• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.386-390
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• 2011

In June 2011, walnuts (Juglans regia) from orchards in Kimcheon and Muan, in southern Korea, were found to exhibit downy mildew-like symptoms of a foliar disease. Whitish polygonal efflorescence was produced on the abaxial surface of affected leaves and discolored light green blotches on the corresponding adaxial surfaces. In the later stage of disease development, diseased tissues collapsed and became necrotic. Based on morphological and cultural characteristics, the causal fungus was identified as Microstroma juglandis. The sequence of ITS rDNA of the present isolate showed 100% similarity with those of M. juglandis obtained from GenBank databases, thus confirming its identity. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on leaves of walnut seedlings, fulfilling Koch's postulates. The disease has been previously reported in North America, Europe, Oceania and some western Asia. This is the first report of downy leaf spot on walnuts in East Asia.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.255-260
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• 2015

We investigated influence of three commercial antibiotics viz., oxolinic acid, streptomycin, and validamycin A, on biocontrol and plant growth promoting activities of Bacillus vallismortis EXTN-1 and BS07M in Chinese cabbage. Plants were pre-drenched with these strains followed by antibiotics application at recommended and ten-fold diluted concentration to test the effect on biocontrol ability against soft rot caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum SCC1. The viability of the two biocontrol strains and bacterial pathogen SCC1 was significantly reduced by oxolinic acid and streptomycin in vitro assay, but not by validamycin A. In plant trials, strains EXTN-1 and BS07M controlled soft rot in Chinese cabbage, and there was a significant difference in disease severity when the antibiotics were applied to the plants drenched with the two biocontrol agents. Additional foliar applications of oxolinic acid and streptomycin reduced the disease irrespective of pre-drench treatment of the PGPRs. However, when the plants were pre-drenched with EXTN-1 followed by spray of validamycin A at recommended concentration, soft rot significantly reduced compared to untreated control. Similarly, strains EXTN-1 and BS07M significantly enhanced plant growth, but it did not show synergistic effect with additional spray of antibiotics. Populations of the EXTN-1 or BS07M in the rhizosphere of plants sprayed with antibiotics were significantly affected as compared to control. Taken together, our results suggest that the three antibiotics used for soft rot control in Chinese cabbage could affect bacterial mediated biocontrol and plant growth promoting activities. Therefore, combined treatment of the PGPRs and the commercial antibiotics should be carefully applied to sustain environmental friendly disease management.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.39-42
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• 2005

Powdery mildew, caused by Sphaerotheca aphanis var. aphanis, is an economically significant disease of strawberry in Korea. When powdery mildew is not controlled adequately, it often spreads rapidly through strawberry plants and damage is associated with reduced yields. Proper timing of fungicide applications is, therefore, essential for effective disease control. This study evaluated the efficacy by application schedule of fungicides before harvest stage for preventing powdery mildew in 2001-2003. The systemic fungicides, azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl, and cupper fungicide DBEDC were applied preventively during the first part of the cultivating season. Preventative applications of DBEDC by dipping treatment before transplanting and kresoxim-methyl by foliar spray before blooming stage were one of the most effective control schedule tested to prevent and manage this disease. This research demonstrated the significance of application time to control of powdery mildew, particularly provided elimination unnecessary sprays of agrochemicals and reduction costs for strawberry growers.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.250-255
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• 2012

The effect of different source silicon ($CaSiO_3$, $K_2SiO_3$, and $NaSiO_3$) and their application methods (foliar application and subirrigation) on the growth of potted kalanchoe was investigated. Rooted terminal cuttings of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana 'Peperu' were transplanted into 10.5 cm plastic pots containing a commercial growing medium. Then, a nutrient solution, containing 0 or $50mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ Si as $K_2SiO_3$, $Na_2SiO_3$, or $CaSiO_3$ and adjusted to EC 1.4-$1.6mS{\cdot}cm^{-1}$ and pH 6.0, was supplied through subirrigation along with the nutrient solution or by a foliar application. Plants were grown in a glasshouse under a mean temperature of $23^{\circ}C$ and RH of 70-80%. After 12 weeks of cultivation, plant growth characteristics and leaf tissue contents of P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, S, and Si were measured. Both subirrigational supply and foliar application of Si decreased the plant height and flower stem length. However, the plant condition in the foliar application resulted in disease-like soft rot on the leaf. Among three silicon sources tested, $CaSiO_3$ supplied through a subirrigation system increased shoot tissue contents of Si and chlorophyll as compared to the $Na_2SiO_3$ or $K_2SiO_3$ treatment. Shoot tissue contents of Ca, K, and Na increased when the plant was supplied with $CaSiO_3$, $K_2SiO_3$, and $Na_2SiO_3$, respectively. Subirrigational supply of $K_2SiO_3$ and $NaSiO_3$ decreased the shoot tissue contents of Ca and Mg, and K and Ca, respectively. Therefore, $CaSiO_3$ supplied through a subirrigation system could improve plant quality of kalanchoe 'Peperu' making compact potted plants.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.543-553
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• 2017

Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is an important oil seed crop of Asia. Yields can be negatively impacted by various factors, including disease, particularly those caused by fungi which create problems in both production and storage. Foliar diseases of sesame such as Alternaria leaf blight may cause significant yield losses, with reductions in plant health and seed quality. The work reported here determined the incidence of Alternaria species infecting sesame seeds grown in the Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 428 Alternaria isolates were obtained from 105 seed samples and grouped into 36 distinct taxonomic groups based on growth pattern and morphological characters. Isolation frequency and relative density of surface sterilized and non-surface sterilized seeds showed that three isolates (A13, A47 and A215) were the most common morphological groups present. These isolates were further identified using sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and the Alternaria major allergen gene (Alt a 1). Whilst ITS of rDNA did not resolve the isolates into Alternaria species, the Alt a 1 sequences exhibited > 99% homology with Alternaria alternata (KP123850.1) in GenBank accessions. The pathogenicity and virulence of these isolates of Alternaria alternata was confirmed in inoculations of sesame plants resulting in typical symptoms of leaf blight disease. This work confirms the identity of a major source of sesame leaf blight in Pakistan which will aid in formulating effective disease management strategies.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.269-274
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• 2018

In the middle of May 2018, typical red thread disease symptoms were observed on Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) on a golf course, which locates at Yangsan, Gyeongnam province in Korea. Irregular-shaped patched symptoms were observed in fairway of golf course. The foliar symptom was dried out and faded to straw color and tip of the grass leaves were tangled like thread. Early morning, infected and tangled leaves were covered with the pinkish gelatinous antler-like structure (sclerotinia) as a typical red thread disease symptom. Causal fungal pathogens were isolated from the symptom in Kentucky bluegrass. The fungal culture characteristic on potato dextrose agar color of colony was pale pink and conjugated hyphae, sclerotium of irregular shape was pale pink and 3~5mm diameter in size. The pathogen was identified as Laetisaria fuciformis based on morphological and culture characteristics as well as molecular characteristics. Pathogenicity test was verified on the Kentucky bluegrass by Koch's postulates. This is the first report of red thread disease occurrence in Kentucky bluegrass by L. fuciformis in Korea.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.165-171
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• 2009

Biological control activity of Acremonium strictum BCP, a mycoparasite on Botrytis cinerea, was examined against six plant diseases such as rice blast, rice sheath blight, cucumber gray mold, tomato late blight, wheat leaf rust, and barley powdery mildew in growth chambers. The spore suspension of strain BCP showed strong control activities against five plant diseases except against wheat leaf rust. On the other hand, the culture filtrate of A. strictum BCP was effective in controlling only cucumber gray mold and barley powdery mildew. Further in vivo biocontrol activities of A. strictum BCP against tomato gray mold were investigated under greenhouse conditions. Control efficacy of the fungus on tomato gray mold increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of more than $1{\times}10^6$ spores/ml significantly controlled the disease both in tomato seedlings and in adult plants. The high disease control activity was obtained from protective application of the strain BCP, whereas the curative application did not control the disease. Foliar infections of B. cinerea were controlled with $1{\times}10^8$ spores/ml of A. strictum BCP applied up to 7 days before inoculation. In a commercial greenhouse, application of A. strictum BCP exhibited the similar control efficacy with fungicide procymidone (recommended rate, $500{\mu}g/ml$) against strawberry gray mold. These results indicate that A. strictum BCP could be developed as a biofungicide for Botrytis diseases under greenhouse conditions.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2015

