• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2010

To determine the optimal isolation conditions of the entomopathogenic fungi from soil, we compared their growth characteristics with non-entomopathogenic fungi on agar media containing various concentrations of cooper (II) chloride ($CuCl_2$) or dodine. The result showed that dodine medium is more selective, and the optimal concentration of dodine is determined with $50{\mu}g$/ml. We could isolate several putative entomopathogenic fungi from soil using this, and identify them using ITS analysis. As a result, 64% fungi were identified as typical entomopathogenic fungi. This selective medium may be useful to the rapid and simple isolation of entomopathogenic fungi from soil.

• Mycobiology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.178-181
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• 2005

Cordyceps militaris specimens were continuously collected by Entomopathogenic Fungal Culture Collection (EFCC), Kangwon National University from different mountains, national parks and recreation parks of Korea from 1986 to 2002, mainly from late May to October of each year. Dry specimens of C. militaris along with their isolates have been preserved in EFCC. Fruiting of C. militaris was induced from single ascospore isolates as well as their combinations in brown rice medium. Fruiting experiments showed that combinations of single ascospore isolates produced fertile fruiting bodies, but single isolates could not produce any fruiting bodies. It was shown that two isolates of the opposite mating types were required to produce fertile stromata. However, combinations of the same mating type isolates produced no fruiting body, showing that C. militaris is a bipolar, heterothallic fungus.

• Mycobiology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.196-199
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• 2006

Effects of various preservation periods and subcultures on fruiting body formation of Cordyceps militaris were investigated using EFCC C-10995 single ascospore strains. Fruiting body formation by original strains was profuse when preserved at $4^{\circ}C$ for $5{\sim}6$ months. Fruiting from subcultures was stable till second to sixth subcultures, after which it decreased sharply. The more the colony color of subcultures changed, the less the fruiting bodies formed. Liquid inoculum preparation of single ascospore strains in the same or separate broths did not affect fruiting body formation. Similarly, two strains C-10995-3 and C-10995-6 in different numbers during liquid inoculum preparation produced similar fruiting bodies.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2016.05a
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• pp.13-13
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• 2016

Insects constitute the largest and most diverse group of animals in the world. They also serve as the hosts or nutrient sources for an immense assemblage of pathogens, parasites, and predators. More than 700 fungal species from 100 genera have adopted an entomopathogenic lifestyle. Although entomopathogenic fungi were studied as only biocontrol agents against a variety of pests in various countries, it has been recently focused their additional roles in nature. They are antagonists to/against plant pathogens, endophytes, and possibly even plant growth promoting agents. The potential antimicrobial effect against fungal plant pathogens by an isolate of entomopathogenic fungi including Beauveria bassiana, Lecanicillium spp., and Isaria fumosorosea have been reported since late 1990s, but wasn't reported pathogenicity of the isolate against pests. Later, a Canadian Lecanicillium sp. isolate and L. longisporium isolated from Vertalec$^{(R)}$ showed simultaneous control effect against both aphid and cucumber powder mildew. Therefore, the antimicrobial activities of 342 fungi isolates collected from various regions and conditions in Korea were evaluated against plant pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea using dual culture technique on agar plate. As a result, 186 isolates (54.4%) shown the antifungal activity against B. cinerea. The culture filtrates of selected fungi completely suppressed the growth of the microorganisms, indicating that suppression was due to the presence of antimicrobial substances in the culture filtrate. Mode of action of these fungi against insect involves the attachment of conidia to the insect cuticle, followed by germination, cuticle penetration, and internal dissemination throughout the insect. During infection process, secreted enzymes, proteinous toxins, and/or secondary metabolites secreted by entomopathogenic fungi can be used to overcome the host immune system, modify host behavior, and defend host resources. Recently, secondary metabolites isolated from entomopathogenic fungi have been reported as potential bioactive substances. Generally, most of bioactive substances produced by entomopathogenic fungi have reported low molecular weight (lower than 1,000 g/mol) as peptide and, in contrast the high molecular weight fungal bioactive substances are rare. Most substances based on entomopathogenic fungi were shown antimicrobial activity with narrow control ranges. In our study we analyzed the antimicrobial substances having antagonistic effects to B. cinerea. Antimicrobial substances in our fungal culture filtrates showed high thermostability, high stability to proteolytic enzymes, and hydrophilicity and their molecular weights were differed from substance. In conclusion, entomopathogenic fungi showed pathogenicity against insect pests and culture filtrate of the fungi also shown to antimicrobial activity. In the future, we can use the entomopathogenic fungi and its secondary metabolites to control both insect pest control and plant pathogenic fungi simultaneously.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.95-106
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• 2023

