• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.141-148
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• 2017

The oxidation ditch (OD) is one of the most widely used processes for treating municipal wastewater. However, the microbial communities in the OD systems have not been well characterized, and little information about the shift of bacterial community during the startup process of the OD systems is available. In this study, we investigated the bacterial community changes during the startup period (over 100 days) of a full-scale OD. The results showed that the bacterial community dramatically changed during the startup period. Similar to the activated sludge samples in other studies, Proteobacteria (accounting for 26.3%-48.4%) was the most dominant bacterial phylum in the OD system, but its relative abundance declined nearly 40% during the startup process. It was also found that Planctomycetes proliferated greatly (from 4.79% to 13.5%) and finally replaced Bacteroidetes as the second abundant phylum in the OD system. Specifically, some bacteria affiliated with genus Flavobacterium exhibited remarkable decreasing trends, whereas bacterial species belonging to the OD1 candidate division and Saprospiraceae family were found to increase during the startup process. Despite of the bacterial community shift, the organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus in the effluent were always in low concentrations, suggesting the functional redundancy of the bacterial community. Moreover, by comparing with the bacterial community in other municipal wastewater treatment bioreactors, some potentially novel bacterial species were found to be present in the OD system. Collectively, this study improved our understandings of the bacterial community structure and microbial ecology during the startup of a full-scale wastewater treatment bioreactor.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1149-1161
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• 2014

Cotton plants were sampled and ranked according to their resistance to Verticillium wilt. In total, 642 endophytic fungi isolates representing 27 genera were recovered from Gossypium hirsutum root, stem, and leaf tissues, but were not uniformly distributed. More endophytic fungi appeared in the leaf (391) compared with the root (140) and stem (111) sections. However, no significant difference in the abundance of isolated endophytes was found among resistant cotton varieties. Alternaria exhibited the highest colonization frequency (7.9%), followed by Acremonium (6.6%) and Penicillium (4.8%). Unlike tolerant varieties, resistant and susceptible ones had similar endophytic fungal population compositions. In three Verticillium-wilt-resistant cotton varieties, fungal endophytes from the genus Alternaria were most frequently isolated, followed by Gibberella and Penicillium. The maximum concentration of dominant endophytic fungi was observed in leaf tissues (0.1797). The evenness of stem tissue endophytic communities (0.702) was comparatively more uniform than the other two tissues. Eighty endophytic fungi selected from 27 genera were evaluated for their inhibition activity against highly virulent Verticillium dahliae isolate Vd080 in vitro. Thirty-nine isolates exhibited fungistasis against the pathogen at varying degrees. Seven species, having high growth inhibition rates (${\geq}75%$), exhibited strong antifungal activity against V. dahliae. The antifungal activity of both volatile and nonvolatile metabolites was also investigated. The nonvolatile substances produced by CEF-818 (Penicillium simplicissimum), CEF-325 (Fusarium solani), CEF-714 (Leptosphaeria sp.), and CEF-642 (Talaromyces flavus) completely inhibited V. dahliae growth. These findings deepen our understanding of cotton-endophyte interactions and provide a platform for screening G. hirsutum endophytes with biocontrol potential.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.287-295
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• 2012

Eighty-four endophytic fungal strains were isolated and identified from the roots of halophytes collected in Buan salt marsh. All halophyte samples, such as Suaeda japonica, and Suaeda maritima were isolated from Buan salt marsh. All endophytic fungi isolated were analyzed by sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) containing ITS1, 5.8s and ITS2 region. All endophytic fungi expressed that fungal strains belong to eight orders; Pleosporales (45%), Eurotiales (27%), Incertae sedis (11%), Dothideales (6%), Capnodiales (5%), Hypocreales (5%), and Agaricales (1%). All endophytic fungi were confirmed at the genus level of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, containing Alternaria, Ascomycota, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Cladosporium, Eupenicillium, Fusarium, Gibberella, Hypocrea, Lewia, Macrophoma, Penicillium, Peyronellaea, Phoma, Pleospora, Pleosporales, Pseudeurotium, Schizophyllum, and Talaromyces. Alternaria (21%) and Penicillium (13%) were the dominant endophytic fungal strains. In this study, endophytic fungal strains analyzed from S. japonica and S. maritime, Alternaria (21%), and Penicillium (13%) of Pleosporales and Eurotiales in halophytes were very abundant.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.307-313
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• 1992

