• Mycobiology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.87-96
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• 2019

Fungi produce various secondary metabolites that have beneficial and harmful effects on other organisms. Those bioactive metabolites have been explored as potential medicinal and antimicrobial resources. However, the activities of the culture filtrate (CF) and metabolites of whiterot fungus (Schizophyllum commune) have been underexplored. In this study, we assayed the antimicrobial activities of CF obtained from white-rot fungus against various plant pathogens and evaluated its efficacy for controlling anthracnose and gray mold in pepper plants. The CF inhibited the mycelial growth of various fungal plant pathogens, but not of bacterial pathogens. Diluted concentrations of CF significantly suppressed the severity of anthracnose and gray mold in pepper fruits. Furthermore, the incidence of anthracnose in field conditions was reduced by treatment with a 12.5% dilution of CF. The active compound responsible for the antifungal and disease control activity was identified and verified as schizostatin. Our results indicate that the CF of white-rot fungus can be used as an eco-friendly natural product against fungal plant pathogens. Moreover, the compound, schizostatin could be used as a biochemical resource or precursor for development as a pesticide. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the control of plant diseases using CF and active compound from white-rot fungus. We discussed the controversial antagonistic activity of schizostatin and believe that the CF of white-rot fungus or its active compound, schizostatin, could be used as a biochemical pesticide against fungal diseases such as anthracnose and gray mold in many vegetables.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.407-417
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• 2021

In order to investigate frequency of fungal contamination in ginseng sprout, we collected 18 types of retail ginseng sprouts and analyzed them. Overall frequency of fungal contamination ranged from 113.3 to 174.1% with the highest occurrence of Penicillium spp. Fungal detection rate was significantly higher in moss than in stem, leaf and root of ginseng sprout. Penicillium spp. occurred in leaf and stem with the highest incidence and Fusarium spp., in root. Among Penicillium spp. and Fusarium spp., P. olsonii and F. oxysporum were dominant, respectively. Nine Fusarium species, Aspergillus westerdijkiae, Aspergillus flavus, and 11 Penicillium species were identified by phylogenetic analysis. PCR screening of mycotoxigenic potential revealed that 19 out of 25 isolates tested were positive for respective mycotoxin biosynthetic gene. Two 2 A. flavus and 11 A. westerdijkiae isolates produced varying amount of aflatoxin or ochratoxin A in czapek yeast extract brothsome of which showed high levels of mycotoxin production. These results suggests a need for continuous monitoring and management program to control fungal contamination in the ginseng sprout production chain.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.78-84
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• 2011

Antagonistic rhizobacteria, more specifically fluorescent pseudomonads and certain species of Bacillus, are known as biocontrol agents of fungal root diseases of agronomic crops. In this study, 144 bacteria were isolated from cucumber rhizosphere and screened as potential biological control agents against Phytophthora drechsleri, the causal agent of cucumber root rot, in vitro condition. Non-volatile compounds of 23 isolates showed noticeable inhibition zone (> 30%) against P. drechsleri, whereas volatile compounds of 7 isolates could prevent more than 30% of the mycelial growth of the fungus. All promising isolates, except of Pseudomonas flourescens V69, promoted significantly plant growth under in vitro condition. P. flourescens CV69 and V11 exhibited the highest colonization on the root. Results of the greenhouse studies showed that a reduction in disease incidence by use of some strains, and particularly use of strains CV6 and V11 as a soil treatment, exhibited a reduction in disease incidence so that suppressed disease by 85.71 and 69.39% respectively. Pseudomonas flourescens CV6 significantly suppressed disease in comparison to Ridomil fungicide. The use of mixture bacterial strains in the soil inoculated by the fungus resulting in falling down the most of the plants which didn't show significant difference with infected control soils without bacteria.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 2023

In the past, rice bakanae was considered an endemic disease that did not cause significant losses in Korea; however, the disease has recently become a serious threat due to climate change, changes in farming practices, and the emergence of fungicide-resistant strains. Since the bakanae outbreak in 2006, its incidence has gradually decreased due to the application of effective control measures such as hot water immersion methods and seed disinfectants. However, in 2013, a marked increase in bakanae incidence was observed, causing problems for rice farmers. Therefore, in this review, we present the potential risks from climate change based on an epidemiological understanding of the pathogen, host plant, and environment, which are the key elements influencing the incidence of bakanae. In addition, disease management options to reduce the disease pressure of bakanae below the economic threshold level are investigated, with a specific focus on resistant varieties, as well as chemical, biological, cultural, and physical control methods. Lastly, as more effective countermeasures to bakanae, we propose an integrated disease management option that combines different control methods, including advanced imaging technologies such as remote sensing. In this review, we revisit and examine bakanae, a traditional seed-borne fungal disease that has not gained considerable attention in the agricultural history of Korea. Based on the understanding of the present significance and anticipated risks of the disease, the findings of this study are expected to provide useful information for the establishment of an effective response strategy to bakanae in the era of climate change.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.335-350
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• 2023

