• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.572-582
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• 2022

Sheath blight disease caused by the necrotrophic, soilborne pathogen Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn, is the global threat to rice production. Lack of reliable stable resistance sources in rice germplasm pool for sheath blight has made resistance breeding a very difficult task. In the current study, 101 rice landraces were screened against R. solani under artificial epiphytotics and identified six moderately resistant landraces, Jigguvaratiga, Honasu, Jeer Sali, Jeeraga-2, BiliKagga, and Medini Sannabatta with relative lesion height (RLH) range of 21-30%. Landrace Jigguvaratiga with consistent and better level of resistance (21% RLH) than resistant check Tetep (RLH 28%) was used to develop mapping population. DNA markers associated with ShB resistance were identified in F₂ mapping population developed from Jigguvaratiga × BPT5204 (susceptible variety) using bulk segregant analysis. Among 56 parental polymorphic markers, RM5556, RM6208, and RM7 were polymorphic between the bulks. Single marker analysis indicated the significant association of ShB with RM5556 and RM6208 with phenotypic variance (R²) of 28.29 and 20.06%, respectively. Co-segregation analysis confirmed the strong association of RM5556 and RM6208 located on chromosome 8 for ShB trait. This is the first report on association of RM6208 marker for ShB resistance. In silico analysis revealed that RM6208 loci resides the stearoyl ACP desaturases protein, which is involved in defense mechanism against plant pathogens. RM5556 loci resides a protein, with unknown function. The putative candidate genes or quantitative trait locus harbouring at the marker interval of RM5556 and RM6208 can be further used to develop ShB resistant varieties using molecular breeding approaches.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.482-489
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• 2022

Fire blight caused by Erwinia amylovora (Ea) is a devastating disease in apple and pear trees. Oxolinic acid (OA), a quinolone family antibiotic that inhibits DNA gyrase, has been employed to control fire blight in South Korea since 2015. The continuous use of this bactericide has resulted in the emergence of OA-resistant strains in bacterial pathogens in other countries. To investigate the occurrence of OA-resistant Ea strains in South Korea, we collected a total of 516 Ea isolates from diseased apple and pear trees in 2020-2021 and assessed their sensitivities to OA. We found that all isolates were susceptible to OA. To explore the possibility of emerging OA-resistant Ea by continuous application of OA, we exposed Ea stains to a range of OA concentrations and constructed OA-resistant mutant strains. Resistance was associated with mutations in the GyrA at codons 81 and 83, which result in glycine to cysteine and serine to arginine amino acid substitutions, respectively. The in vitro growth of the mutants in nutrient media and their virulence in immature apple fruits were lower than those of wild-type. Our results suggest that OA-resistance decreases the fitness of Ea. Future work should clarify the mechanisms by which OA-resistance decreases virulence of this plant pathogen. Continuous monitoring of OA-resistance in Ea is required to maintain the efficacy of this potent bactericide.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.160-170
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• 2024

Erwinia amylovora is a plant pathogen that causes fire blight on apples and pears. Bacteriophages, which are viruses that selectively infect specific species of bacteria and are harmless to animal cells, have been considered as biological control agents for the prevention of bacterial pathogens. In this study, we aimed to use bacteriophages that infect E. amylovora as biocontrol agents against fire blight. We isolated bacteriophages Fifi044 and Fifi318 infecting E. amylovora, and characterized their morphology, plaque form, and genetic diversity to use as cocktails for disease control. The stabilities of the two phages were investigated at various temperatures and pH values and under sunlight, and long-term storage experiment was conducted for a year. To evaluate whether the two phages were suitable for use in cocktail form, growth curves of E. amylovora were prepared after treating the bacterial cells with single phages and a phage cocktail. In addition, a disease control test was conducted using immature apples and in vitro cultured apple plantlets to determine the biocontrol effects of the phage cocktail. The two phages were morphologically and genetically different, and highly stable up to 50℃ and pH value from 4 to 10. The phages showed synergistic effect when used as a cocktail in the inhibition of host bacterial growth and the disease control. This study demonstrated that the potential of the phage cocktail as a biocontrol agent for commercial use.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.280-289
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• 2015

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an economically important crop in worldwide. While the consumption of the maize is steadily increasing, the yield is decreasing due to continuous mono-cultivation and infection of soil-borne fungal pathogens such as Fusarium species. Recently, stalk rot disease in maize, caused by F. subglutinans and F. temperatum has been reported in Korea. In this study, we isolated bacterial isolates in rhizosphere soil of maize and subsequently tested for antagonistic activities against F. subglutinans and F. temperatum. A total of 1,357 bacterial strains were isolated from rhizosphere. Among them three bacterial isolates (GC02, GC07, GC08) were selected, based on antagonistic effects against Fusarium species. The isolates GC02 and GC07 were most efficient in inhibiting the mycelium growth of the pathogens. The three isolates GC02, GC07 and GC08 were identified as Bacillus methylotrophicus, B. amyloliquefaciens and B. thuringiensis using 16S rRNA sequence analysis, respectively. GC02 and GC07 bacterial suspensions were able to suppress over 80% conidial germination of the pathogens. GC02, GC07 and GC08 were capable of producing large quantities of protease enzymes, whereas the isolates GC07 and GC08 produced cellulase enzymes. The isolates GC02 and GC07 were more efficient in phosphate solubilization and siderophore production than GC08. Analysis of disease suppression revealed that GC07 was most effective in suppressing the disease development of stalk rot. It was also found that B. methylotrophicus GC02 and B. amyloliquefaciens GC07 have an ability to inhibit the growth of other plant pathogenic fungi. This study indicated B. methylotrophicus GC02 and B. amyloliquefaciens GC07 has potential for being used for the development of a biological control agent.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.203-203
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• 2017

