• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.25 no.9
• /
• pp.1467-1475
• /
• 2015

The use of microbial extracts containing plant hormones is a promising technique to improve crop growth. Little is known about the effect of bacterial cell-free extracts on plant growth promotion. This study, based on phytohormonal analyses, aimed at exploring the potential mechanisms by which Enterococcus faecium LKE12 enhances plant growth in oriental melon. A bacterial strain, LKE12, was isolated from soil, and further identified as E. faecium by 16S rDNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The plant growth-promoting ability of an LKE12 bacterial culture was tested in a gibberellin (GA)-deficient rice dwarf mutant (waito-C) and a normal GA biosynthesis rice cultivar (Hwayongbyeo). E. faecium LKE12 significantly improved the length and biomass of rice shoots in both normal and dwarf cultivars through the secretion of an array of gibberellins (GA₁, GA₃, GA₇, GA₈, GA₉, GA₁₂, GA₁₉, GA₂₀, GA₂₄, and GA₅₃), as well as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study indicating that E. faecium can produce GAs. Increases in shoot and root lengths, plant fresh weight, and chlorophyll content promoted by E. faecium LKE12 and its cell-free extract inoculated in oriental melon plants revealed a favorable interaction of E. faecium LKE12 with plants. Higher plant growth rates and nutrient contents of magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron, manganese, silicon, zinc, and nitrogen were found in cell-free extract-treated plants than in control plants. The results of the current study suggest that E. faecium LKE12 promotes plant growth by producing GAs and IAA; interestingly, the exogenous application of its cell-free culture extract can be a potential strategy to accelerate plant growth.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.376-392
• /
• 2020

In Korea, damages to wooden cultural properties by termites have been reported all over the country, including Ulleungdo Island and Jeju Island. In order to reduce the damage caused by termites, most cultural properties damaged by them are treated with fumigation or drug treatment on the soil to kill or repel them. The number of treatments is decreasing due to cost and safety problems, and new methods needed to cope with this situation. After extracting an enzyme by selecting only worker termites from the termites collected in Shinan, Jeonnam, as a result of measuring the enzyme activity using xylan of cellulose and hemicellulose that are the components of wood, the activity of termite intestinal enzymes in xylan was higher than that of cellulose having a high molecular weight. Therefore, in this study, as a result of exploring over 600 species of medicinal plant extracts that inhibit the activity of termite intestinal enzymes using xylan as a substrate, the inhibitory effect was significant in Borneolum Syntheticum, Ephedra sinica, and Menthol. Selected Borneolum Syntheticum, Ephedra sinica, and Menthol's extracts not only inhibited the activity of termite intestinal enzymes, but also confirmed that they have insecticidal activation and inhibitory effects on feeding in the result of the direct treatment.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.255-262
• /
• 2010

Strain BCNU 2001 was isolated from soil samples collected from Tea-baek Mountain area. The biochemical characteristics and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences of the isolate revealed that the strain belonged to the Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The supernatants had an antimicrobial effect on various kind of bacteria and fungi. Especially BCNU 2001 was able to greatly inhibit the growth of Micrococcus luteus, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, and Aspergillus niger, and its inhibition zone was measured as 18.5 mm against Micrococcus luteus, 19.0mm against Proteus mirabilis, 17.0mm against Proteus vulgaris, and 13.5 mm against Aspergillus niger, respectively. Hexane and dichloromethane extracts of BCNU 2001 exhibited significant activity against bacteria, and dichloromethane and ethylacetate extracts showed significant activity against fungi. Pseudomonas strain BCNU 2001 was also determined to have antimicrobial peptide against various microorganisms including Gram positive bacteria, Gram negative bacteria and fungi. The obtained results may provide preliminary support for the usefulness of Pseudomonas strain BCNU 2001.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.198-203
• /
• 1989

Field experiment was conducted to find out the effect of lime materials application on yield, and chemical composition of Burley 21 in 1986. Lime materials and application rate were CaSO$_4$ : Ca 35kg/l0a. CaCO$_3$ : Ca 35kg/l0a and Liming: pH6.5. Contents of Ca and Mg in fresh or cured leaves were increased, but AI, Fe and Mn were decreased by applying lime materials. Yield were increased by applying lime materials. Among lime materials treatment, yield of limed and CaCO$_3$ plot were higher than that of CaSO$_4$ plot. Value per kg of cured leaves was not affected by applying lime materials. Cured leaves of CaSO$_4$ plot contained higher NH$_3$-nitrogen and alkalinity number of water insoluble ash than those of unlimed plot. Cured leaves of CaCO$_3$, plot contained higher alkalinity number of water soluble ash, insoluble ash and volatile neutral constituent, but lower protein-nitrogen and petroleum ether extracts than those of unlimed plot. Cured leaves of limed plot contained higher alkalinity number of water soluble and insoluble ash, NO$_3$-nitrogen and volatile neutral constituents, but lower protein -nitrogen, nicotine and petroleum ether extracts than those unlimed plot. Yield was increased, however leaf Quality in respect to chemical and organoleptic characteristics were not affected considerably by applying lime materials. Therefore, it suggests that controlling the soil pH about 6.5 by liming might be necessary for tobacco cultivation.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.15-26
• /
• 1969

