• Mycobiology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.308-318
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• 2019

Bio-sulfur can be produced in the process of desulfurization from a landfill and collected by some microorganism such as Thiobacillus sp. as a sulfur element. In order to investigate practical use of bio-sulfur as an agent for controlling plant disease, in vitro antifungal activity of bio-sulfur was tested against Colletotrichum orbiculare known to cause cucumber anthracnose. Efficacy of bio-sulfur for suppressing anthracnose disease was also evaluated in vivo using cucumber leaves. Mycelial growth of C. orbiculare on medium containing bio-sulfur was inhibited. Disease severity of cucumber leaves pre-treated with bio-sulfur was significantly decreased compared to that of untreated ones. To illustrate how bio-sulfur could suppress anthracnose disease, structures of cucumber leaves infected with C. orbiculare were observed under a fluorescent microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Cucumber leaves pre-treated with bio-sulfur showed a low rate of appressorium formation whereas untreated ones showed abundant appressoria. Shrunk fungal hyphae were mostly observed on bio-sulfur-pretreated leaves by SEM. Similar results were observed on leaves pre-treated with a commercial fungicide Benomyl(R). These results suggest that inhibition of appressorium formation of C. orbiculare by bio-sulfur may contribute to its suppression of cucumber anthracnose.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1241-1255
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• 2021

This study was carried out to explore a non-chemical strategy for enhancing productivity by employing some antagonistic rhizobacteria. One hundred eighteen bacterial isolates were obtained from the rhizospheric zone of various crop fields of Gangwon-do, Korea, and screened for antifungal activity against Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae) in lettuce crop under in vitro and in vivo conditions. In broth-based dual culture assay, fourteen bacterial isolates showed significant inhibition of mycelial growth of F. oxysporium f. sp. lactucae. All of the antagonistic isolates were further characterized for the antagonistic traits under in vitro conditions. The isolates were identified on the basis of biochemical characteristics and confirmed at their species level by 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. Arthrobacter sulfonivorans, Bacillus siamensis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Pseudomonas proteolytica, four Paenibacillus peoriae strains, and Bacillus subtilis were identified from the biochemical characterization and 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. The isolates EN21 and EN23 showed significant decrease in disease severity on lettuce compared to infected control and other bacterial treatments under greenhouse conditions. Two bacterial isolates, EN4 and EN21, were evaluated to assess their disease reduction and growth promotion in lettuce in field conditions. The consortium of EN4 and EN21 showed significant enhancement of growth on lettuce by suppressing disease caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae respectively. This study clearly indicates that the promising isolates, EN4 (P. proteolytica) and EN21 (Bacillus siamensis), can be commercialized and used as biofertilizer and/or biopesticide for sustainable crop production.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.533-542
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• 2021

Chitosan has been considered an environmental-friendly polymer. However, its use in agriculture has not been extended yet due to its relatively low solubility in water. N-Methylene phosphonic chitosan (NMPC) is a water-soluble derivative prepared by adding a phosphonic group to chitosan. This study demonstrates that NMPC has a fungicidal effect on the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium solani f. sp. eumartii (F. eumartii) judged by the inhibition of F. eumartti mycelial growth and spore germination. NMPC affected fungal membrane permeability, reactive oxygen species production, and cell death. Also, this chitosan-derivative exerted antifungal effects against two other phytopathogens, Botrytis cinerea, and Phytophthora infestans. NMPC did not affect tomato cell viability at the same doses applied to these phytopathogens to exert fungicide action. In addition to water solubility, the selective biological cytotoxicity of NMPC adds value in its application as an antimicrobial agent in agriculture.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.164-171
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• 2021