To study the seasonal variation of heterotrophic bacteria near the surrounding seawater of Porphyra forming area, samples were collected in the intertidal waters of Mokp'o of the Yellow Sea from February to December, 1990. Annual distribution of heterotrophic bacteria ranged from $7.5\times10^2\;to\;1.1\times10^5\;cfu/ml,$ annual distribution of physiological characteristic bacteria ranged from $5.0\times10\;to\;4.34\times10^4\;cfu/ml$ for proteolytic bacteria, from 0 to $1.35\times10^4\;cfu/ml$ for lipolytic bacteria and from 0 to $1.2\times10^4\;cfu/ml$ for amylolytic bacteria. Sixty-five percent of isolates from seawater were rods, and $76.7\%$ of isolates were Gram-negative. Most isolates were mesophiles and showed utilization of various carbon sources such as glucose, maltose, lactose, sucrose and arabinose. Most isolates also showed tolerance to a broad range of salt concentration. Dominant genus in seawater were Flavobacterium spp., in February, Moraxella spp., Acinetobacter spp. in March, Bacillus spp., Chromobacterium spp., Micrococcus spp., Vibrio spp. in July and Chromobacterium spp., Micrococcus spp., Bacillus spp. in November.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.314-321
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• 1992

To study the seasonal variation of heterotrophic bacteria on the blades of Porphyra species, samples were collected In the intertidal zone near Mokp'o of the Yellow Sea from February to December, 1990 Annual distribution of heterotrophic bacteria on the blades of Porphyra species ranged from $6.9\times10^2\;to\;1.04\times10^5\;cfu/cm^2$ at site 1, and from $9.4\times10^3\;to\;2.93\times10^5\;cfu/cm^2$ at site 2. Average sixty-five percent of isolates from the blades of Porphyra species were rods and $52.1-82.7\%$ of isolates were Gram-negative. Most isolates showed starch hydrolysis$(68\%)$ on March, but showed Poor utilization of carbon sources and no $H_2S$ production. Dominant genus isolated from the baldes of Porphyra species were Alcaligenes spp., Moraxella spp., on March and Micrococcus spp., Moraxella spp., Corynebacterium spp., on November.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.238-246
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• 2015

A unicellular red microalga was isolated from environmental freshwater in Korea, and its morphological, molecular, and biochemical properties were characterized. Morphological analysis revealed that the isolate was a unicellular biflagellated green microalga that formed a non-motile, thick-walled palmelloid or red aplanospore. To determine the taxonomical position of the isolate, its 18S rRNA and rbcL genes were sequenced and phylogenetic analysis was performed. We found that the isolate was clustered together with other related Haematococcus strains showing differences in the rbcL gene. Therefore, the isolated microalga was classified into the genus Haematococcus, and finally designated Haematococcus sp. KORDI03. The microalga could be cultivated in various culture media under a broad range of pH and temperature conditions. Compositions of the microalgal cellular components were analyzed, and its protein, carbohydrate, and lipid compositions were estimated to be 21.1 ± 0.2%, 48.8 ± 1.8%, and 22.2 ± 0.9%, respectively. In addition, D-glucose and D-mannose were the dominant monosaccharides in the isolate, and its amino acids were composed mainly of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, alanine, and leucine. Moreover, several polyunsaturated fatty acids accounted for about 80% of the total fatty acids in Haematococcus sp. KORDI03, and the astaxanthin content in the red aplanospores was estimated to be 1.8% of the dry cell weight. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an Haematococcus sp. isolated from Korea, which may be used for bioresource production in the microalgal industry.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.129-134
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• 2005

The monthly variations of physico-chemical and microbiological water quality were investigate in the artificial Lake Geumgang near estuary barrage. Sixty heterotrophic bacteria were isolated and identified by amplification and sequencing of 16S rDNA. Water temperature, pH, and inorganic nutrients($NH_4$-N, $NO_2$-N, $NO_3$-N, $PO_4$-P) were measured. Concentrations of DO, BOD, and inorganic nutrients were lower than in the middle-stream of Geum river The population densities of heterotrophic bacteria and total coliforms varied from $4.1{\pm}1.0\times10^2$ to $6.7{\pm}1.1{\times}10^3\;cfu\;ml^{-1}$, and 0 to $2.3{\pm}0.6{\times}10^2\;cfu\;ml^{-1}$, respectively. Among the measured numbers of physiological groups of bacteria, cellulolytic bacteria showed higher population densities than those of other physiological groups. Bacterial community structure was analysed based on 16S rDNA partial sequencing. Among 60 isolates, dominant genus was Pseudomones (20 strains).

