• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.144-153
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• 2013

Diverse bacteria are known to colonize plants. However, only a small fraction of that diversity has been evaluated for their biopesticide potential. To date, the criteria for sampling and selection in such bioprospecting endeavors have not been systematically evaluated in terms of the relative amount of diversity they provide for analysis. The present study aimed to enhance the success of bioprospecting efforts by increasing the diversity while removing the genotypic redundancy often present in large collections of bacteria. We developed a multivariate sampling and marker-based selection strategy that significantly increase the diversity of bacteria recovered from plants. In doing so, we quantified the effects of varying sampling intensity, media composition, incubation conditions, plant species, and soil source on the diversity of recovered isolates. Subsequent sequencing and high-throughput phenotypic analyses of a small fraction of the collected isolates revealed that this approach led to the recovery of over a dozen rare and, to date, poorly characterized genera of plant-associated bacteria with significant biopesticide activities. Overall, the sampling and selection approach described led to an approximately 5-fold improvement in efficiency and the recovery of several novel strains of bacteria with significant biopesticide potential.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 2016

Background: Rhizospheric fungi play an essential role in the plantesoil ecosystem, affecting plant growth and health. In this study, we evaluated the fungal diversity in the rhizosphere soil of 2-yr-old healthy Panax notoginseng cultivated in Wenshan, China. Methods: Culture-independent Illumina MiSeq and culture-dependent techniques, combining molecular and morphological characteristics, were used to analyze the rhizospheric fungal diversity. A diffusion test was used to challenge the phytopathogens of P. notoginseng. Results: A total of 16,130 paired-end reads of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 were generated and clustered into 860 operational taxonomic units at 97% sequence similarity. All the operational taxonomic units were assigned to five phyla and 79 genera. Zygomycota (46.2%) and Ascomycota (37.8%) were the dominant taxa; Mortierella and unclassified Mortierellales accounted for a large proportion (44.9%) at genus level. The relative abundance of Fusarium and Phoma sequenceswas high, accounting for 12.9% and 5.5%, respectively. In total,113 fungal isolates were isolated from rhizosphere soil. They were assigned to five classes, eight orders (except for an Incertae sedis), 26 genera, and 43 species based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer. Fusarium was the most isolated genus with six species (24 isolates, 21.2%). The abundance of Phoma was also relatively high (8.0%). Thirteen isolates displayed antimicrobial activity against at least one test fungus. Conclusion: Our results suggest that diverse fungi including potential pathogenic ones exist in the rhizosphere soil of 2-yr-old P. notoginseng and that antagonistic isolates may be useful for biological control of pathogens.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2010

The Asian cultural landscape is a mirrored ecosystem of great complexity, formed by the interaction of man and nature, coupled with a host of ecological processes. The human dependencies on and environmental adaptation of the bio-organisms and the surrounding landscape constitute the typical cultural landscape. Islands are a good example of a cultural landscape, and each mosaic pattern of marine and coastal ecosystems reflects bio-cultural diversity. Along with land-use patterns, wise use of biological organisms and indigenous knowledge has expanded to islands in the Asia-Pacific region in several ways (sea current and human impact, etc.). Loss in biodiversity and landscape diversity as well as cultural diversity owing to global warming and rapid urbanization are emerging issues for island ecosystems all over the world. In order to sustain the historical coexistence between man and natural systems, we ecologists must continue to search for a holistic solution for academic consilience. In this paper, I present the vision and practical characteristics of island ecology with a view toward the conservation of the traditional landscape and bio-cultural diversities in the seascape.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.1-5
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• 2007

Shannon and Simpson indexes are used for species diversity analysis of ecosystem. In species diversity analysis of ecosystem, not only frequency of each species but also survey size have to be considered. In this study, total information composed with knowledge and ignorance was suggested as a species diversity analysis method for ecosystem survey. To apply developed method, flora in the Sangachun river valley was sampled with 19 sites and 198 species. In applying results, Shannon index shows more reasonable results than Simpson index by the variance of sample size but has difficulties of determining the relation of surveying species number and sample site number. Suggested total information can overcome this difficulty by the relation of knowledge and ignorance.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.353-360
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• 2017

Background: Endophytic fungi play an important role in balancing the ecosystem and boosting host growth. In the present study, we investigated the endophytic fungal diversity of healthy Panax notoginseng and evaluated its potential antimicrobial activity against five major phytopathogens causing root-rot of P. notoginseng. Methods: A culture-dependent technique, combining morphological and molecular methods, was used to analyze endophytic fungal diversity. A double-layer agar technique was used to challenge the phytopathogens of P. notoginseng. Results: A total of 89 fungi were obtained from the roots, stems, leaves, and seeds of P. notoginseng, and 41 isolates representing different morphotypes were selected for taxonomic characterization. The fungal isolates belonged to Ascomycota (96.6%) and Zygomycota (3.4%). All isolates were classified to 23 genera and an unknown taxon belonging to Sordariomycetes. The number of isolates obtained from different tissues ranged from 12 to 42 for leaves and roots, respectively. The selected endophytic fungal isolates were challenged by the root-rot pathogens Alternaria panax, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Phoma herbarum, and Mycocentrospora acerina. Twenty-six of the 41 isolates (63.4%) exhibited activity against at least one of the pathogens tested. Conclusion: Our results suggested that P. notoginseng harbors diversified endophytic fungi that would provide a basis for the identification of new bioactive compounds, and for effective biocontrol of notoginseng root rot.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2016

