• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.771-780
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• 2018

To develope a microbial weed control agent, HCN-producing bacteria were isolated, and their characteristics were investigated. A selected strain of WA15 was identified as Pseudomonas koreensis by morphological, cultural, biochemical and 16S rRNA gene analyses. The conditions for HCN production was investigated by a One-Variable-at-a-Time (OVT) method. The optimal HCN production conditions were tryptone 1%, glycine 0.06%, NaCl 1%, and an initial pH and temperature of 5.0 and $30^{\circ}C$, respectively. The major component for HCN production was glycine. Under optimal conditions, HCN production was about 3 times higher than that of the basal medium. The WA15 strain had physiological activities, such as indoleacetic acid that was associated with the elongation of plant roots and siderophore and ammonification inhibiting fungal growth, and produced hydrolytic enzymes, such as cellulase, pectinase and lipase. The strain was able to inhibit the growth of phytopathogenic fungi, such as Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium oxysporum, by the synergistic action of volatile HCN and diffusible antimicrobial compounds. A microscopic observation of R. solani that was teated with the WA15 strain showed morphological abnormalities of fungal mycelia, which could explain the role of the antimicrobial metabolites that were produced by the WA15 strain. The volatile HCN produced by the WA15 strain was also found to have insecticidal activity against termites. Our results indicate that Pseudomonas koreensis WA15 can be applied as a microbial agent for weed control and also as a termite repellent. Furthermore, it could be applied as a microbial termiticidal agent to replace synthetic insecticides.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.182-192
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• 2013

Numerous root-associated bacteria (rhizobacteria) are known to elicit induced systemic resistance (ISR) in plants. Bacterial cell-density-dependent quorum sensing (QS) is thought to be important for ISR. Here, we investigated the role of QS in the ISR elicited by the rhizobacterium, Serratia marcescens strain 90-166, in tobacco. Since S. marcescens 90-166 produces at least three QS signals, QS-mediated ISR in strain 90-166 has been difficult to understand. Therefore, we investigated the ISR capacity of two transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants that contained either bacterial acylhomoserine lactone-producing (AHL) or -degrading (AiiA) genes in conjunction with S. marcescens 90-166 to induce resistance against bacterial and viral pathogens. Root application of S. marcescens 90-166 increased ISR to the bacterial pathogens, Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci, in AHL plants and decreased ISR in AiiA plants. In contrast, ISR to Cucumber mosaic virus was reduced in AHL plants treated with S. marcescens 90-166 but enhanced in AiiA plants. Taken together, these data indicate that QS-dependent ISR is elicited by S. marcescens 90-166 in a pathogen-dependent manner. This study provides insight into QS-dependent ISR in tobacco elicited by S. marcescens 90-166.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.279-284
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• 2007

Two bacterial strains isolated from soil (Bacillus subtilis strains: PS2 and RFO41) were evaluated to determine their promoting effect on the growth of tomato seedling under axonic and pot conditions. The production of phytohormone, such as indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-butyric acid, gibberellin and zeatin by these two strains was investigated as possible mechanisms for plant growth stimulation. Both PS2 and RFO41 were shown to produce various phytohormones, and. the production of phytohormones was stimulated by the addition of peptone-rich brain heart broth medium. In addition, these bacteria exhibited high levels of phosphatase activity, which ranged from 2.18 to $2.7\;{\mu}\;{\rho}-nitrophenol/ml/hr$. PS2 and RFO41 were applied to the pot test for growth of tomato seed with phosphate. Root and shoot lengths of germinated tomato after 15 days were 45.5% and 36.5% longer than that of control in RFO41 treated samples, respectively. Baciller sp. PS2 and RFO41 may have a potential for biofertilizer in the agriculture.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1307-1314
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• 2010

