• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2001.09a
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• pp.26-29
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• 2001

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.132-137
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• 2015

Effects of chitin and chitosan treatments on soil microorganisms and the mesofauna were investigated in a microcosm and a fumigated field experiment. Responses of microorganisms were determined using microbial phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, whereas responses of the mesofauna were measured in terms of the abundances of nematodes and microarthropods. Soil nitrate concentration increased on the application of chitin. Overall, chitin promoted bacterial and fungal abundance, leading to an increase in abundance of free-living soil nematodes that feed on decomposers. The ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids was highest in the chitin-treated soil. Chitosan had a minimal effect on the abundance of microorganisms; however, it reduced the abundance of collembolans in the microcosm experiment. These results indicate that the application of chitin has beneficial effects on the supply of nutrients and promotion of the abundance of soil organisms.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.253-260
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• 2018

Beneficial microorganisms are widely used in the forestry, livestock, and, in particular, agricultural sectors to control soilborne diseases and promote plant growth. However, the industrial utilization of these microorganisms is very limited, mainly due to uncertainty concerning their ability to colonize and persist in soil. In this study, the survival of beneficial microorganisms in field soil microcosms was investigated for 13 days using quantitative PCR with B. subtilis group-specific primers. Bacterial community dynamics of the treated soils were analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene amplicon sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform. The average 16S rRNA gene copy number per g dry soil of Bacillus spp. was $4.37{\times}10^6$ after treatment, which was 1,000 times higher than that of the control. The gene copy number was generally maintained for a week and was reduced thereafter, but remained 100 times higher than that of the control. Bacterial community analysis indicated that Acidobacteria ($26.3{\pm}0.9%$), Proteobacteria ($24.2{\pm}0.5%$), Chloroflexi ($11.1{\pm}0.4%$), and Actinobacteria ($9.7{\pm}2.5%$) were abundant phyla in both treated and non-treated soils. In the treated soils, the relative abundance of Actinobacteria was lower, whereas those of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were higher compared to the control. Differences in total relative abundances of operational taxonomic units belonging to several genera were observed between the treated and non-treated soils, suggesting that inoculation of soil with the Bacillus strains influenced the relative abundances of certain groups of bacteria and, therefore, the dynamics of resident bacterial communities. These changes in resident soil bacterial communities in response to inoculation of soil with beneficial Bacillus spp. provide important information for the use of beneficial microorganisms in soil for sustainable agriculture.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.355-365
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• 2015

Environment-friendly growth enhancers for rice are being promoted to reverse the negative impact of intensive chemical-based and conventional rice farming on yield sustainability and environmental problems. Several rhizosphere microorganisms and pyroligneous acids (PA) had demonstrated beneficial influence on growth, yield and grain quality of rice. Since most of the previous study had evaluated the effect of PGPR and PA on paddy rice singly, the effect of combined application of these on the growth and yield of paddy rice and on some soil chemical properties were determined. A four factorial pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of PGPR, PA in combination with fertilizers and on different soil types. There were 54 treatment combinations including the control with three replications under complete randomized design. Plant growth parameters were evaluated using standard procedures during tillering and heading stages. Rice yield and some soil chemical properties were determined at harvest. Results showed that inoculation of Bacillus licheniformis and Fusarium fujikuroi enhanced plant growth by increasing the plant height which could be ascribe to its ability to promote IAA and GA production in plants. Inoculation of Rhizobium phaseoli enhanced chlorophyll content indicative to its ability to improve the N nutrition. However, these plant growth benefits during the vegetative stage were override by the fertilizer application effect especially during the maturity stage and grain yield. High fertilization rates on coarse-textured soil without nutrient loss resulted to high available nutrients and consequently high yield. Wood vinegar application however improved nutrient availability in soil which could be beneficial for improving soil quality. Further evaluation is necessary to fully assess the potential benefits that could be derived from inoculation of these organisms and wood vinegar application in different soil environment especially under different field conditions.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.368-374
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• 2012