The study on physico-chemical characteristics of the acid sulfate soil present in Kimhae plain was carried out with 28 surface and subsoils from lower and higher produtive area and two representative profile samples from the areas reclaimed a few decades ago and around 10 years ago respectively. 1. There are no differences in soil texture between lower and higher productive soils being mostly silty clay loam and silty clay. 2. Very significant differences in pH, degree of base saturation and extractable aluminium content are observed; lower pH, lower degree of base saturation and higher aluminium in the lower productive soils and subsoils. The pH and degree of base saturation of these soils are extremely low whereas aluminium content is very high compared to ordinary paddy soil. 3. Cation exchange capacity of these soils are slightly higher than ordinary paddy soils. In higher productive soils, exchangeable calcium and magnesium are of same order, whereas in lower productive soils magnesium content is appreciably higher than calcium. 4. Though the soil is derived from marine and estuarine sediment, the soluble salt content is not high. There are only few lower productive surface soils and subsoils having Ec values of the saturation extracts higher than 4 mmhos but lower than 9 mmhos/cm. 5. Organic matter content of these soils is a bit higher compared to ordinary paddy soils, but, nitrogen content is comparatively low. C/N ratio of these soils is around 12. 6. Sulfur content is considerably higher but oxidizable sulfur is found to be very low. Total sulfur is generally high in subsoils and lower productive soils. 7. Active iron and available silica are slightly higher than ordinary paddy soils but easily reducible manganese is very low. Almost no differences are also observed between lower and higher productive soils. 8. Available phosphorus content is extremely low in particular, regardless of higher or lower productive soils. 9. The two representative profiles from the area of earlier reclamation and recent one show that samples from earlier reclaimed area contain less amount of free acids, sulfur compounds, toxic aluminium and soluble salts etc. than the other. This indicate greater leaching and possible addition of lime for a longer period of time. 10. From the results obtained, it can be concluded the higher productivity of group I soils is due to the greater leaching and neutralisation of acidity by liming materials, It can also be concluded that the productivity of both types can be increased by addition of liming materials and improvement of drainage facilities.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.169-176
• /
• 1985

Six analytial methods for determing the available nitrogen in soils were tested to predict the optimum fertilizer rate for the flue-cured tobacco and to test the fertility level of soils for tobacco. All methods, nitrifiable $NO_3-N$ value for 2 and 4 weeks incubation, UV absorption value at 260nm and N-value in acid digestion of 0.01 M-$NaHCO_3$ extracts, N-value extracted in boiling with $CaCl_2$ solution, and autoclave-extractable $NH_4-N$ value in 0.01 M-$CaCl_2$, were closely correlated with total nitrogen uptake as well as yield. Therefore available nitrogen indices determined from above 6 analysis method could be used for the predicting of tobacco yield without fertilizer, criteria for fertility class, and recommendable range of optimum fertilization.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.61-71
• /
• 2016

This study was carried out to investigate antimicrobial activities of water extracted Pleurotus ostreatus var Heuktari (PO), and their application to F. fujikuroi Nirenberg growth inhibition material. Various organic solvents (chloroform, hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol) were tested to investigate the antimicrobial activities of Pleurotus ostreatus var Heuktari against F. fujikuroi Nirenberg. Chloroform, hexane, ethyl acetate and hot water extracts had no antimicrobial activities, but butanol extract showed 2.5% strong activities in order of F. fujikuroi Nirenberg disk diffusion test. Then we observe Antifungal activity using green house. Bed soil and mushroom extract mixed at 10%, 7.5%, 5%, 2.5%, 1% total bed soil mass. Screening of Antifungal activity was tested two periode 18day and 25day. The Antifungal activity rate of each period and extract density was 7.5% mixed bedsoil has investigated 80% Antifungal activity rate. The result indicates that the Pleurotus ostreatus var Heuktari extract using F. fujikuroi Nirenberg registance, which shows the development of organic agriculture seed disinfectant.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.105-110
• /
• 1989