In August 2020, 377 anthracnose strains were isolated from anthracnose-infected peppers collected from 25 farms in Sunchang-gun, Jeollabuk-do. Inhibition rate of mycelial growth of 11 pepper anthracnose fungicides registered in Korea was investigated for 62 strains selected by region and the degree of susceptibility to each fungicide was investigated. As a result of the fungicide susceptibility test of anthracnose to the fungicide, no resistant strains were observed in fluazinam, prochloraz manganese, and benomyl, but resistant strains appeared in at least three areas for other fungicides, and all strains in all regions were resistant to dithianon. Through this, it was confirmed that the fungicide resistance was expressed in the strain group due to the continuous treatment of the fungicide in some areas. By region, resistant strains to seven pesticides appeared in Sunchang-eup and Paldeok-myeon, and resistant strains to six pesticides appeared in Geumgwa-myeon, Bokheung-myeon, Ssangchi-myeon, Yudeung-myeon, and Pungsan-myeon. There was no significant correlation between fungicide registration time and emergence of resistant strains.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.202-210
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• 2022

Aflatoxin contamination in rice has been documented in a number of studies, and has a high incidence in Asian countries, and as such, there has been a growing interest in alternative biocontrol strategies to address this issue. In this study, 147 strains of yeasts and yeast-like fungi were screened for their potential to produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) active against Aspergillus flavus strains that produce aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁). Five strains within four different genera showed greater than 50% growth inhibition of some strains of A. flavus. These were Anthracocystis sp. DMKU-PAL124, Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL120, Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL144, Rhodotorula sp. DMKU-PAL99, and Solicococcus keelungensis DMKU-PAL84. VOCs produced by these microorganisms ranged from 4 to 14 compounds and included alcohols, alkenes, aromatics, esters and furans. The major VOCs produced by the closely related Aureobasidium strains were found to bedistinct. Moreover, 2-phenylethanol was the most abundant compound generated by Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL120, while methyl benzeneacetate was the major compound emitted from Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL144. On the other hand, 2-methyl-1-butanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol were significant compounds produced by the other three genera. These antagonists apparently inhibited A. flavus sporulation and mycelial development. Additionally, the reduction of the AFB1 in the fungal-contaminated rice grains was observed after co-incubation with these VOC-producing strains and ranged from 37.7 ± 8.3% to 60.3 ± 3.4%. Our findings suggest that these same microorganisms are promising biological control agents for use against aflatoxin-producing fungi in rice and other agricultural products.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.409-422
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• 2022

Southern blight caused by Sclerotium rolfsii is a serious soilborne disease in economically important crops including pepper. In this study, we conducted a selection of antagonistic bacterial strains and organic materials to biologically control the disease. Out of 39 strains isolated from soils at Jinju in Korea, strain JJ2-01 showed the highest mycelial growth inhibition; garlic oil among various organic materials significantly reduced disease incidence and severity. When a combination of strain JJ2-01 and garlic oil, or each was drenched into the pepper plants, combined treatment and garlic oil significantly suppressed the disease development, however, acid phosphatase activity in garlic oil-treated plants decreased. In the case of combined treatment, the soil activities did not affect by treatment, while soil urease activity was significantly increased by the combined treatment. Therefore, given soil quality and health for sustainable agriculture, the combination of strain JJ2-01 and garlic acid was an effective application for environmental-friendly control of Southern blight in pepper plants.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.430-448
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• 2023

Recently, strategies for controlling Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol), the causal agent of Fusarium wilt of tomato, focus on using effective biocontrol agents. In this study, an analysis of the biocontrol and plant growth promoting (PGP) attributes of 11 isolates of loamy soil Bacillus spp. has been conducted. Among them, the isolates B.PNR1 and B.PNR2 inhibited the mycelial growth of Fol by inducing abnormal fungal cell wall structures and cell wall collapse. Moreover, broad-spectrum activity against four other plant pathogenic fungi, F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 1 (Foc), Sclerotium rolfsii, Colletotrichum musae, and C. gloeosporioides were noted for these isolates. These two Bacillus isolates produced indole acetic acid, phosphate solubilization enzymes, and amylolytic and cellulolytic enzymes. In the pot experiment, the culture filtrate from B.PNR1 showed greater inhibition of the fungal pathogens and significantly promoted the growth of tomato plants more than those of the other treatments. Isolate B.PNR1, the best biocontrol and PGP, was identified as Bacillus stercoris by its 16S rRNA gene sequence and whole genome sequencing analysis (WGS). The WGS, through genome mining, confirmed that the B.PNR1 genome contained genes/gene cluster of a nonribosomal peptide synthetase/polyketide synthase, such as fengycin, surfactin, bacillaene, subtilosin A, bacilysin, and bacillibactin, which are involved in antagonistic and PGP activities. Therefore, our finding demonstrates the effectiveness of B. stercoris strain B.PNR1 as an antagonist and for plant growth promotion, highlighting the use of this microorganism as a biocontrol agent against the Fusarium wilt pathogen and PGP abilities in tomatoes.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 2023

