• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.259-268
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• 2023

Rhodococcus sp. 3-2 strain has been reported to degrade benzimidazole-based pesticides, such as benomyl and carbendazim. Therefore, this study aimed to optimize culture medium composition and culture conditions to achieve cost-effective and efficient large-scale production of the Rhodococcus sp. 3-2 strain. The study identified that the optimal media composition for mass culture comprised 0.5% glucose, 0.5% yeast extract, 0.15% NaCl, 0.5% K₂HPO₄, 0.5% sodium succinate, and 0.1% MgSO₄. Additionally, a microbial agent was developed using a 1.5-ton fermenter, with skim milk (20%), monosodium glutamate (15%), and vitamin C (2%) as key components. The storage stability of the microbial agent has been confirmed, with advantages of low temperature conservation, which helps to sustain efficacy for at least six months. We also assessed the benomyl degradation activity of the microbial agent within field soil. The results revealed an over 90% degradation rate when the concentration of viable cells exceeded 2.65 × 10⁶ CFU/g after a minimum of five weeks had elapsed. Based on these findings, Rhodococcus sp. 3-2 strain can be considered a cost-effective microbial agent with diverse agricultural applications.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.107-125
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• 2024

Three types of veterinary antibiotics, including oxytetracycline (OTC) and chlortetracycline (CTC) of tetracycline class and amoxicillin (AMX) of penicilline class, were artificially introduced into the irrigation water. The residue of veterinary antibiotics in the soil, the absorption-translocation of veterinary antibiotics into the red lettuce and young radish plant, and crops yield were investigated according to the agricultural water irrigation method (surface drip irrigation, underground drip irrigation, and sprinkler irrigation). There was no significant difference in the residue and translocation of veterinary antibiotics in the soils and crops according to the irrigation method and type of veterinary antibiotics (p>0.05). For the edible parts of red lettuce and young radish, all three types of veterinary antibiotics were found to be below the detection limit, indicating that the safety of the crops was secured. The translocation factor of red lettuce and young radish were found to be less than 0.3 and 0.2, respectively. However, continuous introduction of veterinary antibiotics in agricultural arable lands may have negative effects by affecting soil microbial activity and soil microbe species diversity, so continuous management is deemed necessary.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.536-543
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• 2007

This research was conducted every month from June 1994 until August 1996 with the aim to understand the ecosystem structure through the analysis of oribatid mite community structure in soil subsequent to environmental difference of its habitats located at northward & southward slopes adjacent to each other at an altitude of 1,000 meters of Mt.Jumbong, which is a natural reserved forest, remaining intact. There appeared a significant difference [t-test, p<0.06] in comparison of the number of the species and individuals of Oribatid mite species which were collected and identified at two survey areas. The mean density and the number of the species collected and identified at the northward slopes, and southward slopes were $99.2{\pm}17.6,\;234.2{\pm}62.6$ and $24.7{\pm}3.0,\;40.8{\pm}5.8$, respectively. Species diversity index(H') was higher at the southward slopes($3.09{\pm}0.11$) than at the northward slopes($2.71{\pm}0.13$). The population size of Oribatid mite species was found by the percentage of each species density as against the whole density and classified into dominant species, influent species, and recessive species according to the percentage; as a result, O. nova and Suctobelbella naginata was found to be a dominant species at both survey slopes while Trichogalumna nipponica was found to be a dominant species, at southward but it wasn't collected at the northward slopes at all. The feeding habit of the dominant species at two survey slopes was found to be microphytophagous- eating soil microbe. There appeared a conspicuous difference in compositions of the number of the species, individuals and dominant species at the southward/northward slopes adjoining each other at an attitude of 1,000 meters and less similarity between the two survey slopes. Conclusively, It was found that the heterogeneity of microhabitat has a great effect on Oribatid mite's community characteristics.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.38-46
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• 2013