The purpose of this study was centered on investigation of the effects N, P and K application rates on root yield and their available content (catalpol, sugar, ash and extracts) of Ji-whang(Rehmannia glutinosa Lib. var. purpurea Makino), and the current application rates(N 20kg/10a, $P_2O_5\;30kg/10a$, $K_2O\;20kg/10a$) was studied for Ji-whang production in Eui-sung Gun southeastern part of Korea Peninsular. The yields of fresh and dried rhizomas were 941-1,494 kg/10a and 251-385 kg/10a, respectively. The rhizoma yield increased highly with increasing the application amount of nitrogen more than 10 kg/10a, but the effects of phosphorus and potassium were observed only at the application level of 40 kg/10a and 20 kg/10a, respectively. Catalpol contents in rhizoma increased at the plot of 20 kg/10a application of nitrogen, but the effects phosphorus and potassium on the catalpol contents were not observed. Catalpol content in dried root increased with increasing N application more than 10 kg/10a. Fructose contents increased at the plot of 20 kg/10a and more N application, and galactose contents decreased with K application. With increasing N application, ash contents decreased, but ethanol extract contents increased.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.220-230
• /
• 2014

BACKGROUND: Excessive metals in the soil have become one of the most significant environmental problems. Phytoremediation has received considerable attention as a method for restoring the contaminated soils. The microbes having remarkable metal tolerance and plant growth-promoting abilities could also play a significant role in remediation of metal-contaminated soils, because bioaugmentation with such microbes could promote phytoextraction of metals. Therefore, the present study was focused on evaluating the phytoextraction of heavy metals (Co, Pb and Zn) in Helianthus annuus (sunflower) induced by bioaugmentation of a phosphate solubilizing bacterium. METHODS AND RESULTS: A phosphate solubilizing bacterium was isolated from metal-contaminated soils based on the greater halo size (>3 mm) with solid NBRIP agar medium containing 10 g glucose, 5 g $Ca_3(PO_4)_2$, 5 g $MgCl_2{\cdot}6H_2O$, 0.25 g $MgSO_4.7H_2O$, 0.2 g KCl, 0.1 g $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ in 1 L distilled water. Isolated bacterial strain was assessed for their resistance to heavy metals; $CoCl_2.6H_2O$, $2PbCO_3.Pb(OH)_2$, and $ZnCl_2$ at various concentrations ranging from $100-400{\mu}g/mL$ (Co, Pb and Zn) using the agar dilution method. A pot experiment was conducted with aqueous solutions of different heavy metals (Co, Pb and Zn) to assess the effect of bacterial strain on growth and metal uptake by Helianthus annuus (sunflower). The impact of bacterial inoculation on the mobility of metals in soil was investigated under laboratory conditions with 50 mL scaled polypropylene centrifuge tubes. The metal contents in the filtrate of plant extracts were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Perkinelmer, Aanalyst 800, USA). CONCLUSION: Inoculation with Enterobacter ludwigii PSB 28 resulted in increased shoot and root biomass and enhanced accumulation of Co, Pb and Zn in Helianthus annuus plants. The strain was found to be capable of promoting metal translocation from the roots to the shoots of H. annuus. Therefore, Enterobacter ludwigii PSB 28 could be identified as an effective promoter of phytoextraction of Co, Pb and Zn from metal-contaminated soils.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.123-131
• /
• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the feasibility for the use of environmental-friendly materials and the effective recycling of spent mushroom compost(SMC) after cultivation of Button Mushroom, Agaricus bisporus. SMC of white button mushroom contained diverse microorganisms including fluorescent Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp., Tricoderma sp. and Actinomycetes. These isolates showed the extensive antifungal spectrum against plant pathogen. Among of the isolates, fungal pathogen such as Alternaria brassicicola, Phytophtora melonis, Phytophthora capsici and Colletotichum gloeosporioides strong showed strong antagonistic activity. 45.8% of the isolates were actively colonized on the pepper root and 5.8% showed rhizosphere competent of >$5{\times}10^2cfu\;root^{-1}$. The plant growth promotion ability of the collected isolates were tested in pot experiments using red pepper seedling. Among them, 62.7% showed pepper growth promoting ability and growth of pepper root showed superior to the control. The germination of pepper treated with aqueous extracts of non-harvest SMC completely inhibited at concentration of more than 33%. The sterilization of SMC resulted in higher inhibition of germination and early growth of pepper. These results suggest that spent mushroom compost(SMC) of Button Mushroom may have adequately the feasibility for the use with environmental-friendly materials.