• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.347-355
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• 2018

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium species is a major disease of wheat and barley around the world. FHB causes yield reductions and contamination of grains with trichothecene mycotoxins including; nivalenol (NIV), deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON), and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON). The objectives of this study were to identify strains of F. graminearum isolated in Korea from 2012-harvested wheat grain and to test the pathogenicity of these NIV- and DON-producing isolates. Three hundred and four samples of wheat grain, harvested in 2012 in Chungnam, Chungbuk, Gyeongnam, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, and Gangwon provinces were collected. We recovered 44 isolates from the 304 samples, based on the PCR amplification of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rRNA region and sequencing. Our findings indicate that F. asiaticum was the predominant (95% of all isolates) species in Korea. We recovered both F. asiaticum and F. graminearum from samples collected in Chungnam province. Of the 44 isolates recovered, 36 isolates had a NIV genotype while 8 isolates belonged to the DON genotype (3-ADON and 15-ADON). In order to characterize the pathogenicity of the strains collected, disease severity was assessed visually on various greenhouse-grown wheat cultivars inoculated using both NIV- and DON-producing isolates. Our results suggest that Korean F. graminearum isolates from wheat belong to F. asiaticum producing NIV, and both F. graminearum and F. asiaticum are not significantly different on virulence in wheat cultivars.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.236-244
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• 2014

The plant pathogen Fusarium graminearum causes Fusarium head blight in cereal crops and produces mycotoxins that are harmful to animals and humans. For the initiation and spread of disease, asexual and sexual reproduction is required. Therefore, studies on fungal reproduction contribute to the development of new methods to control and maintain the fungal population. Screening a previously generated transcription factor mutant collection, we identified one putative $C_2H_2$ zincfinger transcription factor, pcs1, which is required for both sexual and asexual reproduction. Deleting pcs1 in F. graminearum resulted in a dramatic reduction in conidial production and a complete loss of sexual reproduction. The pathways and gene ontology of pcs1-dependent genes from microarray experiments showed that several G-protein related pathways, oxidase activity, ribosome biogenesis, and RNA binding and processing were highly enriched, suggesting that pcs1 is involved in several different biological processes. Further, overexpression of pcs1 increased conidial production and resulted in earlier maturation of ascospores compared to the wild-type strain. Additionally, the vegetative growth of the overexpression mutants was decreased in nutrient-rich conditions but was not different from the wild-type strain in nutrient-poor conditions. Overall, we discovered that the pcs1 transcription factor positively regulates both conidiation and sexual reproduction and confers nutrient condition-dependent vegetative growth.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.145-151
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• 2016

Chemical fungicides have reduced Fusarium head blight (FHB) severity. However, by the effects of fungicide residues, they can only be used up to 30 days before time of harvest. Therefore, the development of new biofungicides that are applicable until harvest is required. In order to select plant extracts having antifungal activity against Fusarium graminearum for the control of FHB, we investigated the inhibitory effects of 225 medicinal plant extracts on spore germination of F. graminearum. Of these plant extracts, the methanol extract of Cirsium japonicum (CJ) roots showed the strongest antifungal activity. Through solvent partitioning, repeated column chromatography, and spore germination bioassay, two chemicals were purified and then their chemical structures were identified as ciryneol C (CC) and 1-heptadecene-11,13-diyne-8,9,10-triol (HD-ol) which are polyacetylene substances. Two active compounds effectively inhibited the germination of F. graminearum macroconidia; HD-ol ($IC_{50}$ of $3.17{\mu}g/ml$) showed stronger spore germination inhibitory activity than that of CC ($IC_{50}$ of $28.14{\mu}g/ml$). In addition, the wettable powder type formulation of ethyl acetate extract of CJ roots suppressed the development of FHB in dose-dependent manner, with control values of 78.92% and 31.56% at 250- and 500-fold dilutions, respectively. Combining these findings suggest that the crude extract of CJ roots containing polyacetylene compounds could be used as botanical fungicide for the control of FHB.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.281-289
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• 2022