With increasing environmental issues from synthetic chemical herbicides, microbe-originated herbicides could be a fascinating alternative in current agriculture. We isolated Streptomyces strains that produced herbicidal active metabolite(s) against a grass weed Digitaria sanguinalis. According to the result from 16S rDNA sequence comparison with the close strains, the best isolate (Code name MS-80673) was identified as Streptomyces scopuliridis KR-001. The closest type strain was Streptomyces scopuliridis RB72 which was previously reported as a bacteriocin producer. The optimal culture condition of S. scopuliridis KR-001 was $28^{\circ}C$, pH 7.0 and culture period 4 to7 days. Both of soil and foliar application of the crude culture broth concentrate was effective on several troublesome or noxious weed species such as a Sciyos angulatus in a greenhouse and field condition. Phytotoxic symptoms of the culture broth concentrate of S. scopuliridis KR-001 by foliar application were wilting and burndown of leaves, and stems followed by discoloration and finally plant death. In crops such as rice, wheat, barley, hot pepper and tomato, growth inhibition was observed. These results suggest that the new S. scopuliridis KR-001 strain producing herbicidal metabolites may be a new bio-herbicide candidate and/or may provide a new lead molecule for a more efficient herbicide.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.866-877
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to develop a new functional traditional fermented soybean food using Cudrania tricuspidata fruits and fermentation microbes isolated from traditional fermented food. Aspergillus oryzae koji, Lactobacillus sp., and Bacillus sp. were used for the selection of a suitable microbe for the fermentation of Cudrania tricuspidata fruits, and as a result, Bacillus licheniformis SCDB 1234 was selected. SCDB 1234 enhanced the concentration of kaempferol in the Cudrania tricuspidata fruits from 9.54 to $217.04{\mu}g/g$ (about 22 times). The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the fermented materials was similar to that of BHA and BHT (92~99 ppm). The tyrosinase inhibitory activity was high with arbutin (95 ppm) and kojic acid (90 ppm). Doenjang-added fermentation materials of the Cudrania tricuspidata fruits were developed, and the organic acid, reducing sugar, and free amino acid of the developed Doenjang were analyzed. The pancreatic lipase inhibitory (PLI) activity and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory (AGI) activity of the fermentation materials of the Cudrania tricuspidata fruits and the developed Doenjang were investigated, and it was found that after fermentation, the PLI and AGI activities of the fermentation materials of the Cudrania tricuspidata fruits were higher than those before fermentation, and that the AGI activity of the developed Doenjang after aging ($91.25{\pm}0.04%$) was higher than that before aging ($84.89{\pm}0.08%$).

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.208-217
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• 2016

Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc. (P. densiflora) contains several phenolic compounds that exhibit biological activities, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antihypertensive effects. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of P. densiflora on skin has rarely been reported. Malassezia furfur (M. furfur) is a commensal microbe that induces skin inflammation and is associated with several chronic disorders, such as dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, papillomatosis, and sepsis. The aim of our study was to identify the anti-inflammatory effects of P. densiflora needle extracts on skin health subjected to M. furfur-induced inflammation. The methanolic extract of the pine needles was partitioned into n-hexane, EtOAc, n-BuOH, and water layers. We measured the anti-inflammatory effects (in macrophages) as well as the antioxidant, antifungal, and tyrosinase inhibitory activity of each of these layers. The antioxidant activity of the individual layers was in the order EtOAc layer > n-BuOH layer > water layer. Only the n-BuOH, EtOAc, and n-hexane layers showed antifungal activity. Additionally, all the layers possessed tyrosinase inhibition activity similar to that of ascorbic acid, which is used as a commercial control. The EtOAc layer was not cytotoxic toward the RAW 264.7 cell line. Interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression levels in M. furfur-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells treated with the EtOAc layer were decreased markedly compared to those in cells treated with the other layers. Taken together, we believe that the needle extracts of P. densiflora have potential application as alternative anti-inflammatory agents or cosmetic material for skin health improvement.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.399-404
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and fermentation methods (C-I; fermented for 5 days at 1$0^{\circ}C$ after 2$0^{\circ}C$ fermentation for 2 days, C-II; fermented for 7 days at 1$0^{\circ}C$, M-I; kimchi with MSG fermented for 5 days at 1$0^{\circ}C$ after 2$0^{\circ}C$ fermentation for 2 days, M-II; kimchi with MSG fermented for 7 days at 1$0^{\circ}C$ on fermentation and free amino acid content. Fermentation of M-I and M-II was slightly delayed compared to C-I and C-II. Total microbe of C-I and C-IIwere lower than those of M-I and M-II, and lactic acid bacteria of C-I and C-II were lower than those of M-I and M-II respectively. The major free amino acids were alanine, asparagine, homocystine and valine in C-I, especially, glutamic acid and ornithine were high in C-II. Homocystine, alanine, asparagine and valine in M-I, glutamic acid, alanine, hydroxyproline, asparagine, homocystine, ornithine and valine were the major free amino acid in M-II, respectively. The sour taste of M-I and M-II was lower than those of C-I and C-II, respectively, and the effect of delaying fermentation at 1$0^{\circ}C$ did not showed in the C-I and M-I. The crispy taste of the M-I and M-II was higher than those of C-I and C-II, which was the opposite results of sour taste. Palatable and overall taste of M-I and M-II were higher than those of C-I and C-II, respectively These results suggest that the MSG in kimchi affect not only increment of free amino acid content but also shelf-life and taste improvement, and continuous fermentation at 1$0^{\circ}C$ also enhance the content of free amino acid and shelf-life of kimchi.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.833-847
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• 2016

