• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.311-317
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• 2006

Using PCR amplification, we cloned a cellulase gene (ce/H) from the Bacillus subtilis AH18 which has plant growth-promoting activity and antagonistic ability against pepper blight caused by Phytophthora capsici. The 1.6 kb PCR fragment contained the full sequence of the cellulase gene and the 1,582 bp gene deduced a 508 amino acid sequence. Similarity search in protein database revealed that the cellulase of B. subtilis AH18 was more than 98% homologous in the amino acid sequence to those of several major Bacillus spp. The ce/H was expressed in E. coli under an IPTG inducible lac promoter on the vector, had apparent molecular weight of about 55 kDa upon CMC-SDS-PAGE analysis. Partially purified cellulase had not only cellulolytic activity toward carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC) but also insoluble cellulose, such as Avicel and filter paper (Whatman No. 1). In addition, the cellulase could degrade a fungal cell wall of Phytophthora capsici. The optimum pH and temperature of the ce/H coded cellulase were determined to be pH 5.0 and $50^{\circ}C$. The enzyme activity was activated by $AgNO_3$ or $CoCl_2$. However its activity was Inhibited by $HgC1_2$. The enzyme activity was activated by hydroxy urea or sodium azide and inhibited by CDTA or EDTA. The results indicate that the cellulase gene, ce/H is an antifungal mechanism of B. subtilis AH18 against phytophthora blight disease in red-pepper.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.66-76
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• 2014

Resistance of one hundred commercialized cultivars of chili pepper to four isolates of Phytophthora capsici was evaluated under controlled environmental conditions. The cultivars are commercialized as resistant (59%) and susceptible (41%) to Phytophthora blight in Korea. Mean disease severities of the cultivars on P. capsici MY-1, KPC-1, JHAI1-7, and KPC-7 isolates were 37, 55, 60, and 74%, respectively. In addition, 38 for MY-1, 48 for KPC-1, 56 for JHAI1-7, and 76 cultivars for KPC-7 showed susceptibility. To P. capsici MY-1, the weakest pathogenicity isolate among them, 59 cultivars represented high resistance. By contrast, only six cultivars showed high resistance to P. capsici KPC-7, the strongest isolate. Furthermore, resistance of most cultivars except for three cultivars was negatively correlated with the virulence of P. capsici isolates. And isolate-specific resistance of the chili pepper cultivars could not be found. Among them, six cultivars showing resistance to all the tested isolates were selected for further study. The development of Phytophthora blight on the six cultivars according to inoculum density ($5{\times}10^4$ to $1.5{\times}10^6$ sporangia/pot) and incubation temperature (25 to $30^{\circ}C$) after inoculation of P. capsici was tested. Resistance of the cultivars to P. capsici KPC-1 and JHAI1-7, moderately pathogenic isolates, was hardly affected. But to KPC-7 isolate, the highly resistant cultivars showed susceptiblility or moderate resistance when the seedlings were inoculated with inoculum density of $1.5{\times}10^6$ sporangia/pot and incubated at 28 to $30^{\circ}C$. From these results, it is likely that resistance of chili pepper cultivars to Phytophthora blight is affected by the virulence of P. capsici isolate.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.180-185
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• 2001

Control effects of phosphorous acid were investigated on Phytophthora blight of red pepper plants in greenhouse and field. In vitro test, the mycelial growth of Phytophthora capsici was inhibited by the phosphorous acid more than 97% at 1,000 ${\mu}g$ and 10,000 ${\mu}g$ a.i./mL in the liquid and solid culture, respectively. At concentration of 10 ${\mu}g$ a.i./mL of phosphorous acid, in the liquid culture the mycelial growth of P. capsici was inhibited 46.2%, however inhibited only 4.9% on the soild culture. Zoosporangial formation was also inhibited 89.1% by phosphorous acid at 100 ${\mu}g$ a.i./mL. Phosphorous acid affected more zoosporangial formation of P. capsici than its mycelial growth. At the concentrations of 10,000, 1,000 and 100 ${\mu}g$ a.i./mL of phosphorous acid, germination of zoosporangia was inhibited 100, 84.3 and 44.2%, respectively. Mycelial growth and zoosporangial formation of P. capsici were little affected at the concentration of 10 ${\mu}g$ a.i./mL of phosphorous acid. Cermination of zoosporangia was also little affected at this concentration, however growth of the germ tubes was inhibited and the abnormal mycelial growth was observed. Phosphorous acid suppressed the incidence of Phytophthora blight of red pepper plants up to $77.0{\sim}62.0%$, in greenhouse. Phosphorous acid suppressed the incidence of Phytophthora blight of red pepper plants up to 54.0% at the conventional culture in field. Treatments of phosphorous acid increased up to 113% in height, 135% in number of fruit, and 129% in weight of fruit.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.311-314
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• 2001

