• ALGAE
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.203-215
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• 2023

Oomycete pathogens are one of the most serious threats to the rapidly growing global algae aquaculture industry but research into how they spread and how algae respond to infection is unresolved, let alone a proper classification of the pathogens. Even the taxonomy of the genera Pythium and Olpidiopsis, which contain the most economically damaging pathogens in red algal aquaculture, and are among the best studied, needs urgent clarification, as existing morphological classifications and molecular evidence are often inconsistent. Recent studies have reported a number of genes involved in defense responses against oomycete pathogens in red algae, including pattern-triggered immunity and effector-triggered immunity. Accumulating evidence also suggests that calcium-mediated reactive oxygen species signaling plays an important role in the response of red algae to oomycete pathogens. Current management strategies to control oomycete pathogens in aquaculture are based on the high resistance of red algae to abiotic stress, these have environmental consequences and are not fully effective. Here, we compile a revised list of oomycete pathogens known to infect marine red algae and outline the current taxonomic situation. We also review recent research on the molecular and cellular responses of red algae to oomycete infection that has only recently begun, and outline the methods currently used to control disease in the field.

• ALGAE
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2023

The oomycete pathogens Pythium porphyrae, causing red rot disease, and Olpidiopsis spp. causing Olpidiopsis-blight, cause serious economic losses to Pyropia sea farms in Korea. During the washing step for Pyropia processing, these pathogens proliferate rapidly, significantly reducing the quality of the final product. To develop non-acidic treatments for these pathogens, various calcium salts were tested against the infectivity of P. porphyrae and Olpidiopsis pyropiae on Pyropia gametophytes, and calcium propionate was the most effective. When Pyropia blades were immersed in 10 mM calcium propionate for 1 h after inoculation with the oomycete pathogen, infection rate of both oomycete pathogens on day 2 was significantly lower (7.1%) than control (>95%). Brief incubation of Pyropia blades in calcium propionate also reduced the spread of infection. The infected area of Pyropia thallus was reduced to 14.3% of the control in 2 days after treatment with 100 mM calcium propionate for 30 s. In field experiments conducted in actual aquaculture farms, it has been shown that a brief 30 s wash every two weeks with 100 mM calcium propionate can effectively reduce the spread of oomycetes throughout the entire culture period. The above results suggest that calcium propionate can be a useful means for controlling the spread of oomycetes not only during laver processing but also during aquaculture.

• Mycobiology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.261-272
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• 2019

Oomycetes are widely distributed in various environments, including desert and polar regions. Depending upon different habits and hosts, they have evolved with both saprophytic and pathogenic nutritional modes. Freshwater ecosystem is one of the most important habitats for members of oomycetes. Most studies on oomycete diversity, however, have been biased mostly towards terrestrial phytopathogenic species, rather than aquatic species, although their roles as saprophytes and parasites are essential for freshwater ecosystems. In this study, we isolated oomycete strains from soil sediment, algae, and decaying plant debris in freshwater streams of Korea. The strains were identified based on cultural and morphological characteristics, as well as molecular phylogenetic analyses of ITS rDNA, cox1, and cox2 mtDNA sequences. As a result, we discovered eight oomycete species previously unknown in Korea, namely Phytopythium chamaehyphon, Phytopythium litorale, Phytopythium vexans, Pythium diclinum, Pythium heterothallicum, Pythium inflatum, Pythium intermedium, and Pythium oopapillum. Diversity and ecology of freshwater oomycetes in Korea are poorly understood. This study could contribute to understand their distribution and ecological function in freshwater ecosystem.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2004

Phenylacetic acid (PAA) was evaluated for in vitro anti-oomycete activity and in vivo control efficacy against Phytophthora capsici. Microscopic observation revealed that the high level of anti-oomycete activity of PAA (10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) against P. capsici is mainly due to the lytic effect on zoospores. Zoospore lysis began in the presence of 5 u$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of PAA and most of the zoospores were collapsed at 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml. PAA showed inhibitory activity against the zoospore germination and hyphal growth of P. capsici at the concentration of 50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml. In the glasshouse, the protective effect of PAA against Phytophthora blight was high on pepper plants when treated just before inoculation with P. capsici. In the artificially infested field, protection of pepper plants against the Phyto-phthora epidemic was achieved at a considerable level by PAA treatment.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.269-293
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• 2022