Drought stress is a major agricultural limitation to crop productivity worldwide, especially by which leafy vegetables, plant leaves eaten as vegetable, could be more lethal. The study was carried out to know the effect of drought tolerance plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) on water stress of kale seedlings. A total of 146 morphologically distinct bacterial colonies were isolated from bulk soil and rhizosphere soil of leafy vegetables and screened for plant growth promoting microbioassay in greenhouse. Out of them the isolate SB19 significantly promoted the growth of kale seedlings in increasement of about 42% of plant height (14.1 cm), 148% of leaf area ($19.0cm^2$) and 138% of shoot fresh weight (1662.5 mg) attained by the bacterially treated plants compared to distilled water treated control (9.9 cm, $7.7cm^2$, 698.8 mg). Shoot water content of SB19 treated kale seedlings (1393.8 mg) was also increased about 152% compared with control (552.5 mg). The SB19 isolated from bulk soil of kale plant in Iksan, Korea, was identified as species of Bacillus based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. We evaluated the effect of drought tolerance by the Bacillus sp. SB19 on kale seedlings at 7th and 14th days following the onset of the water stress and watering was only at 7th day in the middle of test. In the survey of 7th and 14th day, there were mitigation effect of drought stress in kale seedlings treated with $10^6$ and $10^7cell\;mL^{-1}$ of SB19 compared to distilled water treated control. Especially, there were more effective mitigation of drought damage in kale seedlings treated with $10^7cell\;mL^{-1}$ than $10^6cell\;mL^{-1}$. Further, although drought injury of bacterially treated kale seedlings were not improved at 14th day compared with 7th day, drought injury of $10^7cell\;mL^{-1}$ of SB19 treated kale seedlings were not happen rapidly but developed over a longer period of time than $10^6cell\;mL^{-1}$ of SB19 or control. The diffidence of results might be caused by the concentration of bacterial suspension. This study suggests that beneficial plant-microbe interaction could be a important role of enhancement of water availability and also provide a good method for improving quality of leafy vegetables under water stress conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.885-891
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• 2011

We conducted this study to determine the optimum dose of gamma irradiation needed for the sterilization of milk porridge for patients. Milk porridge, known as Tarakjuk, was irradiated with gamma ray at doses of 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, or 10 kGy. The microbial contamination, $D_{10}$ values of isolated microbe spores, color, and viscosity were measured during storage at $35^{\circ}C$. The initial count of total aerobic bacteria was 2.60 log CFU/g in the non-irradiated milk porridge, but coliforms, spore-forming bacteria, yeast, and molds were not detected. The total counts of aerobic and spore-forming bacteria in the non-irradiated and 1 kGy irradiated milk porridge increased with storage period. These microbes were not detected in the milk porridge irradiated with 10 kGy. The $D_{10}$ values of isolated spores from milk porridge were 2.71 kGy (in milk porridge) and 2.21 kGy (in saline solution). All CIE color increased with gamma irradiation, but the sensory value of color did not significantly change. The viscosity of the milk porridge decreased with gamma irradiation and storage period, and the decrease in viscosity with storage period became smaller as the radiation doses increased. Sensory evaluation scores of the milk porridge were above normal (4.0) when irradiated with less than 5 kGy. These results indicate that gamma irradiation could be beneficial for preparing food with higher nutrient density and lower viscosity, especially for gastric tube-fed patients.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.45-72
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• 2005

