• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.52-59
• /
• 2023

Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV) is a plant virus that causes damage to cucurbit crops such as watermelon and cucumber, and is transmitted by an insect vector known as the whitefly. Since CCYV was first detected on cucumber in Chungbuk in 2018, it has been reported in other areas including Gyeongsang in Korea. In 2020, we performed field surveys of yellowing diseases in the greenhouses growing melon and watermelon in Chungbuk (Jincheon and Eumseong). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of 79 collected samples including melon, watermelon, and weeds resulted in detection of CCYV in 4 samples: Three samples were singly infected with CCYV and one samples was mixed infected with CCYV, Cucurbit aphid borne yellows virus, and Watermelon mosaic virus. The complete genome sequences of the four collected CCYV melon isolates (ES 1-ES 4) were determined and genetically compared with those of previously reported CCYV isolates retrieved from GenBank. Phylogenetic analyses of RNA 1 and 2 sequences revealed that four ES isolates were clustered in one group and closely related to the CCYV isolates from China. The analysis also revealed very low genetic diversity among the CCYV ES isolates. In general, CCYV isolates showed little genetic diversity, regardless of host or geographic origins. CCYV has the potential to pose a serious threat to melon, watermelon, and cucumber production in Korea. Further studies are needed to examine the pathogenicity and transmissibility of CCYV in weeds and other cucurbits including watermelon.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.79-81
• /
• 2023

During the nationwide survey of fire blight, the typical shoot blight symptoms were found on Korean mountain ash (Sorbus alnifolia) which was located near an orchard that produced fire blight on pear trees in Eumseong, Korea, May 2021. To identify the causal agent, we progressed isolation from the symptomatic leaves and shoots. Two white and mucoid colonies were isolated into the pure culture. Two isolates were identified as Erwinia amylovora according to the colony-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with amsB primers and the phylogenetic tree using 16S rRNA sequences. To test of pathogenicity of two isolates, we inoculated immature pear fruits and understock of apple. We observed necrosis and oozes on immature pear fruits and shoot blight resulting in necrosis on apple shoots six days after inoculation. Colonies were recovered from the inoculated pears and apples, and identity was confirmed through colony PCR for amsB genes. To our knowledge, E. amylovora was first reported on Korean mountain ash native to South Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.51-60
• /
• 2023

The foodborne illness is the important public health concerns, and the livestock feces are known to be one of the major reservoirs of foodborne pathogens. Also, it was reported that 45.5% of foodborne illness outbreaks have been associated with the animal products contaminated with the livestock feces. In addition, it has been known that the persistence of a pathogens depends on many potential virulent factors including the various virulent genes. Therefore, the first step to understanding the public health risk of livestock feces is to identify and describe microbial communities and potential virulent genes that contribute to bacterial pathogenicity. We used the whole metagenome shotgun sequencing to evaluate the prevalence of foodborne pathogens and to characterize the virulence associated genes in pig and chicken feces. Our data showed that the relative abundance of potential foodborne pathogens, such as Bacillus cereus was higher in chickens than pigs at the species level while the relative abundance of foodborne pathogens including Campylobacter coli was only detected in pigs. Also, the microbial functional characteristics of livestock feces revealed that the gene families related to "Biofilm formation and quorum sensing" were highly enriched in pigs than chicken. Moreover, the variety of gene families associated with "Resistance to antibiotics and toxic compounds" were detected in both animals. These results will help us to prepare the scientific action plans to improve awareness and understanding of the public health risks of livestock feces.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.118-129
• /
• 2023

Fusarium sambucinum species complex (FSAMSC) is an important taxonomic group, causing severe plant diseases. Many studies were carried out on FSAMSC plant diseases in Korea, but only 2 species (F. graminearum, F. sambucinum) from 14 host plants were registered in the List of Plant Disease in Korea. To clarify FSAMSC diversity and their pathogenecity, we examined FSAMSC isolates preserved in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection. Fifty-seven strains were reidentifed as 7 species (F. asiaticum, F. graminearum, F. vorosii, F. meridionale, F. boothii, F. kyushuense, F. armeniacum) based on multi-locus sequence typing analysis. According to previous reports and result of this study, 5 species (F. asiaticum, F. graminearum, F. vorosii, F. armeniacum, F. sambucinum) were pathogenic on 24 host plants in FSAMSC, while the pathogenicity of 3 species (F. meridionale, F. boothii, F. kyushuense) were not clear.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.361-373
• /
• 2023