Physoderma fungal species cause faba bean gall (FBG) which devastates faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in the Ethiopian highlands. In three regions (Amahara, Oromia, and Tigray), the relative importance, distribution, intensity, and association with factors affecting FBG damage were assessed for the 2019 (283 fields) and 2020 (716 fields) main cropping seasons. A logistic regression model was used to associate biophysical factors with FBG incidence and severity. Amhara region has the highest prevalence of FBG (95.7%), followed by Tigray (83.3%), and the Oromia region (54%). Maximum FBG incidence (78.1%) and severity (32.8%) were recorded from Amhara and Tigray areas, respectively. The chocolate spot was most prevalent in West Shewa, Finfinne Special Zone, and North Shewa of the Oromia region. Ascochyta blight was found prevalent in North Shewa, West Shewa, Southwest Shewa of Oromia, and the South Gondar of Amhara. Faba bean rust was detected in all zones except for the South Gonder and North Shewa, and root rot disease was detected in all zones except South Gonder, South Wollo, and North Shewa of Amahara. Crop growth stage, cropping system, altitude, weed density, and fungicide, were all found to affect the incidence and severity of the FBG. Podding and maturity stage, mono-cropping, altitude (>2,400), high weed density, and non-fungicide were found associated with increased disease intensities. However, crop rotation, low weed infestation, and fungicide usage were identified as potential management options to reduce FBG disease.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.490-497
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• 2010

A chitinolytic bacterium having a strong antagonistic activity against various pathogens including Phytophtora capsici was isolated from rhizosphere soil, and identified as Lysobacter enzymogenes (named as LE429) based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. This strain produced a number of substances such as chitinase, ${\beta}-1$, 3-glucanase, lipase, protease, gelatinase and an antibiotic compound. This antibiotic compound was purified by diaion HP-20, sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and HPLC. The purified compound was identified as phenylacetic acid by gas chromatography-electron ionization (GC-EI) and gas chromatography-chemical ionization (GC-CI) mass spectrometry. In field experiment, pepper plants were treated by the strain LE429 culture (CB), neem oil solution (NO), combination (CB+NO) or control (CON). Plant height and number of branches, flowers and pods of pepper plant in CB treatment were generally highest, and followed by CB+NO, CON and NO. The fungal pathogens were strongly inhibited, while several insect pests were discovered in CB treatment. Any insect pests were not found, while all fungal pathogens tested were not suppressed in NO treatment. However, in CB+NO treatment, non incidence of fungal pathogens and insect pests were found. The strain LE429 producing secondary metabolites with neem oil should be a potential agent to control fungal diseases and insect pests.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.48-58
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• 2010

In Korea, EBI fungicides which are highly effective for control of pear scab and rust but of high risk for development of resistance have been frequently sprayed by majority of pear growers. To detect any possible resistance or reduced sensitivity in the field strains of scab fungus to five EBIs, difenoconazole, fluquinconazole, flusilazole, fenarimole and hexaconazole, sensitivity tests were conducted with fungal specimens collected in Ulsan and Naju where scab usually occurs and EBIs have been intensively sprayed for many years. As the strains for which $EC_{50}$ values of the EBIs were largely shifted from those of base-line were occasionally found, the resistant or less sensitive strains were supposed to be distributed. In the activity test for the EBIs by artificial inoculation, in which EBI-treated pear leaves on the potted seedlings were inoculated with fungal spores collected in the two regions, development of resistances to EBIs were confirmed. Since the fungal spores collected at 4 and 2 orchards in Naju and Ulsan, respectively, produced much higher disease incidence on the leaves treated with hexaconazole than those on the untreated control, those fungal specimens were determined as resistant to hexaconazole. Similar results were also obtained with two specimens from Ulsan for flusilazole.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.117-125
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• 1998

For isolation of antagonistic fungi antagonistic to Phytophthora capsici, a total of 157 isolates of fungi were screened from soil. Among the 157 isolates further screened by the dual culture test on potato dextrose agar and V-8 juice agar, 16 isolates were tested to show their antagonistic activity against P. capsici and Fusarium oxysporum. Fungal cul-ture filtrates of screened 16 isolates were shown to inhibit germination of zoospoorangia of P. capsici entirely and conidia of F. oxysporum considerably. Antagonistic fungi were shown to suppress of P. capsici infection of red-pepper plants maintained in the green house. Four isolates. 27 J5, 37 J10, 36 J13 and 31 K10, with the reduced disease incidence 53.3∼60.0% were identified as Fusarium sp. (27 J5). Trichoderma sp. (37 J10, 36 J13) and Penicillium sp. (31 K10).

• Plant Disease and Agriculture
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 1995

This study was carried out to select effective fungicides against white and violet root rot caused by Rosellinia necatrix and Helicobasidium mompa with nine fungicides including thiophanate-methyl from 1993 to 1994. Through laboratory, greenhouse and field trials on inhibitory effect of mycelial growth and disease incidence against the two fungal pathogens, 5 fungicides have been selected finally. Thiopanate-methyl, benomyl, iminoctadine-triacetate and isoprothiolane were proven to have high control effect against R. necatrix. In addition to thiopanate-methyl and benomyl, tolclofos-methyl has been selected for effective control of H. mompa, since it showed prominent control effect in field trial than in laboratory or green house test.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2011

Invasive Candida infections (ICI) have become the third most common cause of late-onset infection among premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Risk factors include birth weight less than 1,000 g, exposure to more than two antimicrobials, third generation cephalosporin exposure, parenteral nutrition including lipid emulsion, central venous catheter, and abdominal surgery. Candida colonization of the skin and gastrointestinal tract is an important first step in the pathogenesis of invasive disease. Strict infection control measures against the infection should be done in the NICU. The following practices are likely to contribute to reducing the rate of ICI: (1) restriction of broad-spectrum antibiotics, antacids and steroid; (2) introduction of early feeding and promoting breast milk. Fluconazole prophylaxis may be an effective control measure to prevent Candida colonization and infections in individual units with high incidence of fungal infection. In addition, there is a need of further data including the development of resistant strains and the effect on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants exposed to drugs before the initiation of routine application of antifungal prophylaxis in the NICU.