Oomycete pathogens that belong to the genus Phytophthora cause devastating diseases in solanaceous crops such as pepper, potato, and tobacco, resulting in crop production losses worldwide. Although the application of fungicides efficiently controls these diseases, it has been shown to trigger negative side effects such as environmental pollution, phytotoxicity, and fungicide resistance in plant pathogens. Therefore, biological control of Phytophthora-induced diseases was proposed as an environmentally sound alternative to conventional chemical control. In this review, progress on biological control of the soilborne oomycete plant pathogens, Phytophthora capsici, Phytophthora infestans, and Phytophthora nicotianae, infecting pepper, potato, and tobacco is described. Bacterial (e.g., Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Chryseobacterium, Paenibacillus, Pseudomonas, and Streptomyces) and fungal (e.g., Trichoderma and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) agents, and yeasts (e.g., Aureobasidium, Curvibasidium, and Metschnikowia) have been reported as successful biocontrol agents of Phytophthora pathogens. These microorganisms antagonize Phytophthora spp. via antimicrobial compounds with inhibitory activities against mycelial growth, sporulation, and zoospore germination. They also trigger plant immunity-inducing systemic resistance via several pathways, resulting in enhanced defense responses in their hosts. Along with plant protection, some of the microorganisms promote plant growth, thereby enhancing their beneficial relations with host plants. Although the beneficial effects of the biocontrol microorganisms are acceptable, single applications of antagonistic microorganisms tend to lack consistent efficacy compared with chemical analogues. Therefore, strategies to improve the biocontrol performance of these prominent antagonists are also discussed in this review.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.103-107
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• 2009

In the course of a searching natural antifungal compounds from plant seeds, we found that the methanol extract of Psoralea corylifolia seeds showed potent control efficacy against tomato late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans and wheat leaf rust Puccinia recondita. Under bioassay-guided purification, we isolated two furanocoumarins, psoralen and isopsoralen, with anti-oomycete activity against P. infestans. By 1-day protective application, both compounds strongly reduced the disease development of P. infestans on tomato seedlings, but hardly controlled development of leaf rust on wheat seedlings. This is the first report on the anti-oomycete activity of P. corylifolia as well as that of psoralen and isopsoralen.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.198.2-198
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• 1996

No Abstract, See Full Text

• ALGAE
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.249-265
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• 2014

As with land crops, cultivated algae are affected by various diseases ranging from large outbreaks of a disease to chronic epiphytes, which may downgrade the value of the final product. The recent development of intensive and dense mariculture practices has enabled some new diseases to spread much faster than before. A new disease is reported almost every year, and the impact of diseases is expected to increase with environmental change, such as global warming. We observed the incidence of diseases in two Pyropia sea farms in Korea from 2011 to 2014, and estimated the economic loss caused by each disease. Serious damage is caused by the oomycete pathogens, Pythium porphyrae and Olpidiopsis spp., which decreased the productivity of the Pyropia sea farms. In Seocheon sea farms, an outbreak of Olpidiopsis spp. disease resulted in approximately US $1.6 million in loss, representing approximately 24.5% of total sales during the 2012-2013 season. The damage caused by green-spot disease was almost as serious as oomycete diseases. An outbreak of green-spot disease in the Seocheon sea farms resulted in approximately US $1.1 million in loss, representing 10.7% of total sales in the 2013-2014 season in this area. However, the causative agent of green-spot disease is still not confirmed. "Diatom felt" is regarded as a minor nuisance that does not cause serious damage in Pyropia; however, our case study showed that the economic loss caused by "diatom felt" might be as serious as that of oomycete diseases. Bacteria and cyanobacteria are indigenous members of epiphytic microbial community on Pyropia blades, but can become opportunistic pathogens under suitable environmental conditions, especially when Pyropia suffers from other diseases. A regular acid wash of the Pyropia cultivation nets is the most common treatment for all of the above mentioned diseases, and represents approximately 30% of the total cost in Pyropia sea farming. However, the acid wash is ineffective for some diseases, especially for Olpidiopsis and bacterial diseases.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.123-135
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• 2023

