• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2004

Twenty-three strains of Serratia sp., isolated from surface-sterilized rice roots collected in Chonbuk and Chungnam province, were identified and characterized. They were Gram-negative, rod shaped and red pigmented typically and their endophytism was confirmed by inoculation and reisolation of the strains in planta. Their antifungal activity against 4 rice pathogenic fungi was compared and ranged from 62.4 to 85.2％ against Rhizoctonia solani and 68.0 to 88.5％ against Pyricularia grisea. Among the 23 strains tested, strain Rsm220 showed the strongest inhibition activity against 4 pathogenic fungi. The strain was, therefore, selected as a biocontrol candidate for both the pathogens and its bacteriological characteristics and 165 rDNA sequences were analyzed. Phenotypic and biochemical characteristics of the selected Rsm220 were highly related to the type strain of S. marcescens and 165 rDNA sequencing of Rsm220 showed a homology of 98.2％ to the type strain of S. marcescens. The strain Rsm220 was identified as S. marcescens and the inhibition result of this endophytic strain indicates that it is a potential biocontrol agent for R. solani and R grisea.