BACKGROUND: The urgency of feeding the world's growing population while combating soil pollution, salinization and desertification requires suitable biotechnology not only to improve crop productivity but also to improve soil health through interactions of soil nutrient and soil microorganism. Interest in the utilization of microbial fertilizer has increased. A principle of nature farming is to produce abundant and healthy crops without using chemical fertilizer and pesticides, and without interrupting the natural ecosystem. Beneficial microorganisms may provide supplemental nutrients in the soil, promote crop growth, and enhance plant resistance against pathogenic microorganisms. We mixed beneficial microorganisms such as Bacillus sp. Han-5 with anti-fungal activities, Trichoderma harziaum, Trichoderma longibrachiatum with organic material degrading activity, Actinomycetes bovis with antibiotic production and Pseudomonas sp. with nitrogen fixation. This study was carried out to investigate the mixtures on the soil microflora and soil chemical properties and the effect on the growth of lettuce and cucumber under greenhouse conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: The microbial mixtures were used with each of organic fertilizer, swine manure and organic+swine manure and compared in regard to changes in soil chemical properties, soil microflora properties and crop growth. At 50 days after the treatment of microorganism mixtures, the pH improved from 5.8 to 6.3, and the EC, $NO_3$-Na and K decreased by 52.4%, 60.5% and 29.3%, respectively. The available $P_2O_5$ and $SiO_2$ increased by 25.9% and 21.2%, respectively. Otherwise, the population density of fluorescent Pseudomonas sp. was accelerated and the growth of vegetables increased. Moreover, the population density of E. coli and Fusarium sp., decreased remarkably. The ratio of bacteria to fungi (B/F) and the ratio of Actinomycetes bovis to fungi (A/F) increased 2.3 (from 272.2 to 624.4) and 1.7 times (from 38.3 to 64), respectively. Furthermore, the growth and yield of cucumber and lettuce significantly increased by the treatment of microorganism mixtures. CONCLUSION(S): These results suggest that the treatment of microorganism mixtures improved the chemical properties and the microflora of soil and the crop growth. Therefore, it is concluded that the microorganism mixtures could be good alternative soil amendments to restore soil nutrients and soil microflora.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1997.10b
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• pp.138.1-138
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• 1997

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.391-402
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• 2021

Earthworms play an important role in soil fertilization, interacting continually with microorganisms. This study aims to demonstrate the existence of beneficial microorganisms living in the earthworm's immune system, the coelomic fluid. To achieve this goal, a molecular identification technique was performed, using cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) barcoding to identify abundant endogenic earthworms inhabiting the temperate zone of Rabat, Morocco. Then, 16S rDNA and ITS sequencing techniques were adopted for bacteria and fungi, respectively. Biochemical analysis, showed the ability of bacteria to produce characteristic enzymes and utilize substrates. Qualitative screening of plant growth-promoting traits, including nitrogen fixation, phosphate and potassium solubilization, and indole acetic acid (IAA) production, was also performed. The result of mitochondrial COI barcoding allowed the identification of the earthworm species Aporrectodea molleri. Phenotypic and genotypic studies of the sixteen isolated bacteria and the two isolated fungi showed that they belong to the Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Bacillus, Buttiauxella, Enterobacter, Pantoea, and Raoultella, and the Penicillium genera, respectively. Most of the isolated bacteria in the coelomic fluid showed the ability to produce β-glucosidase, β-glucosaminidase, Glutamyl-β-naphthylamidase, and aminopeptidase enzymes, utilizing substrates like aliphatic thiol, sorbitol, and fatty acid ester. Furthermore, three bacteria were able to fix nitrogen, solubilize phosphate and potassium, and produce IAA. This initial study demonstrated that despite the immune property of earthworms' coelomic fluid, it harbors beneficial microorganisms. Thus, the presence of resistant microorganisms in the earthworm's immune system highlights a possible selection process at the coelomic fluid level.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.217-220
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• 2002

