• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1996.07a
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• pp.4-9
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• 1996

The majority of plants sense environmental signals, such as day length or temperature, to select their transition timing from vegetative growth t flowering. Here, we report the identification of a regulatory gene, OsMADS1, that controls the photoperiod sensitivity of flowering time. Constitutive expression of OsMADS1 in a long-day flowering plant, Nicotiana sylvestris, resulted in flowering in both short-day long-day conditions. Similarly, ectopic expression of the gene in a short-day flowering plant, N. tabacum cv. Maryland Mammoth, also induced flowering regardless of the day length. The transition time was dependent on the level of the OsMADS1 transcript in transgenic plants. These suggest that OsMADS1 is a key regulatory factor that determines the transition from shoot apex to floral meristem and that it can be used for controlling flowering time in a variety of plant species.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.615-623
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• 2020

Brassica rapa is one of the most valuable vegetable crops worldwide. Cultivated varieties of B. rapa exhibit diverse developmental and morphological appearances, which includes important vegetables, oilseeds, and fodder crops. In this study, various phenotypes of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of B. rapa were investigated, including their responses to five different pathogenic Botrytis cinerea isolates, responses to aphid and thrips during flowering stages, days to flowering, and plant heights. Responses of 113 RILs to five different B. cinerea isolates showed variations, suggesting that genetic factors controlling resistance or tolerance against each isolate were dependent on isolate/genotype pairs. Correlation analysis was performed to understand the nature of genetic factors and the relationship among these phenotypes. Although high levels of correlation were not detected between phenotypes assessed in this study, statistically significant correlation was detected for several combinations. Significant positive correlations were found for different B. cinerea isolates, supporting that certain levels of commonality could exist in genetic components controlling resistance against different B. cinerea isolates. Based on correlation analysis using numbers of insects counted on plants, it was speculated that genetic factors responsible for aphid tolerance or repellence might be also involved in the response against thrips. Relationship between vegetative growth and tolerance against B. cinereal or insects is rather more complicated. However, it was observed that shorter plants appeared to have a certain level of tolerance or repellence against both aphids and thrips. Data presented in this study could be used to assist further genetic studies and breeding efforts to obtain Botritis and insect resistance for B. rapa.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.269-277
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• 2015

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides has been destructive during pepper fruit production in outdoor fields in Korea. In vitro antifungal activities of 15 different plant essential oils or its components were evaluated during conidial germination and mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides. In vitro conidial germination was most drastically inhibited by vapour treatments with carvacrol, cinnamon oil, trans-cinnamaldehyde, citral, p-cymene and linalool. Inhibition of the mycelial growth by indirect vapour treatment with essential oils was also demonstrated compared with untreated control. Carvacrol, cinnamon oil, trans-cinnamaldehyde, citral and eugenol were among the most inhibitory plant essential oils by the indirect antifungal efficacies. Plant protection efficacies of the plant essential oils were demonstrated by reduced lesion diameter on the C. gloeosporioides-inoculated immature green pepper fruits compared to the inoculated control fruits without any plant essential oil treatment. In planta test showed that all plant essential oils tested in this study demonstrated plant protection efficacies against pepper fruit anthracnose with similar levels. Thus, application of different plant essential oils can be used for ecofriendly disease management of anthracnose during pepper fruit production.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.75-109
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• 2007

This paper empirically investigates the effects of import tariff on within-plant productivity growth in Korean manufacturing, using the detailed plant-level longitudinal data of the Korea Census of Manufacturers for the period of 1993-2003. Our main findings are as follows: First, the productivity changes of Korean manufacturing for the period under analysis were mostly induced by within-plant productivity gains, rather than within-industry and/or between-industry resource reallocations. Second, after controlling for firm-specific heterogeneity, the estimation results indicate that lowering tariff-barriers has a positive impact on within-plant TFP growth. We interpret the results in a way that trade liberalization through the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers heightens the competitive pressure, which in turn creates incentives to reduce production and managerial inefficiency and to invest more on innovative activities. Third, we also find that plant productivity growth from reducing tariff barriers is particularly conspicuous within a year after tariff changes, which implies that plants are quickly adjusting to heightened import competition. On the other hand, our results show that the trade effect on employment creation proceeds relatively slow.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 2004

A promising hyperparasite, Ampelomyces quisqualis 94013(AQ94013) was selected as a biological control agent to cucumber powdery mildew caused by Sphaerotheca fusca. Effect of agrochemicals on mycelium growth and spore germination of AQ94013 and effect of spread stickers on hyperparasitical activity of AQ94013 to powdery mildew pathogen were evaluated. Finally it was confirmed that mycelial growth and spore germination of AQ94013 on potato dextrose agar amended with two fungicides for controlling powdery mildew, triadimefon and pyrazophos; five fungicides for controlling downy mildew, dimethomorph, kasugamycin+copper oxychloride, dichlofluanid+copper oxychloride and tribasic copper sulfate; three fungicides for controlling gray mold, iprodione, vinclozolin and procymidone; and six insecticides immidacloprid, teflubenzuron, bifenthrin, ethofenprox, deltamethrin and phenthoate were slightly reduced. Addition of mineral oil in the spore suspension of AQ94013 enhanced 7.9% control value to cucumber powdery mildew.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.204-217
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• 2020

