• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.244-251
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• 2005

The induction of growth promotion on numerous crops by rhizobacteria is a well documented phenomenon. In case of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), fruit yield is higher in replant soil than that in fresh soil. To investigate what kind of rhizobacterium is involved, microbial community in rhizosphere and on rhizoplane of tomato plants from each soil was analyzed by dilution plating on selective media. Many Gram-negative bacteria and actinomycetes were isolated from tomato in replant soil. One Gram-negative rhizobacterium isolated was identified as Pseudomonas putida based on its biochemical characteristics, fatty acid methyl ester analysis and 16S rDNA sequence. This bacterium designated strain 17 inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas corrugata, and increased growth of tomato seedlings. In addition, its culture filtrate inhibited conidial germination of plant-pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, F. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum, and Nectria radicicola. Scanning electron microscopy revealed strain 17 colonized and persisted on the epidermal surfaces of tomato radicles and roots. These results suggest that P. putida strain 17 may serve as a biological control agent to suppress multiple soil-borne diseases for tomato plants. Increased microbial populations that suppress deleterious microorganisms including pathogens could be one of the major factors in increased tomato yield in replant soil.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1431-1438
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• 2009

The role of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in the phytoremediation of heavy-metal-contaminated soils is important in overcoming its limitations for field application. A plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium, Serratia sp. SY5, was isolated from the rhizoplane of barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) grown in petroleum and heavy-metal-contaminated soil. This isolate has shown capacities for indole acetic acid production and siderophores synthesis. Compared with a non-inoculated control, the radicular root growth of Zea mays seedlings inoculated with SY5 can be increased by 27- or 15.4-fold in the presence of 15 mg-Cd/l or 15 mg-Cu/l, respectively. The results from hydroponic cultures showed that inoculation of Serratia sp. SY5 had a favorable influence on the initial shoot growth and biomass of Zea mays under noncontaminated conditions. However, under Cd-contaminated conditions, the inoculation of SY5 significantly increased the root biomass of Zea mays. These results indicate that Serratia sp. SY5 can serve as a promising microbial inoculant for increased plant growth in heavy-metal-contaminated soils to improve the phytoremediation efficiency.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.220-227
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• 2014

The GacS/GacA system in the root colonizer Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6 is a key regulator of many traits relevant to the biocontrol function of this bacterium. Proteomic analysis revealed 12 proteins were down-regulated in a gacS mutant of P. chlororaphis O6. These GacS-regulated proteins functioned in combating oxidative stress, cell signaling, biosynthesis of secondary metabolism, and secretion. The extent of regulation was shown by real-time RT-PCR to vary between the genes. Mutants of P. chlororaphis O6 were generated in two GacS-regulated genes, trpE, encoding a protein involved in tryptophan synthesis, and prnA, required for conversion of tryptophan to the antimicrobial compound, pyrrolitrin. Failure of the trpE mutant to induce systemic resistance in tobacco against a foliar pathogen causing soft rot, Pectobacterium carotovorum SCCI, correlated with reduced colonization of root surfaces implying an inadequate supply of tryptophan to support growth. Although colonization was not affected by mutation in the prnA gene, induction of systemic resistance was reduced, suggesting that pyrrolnitrin was an activator of plant resistance as well as an antifungal agent. Study of mutants in the other GacS-regulated proteins will indicate further the features required for biocontrol-activity in this rhizobacterium.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.510-515
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• 2005

The growth of red pepper plants was enhanced by treatment with the rhizobacterium, Bacillus cereus MJ-1. Red pepper shoots showed a 1.38-fold increase in fresh weight (fw) and roots showed a 1.28-fold fw gain. This plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) has been reported to produce gibberellins (GAs). Other GAs-producing rhizobacteria, Bacillus macroides CJ-29 and Bacillus pumilus CJ-69, also enhanced the fw of the plants. They were less effective than B. cereus MJ-1, though. The endogenous GAs content of pepper shoots inoculated with MJ-1 was also higher than in shoots inoculated with CJ-29 or CJ-69. When inoculated with MJ-1, bacterial colonization rate of the roots was higher than that of roots inoculated with CJ-29 or CJ-69. These results support the idea that the plant growth-promoting effect of the bacteria also positively related with the efficiency of root colonization by the bacteria. In addition, we identified the major endogenous GAs of the red pepper as originating from both the early C-13 hydroxylation and the early non C-13 hydroxylation pathways, with the latter being the predominant pathway of GA biosynthesis in red pepper shoots.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1308-1315
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• 2014