Fusarium head blight is an important disease of small grains. It is mainly caused by members of the Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC). Barley and wheat growers spray fungicides, especially demethylation-inhibitor fungicides, to suppress the disease. The objective of this study was to examine the changes in the sensitivity of the FGSC population to the triazole fungicide, propiconazole. A total of 124 and 350 isolates of FGSC were obtained from barley and wheat in Jeolla Province during 2010-2016 and 2020-2021, respectively. The species identity and trichothecene chemotypes of the FGSC isolates were determined based on polymerase chain reaction assays targeting translation elongation factor 1-alpha and TRI12 genes, respectively. Sensitivity to propiconazole was determined based on the effective concentration that reduced 50% of the mycelial growth (EC₅₀) using the agar dilution method. Of all isolates, F. asiaticum with the nivalenol chemotype was the most common (83.9% in 2010-2016 and 96.0% in 2020-2021), followed by F. asiaticum with the 3-acetyl deoxynivalenol chemotype (12.1% in 2010-2016 and 2.9% in 2020-2021). The EC₅₀ values of the isolates collected in 2010-2016 and 2020-2021 ranged from 0.0180 to 11.0166 ㎍/mL and 1.3104 to 17.9587 ㎍/mL, respectively. The mean EC₅₀ value of the isolates increased from 3.8648 ㎍/mL in 2010-2016 to 5.9635 ㎍/mL in 2020-2021. The baseline resistance to propiconazole was determined to be 7 ㎍/mL, based on the EC₅₀ value of isolates collected in 2010-2016, and the ratio of resistant isolates increased from 9.7% in 2010-2016 to 28.6% in 2020-2021.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.464-469
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• 2009

This study was conducted to find out environment-friendly disease control method to Alternaria blight caused by Alternaria panax of ginseng. For this study, 150 methanol extracts from medicinal plants were evaluated and the extract of Impatiens balsamina showed most strong antifungal activity against A. panax. The methanol extract of I. balsamina showed also stable antifungal activity against other ginseng pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium sp., when treated by heat or pH. In vivo, Alternaria blight incidence rate was low of 13% with the treatment of I. balsamina methanol extract compared to 35% of the non-treatment. The antifungal compound of I. balsamina was purified and identified by using a silica gel column chromatography, TLC and ESI-LC/MS/MS analysis. The compound which showed strong antifungal activity was identified as 2-methoxy-1,4-naphtoquinone ($C_{11}H_8O_3$).

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 1994.06a
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• pp.50-61
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• 1994

Biological control of important fungal diseases such as Phytophthora blight of red pepper, gary mold rot of vegetables, and powdery mildew of many crops was attempted using an antagonistic bacterium, Bacillus sp. AC-1 in greenhouses and fields. The antagonistic bacterium isolated from the rhizosphere soils of healthy red pepper plant was very effective in the inhibition of mycelial growth of plant pathogenic fungi in vitro including Phytophthora capsici, Rhizoctonia solani, Pyricularia oryzae, Botrytis cinerea, Valsa mali, Fusarium oxysporum, Pythium ultimum, Alternari mali, Helminthosporium oryzae, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Culture filtrate of antagonistic Bacillus sp. AC-1 applied to pot soils infested with Phytophthora capsici suppressed the disease occurrence better than metalaxyl application did until 37 days after treatment in greenhouse tests. Treatments of the bacterial suspension on red pepper plants also reduced the incidence of Phytophthora blight in greenhouse tests. In farmers' commercial production fields, however, the controlling efficacy of the antagonistic bacteria was variable depending on field locations. Gray mold rot of chinese chives and lettuce caused by Botrytis cinerea was also controlled effectively in field tests by the application of Bacillus sp. AC-1 with control values of 79.7% and 72.8%, respectively. Spraying of the bacterial suspension inhibited development of powdery mildew of many crops such as cucumber, tobacco, melon, and rose effectively in greenhouse and field tests. The control efficacy of the bacterial suspension was almost same as that of Fenarimol used as a chemical standard. Further experiments for developing a commercial product from the antagonistic bacteria and for elucidating antagonistic mechanism against plant pathogenic fungi are in progress.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.491-504
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• 2023