Background: Rhizobacteria play an important role in plant defense and could be promising sources of biocontrol agents. This study aimed to screen antagonistic bacteria and develop a biocontrol system for root rot complex of Panax notoginseng. Methods: Pure-culture methods were used to isolate bacteria from the rhizosphere soil of notoginseng plants. The identification of isolates was based on the analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences. Results: A total of 279 bacteria were obtained from rhizosphere soils of healthy and root-rot notoginseng plants, and uncultivated soil. Among all the isolates, 88 showed antagonistic activity to at least one of three phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, and Phoma herbarum mainly causing root rot disease of P. notoginseng. Based on the 16S rRNA sequencing, the antagonistic bacteria were characterized into four clusters, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetesi. The genus Bacillus was the most frequently isolated, and Bacillus siamensis (Hs02), Bacillus atrophaeus (Hs09) showed strong antagonistic activity to the three pathogens. The distribution pattern differed in soil types, genera Achromobacter, Acidovorax, Brevibacterium, Brevundimonas, Flavimonas, and Streptomyces were only found in rhizosphere of healthy plants, while Delftia, Leclercia, Brevibacillus, Microbacterium, Pantoea, Rhizobium, and Stenotrophomonas only exist in soil of diseased plant, and Acinetobacter only exist in uncultivated soil. Conclusion: The results suggest that diverse bacteria exist in the P. notoginseng rhizosphere soil, with differences in community in the same field, and antagonistic isolates may be good potential biological control agent for the notoginseng root-rot diseases caused by F. oxysporum, Fusarium solani, and Panax herbarum.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2013

Fisheries' biological resources were considered public resources before the 1990s. Every country could access and use these resources without regulation. However, the United Nations adopted the Convention on Biological Diversity and the privileges and rights to these resources were attributed to countries. This research starts with the research background and social and academic value of "The Jasan Eobo (or Report on Marine Organisms in the Coastal Waters near Heuksan Island)" by Jeong Yak-Jeon, who pioneered the new field of Fisheries Science and Marine Biology in Korea in the early 1800s. We also searched for recent results from the Marine Bio-Diversity Research Activities of the Korean National Council for Conservation of Nature (KNCCN) and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MOMAF). KNCCN reported that marine bio-diversity comprised approximately 6,500 species in 1996, and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries reported there were about 10,000 species in 2007. Among these marine species, plankton account for about 25%, seaweeds 11%, invertebrates 52%, and vertebrates 12% in Korean Coastal Areas. The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MIFAFF) enacted a law for Agriculture and Fisheries Resources Management in 2012; this law includes the preservation of marine ecosystems, the conservation of wetlands and the preservation of fisheries resources, and describes the boundary of taxonomy for new species and unknown species that could be identified in the near future. To follow the new regulation for Access to General Resources and Benefit-Sharing, this research suggests (1) the importance of taxonomy for new species and unknown species as a goal of "No Name = No Information", (2) integrated research on bio-diversity, species distributions and the abundance of fisheries resources, both in local areas and in Korean Coastal Areas, and (3) the observance of international regulations or agreements for benefit-sharing without additional damage in the future.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.437-443
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• 2013

The diversity of culturable non-actinobacterial (NA) bacteria associated with four species of South China Sea gorgonians was investigated using culture-dependent methods followed by analysis of the bacterial 16S rDNA sequence. A total of 76 bacterial isolates were recovered and identified, which belonged to 21 species of 7 genera, and Bacillus was the most diverse genus. Fifty-one percent of the 76 isolates displayed antibacterial activities, and most of them belonged to the Bacillus genus. From the culture broth of gorgonian-associated Bacillus methylotrophicus SCSGAB0092 isolated from gorgonian Melitodes squamata, 11 antimicrobial lipopeptides including seven surfactins and four iturins were obtained. These results imply that Bacillus strains associated with gorgonians play roles in coral defense mechanisms through producing antimicrobial substances. This study, for the first time, compares the diversity of culturable NA bacterial communities among four species of South China Sea gorgonians and investigates the secondary metabolites of gorgonian-associated B. methylotrophicus SCSGAB0092.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.283-309
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• 2015

Nagoya Protocol came into effect October of 2014. For Korean companies to follow Nagoya Protocol with ease, this research conducts the survey to figure out consumers' additional willingness to pay for bio-diversity. The hypothesis that the bio-diversity label will make an impact on willingness to pay through emotional value, conditional value, and epistemic value is based on consumption value theory. The survey is conducted for two product categories; first one is utilitarian product (milk) and the other one is hedonic product (cosmetics). The analysis result shows the bio-diversity label on both product categories incur additional willingness to pay. Especially, expectation on effectiveness of bio-diversity label increases the additional willingness to pay on biodiversity label. This implies for easy following on Nagoya Protocol, the education and promotion of bio-diversity is need to increase consumers' additional willingness to pay, which can be the attraction for companies to obey the Nagoya Protocol.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.214-222
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• 2010

Many research results have indicated that many kinds of useful ingredients are rich in buckwheat, which have high nutritional values and medicinal properties, so, buckwheat has been cultivated around Asia and Europe. In this paper, genetic diversity of common and tartary buckwheat germplasms were studied based on morphological and molecular markers in order to provide useful information for conservation and utilization of buckwheat genetic resources. The length, width, thick, value and weight of the seed of the common and tartary buckwheat were measured and analyzed by the statistics methods. The result has shown that there are morphological variation both in common buckwheat and tartary buckwheat seeds collected from different regions. It also has shown that the morphological variation of tartary seeds was significantly correlated to geographical regions. The nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of the tartary buckwheat collected from different countries were cloned, sequenced and statistically analyzed. The data showed that ITS sequences were informative to analyze the phylogeny of the tartary buckwheat and the data also showed that the genetic distances varied among different tartary buckwheat seeds collected from different countries.