Biological control using the plant growth-promoting Rhizobacterium (PGPR) has received significant attention in recent years. PGPR has been linked with promoting growth in economically important crops, such as potatoes, tomatoes, and rice. Bacillus mojavensis KJS-3 (Moja-3), isolated from food waste, possesses antifungal properties against Aspergillus terreus, A. fumagatus, A. flavus, and Fusarium redolense, and it may have potential in the development of products for industrial applications. The main purpose of this study was to determine the effects of spraying the PGPR Bacillus mojavensis KJS-3 on the growth of altari radish (leaf number, leaf length, leaf weight, root length, and rhizome length, adjacent portion diameter, and weight) and lettuce (leaf number, length, width, and weight). Three different concentrations of the foliar spray treatment of B. mojavensis KJS-3 were applied to the altari radish and lettuce: the recommended standard concentration of $1{\times}10^9cfu/g$, half the standard concentration of $0.5{\times}10^9cfu/g$, and double the standard concentration of $2{\times}10^9cfu/g$). The B. mojavensis strain foliar spray treatment increased the growth of the leaves and roots of the altari radish and increased the growth of the lettuce leaves. For both plants, the recommended concentration of B. mojavensis KJS-3 produced better growth than half the standard concentration, and the growth was similar with the double dose. This study demonstrates positive effects of Moja-3, suggesting it may be a potential new bio-fertilizer for improving the growth of altari radish and lettuce.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.128-134
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• 2007

Previously, we isolated plant growth promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) Bacillus licheniformis K11 which could produce auxin, cellulase and siderophore. The siderophore of B. licheniformis K11 $(siderophore_{K11})$ was determined to be a catechol type siderophore which is produced generally by Bacillus spp. B. licheniformis K11 could produce the siderophore most highly after 96 h of incubation under nutrient broth at $20^{\circ}C$ with initial pH 9.0. For the production of the $siderophore_{K11}$, trehalose and $NH_4Cl$ were the best carbon and nitrogen sources in Davis minimal medium, respectively. The $siderophore_{K11}$ was Produced in M9 medium (pH 9.0) after 4 days at $20^{\circ}C$, and purified from culture broth of B. licheniformis K11 by using Amberlite XAD-2, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and reversed-phase HPLC. The $siderophore_{K11}$ had the biocontrol activity against spore germination of P. capsici and F. oxysporum on potato dextrose agar (PDA). The results indicate that the $siderophore_{K11}$ is an antifungal mechanism of B. licheniformis K11 against phytopathogenic fungi.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.150-157
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• 2007

The advanced bioremediation of diesel-contaminated soil through the exploration of bacterial interaction with plants was studied. A diesel-degrading rhizobacterium, Rhodococcus sp.412, and a plant species, Zea mays, having tolerant against diesel was selected. Zea mays was seeded in uncontaminated soil or diesel-contaminated soil with or without Rhodococcus sp. 412. After cultivating for 30 days, the growth of Zea mays in the contaminated soil inoculated with Rhodococcus sp. 412 was better than that in the contaminated soil without the bacterium. The residual diesel concentrations were lowered by seeding Zea mays or inoculating Rhodococctis sp. 412. These results Indicate that the simultaneous use of Zea mays and Rhodococcus sp. 412 can give beneficial effect to the remediation of oil-contaminated soil. Bacterial community was characterized using a 16S rDNA PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprinting method. The similarities of DGGE fingerprints were $20.8{\sim}39.9%$ between the uncontaminated soil and diesel contaminated soil. The similarities of DGGE fingerprints were $21.9%{\sim}53.6%$ between the uncontaminated soil samples, and $31.6%{\sim}50.0%$ between the diesel-contaminated soil samples. This results indicated that the structure of bacterial community was significantly influence by diesel contamination.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.55.1-55
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• 2002

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.182-192
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• 2013

Numerous root-associated bacteria (rhizobacteria) are known to elicit induced systemic resistance (ISR) in plants. Bacterial cell-density-dependent quorum sensing (QS) is thought to be important for ISR. Here, we investigated the role of QS in the ISR elicited by the rhizobacterium, Serratia marcescens strain 90-166, in tobacco. Since S. marcescens 90-166 produces at least three QS signals, QS-mediated ISR in strain 90-166 has been difficult to understand. Therefore, we investigated the ISR capacity of two transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants that contained either bacterial acylhomoserine lactone-producing (AHL) or -degrading (AiiA) genes in conjunction with S. marcescens 90-166 to induce resistance against bacterial and viral pathogens. Root application of S. marcescens 90-166 increased ISR to the bacterial pathogens, Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci, in AHL plants and decreased ISR in AiiA plants. In contrast, ISR to Cucumber mosaic virus was reduced in AHL plants treated with S. marcescens 90-166 but enhanced in AiiA plants. Taken together, these data indicate that QS-dependent ISR is elicited by S. marcescens 90-166 in a pathogen-dependent manner. This study provides insight into QS-dependent ISR in tobacco elicited by S. marcescens 90-166.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.7 s.87
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• pp.983-989
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• 2007

Bacillus lichemiformis Kll, a plant growth promoting rhizobacterium was reported as a producer of auxin, siderophore, as well as antifungal cellulase under some culture conditions. In vitro test, B. licheniformis Kll represented excellent antagonistic ability against Fusarium oxyspoum (KACC 40037), and showed broad spectrum against other phytopathogenic fungi. B. licheniformis Kll had cellulolytic activity toward not only carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC) but also insoluble cellulose, such as fungal cell wall cellulose, filter paper (Whatman No. 1), and Avicel. In addition, we confirmed antifungal substance production by butanol-extract methods. The strain produced optimally the antifungal substance when it was cultivated at pH 9.0, 30${\circ}$C for 4 days on nutrient medium. The biological control mechanisms of B. lichemiformis Kll were caused by antifungal substance, cellulase and siderophore against phytopathogenic fungi.