This study was conducted to isolate and characterize a novel feather-degrading bacterium producing keratinase activity. A strain K9 was isolated from soil at poultry farm and identified as Xanthomonas sp. K9 by phenotypic characters and 16S rRNA gene analysis. The cultural conditions for the keratinase production were 0.3% fructose, 0.1% gelatin, 0.04% $K_2HPO_4$, 0.06% $KH_2PO_4$, 0.05% NaCl and 0.01% $FeSO_4$ with an initial pH 8.0 at $30^{\circ}C$ and 200 rpm. In an optimized medium containing 0.1% chicken feather, production yield of keratinase was approximately 8-fold higher than the yield in basal medium. The strain K9 effectively degraded chicken feather meal (67%) and duck feather (54%), whereas human nail and human hair showed relatively low degradation rates (13-22%). Total free amino acid concentration in the cell-free supernatant was about 25.799 mg/l. Feather hydrolysate produced by the strain K9 stimulated growth of red pepper, indicating Xanthomonas sp. K9 could be not only used to increase the nutritional value of chicken feather but also a potential candidate for the development of natural fertilizer applicable to crop plant soil.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.268-275
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• 2008

In order to develop the multi-functional rhizobacteria that can exert positive effect on the growth of plants growing in the coastal sand dune located along East Coast of Korea, rhizospheral bacteria of 11 different plants from this area were isolated 1,330 rhizobacteria. Among these, 23 strains were able to produce auxin and had spectrum of antagonism toward various phytopathogenic microbes. To know the mechanism of this antifungal activity, these 23 strains were subjected to further analyses; 19 strains of these produced siderophore as determined by color reaction on CAS-blue plate, 4 strains produced antifungal cellulase as judged by color change on CMC-Congo red plate, 17 strains were able to utilized insoluble phosphate salts, also determined by clear zone formation on PVK medium. Identification of the strain was assigned to all 23 strains by l6s rDNA sequence analysed, and all were identified to be in the genus of Bacillus and Pseudomonas. One strain of these, denoted Pseudomonas fluorescens IB4-14, showed ACC deaminase activity which is known to be involved in the resistance of environmental stress such as salt and drought. Also, P. fluorescens IB4-l4 showed the germination stimulation and roots growth promoting activity on the in vivo assay of Lysimachia mauritiana Lam. (spoonleaf yellow loosestrife).

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.190-196
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• 2012

In this study, a total of more than 1,000 bacteria, including 739 species of aerobic bacteria, 80 species of urease producing bacteria and 303 species of photosynthetic bacteria, were isolated from red-pepper field soils located in the Gyeongsan Province of the Republic of Korea. Amongst these, 158 species of aerobic bacteria, 70 species of urease producing bacteria and 228 species of photosynthetic bacteria were found to be auxin producing soil bacteria through quantification analysis with the Salkowski test. The latter groupings were then tested for antifungal activities to ${\beta}$-Glucanase and siderophore using CMC congo red agar and CAS blue agar media. In addition, the selected strains were examined for antifungal activity against various phytopathogenic fungi on PDN agar media. Six strains; BCB14, BCB17, C10, HA46, HA143, and HJ5, were noted for their ability to both produce auxin and act as antifungal substances. 16S rDNA sequence comparison analyses of these six strains identified them as Bacillus subtilis BCB14, B. methylotrophicus BCB17, B. methylotrophicus C10, B. sonorensis HA46, B. subtilis HA143, and B. safensis HJ5.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.885-893
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• 2001

This review summarizes some recent research into ways of improving the productivity of ruminal fermentation by increasing protein flow from the rumen and decreasing the breakdown of protein that results from the action of ruminal microorganisms. Proteinases derived from the plant seem to be of importance to the overall process of proteolysis in grazing animals. Thus, altering the expression of proteinases in grasses may be a way of improving their nutritive value for ruminants. Inhibiting rumen microbial activity in ammonia formation remains an important objective: new ways of inhibiting peptide and amino acid breakdown are described. Rumen protozoa cause much of the bacterial protein turnover which occurs in the rumen. The major impact of defaunation on N recycling in the sheep rumen is described. Alternatively, if the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis can be increased by judicious addition of certain individual amino acids, protein flow from ruminal fermentation may be increased. Proline may be a key amino acid for non-cellulolytic bacteria, while phenylalanine is important for cellulolytic species. Inhibiting rumen wall tissue breakdown appears to be an important mechanism by which the antibiotic, flavomycin, improves N retention in ruminants. A role for Fusobacterium necrophorum seems likely, and alternative methods for its regulation are required, since growth-promoting antibiotics will soon be banned in many countries.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.332-345
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• 2002