The Earth's climate is rapidly changing because of increasing carbon dioxide content in atmosphere so, climate prediction models anticipate that earth surface temperature will rise by 3 to $5^{\circ}C$ in next 50 to 100 years. Therefore, frequency of un-expected weather events such as drought, salinity, low or high temperature and flooding etc. will be increasing worldwide. Furthermore, increased atmosphere temperature can influence pests and pathogens spread as well. Therefore, to protect enormous grain loss from unexpected weather conditions, studies related with combine stress conditions like abiotic plus biotic stress condition are really required. Thus, our research focused on physiological responses under combined abiotic and biotic stress condition in rice plant. To induce uniform stress condition, we used NaCl (100 mM) and salicylic acid (0.5 and 1.0 mM SA) as each stress a stimulator. Each artificial abiotic and biotic stress inducer was applied to hydroponically grown rice seedlings alone or together for four day. The data were collected in a time-dependent manner [1, 2, 3 and 4 day(s) after treatment (DAT)] and were matched with our anticipation that shoot length and shoot fresh weight was decreased in solo and combined abiotic and biotic stress condition. The lipid peroxidation content was significantly increased ($1.5{\pm}0.2$ to $2.7{\pm}0.1mg$ mg of $MDA\;g^{-1}FW$) in the first two days in both stress exposed plants, and showed the opposite trend ($0.5{\pm}0.01$ to $0.1{\pm}0.001mg$ of $MDA\;g^{-1}FW$) in last two days under multi stress condition. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity did not showed difference in only biotic stress condition (alone 0.5 and 1.0 mM SA) as compared to control however, it was significantly increased in multi stress condition or solo abiotic stress condition whereas, catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities were significantly decreased in solo biotic and combined abiotic and biotic condition. In particular, both enzymes activities were more decreased in multi stress condition as compared to solo biotic stress condition. The results for relative mRNA expression level of CAT and APX enzymes were in agreement with results of spectrophotometric values. Correlation value between each stress condition and phenotypic data showed that biotic stress condition showed high correlation with activity of CAT and APX whilst, abiotic stress condition revealed significant correlation with SOD activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1163-1168
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• 2016

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have gained worldwide importance and acceptance due to their agricultural benefits. These microorganisms are potential tools for sustainable agriculture, with effects on plant growth, biofertilization, induced systemic resistance, and biocontrol of plant pathogens. In this study, four different Pantoea species were isolated from field soil, and their plant growth-promoting characteristics were studied. Based on 16S rDNA gene sequencing analyses, the se were grouped into Pantoea ananatis, Pantoea citrea, Pantoea dispersa, Pantoea vagans and named as Pa1, Pc1, Pd1, Pv1, respectively. All of these strains have their ability for solubilization of insoluble phosphate depending on pH decrease at the range around pH 5 at 1days after inoculation and production of plant hormone indole acetic acid (IAA) with 85.3±16.3 μg/ml of Pa1, 183.9±16.8 μg/ml of Pc1, 28.8±17.3 μg/ml of Pd1 and 114.1±16.5 μg/ml of Pv1, respectively. Pa1, Pc1 and Pd1 also have high activity for production of gibberellin (GA₃) hormone with 331.1±19.2 μg/ml of Pa1, 288.5±16.8 μg/ml of Pc1, 309.2±18.2 μg/ml of Pd1, but Pv1 does not. Furthermore, all these species have significantly promoted the growth of the lettuce seedling plants at the range around 32~37% for fresh weight and 10~15% for shoot length enhancement, so that these microbe could be used as a potential bio-fertilizer agents.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2020

Natural killer (NK) cells play have a crucial role in the early phase of immune responses against various pathogens. We compared characteristics of canine NK cells against two canine mammary carcinoma cell lines, REM134 and CF41.Mg. REM134 showed higher expression of progesterone receptor, proliferative cell nuclear antigen, Ki67, multiple drug resistance, Bmi-1, c-myc, E-cadherin, and human epidermal growth factor receptor type-2 than that of CF41.Mg. For specific expansion and activation of NK cells, we isolated CD5 negative cells from canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells and co-cultured K562 cells in the presence of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-15, and IL-21 for 21 days. As a result, we found that expression markers of activated NK cells such as NKp30, NKp44, NKp46, NKG2D, CD244, perforin, granzyme B, and tumor necrosis factor alpha were highly upregulated. In addition, we found there was upregulated production of interferon gamma of activated NK cells against target cells such as REM134 and CF41.Mg. Specifically, we observed that cytotoxicity of NK cells against target cells was more sensitively reacted to CF41.Mg than REM134. Based on the results of this study, we recommend the development of an experimental application of CF41Mg, which has not been reported in canine mammary carcinoma research.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.1254-1260
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• 2010