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of the most important crops in human food production. The occurrence of diseases, such as white mold, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum can limit the production of this legume. The use of Trichoderma has become an important strategy in the suppression of this disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by Trichoderma azevedoi CEN1241 in five different growth periods on the severity of white mold in common bean. The in vitro assays were carried out in double-plate and split-plate, and the in vivo assays, through the exposure of the mycelia of S. sclerotiorum to the VOCs of T. azevedoi CEN1241 and subsequent inoculation in bean plants. Chemical analysis by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry detected 37 VOCs produced by T. azevedoi CEN1241, covering six major chemical classes. The profile of VOCs produced by T. azevedoi CEN1241 varied according to colony age and was shown to be related to the ability of the biocontrol agent to suppress S. sclerotiorum. T. azevedoi CEN1241 VOCs reduced the size of S. sclerotiorum lesions on bean fragments in vitro and reduced disease severity in a greenhouse. This study demonstrated in a more applied way that the mechanism of antibiosis through the production of volatile compounds exerted by Trichoderma can complement other mechanisms, such as parasitism and competition, thus contributing to a better efficiency in the control of white mold in bean plants.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.974-979
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• 2008

The powdery mildew, a fungal plant disease found in varieties of plant cultures, is occurred by attack with Fusarium sp., Sphaerotheca sp., Leveilluna sp., and Eryshipe sp.. In this study we investigated the control of Fusarium graminearum, a barley powdery mildew fungus, by natural plant extracts. Among the 900 plant extracts tested, Zanthoxylum schinifolium, Ligusticum acutilobum, Bidens frondosa L., Dictamnus dasycarpus, Evodia officinalis, Disporum sessile, Scopolia japonica Max., Styrax japonica S. et Z., Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz., Sinomenium acutum Rehder et Wils., Eugenia aromaticum, Rubus parvifolius L., Reynoutria elliptica, Coptis chinensis, Paeonia lactiflora Pall., Rheum undalatum, Paeonia suffruticosa, Oenothera odorata Jacq., Euphorbia pekinensis Rupr., and Nepeta cataria were selected based on spore germination inhibition assay. Further mycelial growth inhibition assay with economical and safety considerations led us to finally select Z. schinifolium (sancho) for control of F. graminearum. To produce antifungal sancho extract, methanol was suitable for extraction and subsequent fractionations of the extract showed that the water residue mainly had antifungal activity. The sancho extract and its fractions showed minor antibacterial activity against different pathogenic or food spoilage bacteria, but they did not show any harmful effects against young tomato plant by treatment of $1,000\;{\mu}g/ml$ in green chamber test. These results suggested that the extract of sancho has high potentials on control of a powdery mildew fungus, F. graminearum.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.313-317
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• 1998

This study was perfonned to investigate the possible effect of Bacillus subtilis which is the predominant species of bacteria in Korean soy sauce, soy paste, and Meju (soybean cake) on the growth and aflatoxin production of Aspergillus parasiticus ATCC 15517. The microorganisms were grown in a modified APT broth and incubated at $30^{\circ}C$ for 12 days. Aflatoxins were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A remarkable inhibition of the growth of Aspergillus parasiticus was observed during the incubation period when in the presence of B. subtilis (mixed culture). Dry mycelial weight in the mixed culture was significantly reduced by 85.3% in comparison to the control at the end of the incubation period (p<0.01). Lower levels of aflatoxins were found in the mixed culture than in the monoculture. At the end of the incubation period aflatoxin production was significantly inhibited by more than 50% (p<0.05). These results indicate that B. subtilis mainly inhibites the growth and aflatoxin production of toxigenic Aspergillus in Meju, soy sauce and soy paste. Although its effect on aflatoxin production was less pronounced, we could expect more inhibition by another bacteria related with fermentation in Meju.