• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1011-1021
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• 2005

Rhizobacteria are actively sought for the substitution of chemical fertilizers and pathogen control agents in environment-friendly sustainable agriculture. To be successfully commercialized in the current Korean market as agriculture biomaterials, microbial agents should exhibit both properties of plant growth promotion and pathogen control. That is, the organism must be a phytostimulator as well as a biocontrol agent. These criteria and the survival rate of a rhizobacterium, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 7079, in the soil system were investigated to evaluate the suitability for future commercialization. B. amyloliquefaciens 7079-treated seedlings showed $22.8\%$ maximum increase in leaf-length growth, compared with water-treated controls, showing the phytostimulating property. The disease suppression rates of Phytophthora-blight of peppers and Fusarium-wilt of tomatoes by B. amyloliquefaciens 7079 were 1.5 and 2.2 times better, respectively, than by three popular chemical fungicides used in actual agricultural practices to control the respective pathogens. Survival of B. amyloliquefaciens 7079 on the rhizoplane and in the rhizosphere was favorable up to 50 days in the soil system employed. These positive properties show that B. amyloliquefaciens 7079 is likely to be a suitable candidate for commercialization to market as agricultural biomaterials.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1157-1162
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• 2017

The goal of this study was to identify and characterize selected Trichoderma isolates by metabolic profiling and enzyme assay for evaluation of their potential as biocontrol agents against plant pathogens. Trichoderma isolates were obtained from the Rural Development Administration Genebank Information Center (Wanju, Republic of Korea). Eleven Trichoderma isolates were re-identified using ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. ITS sequence results showed new identification of Trichoderma isolates. In addition, metabolic profiling of the ethyl acetate extracts of the liquid cultures of five Trichoderma isolates that showed the best anti-Phytophthora activities was conducted using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Metabolic profiling revealed that Trichoderma isolates shared common metabolites with well-known antifungal activities. Enzyme assays indicated strong cell wall-degrading enzyme activities of Trichoderma isolates. Overall, our results indicated that the selected Trichoderma isolates have great potential for use as biocontrol agents against plant pathogens.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.110-114
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• 2004

Through in vitro screening for biocontrol agents (BCAs) against Streptomyces scabiei causing potato (Solanum tuberosum) common scab, 19 streptomycete and 17 fungal isolates with antagonistic activity were selected as BCA candidates. For the selection of BCA candidates which are highly resistant to 10 kinds of antibiotics or pesticides, chemical susceptibility testing was initially performed in vitro. A remarkable degree of variation in susceptibility to antibiotics or pesticides was observed among the isolates tested. Streptomycete A020645 isolate was highly resistant to all the tested chemicals except neomycin up to 5,000 ppm. On the other hand, out of 36 antagonistic microbes subjected to in vivo pot tests using cultivar Daejima, four streptomycete isolates namely, A020645, A010321, A010564, and A020973, showed high antagonistic activity with >60% and 55% control value, respectively, and high chemical resistance to 10 kinds of chemicals. Therefore, these isolates were selected as potential BCAs for the control of potato common scab.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.473-485
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• 2019

Kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) is an economically important crop and a bacterial canker disease, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), is the most destructive disease in kiwifruit production. Therefore, prevent and control of the disease is a critical issue in kiwifruit industry worldwide. Unfortunately, there is no reliable control methods have been developed. Recently, interest in disease control using microbial agents is growing. However, kiwifruit microbiota and their roles in the disease control is mainly remaining unknown. In this study, we secured bacterial libraries from kiwifruit ecospheres (rhizosphere, endospere, and phyllosphere) and screened reliable biocontrol strains against Psa. As the results, Streptomyces racemochromogenes W1SF4, Streptomyces sp. W3SF9 and S. parvulus KPB2 were selected as anti-Psa agents from the libraries. The strains showed forcible antibacterial activity as well as exceptional colonization ability on rhizosphere or phyllosphere of kiwifruit. Genome analyses of the strains suggested that the strains may produce several anti-Psa secondary metabolites. Our results will contribute to develop biocontrol strains against the kiwifruit canker pathogen and the disease management strategies.

• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2021

The application of antagonistic fungi for plant protection has attracted considerable interest because they may potentially replace the use of chemical pesticides. Antipathogenic activities confirmed in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from microorganisms have potential to serve as biocontrol agents against pre- and post-harvest diseases. In the present study, we investigated Galactomyces fungi isolated from rotten leaves and the rhizosphere of cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme). VOCs produced by Galactomyces fungi negatively affected the growth of phytopathogenic fungi and the survival of nematodes. Mycelial growths of all nine examined phytopathogenic fungi were inhibited on agar plate, although the inhibition was more intense in Athelia rolfsii JYC2163 and Cladosporium cladosporioides JYC2144 and relatively moderate in Fusarium sp. JYC2145. VOCs also efficiently suppressed the spore germination and mycelial growth of A. rolfsii JYC2163 on tomatoes. The soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans exhibited higher mortality in 24 h in the presence of VOCs. These results suggest the broad-spectrum activity of Galactomyces fungi against various plant pathogens and the potential to use VOCs from Galactomyces as biocontrol agents.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.103-106
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• 2006

In this biocontrol research, we evaluated disease suppressive effects of antagonistic bacterial strains ISE13 and KJ1R5 against Korean ginseng root rot caused by P. eaetorum. We also examined the effects of nutrient solution in the hydroponic culture system for Korean ginseng on biological activity of the bacterial strains. As results of dual culture tests of the bacterial strains on $V_{8}$ juice agar, the strain ISE13 showed antifungal activity against P. eaetorum and other plant pathogenic fungi, but the strain KJ1R5 did not. When their inhibitory effects against infection of P. eaetorum on the roots grown in either nutrient solution or water were tested, the strains ISE13 and KJ1R5 inhibited the disease severity of Korean ginseng roots only grown with water, compared to buffer-treated, inoculated controls. However, the nutrient solution used for hydroponic cultures of ginseng in pots caused higher levels of disease severity by the strains ISE13 and KJ1R5 from 418.8\%$ to 40.0\%$ and from 24.3\%$ to 45.0\%$, respectively. In this study, the bacterial strains ISE13 and KJ1R5 could be potentially biocontrol agents to suppress Korean ginseng root rot caused by P. eaetorum. However, more attention using nutrient solution in hydroponic cultures for Korean ginseng production should be applied in biocontrol of plant diseases using the antagonistic microorganisms.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.364-368
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• 2006

Survival of biocontrol agents and their effective colonization of rhizhosphere are the essential components for successful disease suppression. The effects of hydrogel supplement on bacterial survival and disease control were evaluated in pot and in the field. Addition of 2% hydrogel material to potting soil resulted in significant enhancement of colonization of biocontrol agent Serratia plymuthica A21-4 both in soil and rhizosphere of pepper plants. Rhizosphere colonization of S. plymuthica A21-4 retrieved from 40 days old pepper seedlings indicated 100 times higher bacterial population in hydrogel treated soil than in ordinary pot soil. The pepper plants sown in hydrogelated potting soil showed higher seed germination rate and the better growth of pepper plant than those in ordinary commercial pot soil. Although the suppression of Phytophthora capsid density in the potting soil by treatment of biocontrol agent A21-4 was not significantly different between in hydrogelated soil and ordinary potting soil, the suppression of Phytophthora blight between two treatments was significantly different. A21-4 treatment in hydrogelated potting soil was completely disease-free while same treatment in ordinary potting soil revealed 36% disease incidence. Our field study under natural disease occurrence also showed significantly less disease incidence(12.3%) in the A21-4 treatment in the hydrogelated soil compared to other treatments. Yield promotion of pepper by the A21-4 treatment in the hydrogelated potting soil was also recognized. Our results indicated that hydrogel amendment with biocontrol agent in pot soil would be a good alternative to protect pepper seedlings and increase plant yield.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.831-838
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• 2018

