively. In conclusion, we detected C. cayetanensis in vegetables for the first time in Korea. This suggests that screening should be employed to prevent these protozoal infections in Korea.
Blueberry Plant ; Brassica ; Chive ; Cryptosporidium parvum ; Cryptosporidium* ; Cyclospora* ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Perilla ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vegetables*

BACKGROUND: Endothelial adhesion molecule expression induced by pro-inflammatory cytokine plays an important role in vascular endothelial cell injury, leading to vascular disease. Allium tuberosum (AT), which is used as a functional food, has a thrombolytic effect. It contains vitamin A, vitamin C, carbohydrate, calcium, iron, and phosphorus. There are many carotenes that turn into vitamin A in the body. Also, it helps blood circulation and stimulates metabolism. The purpose of the this study was to estimate the anti-inflammatory effects of the AT extract. METHODS: Human vascular endothelial cells were pre-treated with 100 μg/mL AT extract for 30 minutes and subsequently co-treated with TNF-α (10 ng/mL) and AT extract (100 μg/mL) for 1, 4, and 6 hours. After treatment, the cells were lysed and used for quantitative reverse transcription PCR, Western blot analysis, and monocyte adhesion assay. RESULTS: We examined the effect of the AT extract on inflammatory gene expression in TNF-α-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The extract reduced the expression levels of mRNA and protein of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 in TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs. It also inhibited the TNF-α-induced phosphorylation of the NF-κB p65 subunit and degradation of IκBα. Furthermore, the AT extract prevented the increased adhesion capacity of monocyte to TNF-α-stimulated vascular endothelial cells by reducing ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: The AT extract has preventive and anti-inflammatory effect against vascular disease and has potential for supporting prevention against the early process of atherosclerosis.
Allium* ; Ascorbic Acid ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Circulation ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium ; Carotenoids ; Chive* ; Endothelial Cells* ; Functional Food ; Gene Expression ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans* ; Inflammation* ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Iron ; Metabolism ; Monocytes ; Necrosis* ; NF-kappa B ; Phosphorus ; Phosphorylation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Vascular Diseases ; Vitamin A

The effects of Allium vegetables on blood glucose levels and lipid metabolism in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats were investigated. Diabetes mellitus was induced by STZ injection (45 mg/kg b.w.) into the tail vein. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 220+/-10 g were randomly assigned to 7 groups: normal, STZ-control and five Allium groups (Allium cepa, Allium fistulosum, Allium sativum, Allium tuberosum and Allium victorialis) . Normal and STZ-control groups were fed an AIN-93 diet and five Allium groups were fed a modified diet containing 10% Allium powder each for 4 weeks. Body weight, diet intake, food efficiency ratio (FER) and organ weights were monitored. Activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were observed. Plasma levels of glucose, free fatty acid, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol were analyzed. Levels of glycogen, cholesterol and triglyceride in liver were determined. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver, lung, kidney, and pancreas were assayed. The hepatic contents of chromium (Cr) , iron (Fe) , zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) were measured. The Allium sativum group had weight gain and suppressed a hypertrophy of the kidney significantly. The activity of ALT was significantly lowered in the diabetic groups except Allium sativum group compared to STZ-control group. The Allium sativum and Allium tuberosum groups showed the hypoglycemic effects at 4 weeks. There were no significant differences between the control and all the other diabetic groups in the plasma levels of cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acids. Most of the Allium groups except Allium fistulosum were observed significantly lowered level of MDA in the lung compared to STZ-control group. The diabetic rats fed the Allium cepa and Allium sativum have shown significantly lowered hepatic Zn contents. The results suggested that the intake of the Allium vegetables may be effective in the antihyperglycemia by lowering blood glucose levels.
Alanine Transaminase ; Allium* ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Blood Glucose* ; Body Weight ; Chive ; Cholesterol ; Chromium ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diet ; Eating ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; Garlic ; Glucose ; Glycogen ; Hypertrophy ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; Iron ; Kidney ; Lipid Metabolism ; Liver ; Lung ; Malondialdehyde ; Manganese ; Minerals* ; Onions ; Organ Size ; Pancreas ; Plasma* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin* ; Triglycerides ; Vegetables* ; Veins ; Weight Gain ; Zinc

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of extract from Chinese chive seed in warming kidney and enhancing yang.

METHODThe influence of extract from Chinese chive seed on the erection of penis of was investigated in adult male rats with experimental insufficiency of the kidney-yang produced by both removal of double spermaries and high dose of hydrocortisone.

RESULTThe extract of Chinese chive seed enhanced the responsiveness of the penis of emasculate rats to outside stimulus, promoted the resistance of the emasculated rats to cold and tiredness and increased autonomous activity.

CONCLUSIONThe extract of Chinese chive seed has the effect of warming kidney and enhancing yang.

Animals ; Chive ; chemistry ; Cold Temperature ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Fatigue ; prevention & control ; Hydrocortisone ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mice ; Motor Activity ; drug effects ; Orchiectomy ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Yang Deficiency ; chemically induced ; physiopathology