Entomopathogenic fungi are one of the microorganisms distributed worldwide, and they inhabit not only insects but also soils of various regions such as agricultural land and forest areas. In this study, entomopathogenic fungi distributed in the soil of forest areas in Korea were isolated using the insect-baiting method, and the relationship between the distribution and diversity of entomopathogenic fungi and the physical/chemical characteristics of the soil was analyzed. The soils were collected from five forest areas in Korea, and a total of 42 entomopathogenic fungal isolates were isolated from the collected soils. Among them, Beauveria bassiana (42.9%) and Metarhizium anisopliae (45.2%) were mainly isolated. In particular, it was confirmed that the distribution of M. anisopliae varies depending on the total nitrogen (g/kg) and organic matter content (%) of the soil. The soils in forest areas in Korea have a low pH of 4-5. Among all isolates, >50% of entomopathogenic fungi were isolated from silt loam. This study suggests that it will be helpful in understanding the relationship between the distribution and diversity of entomopathogenic fungi and the physical and chemical characteristics of soil.

• Mycobiology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.235-239
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• 2005

The present study was carried out to explore the Cordyceps species and other entomopathogenic fungal flora around Kathmandu Valley and a few high altitude locations of Nepal. In this paper, we report eight Cordyceps species as new to Nepal: C. gracilis, C. ishikariensis, C. liangshanensis, C. martialis, C. militaris, C. pruinosa, C. sphecocephala and C. tricentri. We also mention a few allied genera such as Beauveria, Hirsutella and Paecilomyces from Nepal. Further collections from different ecological regions of Nepal will show the richness of entomopathogenic fungal floral diversity of Nepal.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.77-87
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• 2015

Insects are commonly infected by fungal diseases and are mostly susceptible to them. Increasing levels of insecticide resistance has recently become an issue for control programs; thus, research has focused on mosquito control using entomopathogenic fungi, including fungal pathogens such as Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, and Lagenidium giganteum. Review discusses entomopathogenic fungi related to control programs for mosquito transmitted vector-borne diseases such as dengue, filariasis, malaria, and yellow fever, and how to use entomopathogenic fungi for mosquito control.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.368-372
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• 1995

To develop a microbial pesticide for the control of pine gall midges. Thecodiplosis japonensis, entomopathogenc fungi were isolated from 233 soil samples in the damaged region of Thecodiplosis japonenesis, and identified with Beauveria spp. 29 strains and Paecilomyces spp. 2 strains. The morphology of entomopathogenic fungi was observed by scanning electron miroscope. In addition, the toxicity of entomopathogenic fungi was observed by scanning electron microscope. In addition, the toxicity of entomopathogenic fungi isolated from soil samples was determined by bioassay against Thecodiplosis japonensis larvae. The result showed that toxicity of relatively pathogenic strains, Beauveria spp. SFB-168-2 was 82.9%, suggesting that Beauveria spp. SFB-168-2 is effective entomopathogenic fungi for the control of pine gall midges.

• Mycobiology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.131-137
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• 2006

In vitro fruiting bodies were produced from ten different isolates of Condyceps militaris EFCC C-5736, EFCC C-5941, EFCC C-5976, EFCC C-6040, EFCC C-6849, EFCC C-7268, EFCC C-7342, EFCC C-7992, EFCC C-8027 and EFCC C-8549. Single ascospores were isolated from in vitro grown fruiting bodies and used for fruiting body production in brown rice medium by both intra-strain crossing and out-crossing. Length and dry wt. of stromata grown in vitro were measured. Strains producing highest dry wt. of stromata were selected. Both intra-strain crossings and inter-strain crossings of single ascospore strains were found to produce profuse fruiting bodies of C. militaris.

• The Korean Journal of Soil Zoology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.28-36
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• 1996

A survey for entomopathogenic nematodes was conducted throughout the nine provinvrd and within three city limits during the summer of 1990 and 1991. Six of the nine provinces and one of the three cities were positive for entomopathogenic nematodes. Out of the total 499 soil samples, 23(4.6%) were positive for entomopathogenic nematodes with 19(3.8%) containing Steinernema and 4(0.8%) containing Heterorhabditis. Heterorhabditis bacteriopora and three distinct groups of Steinernema species were idintified. One groups was indentified as S. carpocapsae, another S. glaseri and the other S. monticola based on cross breeding studies. Positive sample sites in each habitat includes 15 of the 415(3.6%) from forests including regrowth areas with shrubs, 1 of the 27(3.7%) from turfgrass including golf courses and parks, 3 of the 24(12.5%) from agricultural fields, 2 of the 16(12.5%) along riparian areas, and of the 17(11.8%) near the seashore. We advocate that more surveys be conducted for entomopathogenic nematodes before commercial sources of nematodes are widely applied which may obscure the naturally-occurring nematodes. A key to Steinernema is provided for the identification.