C. neoformans-associated cryptococcosis is primarily a disease of immunocompromised persons, has a world-wide distribution, and is often spread by pigeons in the urban environment. In contrast, C. gattii causes infection in normal hosts, has only been described in tropical and semi-tropical areas of the world, and has a unique niche in river gum Eucalyptus trees. Cryptococcosis is acquired through inhalation of the yeast propagules from the environment. C. gattii has been identified as the cause of an emerging infectious disease centered on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. No cases of C. gattii-disease were diagnosed prior to 1999; the current incidence rate is 36 cases per million population. A search was initiated in 2001 to find the ecological niche of this basidiomycetous yeast. C. gaftii was found in the environment in treed areas of Vancouver Island. The highest percentage of colonized-tree clusters were found around central Vancouver Island, with decreasing rates of colonization to the north and south. Climate, soil and vegetation cover of this area, called the Coastal Douglas fir biogeoclimatic zone, is unique to British Columbia and Canada. The concentration of airborne C. gattii was highest in the dry summer months, and lowest during late fall, winter, and early spring, months which have heavy rainfall. The study of the emerging colonization of this organism and subsequent cases of environmentally acquired disease will be informative in planning public health management of new routes of exposure to exotic agents in areas impacted by changing climate and land use patterns. Cryptococcosis is an infection associated with an encapsulated, basidiomycetous yeast Cryptococcus neoformans. The route of entry for this organism is through the lungs, with possible systemic spread via the circulatory system to the brain and meninges. There are four cryptococcal serogroups associated with disease in humans and animals, distinguished by capsular polysaccharide antigens. Cryptococcus neoformans: variety grubii (serotype A), variety neoformans (serotype D), and variety gattii (serotypes B and C) (Franzot et at. 1999). C. neoformans variety gattii has recently been elevated to species status, C. gattii. C. neoformans val. grubii and var. neoformans have a world-wide distribution, and are particularly associated with soil and weathered bird droppings. In contrast, C. gattii (CG) is not associated with bird excrement, is primarily found in tropical and subtropical climates, and has a restricted environmental niche associated with specific tree species. (Ellis & Pfiffer 1990) Ellis and Pfeiffer theorize that, as a basidiomycete, CG requires an association with a tree in order to become pathogenic to mammals. In Australia, CG has been found to be associated with five species of Eucalypts, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. tereticornis, E. blakelyi, E. gomphocephala, and E. rudis. Eucalypts, although originally native to Australia, now have a world-wide distribution. CG has been found associated with imported eucalypts in India, California, Brazil, and Egypt. In addition, in Brazil and Columbia, where eucalypts have been naturalized, native trees have been shown to harbour CG (Callejas et al. 1998; Montenegro et al. 2000). In British Columbia, Canada, since the beginning of 1999, there have been 120 confirmed cases of cryptococcal mycoses associated with CG in humans, including 4 fatalities (data from British Columbia Centre for Disease Control), and over 200 cases in animal pets in BC (data from Central Laboratory for Veterinarians). What is remarkable about the BC outbreak of C. gattii-cryptococcosis is that all of the cases have been residents of, or visitors to, a narrow area along the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, BC, from the tip of the island in the south (Victoria) to Courtenay on the north-central island as illustrated in Figure 1. Of the first 38 human cases, 58% were male with a mean age of 59.7 years (range 20 - 82): 36 cases (95%) were Caucasian. Ten cases (26%) presented with meningitis, the remainder presented with respiratory symptoms. Cultures recovered from cases of cryptococcosis associated with the outbreak were typed as serogroup B, which is specific to CG (Bartlett et al. 2003). This was the first reported outbreak of CVG in Canada, or indeed, the world. Where infection with CG is endemic, for example, Australia, the incidence of cryptococcosis ranges from 1.8 - 4.7 per million between the southern and northern states (Sorrell 2001). However, the overall incidence of cryptococcosis in immunocompenent individuals has been estimated at 0.2 per million population per year (Kwon-Chung et al. 1984). The population of Vancouver Island is approximately 720,000,consequently, even if the organism were endemic, one would expect a maximum of 0.15 cases of cryptococcal disease annually.