Previously, Pseudomonas plecoglossicida YJR13 and Pseudomonas putida YJR92 from a sequential screening procedure were proven to effectively control Phytophthora blight caused by Phytophthora capsici. In this study, we further investigated the anti-oomycete activities of these strains against mycelial growth, zoospore germination, and germ tube elongation of P. capsici. We also investigated root colonization ability of the bacterial strains in square dishes, including cell motility (swimming and swarming motilities) and biofilm formation. Both strains significantly inhibited mycelial growth in liquid and solid V8 juice media and M9 minimal media, zoospore germination, and germ tube elongation compared with Bacillus vallismortis EXTN-1 (positive biocontrol strain), Sphingomonas aquatilis KU408 (negative biocontrol strain), and MgSO₄ solution (untreated control). In diluted (nutrient-deficient) V₈ juice broth, the tested strain populations were maintained at >10⁸ cells/ml, simultaneously providing mycelial inhibitory activity. Additionally, these strains colonized pepper roots at a 10⁶ cells/ml concentration for 7 days. The root colonization of the strains was supported by strong swimming and swarming activities, biofilm formation, and chemotactic activity towards exudate components (amino acids, organic acids, and sugars) of pepper roots. Collectively, these results suggest that strains YJR13 and YJR92 can effectively suppress Phytophthora blight of pepper through direct anti-oomycete activities against mycelial growth, zoospore germination and germ tube elongation. Bacterial colonization of pepper roots may be mediated by cell motility and biofilm formation together with chemotaxis to root exudates.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2015.11a
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• pp.41-41
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• 2015

Oomycetes belong to the kingdom Straminipila, a remarkably diverse group which includes brown algae and planktonic diatoms, although they have previously been classified under the kingdom Fungi. These organisms have evolved both saprophytic and pathogenic lifestyles, and more than 60% of the known species are pathogens on plants, the majority of which are classified into the order Peronosporales (includes downy mildews, Phytophthora, and Pythium). Recent phylogenetic investigations based on DNA sequences have revealed that the diversity of oomycetes has been largely underestimated. Although morphology is the most valuable criterion for their identification and diversity, morphological species identification is time-consuming and in some groups very difficult, especially for non-taxonomists. DNA barcoding is a fast and reliable tool for identification of species, enabling us to unravel the diversity and distribution of oomycetes. Accurate species determination of plant pathogens is a prerequisite for their control and quarantine, and further for assessing their potential threat to crops. The mitochondrial cox2 gene has been widely used for identification, taxonomy and phylogeny of various oomycete groups. However, recently the cox1 gene was proposed as a DNA barcode marker instead, together with ITS rDNA. To determine which out of cox1 or cox2 is best suited as universal oomycete barcode, we compared these two genes in terms of (1) PCR efficiency for 31 representative genera, as well as for historic herbarium specimens, and (2) in terms of sequence polymorphism, intra- and interspecific divergence. The primer sets for cox2 successfully amplified all oomycete genera tested, while cox1 failed to amplify three genera. In addition, cox2 exhibited higher PCR efficiency for historic herbarium specimens, providing easier access to barcoding type material. In addition, cox2 yielded higher species identification success, with higher interspecific and lower intraspecific divergences than cox1. Therefore, cox2 is suggested as a partner DNA barcode along with ITS rDNA instead of cox1. Including the two barcoding markers, ITS rDNA and cox2 mtDNA, the multi-locus phylogenetic analyses were performed to resolve two complex clades, Bremia lactucae (lettuce downy mildew) and Peronospora effuse (spinach downy mildew) at the species level and to infer evolutionary relationships within them. The approaches discriminated all currently accepted species and revealed several previously unrecognized lineages, which are specific to a host genus or species. The sequence polymorphisms were useful to develop a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for detection of airborne inoculum of B. lactucae and P. effusa. Specificity tests revealed that the qPCR assay is specific for detection of each species. This assay is sensitive, enabling detection of very low levels of inoculum that may be present in the field. Early detection of the pathogen, coupled with knowledge of other factors that favor downy mildew outbreaks, may enable disease forecasting for judicious timing of fungicide applications.