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.145-158
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• 2008

To assess the source of oyster (Crassostrea gigas) and clam (Ruditapes phillippinarum), phytoplankton community structures in the water column and sediment, including the composition of phytoplankton in oyster and clam digestive organs were investigated bimonthly from December 2006 to June 2007 in the Taeahn coastal waters. During the sampling period, water temperature and salinity varied from 7 to 23$^{\circ}C$ and 34 to 35 PSU, respectively. Total phytoplankton abundances at St. O in the water column were higher than those at St. J, whereas total phytoplankton abundances at St. O in the sediment were lower. In addition, total phytoplankton abundances in the water column and sediment were observed to be relatively higher in February and April 2007. Among the diatoms, Paralia sulcata was always dominant, accounting for 41$\sim$87% of total phytoplankton, except St. J for February 2007 during the sampling period. The following phytoplankton compositions observed in the digestive organs of oyster and clam appeared: diatoms such as genus Paralia, Navicula, Melosira and Coscinodiscus, Silicoflagellate Dictyocha, dinoflagellates Prorocentrum and Dinophysis. Phytoplankton compositions observed in the digestive organs of oyster and clam corresponded relatively well with the species composition appeared in the water column and sediments of each season. A significant relationship was found between individual weight of oyster or clam and their digestive organs weight, while there was not a close correlation with total phytoplankton amount. We suggest that P. sulcata always dominated as one of important the food source of oyster and clam in the marine ranching ground of Taeahn coastal waters.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.413-420
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• 2013

The climate change affects the growth and development of weeds as well as the outbreak of weeds. Especially, the occurrences of problematic paddy weeds due to climate change might cause the difficulties in weed control. This study therefore, investigated the current dominance and distribution of paddy weeds. As a result of the study on paddy weeds in northern Gyeonggi-do, there were total of 65 taxonomy groups including 23 family, 41 genus, 57 species, 7 subspecies and 1 variety. Among all the plants, 46 species were annual plants and 16 were perennial plants. Echinochloa crus-galli was the highest in importance analysis and the followings were in order of Ludwigia prostrate and Lemna paucicostata. The similarity of different paddy weeds in different regions observed through TWINSPAN analysis was distinguished by Fimbristylis miliacea, Rotala indica and Cyperus flaccidus. Regional differences shown in CCA analysis using weed species and soil environment revealed that Gimpo-si and Namyangju-si has difference soil and weeds, which are features that distinguished them from other regions. In northern Gyeonggi-do the result of paddy weed research showed the interregional difference not in dominant weeds but in distribution species.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2012

Hydrothermal vents (HTV) provide special environments for evolution of lives independent on solar energy. HTV samples were gained from Tofua arc trench in Tonga, South Pacific. We investigated archaeal diversity enriched using combinations of various electron donors (yeast extract and $H_2$) and electron acceptors [Iron (III), elemental sulfur ($S^0$) and nitrate. PCR amplification was performed to detect archaeal 16S rRNA genes after the cultures were incubated $65^{\circ}C$ and $80^{\circ}C$ for 2 weeks. The cultures showing archaeal growth were transferred using the dilution-to-extinction method. 16S rRNA gene PCR-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis was used to identify the enriched archaea in the highest dilutions where archaeal growth was observed. Most of cultured archaea belonged to genus of Thermococcus (T. alcaliphilius, T. litoralis, T. celer, T. barossii, T. thoreducens, T. coalescens) with 98-99% 16S rRNA gene similarities. Interestingly, archaeal growth was observed in the cultures with Iron (III) and nitrate as an electron acceptor. It was supposed that archaea might use the elemental sulfur generated from oxidation of the reducing agent, sulfide. To cultivate diverse archaea excluding Thermococcus, it would be required to use other reducing agents instead of sulfide.