• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.160-169
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• 2022

In the present study we evaluated the efficacy of a bioformulation of Streptomyces cameroonensis for control of black pod disease in cocoa and enhancement of seedling growth. The formulation developed using talc powder and cassava starch as carriers showed high shelf-life of 1.07 × 10⁶ CFU/g after six months storage at 4℃. The formulation was tested for inhibition of spore germination in Phytophthora megakarya and showed 100% inhibition at 10% (w/v) of formulation. To determine the efficacy of the formulation, we performed an in planta assay in the greenhouse on two hybrids of cocoa seedlings, the tolerant SNK413 × (♂) T79/467 and the susceptible UPA 134× (♂) SCA 12. Detached leaf assay showed a significant reduction in the disease severity index of about 67% for the tolerant hybrid and 55% for the susceptible hybrid compared to non-treated plants. A significant enhancement in stem length, leaf surface area and root weight was observed. Analysis of biochemical markers of defense showed a significant increase in total polyphenol, flavonoid, and total protein contents. There was also significant upregulation of PR-proteins such as chitinases, peroxidases and β-1, 3-glucanases following treatment of both tolerant and susceptible hybrids, though with a higher level of synthesis in the tolerant hybrids. A significant increase was also observed in polyphenol oxidase activities in plants treated with the formulation. This work demonstrated the stability and effectiveness of the S. cameroonensis powder formulation in suppressing black pod disease in cocoa and subsequently enhancing the growth of seedlings.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.297-308
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• 2015

In order to control seed-borne diseases, we obtained extracts from commercial fermented food products of Kimchi, Gochujang, Doenjang, Ganjang and Makgeolli and their suppressive effects against seed-borne diseases were studied. In addition, the suppressive effects of bacterial strains isolated from the fermented foods were screened in vitro and in vivo. Among fifty food extracts, twenty food-extracts suppressed more than 92% incidence of seedling rots in vitro and seven food extracts increased 58.3-66.8% of healthy seedling in the greenhouse. Among 218 isolates from the fermented foods, 29 isolates showing high antifungal activity against seven seed-borne fungal pathogens were selected. Among 29 isolates, 13 isolates significantly reduced seedling rot and increased healthy seedlings. Sixteen isolates with high antifungal activity and suppressive effect against sesame seedling rots were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. Fourteen of sixteen isolates were identified as Bacillus spp. and the other two isolates from Makgeolli were identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It was confirmed that B. amyloliquifaciens was majority in the effective bacterial population of Korean fermented foods. In addition, when the bioformulations of the two selected effective microorganisms, B. amyloliquifacien Gcj2-1 and B. amyloliquifacien Gcj3-1, were prepared in powder forms using bentonite, kaolin, talc and zeolite, talc- and kaolin-bioformulation showed high control efficacy against sesame seed-borne disease, followed by zeolite-bioformulation. Meanwhile control efficacy of each bentonite-bioformulation of B. amyloliquifacien Gcj2-1 and B. amyloliquifacien Gcj3-1 was lower than that of bacterial suspension of them. It was found that the selected effective microorganisms from Korean fermented foods were effective for controlling seed-borne diseases of sesame in vitro and in the greenhouse. We think that Korean fermented food extracts and useful microorganisms isolated from the extract can be used as bio-control agents for suppressing sesame seed-borne diseases based on above described results.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.353-358
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• 2018

An effective bioformulation of mixtures of chitin-degrading bacteria has been used successfully to control plant diseases and nematodes. In this study, the bioformulation approach was assessed to control damping-off disease of ginseng. In pot experiments with soils infested with dapming-off pathogens of ginseng, root-drenchings of Chrobacterium sp. C-61, Lysobacterium enzymogenes C-3, and mixture of two bacterial strains grown in chitin minimal medium were signficantly increased emergence of seeds and reduced damping-off disease incidence of seedlings. Efficacy of the bioformulated product depended on the dose and timing of application. In two-year-old ginseng field, the high control efficacies were achieved by soil drenching of two times with an undiluted product or three times with a 10-fold diluted product. In a To-jik nursery (self soil nursery), biocontrol efficacy of the undiluted product against damping-off disease were similar to that of a seed dressing with fungicide, Tolclofos-methyl WP. These results suggest that the bioformulated product containing Chromobacterium sp. C-61 and L. enzymogenes C-3 could be an effective approach to control of ginseng damping-off disease.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.390-395
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• 2011

Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum has become a serious problem world-wide and relies heavily on chemical fungicides. We selected Pseudomonas sp. NJ134 to develop an effective biocontrol strategy. This strain shows strong antagonistic activity against F. oxysporum. Biochemical analyses of ethyl-acetate extracts of NJ134 culture filtrates showed that 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG) was the major compound inhibiting in vitro growth of F. oxysporum. DAPG production was greatly enhanced in the NJ134 strain by adding mannitol to the growth media, and in vitro antagonistic activity against F. oxysporum increased. Bioformulations developed from growth of NJ134 in sterile bean media with mannitol as the carbon source under plastic bags resulted in effective biocontrol efficacy against Fusarium wilt. The efficacy of the bioformulated product depended on the carbon source and dose. Mannitol amendment in the bean-based formulation showed strong effective biocontrol against tomato Fusarium wilt through increased DAPG levels and a higher cell density compared to that in a glucose-amended formulation. These results suggest that this bioformulated product could be a new effective biocontrol system to control Fusarium wilt in the field.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2003

