Screening rhizobacteria for biological control of root rot and Phytophthora blight on glnseng.

Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is one of the most widely cultivated medicinal herbs in Korea. During 3 or 5 years cultivation of ginseng, yield losses can reach as high as 30-60％ due to numerous diseases in Korea. Among 106 Bacillus strains isolated from various plant internal roots, we selected three promising biocontrol agents by screening against root rot caused by Cylindrocarpon destructan in a greenhouse. Preinoculation of selected isolates to seed or one-year-old root resulted in stimulation of shoot and/or root growth of seedlings, and control of root rot in infested soils with Cylindronrpon destructans (P=0.05). Furthermore, drenching of selected isolates on seedling-growing pots reduced the incidence of Phytophthora blight when the seedlings were challenged with zoospores of Phytophthora cactorum (P=0.05). However, isolates B1141 and B1142 did not show any antifungal activity against various soilborne pathogens while B1146 did in vitro. Our results provide an insight that rhizobacteria can induce resistance against various plant diseases on ginseng even if any resistant breeds have been unknown on ginseng yet.