Mulberry being a foliage crop is grown extensively for feeding of silkworms and are also used for cattle feeding. These loaves are highly nutritious, which contain various mineral elements and bio-molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and other essential amino acids, etc. In the present study, deproteinized mulberry leaf juice was used for preparation of the medium for cultivation of various types of microbes. Results revealed that deproteinized mulberry leaf juice medium is best for isolation of fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes and this medium can be substituted with synthetic media, which are haying the costly ingredients for isolation and identification of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes. Further, this deproteinized mulberry juice medium can also be used in mass multiplication of useful/beneficial microbes to enhance soil microflora to improve soil fertility and to avoid root diseases. Perspective enterprises can take up the mass multiplication/large-scale production of useful microbes such as Trichoderma, Rhizobium, Pseudomonas and Bacillus to use in mulberry and in other agricultural crops using deproteinized mulberry leaf juice.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.spc
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• pp.20-28
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• 2009

The sustainability of conventional agriculture which is characterized by input dependent and ecologically simplified food production system is vague. Chemicals and present practices used in agriculture are not only costly but also have widespread implications on human and animal health, food quality and safety and environmental quality. Thus there is a need for alternative farming practices to sustain food production for the escalating population and conserve environment for future generations. The present research scenario in the area of plant microbe interactions for maintaining sustainable agriculture suggests that the level of internal regulation in agro-ecosystems is largely dependent on the level of plant and microbial diversity present in the soil. In agro-ecosystems, biodiversity performs a variety of ecological services beyond the production of food, including recycling of nutrients, regulation of microclimate and local hydrological processes, suppression of undesirable organisms and detoxification of noxious chemicals. Controlling the soil microflora to enhance the predominance of beneficial and effective microorganisms can help improve and maintain soil chemical and physical properties. The role of beneficial soil microorganisms in sustainable productivity has been well construed. Some plant bacteria referred to as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can contribute to improve plant growth, nutrient uptake and microbial diversity when inoculated to plants. Term PGPR was initially used to describe strains of naturally occurring non-symbiotic soil bacteria have the ability to colonize plant roots and stimulate plant growth PGPR activity has been reported in strains belonging to several other genera, such as Azotobacter, Azospirillum, Arthrobacter Bacillus, Burkhokderia, Methylobacterium, and Pseudomonas etc. PGPR stimulate plant growth directly either by synthesizing hormones such as indole acetic acid or by promoting nutrition, for example, by phosphate solubilization or more generally by accelerating mineralization processes. They can also stimulate growth indirectly, acting as biocontrol agents by protecting the plant against soil borne fungal pathogens or deleterious bacteria. Present review focuses on some recent developments to evolve strategies for better biotechnological exploitation of PGPR's.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.141-146
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• 2014

The necessity to develop economical and eco-friendly technologies is steadily increasing. Plant growth promoting rhizomicrobial strains PGPR are a group of microorganisms that actively colonize plant roots and increase plant growth and yield. Pot experiments were used to investigate the potential of some rhizobacterial strains to enhance the Brassica rapa growth. Microbial strains were successfully isolated from the rhizosphere of Panax ginseng and characterized based on its morphological and plant growth promotion characters. Surface disinfected seeds of Wisconsin Fast B. rapa were inoculated with the selected PGPR microorganisms. The different pots treatments were inoculated by its corresponding PGPR ($10^7cfu\;mL^{-1}$) and incubated in the growth chamber at $25^{\circ}C$ and 65% RH, the light period was adjusted to 24 hours (day). NPK chemical fertilizer and trade product (EMRO, USA) of effective microorganisms as well as un-inoculated control were used for comparison. Plants harvested in 40 days were found to have significant increase in leaf chlorophyll units and plant height and also in dry weight of root and shoot in the inoculated seedlings. Root and shoot length and also leaf surface area significantly were increased by bacterial inoculation in sterile soil. The study suggests that Rhodobacter capsulatus and Azotobacter chroococcum are beneficial for B. rapa growth as they enhance growth and induced IAA production and phosphorus solubilization. This study presents some rhizomicrobial strains that significantly promoted growth of Wisconsin Fast Plant B. rapa in pot experiment under different soil conditions.