• 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.

• 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 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.

• 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 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.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.150-153
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• 1996

To develope a microbial pesticide for the control of agricultural and forestal pests in Korea, the mass culture system of entomopathogenic fungi was studied. Previously, we have developed the mass culture system which was adaptable for the culture of Beauveria bassiana. In this study, we determined the efficacy of this mass culture system for other entomopathogenic fungi, B. bassiana, Beauveria brongniartii, Metarhizium anisopliae, and Verticillium lecanni. To determine the efficacy of mass culture system, we examined the growth rate of entomopathogenic fungi in this system which was composed of 1st liquid media for growth of blastospore and 2nd pellet media for growth of conidia. As the result, we obtained that the blastopore numbers increased 103-104 times in liquid media at 72 hrs post inoculation. The results showed that this mass culture system for the growth of entomopathogenic fungi was effective.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.359-362
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• 2001

Traditionally, Cordyceps species have been used as a part of herbal medicine in Oriental countries, including Korea a for intemal health, vigorosity and to cure different diseases related to heart, lung etc. In the recent years, research on artificial fruiting of different Cordyceps species including C. militaris has been carried out in the world because of their medicinal value. Variationas well as instability occur during artificial fruiting. Instability observed in the in vitro fruiting of C. militaris is reported in the present study.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.427-439
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• 2023

The silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is a major pest distributing worldwide damaging over 900 host plant species, and is highly resistant to chemical pesti- cides. Due to the high pesticide resistance of whitefly, there is a need for alternatives to chemical control. Entomopathogenic fungi are candidates for biological pesticide that can overcome the resistance problem of chemical pesticide. Therefore, in this study, we tested pathogenicity of the entomopathogenic fungi to select high insec- ticidal activity against whitefly. As a result, IPBL-C (Cordyceps fumosorosea) and IPBL-F (Metarhizium pinghaense) isolates showed high insecticidal activity against whitefly. Additionally, as a result of culturing the selected isolates on spent coffee grounds medium, the conidia of IPBL-F produced on coffee grounds medium showed five times higher heat stability after heat treatment at 45℃ for one hour than conidia produced on PDA medium.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.179-184
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• 1997

This study was conducted to observe the effects of pesticides on the pathogenicity of entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae isolated from Korea. Spomlation of entomopathogenic fungi in SMAY medium that mixed different concentrations of pesticides was similar to control in metalaxyl and tolclofos- methyl treatment but in half recommanded treatment of fenitrothion and mepronil very poor spomlation was showed. Pathogenicity of entomopathogenic fungi dipped in all tested pesticide solution for 1 to 5hr was 100% pathogenicity of M. aniropliae in the pesticide treated chinese cabage fields were similar to control, Bt, teflubenzuron, metalaxyl, and carbofuran treatment but alachlol was below 80%. Pathogenicity and persistence of entomopathogenic fungi in turfgrass when pesticides were posttreatmented were continued to 4 months in iprodione+thiram and tolclofos-methyl treated plots but those of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae was losted in fenitrothion pathogenicity and persistence of in mepronil were nil M. anisopliae from 3 months after treatment.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2013

Entomopathogenic fungal species have been investigated for their potential use as biological control agents owing to their natural role as insect pathogens. These fungi produce a wide range of secondary metabolites with high therapeutic values, such as antibiotics and cytotoxic substances. To evaluate the antibacterial activity of entomopathogenic fungi, 10 isolates from Korean soil were selected and tested for their activity against Escherichia coli by using fungal culture filtrates. Antibacterial activity was assessed using a two-step process: (1) a screening assay for the selection of fungal isolates and (2) a quantitative assay to evaluate the activity of select fungi. Although 4 fungal isolates were selected through the screening assay, only 3 fungal isolates, from Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, showed high antibacterial activity according to the quantitative assay. The antibacterial activity of selected fungal culture filtrates was stable when exposed to heat and proteolytic enzyme treatments, which indicated that the antibacterial compound is not a protein. These entomopathogenic fungal metabolites might be useful as a source for bacterial control and in the pharmaceutical industry.