In nature, plants are always under the threat of pests and diseases. Pathogenic bacteria are one of the major pathogen types to cause diseases in diverse plants, resulting in negative effects on plant growth and crop yield. Chemical bactericides and antibiotics have been used as major approaches for controlling bacterial plant diseases in the field or greenhouse. However, the appearance of resistant bacteria to common antibiotics and bactericides as well as their potential negative effects on environment and human health demands bacteriologists to develop alternative control agents. Bacteriophages, the viruses that can infect and kill only target bacteria very specifically, have been demonstrated as potential agents, which may have no negative effects on environment and human health. Many bacteriophages have been isolated against diverse plant-pathogenic bacteria, and many studies have shown to efficiently manage the disease development in both controlled and open conditions such as greenhouse and field. Moreover, the specificity of bacteriophages to certain bacterial species has been applied to develop detection tools for the diagnosis of plant-pathogenic bacteria. In this paper, we summarize the promising results from greenhouse or field experiments with bacteriophages to manage diseases caused by plant-pathogenic bacteria. In addition, we summarize the usage of bacteriophages for the specific detection of plant-pathogenic bacteria.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.1029-1039
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• 2024

This study explores beneficial bacteria isolated from the roots and rhizosphere soil of Khao Rai Leum Pua Phetchabun rice plants. A total of 315 bacterial isolates (KK001 to KK315) were obtained. Plant growth-promoting traits (phosphate solubilization and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production), and antimicrobial activity against three rice pathogens (Curvularia lunata NUF001, Bipolaris oryzae 2464, and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae) were assessed. KK074 was the most prolific in IAA production, generating 362.6 ± 28.0 ㎍/ml, and KK007 excelled in tricalcium phosphate solubilization, achieving 714.2 ± 12.1 ㎍/ml. In antimicrobial assays using the dual culture method, KK024 and KK281 exhibited strong inhibitory activity against C. lunata, and KK269 was particularly effective against B. oryzae. In the evaluation of antimicrobial metabolite production, KK281 and KK288 exhibited strong antifungal activities in cell-free supernatants. Given the superior performance of KK281, taxonomically identified as Bacillus sp. KK281, it was investigated further. Lipopeptide extracts from KK281 had significant antimicrobial activity against C. lunata and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.1 mg/ml against X. oryzae pv. oryzae. LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of surfactin in the lipopeptide extract. The crude extract was non-cytotoxic to the L-929 cell line at tested concentrations. In conclusion, the in vitro plant growth-promoting and disease-controlling attributes of Bacillus sp. KK281 make it a strong candidate for field evaluation to boost plant growth and manage disease in upland rice.

• 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.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.856-863
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• 2013

Application of rhizospheric fungi is an effective and environmentally friendly method of improving plant growth and controlling many plant diseases. The current study was aimed to identify phytohormone-producing fungi from soil, to understand their roles in sesame plant growth, and to control Fusarium disease. Three predominant fungi (PNF1, PNF2, and PNF3) isolated from the rhizospheric soil of peanut plants were screened for their growth-promoting efficiency on sesame seedlings. Among these isolates, PNF2 significantly increased the shoot length and fresh weight of seedlings compared with controls. Analysis of the fungal culture filtrate showed a higher concentration of indole acetic acid in PNF2 than in the other isolates. PNF2 was identified as Penicillium sp. on the basis of phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequence similarity. The in vitro biocontrol activity of Penicillium sp. against Fusarium sp. was exhibited by a 49% inhibition of mycelial growth in a dual culture bioassay and by hyphal injuries as observed by scanning electron microscopy. In addition, greenhouse experiments revealed that Fusarium inhibited growth in sesame plants by damaging lipid membranes and reducing protein content. Co-cultivation with Penicillium sp. mitigated Fusarium-induced oxidative stress in sesame plants by limiting membrane lipid peroxidation, and by increasing the protein concentration, levels of antioxidants such as total polyphenols, and peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase activities. Thus, our findings suggest that Penicillium sp. is a potent plant growth-promoting fungus that has the ability to ameliorate damage caused by Fusarium infection in sesame cultivation.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2016

To identify a novel biopesticide controlling rice blast disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, 700 plant extracts were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on mycelial growth of M. oryzae. The L. foenum-graecum Herba extract showed the lowest inhibition concentration ($IC_{50}$) of $39.28{\mu}g/ml$, which is lower than the $IC_{50}$ of blasticidin S ($63.06{\mu}g/ml$), a conventional fungicide for rice blast disease. When treatments were combined, the $IC_{50}$ of blasticidin S was dramatically reduced to $10.67{\mu}g/ml$. Since ABC transporter genes are involved in fungicide resistance of many organisms, we performed RT-PCR to investigate the transcriptional changes of 40 ABC transporter family genes of M. oryzae treated with the plant extract, blasticidin S, and tetrandrine, a recognized ABC transporter inhibitor. Four ABC transporter genes were prominently activated by blasticidin S treatment, but were suppressed by combinational treatment of blasticidin S with the plant extract, or with tetrandrine that didn't show cellular toxicity by itself in this study. Mycelial death was detected via confocal microscopy at 24 h after plant extract treatment. Finally, subsequent rice field study revealed that the plant extract had high control efficacy of 63.3% and should be considered a biopesticide for rice blast disease. These results showed that extract of L. foenum graecum Herba suppresses M. oryzae ABC transporter genes inducing mycelial death and therefore may be a potent novel biopesticide.