Trophic interactions of introduced biocontrol fungi with soil animals can be a key determinant in the fungal proliferation and activity. This study investigated the trophic interaction of an introduced biocontrol fungus with soil nematodes. The biocontrol fungus Trichoderma harzianum ThzID1-M3 and the fungivorous nematode Aphelenchoides sp. (10 per gram of soil) were added to nonsterile soil, and microbial populations were monitored for 40 days. Similar results were obtained when the experiment was duplicated. ThzID1-M3 stimulated the population growth of indigenous nematodes (p < 0.05), regardless of whether Aphelenchoides sp. was added. Without ThzID1-M3, indigenous nematodes did not increase in number and the added Aphelenchoides sp. nematodes almost disappeared by day 10. With ThzID1-M3, population growth of nematodes was rapid between 5 and 10 days after treatment. ThzID1-M3 biomass peaked on day 5, dropped at day 10, and then almost disappeared at day 20, which was not influenced by the addition of nematodes. In contrast, a large quantity of ThzID1-M3 hyphae were present in a heat-treated soil in which nematodes were eliminated. Total fungal biomass in all treatments peaked on day 5 and subsequently decreased. Addition of nematodes increased the total fungal biomass (p < 0.05), but ThzID1-M3 addition did not affect the fungal biomass. Hyphae of total fungi when homogenously distributed did not support the nematode population growth; however, hyphae of the introduced fungus did when densely localized. The results suggest that soil fungivorous nematodes are an important constraint on the hyphal proliferation of fungal agents introduced into natural soils.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.129-132
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• 2003

Fusarium wilt of cucumber caused by Fusarium oxy-sporum f. sp. cucumerinum is a serious vascular disease worldwide. Biological control of Fusarium wilt in several crops has been accomplished by introducing non-pathogenic Fusarium sup. and other biocontrol agents in soil or in infection courts. In this study, quantitative models were used to determine the biocontrol efficacy of inundatively applied antagonist formulations and the length of their effectiveness in controlling Fusarium wilt of cucumber. Quantitative model of the form [Y=L (1${-exp}^{-kx}$)] best described the relationship between disease incidence (Y, %) and inoculum density (X) of isolates F51 and F55. Isolate F51 was selected as a more virulent isolate based on the extent of its effectiveness in causing the wilt disease. The degree of disease control (Xi/X) obtained with the density of the biocontrol agent (Z), was described by the model [Xi/X=A (1${-exp}^{-cz}$)]. The zeolite-based antagonist formulation amended with chitosan (ZAC) was better at lower rates of application and peaked at around 5 g/ kg of the potting medium, whereas the peat-based antagonist formulation (PA) peaked at around 10 g/kg of the potting medium. ZAC formulation provided significantly better suppression of Fusarium wilt as described by the curvilinear relationship of the type Y= a+bX+c$X^2$, where Y represents percent disease incidence and X represents sustaining effect of the biocontrol agent.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2012

Biocontrol microbes have mainly been screened among large collections of microorganisms $via.$ nutrient-rich $in$ $vitro$ assays to identify novel and effective isolates. However, thus far, isolates from only a few genera, mainly spore-forming bacilli, have been commercially developed. In order to isolate field-effective biocontrol microbes, we screened for more than 200 oligotrophic bacterial strains, isolated from rhizospheres of various soil samples in Korea, which induced systemic resistance against the soft-rot disease caused by $Pectobacterium$ $carotovorum$ SCC1; we subsequently conducted in $planta$ bioassay screening. Two oligotrophic bacterial strains were selected for induced systemic disease resistance against the $Tobacco$ $Mosaic$ $Virus$ and the gray mold disease caused by $Botrytis$ $cinerea$. The oligotrophic bacterial strains were identified as $Pseudomonas$ $manteilii$ B001 and $Bacillus$ $cereus$ C003 by biochemical analysis and the phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA sequence. These bacterial strains did not exhibit any antifungal activities against plant pathogenic fungi but evidenced several other beneficial biocontrol traits, including phosphate solubilization and gelatin utilization. Collectively, our results indicate that the isolated oligotrophic bacterial strains possessing induced systemic disease resistance could provide useful tools as effective biopesticides and might be successfully used as cost-effective and preventive biocontrol agents in the field.