Five seed kernel namely, Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.), Pongamia (Pongamia glabra L. Pierre), Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.), Mahua (Madhuca indica Gmel.) and Shikakai (Acacia cancinna De.) were tested against hatching of eggs and larval mortality of Meloidogyne incognita causing root knot disease in mulberry along with Furadan (Carbofuran) and Bionema (a bioformulation developed from Verticillium chlamydosporium) for comparison. Results revealed that highest hush-up of hatching was observed in Neem (77.40%) and Pongamia (75.99%) seed kernel extracts at 100% concentration over the check. Similarly, highest larval mortality was observed in Neem and Pongamia by 76.00% and 74.50%, respectively at 100% concentration after 72 hrs of exposure period. Pot culture studies revealed that pre-application of seed kernel powders (20 days before inoculation of nematode) found to be more effective in controlling the root knot disease than post application. In pre application of seed kernel powders, maximum reduction of root knots was observed in case of Neem seed kernel powder (54.85%) followed by Pongamia (51.9%). Similar trend was also observed in reduction of egg masses/plant and nematode population ／250 cc soil. Rest of the seed kernel extracts was found to be less effective in suppression of hatching, enhancing the larval mortality and controlling the root knot disease. However, application of Furadan and Bionema tested for the comparison were found to be more effective than seed kernel powders. The generated information seems to be useful in developing an ecofriendly integrated approach for the control of root knot nematode disease in mulberry.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.341-350
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• 2019

Streptomyces padanus PMS-702 strain produces a polyene macrolide antibiotic fungichromin and displays antagonistic activities against many phytopathogenic fungi. In the present study, experimental formulations were assessed to improve the production of fungichromin, the efficacy of PMS-702 on the suppression of sporangial germination, and the reduction of cucumber downy mildew caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis. PMS-702 strain cultured in a soybean meal-glucose (SMG) medium led to low levels of fungichromin accumulation and sporangial germination suppression. Increasing medium compositions and adding plant oils (noticeably coconut oil) in SMG significantly increased fungichromin production from 68 to $1,999.6{\mu}g/ml$. Microscopic examination reveals that the resultant suspensions significantly reduced sporangial germination and caused cytoplasmic aggregation. Greenhouse trials reveal that the application of PMS-702 cultural suspensions reduced downy mildew severity considerably. The addition of Tween 80 into the synthetic medium while culturing PMS-702 further increased the suppressive efficacy of downy mildew severity, particularly when applied at 24 h before inoculation or co-applied with inoculum. Fungichromin at $50{\mu}g/ml$ induced phytotoxicity showing minor necrosis surrounded with light yellowish halos on cucumber leaves. The concentration that leads to 90% inhibition (IC90) of sporangial germination was estimated to be around $10{\mu}g/ml$. The results provide a strong possibility of using the S. padanus PMS-702 strain as a biocontrol agent to control other plant pathogens.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.238-244
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• 2010

Spatial and temporal distribution of Bacillus licheniformis N1 was investigated over time on the leaves, petioles and crowns of the strawberry plants. Bacterial population on the strawberry plants was quantified over time by selective plating. Bacterial population of N1 containing a plasmid pWH43G carrying green fluorescent protein (GFP) declined relatively faster on the plant surface as compared to the Strain N1 itself. However, this result was found to be enough to utilize the strain to visualize bacterial colonization on the plant surface. When B. licheniformis N1 was treated together with Silwet L-77 at 0.03%, the bacterial population on plant surface persisted for up to 7 days. B. licheniformis N1 (pWH43G) containing Silwet L-77 was applied on the strawberry plants and the GFP expressing bacteria were visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Bacterial persistence was also investigated in a growth chamber and in a plastic house after N1 bioformulation treatment on the strawberry plant. The Strain N1 colonized three different tissues well and persisted over 3 to 5 days on the strawberry plants. They formed bacterial aggregates on plant surfaces for at least 3 days, resulting in a biofilm to resist fluctuating plant surface environment. However, the bacterial persistence dramatically declined after 7 days in all tested tissues in a plastic house. This study suggest that B. licheniformis N1 colonizes the strawberry plant surface and persists for a long time in a controlled growth chamber, while it can not persist over 7 days on the plant surface in a plastic house.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.607-620
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• 2023

The biocontrol approach using beneficial microorganisms to control crop diseases is becoming an essential alternative to chemical fungicides. Therefore, new and efficient biocontrol agents (BCA) are needed. In this study, a rhizospheric actinomycete isolate showed unique and promising antagonistic activity against three of the most common phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum MH105, Rhizoctonia solani To18, and Alternaria brassicicola CBS107. Identification of the antagonistic strain, which was performed according to spore morphology and cell wall chemotype, suggested that it belongs to the Nocardiopsaceae. Furthermore, cultural, physiological, and biochemical characteristics, together with phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene (OP869859.1), indicated the identity of this strain to Nocardiopsis alba. The cell-free filtrate (CFF) of the strain was evaluated for its antifungal potency, and the resultant inhibition zone diameters ranged from 17.0 ± 0.92 to 19.5 ± 0.28 mm for the tested fungal species. Additionally, the CFF was evaluated in vitro to control Fusarium wilt disease in Vicia faba using the spraying method under greenhouse conditions, and the results showed marked differences in virulence between the control and treatment plants, indicating the biocontrol efficacy of this actinomycete. A promising plant-growth promoting (PGP) ability in seed germination and seedling growth of V. faba was also recorded in vitro for the CFF, which displayed PGP traits of phosphate solubilization (48 mg/100 ml) as well as production of indole acetic acid (34 ㎍/ml) and ammonia (20 ㎍/ml). This study provided scientific validation that the new rhizobacterium Nocardiopsis alba strain BH35 could be further utilized in bioformulation and possesses biocontrol and plant growth-promoting capabilities.