In plant-pathogen interactions, Magnaporthe oryzae causes blast disease on more than 50 species of 14 monocot plants, including important crops such as rice, millet, and most 15 recently wheat. M. oryzae is a model fungus for studying plant-microbe interaction, and the main source for fungal pathogenesis in the field. Here we report that MoJMJD6 is required for conidium germination and appressorium formation in M. oryzae. We obtained MoJMJD6 mutants (ΔMojmjd6) using a target gene replacement strategy. The MoJMD6 deletion mutants were delayed for conidium germination, glycogen, and lipid droplets utilization and consequently had decreased virulence. In the ΔMojmjd6 null mutants, global histone methyltransferase modifications (H3K4me3, H3K9me3, H3K27me3, and H3K36me2/3) of the genome were unaffected. Taken together, our results indicated that MoJMJD6 function as a nuclear protein which plays an important role in conidium germination and appressorium formation in the M. oryzae. Our work provides insights into MoJMJD6-mediated regulation in the early stage of pathogenesis in plant fungi.

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.251-261
• /
• 2023

Photobacterium sp. YW2207 was isolated from rainbow trout raised in a fish farm located in Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon Province, South Korea. Based on 16S rRNA sequence analysis and phylogenetic analysis, it was confirmed that Photobacterium sp. YW2207 showed 100% similarity with Photobacterium piscicola and Photobacterium phosphoreum, and 94.6% similarity with P. damselae subsp. damselae. Biochemical analysis revealed that Photobacterium sp. YW2207 is a Gram-negative, motile bacterium with a cell size of 1.5~3×3~5 ㎛. The bacteria were cultured on nutrient agar, brain heart infusion agar, Muller-Hinton agar, tryptic soy agar, and thiosulfate citrate bile sucrose agar with NaCl concentrations ranging from 0 to 2.5%. The API50CHE and API20E tests indicated lower utilization capabilities compared to the P. damselae strains provided in the API database. Furthermore, unlike most Photobacterium species, Photobacterium sp. YW2207 presented negative for catalase test. Results from the flow cytometric measurement indicated that Photobacterium sp. YW2207 exhibited a more diverse distribution of cell sizes and had larger cell sizes compared with P. damselae subsp. damselae. Minimum inhibitory concentration tests showed that Photobacterium sp. YW2207 had low susceptibility to β-Lactam and aminoglycoside antibiotics, while having high susceptibility to tetracycline, doxycycline, and quinolone antibiotics. Pathogenicity on rainbow trout revealed that an immersion of 1×10⁵ CFU/ml did not cause mortality or clinical symptoms.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.20.1-20.15
• /
• 2024

Background: Avian influenza (AI) is a contagious disease that causes illness and death in poultry and humans. High pathogenicity AI (HPAI) H5N6 outbreaks commonly occur in Quang Ninh province bordering China. In June 2021, the first HPAI H5N8 outbreak occurred at a Quang Ninh chicken farm. Objectives: This study examined the risk factors associated with HPAI H5N6 and H5N8 outbreaks in Quang Ninh. Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted in Quang Ninh from Nov 2021 to Jan 2022. The cases were households with susceptible poultry with two or more clinical signs and tested positive by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The controls were households in the same village as the cases but did not show clinical symptoms of the disease. Logistic regression models were constructed to assess the risk factors associated with HPAI outbreaks at the household level. Results: There were 38 cases with H5N6 clade 2.3.4.4h viruses (n = 35) and H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses (n = 3). Compared to the 112 controls, raising poultry in uncovered or partially covered ponds (odds ratio [OR], 7.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44-39.27), poultry traders visiting the farm (OR, 8.66; 95% CI, 2.7-27.69), farms with 50-2,000 birds (OR, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.06-8-51), and farms with ≥ 2,000 birds (OR, 11.35; 95% CI, 3.07-41.94) were significantly associated with HPAI outbreaks. Conclusions: Combining biosecurity measures, such as restricting visitor entry and vaccination in farms with more than 50 birds, can enhance the control and prevention of HPAI in Quang Ninh and its spread across borders.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.181-190
• /
• 2024