Pigeonpea Sterility Mosaic Disease (PSMD) is an important foliar disease caused by Pigeonpea sterility mosaic virus (PPSMV) which is transmitted by eriophyid mites (Aceria cajani Channabasavanna). In present study, a F2 mapping population comprising 325 individuals was developed by crossing PSMD susceptible genotype (Gullyal white) and PSMD resistant genotype (BSMR 736). We identified a set of 32 out of 300 short decamer random DNA markers that showed polymorphism between Gullyal white and BSMR 736 parents. Among them, eleven DNA markers showed polymorphism including coupling and repulsion phase type of polymorphism across the parents. Bulked Segregant Analysis (BSA), revealed that the DNA marker, IABTPPN7, produced a single coupling phase marker (IABTPPN $7_{414}$) and a repulsion phase marker (IABTPPN $7_{983}$) co-segregating with PSMD reaction. Screening of 325 F2 population using IABTPPN7 revealed that the repulsion phase marker, IABTPPN $7_{983}$, was co-segregating with the PSMD responsive SV1 at a distance of 23.9 cM for Bidar PPSMV isolate. On the other hand, the coupling phase marker IABTPPN $7_{414}$ did not show any linkage with PSMD resistance. Additionally, single marker analysis both IABTPPN $7_{983}$ (P<0.0001) and IABTPPN $7_{414}$ (P<0.0001) recorded a significant association with the PSMD resistance and explained a phenotypic variance of 31 and 36% respectively in $F_2$ population. The repulsion phase marker, IABTPPN7983, could be of use in Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS) in the PPSMV resistance breeding programmes of pigeonpea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.1103-1108
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• 2016

Yam anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (C.g) is the most devastating disease of yam (Dioscorea sp.). In the present study, we evaluated the culture filtrate extract (CFE) of azalomycin-producing Streptomyces malaysiensis strain MJM1968 for the control of yam anthracnose. MJM1968 showed strong antagonistic activity against C.g in vitro. Furthermore, the MJM1968 CFE was tested for inhibition of spore germination in C.g, where it completely inhibited spore germination at a concentration of 50 μg/ml. To assess the in planta efficacy of the CFE and spores of MJM1968 against C.g, a detached leaf bioassay was conducted, which showed both the treatments suppressed anthracnose development on detached yam leaves. Furthermore, a greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the CFE from MJM1968 as a fungicide for the control of yam anthracnose. The CFE non-treated plants showed a disease severity of >92% after 90 days of artificial inoculation with C.g, whereas the disease severity of CFE-treated and benomyl-treated yam plants was reduced to 26% and 15%, respectively, after 90 days. Analysis of the yam tubers from the CFE-treated and non-treated groups showed that tubers from the CFE-treated plants were larger than that of non-treated plants, which produced abnormal smaller tubers typical of anthracnose. This study demonstrated the utility of the CFE from S. malaysiensis strain MJM1968 as a biofungicide for the control of yam anthracnose.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.137-151
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• 2021

The present study describes the bacterial blight of walnut, caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis (Xaj) in the northern Gyeongbuk province, Korea. Disease symptoms that appear very similar to anthracnose symptoms were observed in walnut trees in June 2016. Pathogens were isolated from disease infected leaves, fruits, shoots, bud, flower bud of walnut, and cultured onto yeast dextrose carbonate agar plates. Isolated bacteria with bacterial blight symptoms were characterized for their nutrient utilization profiles using Biolog GN2 and Vitek 2. In addition, isolates were subjected to physiological, biochemical, and morphological characterizations. Furthermore, isolates were identified using 16S rDNA sequence analysis, and multi-locus sequence analysis using atpD, dnaK, efp, and rpoD. To confirm pathogenicity, leaves, fruits, and stems of 3-year-old walnut plants were inoculated with bacterial pathogen suspensions as a foliar spray. One week after inoculation, the gray spots on leaves and yellow halos around the spots were developed. Fruits and stems showed browning symptoms. The pathogen Xaj was re-isolated from all symptomatic tissues to fulfill Koch's postulates, while symptoms were not appeared on control plants. On the other hand, the symptoms were very similar to the symptoms of anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. When walnut plants were inoculated with combined pathogens of Xaj and C. gloeosporioides, disease symptoms were greater in comparison with when inoculated alone. Xaj population size was more in the month of April than March due to their dormancy in March, and sensitive to antibiotics such as oxytetracycline and streptomycin, while resistant to copper sulfate.