It is a recent observation that about 80 per cent of the body's immune system is localized in the gastrointestinal tract. This explains to a large extent why eating right is important for the modulation the immune response and prevention of disease. In addition it is increasingly recognized that the body has an important digestive system also in the lower gastrointestinal tract where numerous important substances are released by microbial enzymes and absorbed. Among these substances are short chain fatty acids, amino acids, various carbohydrates, poly-amines, growth factors, coagulation factors, and many thousands of antioxidants, not only traditional vitamins but numerous flavonoids, carotenoids and similar plant- and vegetable produced antioxidants. Also consumption of health-promoting bacteria (probiotics) and vegetable fibres (prebiotics) from numerous sources are known to have strong health-promoting influence. It has been calculated that the intestine harbours about 300,000 genes, which is much more than the calculated about 60,000 for the rest of the human body, indicating a till today totally unexpected metabolic activity in this part of the GI tract. There are seemingly several times more active enzymes in the intestine than in the rest of the body, ready to release hundred thousand or more of substances important for our health and well-being. In addition do the microbial cells produce signal molecules similar to cytokines but called bacteriokines and nitric oxide, with provide modulatory effects both on the mucosal cells, the mucosa- associated lymphoid system (MALT) and the rest of the immune system. Identification of various fermentation products, and often referred to as synbiotics, studies of their role in maintaining health and well-being should be a priority issue during the years to come.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition Conference
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• 2001.12a
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• pp.187-231
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• 2001

It is a recent observation that about 80 per cent of the body's immune system is localized in the gastrointestinal tract. This explains to a large extent why eating right is important for the modulation the immune response and prevention of disease. I addition it is increasingly recognized that the body has an important digestive system also in the lower gastrointestinal tract where numerous important substances are released by microbial enzymes and absorbed. Among these substances are short chain fatty acids, amino acids, various carbohydrates, polyamines, growth factors, coagulation factors, and many thousands of antioxidants, not only traditional vitamins but numerous flavonoids, carotenoids and similar plant- and vegetable produced antioxidants. Also consumption of health-promoting bacteria (probiotics) and vegetable fibres (prebiotics) from numerous sources are known to have strong health-promoting influence. It has been calculated that the intestine harbours about 300 000 genes, which is much more than the calculated about 60000 for the rest of the human body, indicating a till today totally unexpected metabolic activity in this part of the GI tract. There are seemingly several times more active enzymes in the intestine than in the rest of the body, ready to release hundred thousand or more of substances important for our health and well-being. In addition do the microbial cells produce signal molecules similar to cytokines but called bacteriokines and nitric oxide, with provide modulatory effects both on the mucosal cells, the mucosa-associated lymphoid system (MALT) and the rest of the immune system. Identification of various fermentation products, and often referred to as synbiotics, studies of their role in maintaining health and well-being should be a priority issue during the years to come.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2012

Salinity is one of the most relevant abiotic factor limiting crop yield and its net primary productivity. In addition, salinity induces an increased stress ethylene synthesis in plants which, in turn, exacerbate the responses to the stressor. Bacterial single or co-inoculation effect was tested using previously characterized plant growth promoting (PGP) bacteria Brevibacterium iodinum RS16 and Methylobacterium oryzae CBMB20 on maize and sorghum-sudan grass hybrid under different concentrations of NaCl. Non-inoculated maize and sorghum-sudangrass hybrid showed 33.4% and 20.0% reduction in seed germination under highest NaCl (150 mM) level tested. However, under the same NaCl concentration, co-inoculation with B. iodinum RS16 and M. oryzae CBMB20 PGP strains increased the seed germination in maize (16.7%) and sorghum-sudangrass hybrid (4.4%). In Gnotobiotic growth pouch experiments conducted for maize and sorghum-sudangrass hybrid, co-inoculation of PGP B. iodinum RS16 and M. oryzae CBMB20 mitigated the salinity stress and promoted root length by 22.9% and 29.7%, respectively. Thus the results of this study could help in development of potential bioinoculants that may be suitable for crop production under saline conditions.