Microorganisms near the plant rhizosphere usually inhabit the surface or the inside of the plant roots and have a direct effect on plant growth by secreting plant growth promoters or antagonistic materials which protect the root zone system from various pathogens. This study was carried out to identify and isolate the antagonistic materials after isolation of microorganisms showing high antagonistic activities, in hopes of contributing to the development of sustainable agriculture and the preservation of agricultural environments. A number of antagonistic bacteria were isolated from paddy soil. Among isolates, RRj 228 showed plant growth promotion and antagonistic activity. RRj 228 was identified as Pseudomonas sp. according to the results of physiological properties and genetic methods. On the basis of the results of anti-fungal spectrum against several pathogens by RRj 228, the antagonistic effect of the isolate against Botrytis cinerea, Pythium ultimum, Phytopthola capsici, and Rhizoctonia solani, especially against red-pepper anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum acutatum, was remarkable. The experiment evaluating the biological control effect by RRj 228 revealed that the $ED_{50}$ value by the RRj 228 culture against C. acutatum, R. solani and P. ultimum were 0.14 mg/ml, 0.16 mg/ml and 0.29 mg/ml, respectively. An antagonistic substance was isolated and purified by several chromatographies from the RRj 228 culture. The $^1H$ and $^{13}C$ assignment of the antagonistic substance was achieved from two-dimensional $^1H-^1H$ COSY, HMQC, and HMBC. Finally, the antagonistic substance was identified as Phenazine-1-carboxylic acid ($C_{13}H_8N_2O_2$, M.W.=224).

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.355-362
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• 2017

The 4 viruses, the Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV), Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV), and Apple mosaic virus (ApMV) and 1 viroid, Apple scar skin viroid (ASSVd) are known major viral pathogens of apple trees in Korea. Infection degree of the 5 viral pathogens in the commercial nursery trees of major apple cultivars, 'Hongro', 'Fuji' and bud mutation of 'Fuji' was investigated. Infection ratio of the ACLSV, ASPV and ASGV for scion of an apple cultivar 'Hongro' were 100%, 81.3% and 100%, respectively. On the other hand, no infection for either ApMV and ASSVd detected. For the root stock of the cultivar, infection ratio of ACLSV, ASPV and ASGV showed 87.5%, 81.3% and 100% as well as ApMV and ASSVd were 12.5% and 6.3%, respectively. From the scion of apple cultivars 'Fuji' and bud mutation of 'Fuji', infection ratio of ACLSV, ASPV and ASGV showed 86.7%, 86.7% and 100%, respectively. Whereas, no infection for either ApMV or ASSVd detected. From the root stock of the cultivars, infection ratio of ACLSV, ASPV and ASGV showed 86.7%, 93.3% and 93.3% as well as ApMV and ASSVd were 12.5% and 6.3%, respectively. Result of our study indicates that most of commercial nursery apple trees were supplied with multiple infections by apple viruses causing potential losses for apple growers and, henceforth, agricultural policy for supply of the virus-free trees should be employed as soon as possible.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.155-161
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• 2002

Using semi-selective (SS-) and selective (Jee-) medium, we identified the pathogens isolated from the symptomatic plants and soils collected from different locations, such as Suwon, Andong, and Youngju, as P. drechsleri, which is Phytophthora root rot causal agent of A. macrocephala. At $25^{\circ}C$, these isolates were grown faster on 10% V8A (V8 juice agar) medium than on PDA (potato dextrose agar) with hyphal swelling, but no growing was observed at below $5^{\circ}C$ and over $40^{\circ}C$. In order to identify the pathogenicity of each isolate, seedlings of A. macrocephala were inoculated with mycelium -zoospore suspended inoculum, which was prepared by culturing on 10% V8A medium and homogenizing in distilled water. By this method, wide ranges of pathogenicity were observed as follows; $5.0%{\sim}26.4%$ of disease severities concerning the lesion areas of the top plants and $23.5%{\sim}72.2%$ of disease incidences. Therefore, this was considered as a efficient method to identify the pathogenicity of P. drechsleri in large scale screening. P-A200073, isolated from soils in Andong, and P-9755, from the root of symptomatic plant of A. macrocephala in Suwon, showed the highest degree of pathogenicity to the seedlings. By these isolates, lesion areas and disease incidences of the inoculated seedlings were occurred $26.4%{\sim}63.2%$ and $25.1%{\sim}72.2%$, respectively. However, no symptoms were observed in uninoculated control. Same pathogens were reisolated from roots and lower stems of the inoculated plants, but not from leaves.