To explore fungal diversity in orchard soil where fire-blighted apple trees are buried, we collected soil samples from apple orchards in Chungju, Korea. Fungal isolates were obtained from DG18 agar and identified at the species level based on morphological features and phylogenetic analyses. The colony characteristics and microstructures were examined using a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope after culturing on potato dextrose agar (PDA), malt extract agar (MEA), Czapek yeast agar (CYA), and oatmeal agar (OA) The PCR-amplified products of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and 28S large subunit of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene, as well as partial sequences of the β-tubulin, calmodulin, and translation elongation factor 1-α genes were sequenced and analyzed phylogenetically. Seven previously unknown fungal species were explored in Korea. All samples, including Aspergillus aureolatus, Botryotrichum atrogriseum, Dactylonectria novozelandica, Fusarium denticulatum, Paecilomyces tabacinus, Sarcopodium tibetense and Talaromyces stollii, had ascomycetes. Herein, we report their descriptions and features.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.85.2-86
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• 2003

Fusarium graminearum is an important pathogen of cereal crops in many areas of the world causing head blight and ear rot of small grains. In addition to serious economic losses, this fungus produces mycotoxins, such as trichothecenes and zearalenone on diseased crops and has been a potential threat to human and animal health. To massively identify pathogenesis-related genes from F. graminearum, two representative strains (SCKO4 from rice and Z03643 from wheat) were mutagenized using restriction enzyme-mediated integration (REMI). In total, 20,DOD REMI transformants have been collected from the two strains. So far, 63 mutants for several traits involved in disease development such as virulence, mycotoxin production, and sporulation have been selected from 3,000 REMI transformants. Now, selected mutants of interest have being genetically analyzed using a newly developed outcross method (See Jungkwan Lee et al poster). In addition, cloning and characterization of genomic DNA regions flanking the insertional site in the genome of the mutants are in progress.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.6-6
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• 2010

Bacteria of the Bacillus sp. are well known to possess antagonistic activity against numerous plant pathogens. In the present study, 11 Bacillus sp. were isolated from the brackish environment and assayed for antagonistic activity under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Among the 11 isolates tested, 9 isolates effectively inhibited the growth of various plant pathogens, namely Phytophthora capsici, Phytophthora citropthora, Phytophthora citricola, Phytophthora sojae, Colletotricum coccodes, Colletotricum gloeosporioides, Colletotricum acutatum, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani, Fusarium graminearum, Pyricularia sp. and Monilina sp. The effective isolates were further screened for Phytophthora blight suppression in Capsicum annuum L. under green house conditions. The isolate SB10 exhibited the maximum (72.2%) reduction in disease severity. The antifungal compounds from the isolate were isolated and characterized. The isolated compounds exhibited high thermo stability ($100^{\circ}C$ for 30 min). Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight investigation of the antifungal compounds revealed three lipopeptide complexes, the surfactins, the iturins, and the fengycins.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.235-241
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• 2003

For the biological control of Phytophthora blight of red-pepper caused by Phytophthora capsici, an antibiotic-producing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) Bacillus sp. KL 39 was selected from a local soil of Kyongbuk, Korea. The strain KL 39 was identified as Bacillus megaterium by various cultural, biochemical test and API and Microlog system. B. megaterium KL 39 could produce the highest antifungal antibiotic after 40 h of incubation under the optimal medium which was 0.4% fructose, 0.3% yeast extract, and 5 mM KCl at 30 C with initial pH 8.0. The antifungal antibiotic KL 39 was purified by Diaion HP-20 column, silica gel column, Sephadex LH-20 column, and HPLC. Its RF value was confirmed 0.32 by thin-layer chromatography with Ethanol:Ammonia:Water = 8:1:1. The crude antibiotic KL39 was active against a broad range of plant pathogenic fungi, Rhizoctonia solani, Pyricularia oryzae, Monilinia fructicola, Botrytis cinenea, Alteranria kikuchiana, Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani. The purified antifungal antibiotic KL39 had a powerful biocontrol activity against red-pepper phytophthora blight disease with in vivo pot test as well as the strain B. megaterium KL 39.