Bovine mastitis-associated Escherichia coli (BMEC) is considered the main causative agent of significant financial losses in the dairy industry worldwide, as it alters both the quantity and quality of milk produced and increases the rate of culling. This creates a variety of challenges for researchers, veterinarians, and farmers in understanding and determining the most effective therapies and diagnostic techniques. Subclinical mastitis is particularly concerning, as infected bovines exhibit no obvious symptoms and continue to secrete apparently normal milk over an extended period, allowing the causative pathogen, E. coli, to spread within the herd. For effective prevention, understanding the pathogenesis of mastitis through three stages invasion, infection, and inflammation is essential. To date, no clear correlation has been found between virulence factors and pathogenicity contributing to the clinical severity of BMEC. Multidrug-resistant E. coli and the evolution of novel resistance mechanisms have become concerns owing to the extensive use of antibiotics to treat mastitis. Therefore, it is vital to explore alternative controls to enhance the efficacy of BMEC treatment. Over the past 30 years, various genetic typing techniques have been used to examine the subspecies-level epidemiology of bovine mastitis. These studies have advanced our understanding of the origin, transmission pathway, population structure, and evolutionary relatedness of BMEC strains. In this review we provide an overview of BMEC, including insights into its etiology, genetic relationship, pathogenesis, and management of the disease, as well as new therapy options.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.66-76
• /
• 2014

Resistance of one hundred commercialized cultivars of chili pepper to four isolates of Phytophthora capsici was evaluated under controlled environmental conditions. The cultivars are commercialized as resistant (59%) and susceptible (41%) to Phytophthora blight in Korea. Mean disease severities of the cultivars on P. capsici MY-1, KPC-1, JHAI1-7, and KPC-7 isolates were 37, 55, 60, and 74%, respectively. In addition, 38 for MY-1, 48 for KPC-1, 56 for JHAI1-7, and 76 cultivars for KPC-7 showed susceptibility. To P. capsici MY-1, the weakest pathogenicity isolate among them, 59 cultivars represented high resistance. By contrast, only six cultivars showed high resistance to P. capsici KPC-7, the strongest isolate. Furthermore, resistance of most cultivars except for three cultivars was negatively correlated with the virulence of P. capsici isolates. And isolate-specific resistance of the chili pepper cultivars could not be found. Among them, six cultivars showing resistance to all the tested isolates were selected for further study. The development of Phytophthora blight on the six cultivars according to inoculum density ($5{\times}10^4$ to $1.5{\times}10^6$ sporangia/pot) and incubation temperature (25 to $30^{\circ}C$) after inoculation of P. capsici was tested. Resistance of the cultivars to P. capsici KPC-1 and JHAI1-7, moderately pathogenic isolates, was hardly affected. But to KPC-7 isolate, the highly resistant cultivars showed susceptiblility or moderate resistance when the seedlings were inoculated with inoculum density of $1.5{\times}10^6$ sporangia/pot and incubated at 28 to $30^{\circ}C$. From these results, it is likely that resistance of chili pepper cultivars to Phytophthora blight is affected by the virulence of P. capsici isolate.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.242-252
• /
• 1985

In order to get information on the ecology of rice false smut, germination ability and pathogenicity of sclerotia and chlamydospores of the pathogen, environmental conditions affecting the disease outbreak and varietal resistance have been investigated. 1. The degree of outbreak of rice false smut was higher in the upland rice in comparison with the paddy field rice in respect to the number of affected grains per ear, the size and weight of smut balls formed on affected grains as well as the ratio of sclerotial formation produced on smut balls. 2. Germination percentage and days required for germination of overwintered sclerotia placed on the soil surface in July were 81% and 19 days, respectively, while those of overwintered sclerotia treated in May were 60-70% and 41 days. Sclerotia placed on the soil surface or under 1 cm depth of the soil surface and incubated at $25-30^{\circ}C$ were germinated well, whereas those placed under 3 cm or 5 cm depth of the soil surface were not germinated at all. Germinability and stroma productivity of sclerotia were reduced when the sclerotia were cutted into small pieces. 3. The average number of stroma formed on a sclerotium was six and that of perithecia formed in a stroma was about 50 to 140. 4. Percentage of germination of chlamydospores on the yellow balls was very high and was decreased as the color of the balls being darken with maturation. 5. Panicle of rice plants were successfully infected by injection inoculation with suspention of ascospores and chlamydospores of the pathogen to the sheaths at the booting stages, while seeding infection by spraying with suspensions of chlamydospores was unsuccessful. 6. More number of infected grains was distributed on basal parts of an affected ear than that of infected ones distributed upper parts of the ear, when the affected ear was divided into five parts from its basal portion to the apical of the ear. 7. The occurrence of the disease was more severe in the late maturing varieties of rice in comparison with the early maturing varieties. 8. When the level of nitrogen applied was increased, the incidence of disease increased, and the infection percentage of the disease was increased as the transplanting date was delayed. 9. The weight of panicles and 1000 kernels and the ratio of ripenness were reduced, and the contamination degree of grains with chlamydospores were increased as the number of smut balls per panicle were increased.