Phytophthora root rot of lettuce, which has not been reported in Korea before, occurred severely in liquid hydroponic culture. The disease occurred in all seasons and was most severe in summer from June to August, showing over 90% infection rate in some farms. A total of 51 isolates collected from various farms were all identified as Phytophthora drechsleri. The fungus showed strong pathogenicity to lettuce and Chinese cabbage, moderate pathogenicity to cucurbits and tomato, and weak pathogenicity to pepper. However, the fungus was not pathogenic to other leafy vegetables namely: chicory, kale, endive, garland chrysanthemum, spinach beet, and perilla. Among 10 species of Phytophtora inoculated to lettuce, only P. drechsleri and P. cryptogea were found pathogenic.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.22
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• pp.13-18
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• 2004

Eighty five accessions of our laboratory pepper germplasm collections in 2003 were tested for resistance to Phytophthora capsici Leonian. Any new material highly resistant was not found among them. However, KC1184, which has horticultural characteristics of Korean peppers, was moderately resistant and appeared worthwhile in breeding for resistance.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.123-131
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the feasibility for the use of environmental-friendly materials and the effective recycling of spent mushroom compost(SMC) after cultivation of Button Mushroom, Agaricus bisporus. SMC of white button mushroom contained diverse microorganisms including fluorescent Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp., Tricoderma sp. and Actinomycetes. These isolates showed the extensive antifungal spectrum against plant pathogen. Among of the isolates, fungal pathogen such as Alternaria brassicicola, Phytophtora melonis, Phytophthora capsici and Colletotichum gloeosporioides strong showed strong antagonistic activity. 45.8% of the isolates were actively colonized on the pepper root and 5.8% showed rhizosphere competent of >$5{\times}10^2cfu\;root^{-1}$. The plant growth promotion ability of the collected isolates were tested in pot experiments using red pepper seedling. Among them, 62.7% showed pepper growth promoting ability and growth of pepper root showed superior to the control. The germination of pepper treated with aqueous extracts of non-harvest SMC completely inhibited at concentration of more than 33%. The sterilization of SMC resulted in higher inhibition of germination and early growth of pepper. These results suggest that spent mushroom compost(SMC) of Button Mushroom may have adequately the feasibility for the use with environmental-friendly materials.

• 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 Life Science
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.582-589
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• 2003

The effect of useful rhizobacterium added in bed soil on the early growth promotion of red pepper plug seedlings was investigated. Total 540 colonies of rhizobacteria from 385 samples of eggplant family roots were isolated. Among these, 5 isolates were selected for antifungal activity against pathogenic fungi such as Alternaria solani, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporium, Phytophthora capsici, and Sclerotia sclerotiorum. Of all the isolates, MJ-3 having the most pronounced growth-promoting ability for red pepper was finally selected and identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens through characterization of biochemical and bacteriological aspects and 16S rDNA sequence. The plant height, stem diameter, root length and fresh weight of red pepper plants which were grown with inoculation of B. amyloliquefaciens MJ-3 were higher than those without inoculation. Especially the root weight of the inoculated red pepper plant increased by 44.3%, the content of endogenous plant hormone (CA$_1$) being 0.556 ng/g (dry weight).

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.218-220
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• 2000

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.51.2-52
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• 2002