• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.126-137
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• 2011

Although Sumunmulbangdui wetland at the Halla Mountain in Jeju Island, a kind of montane wetlands, has been considered to bear high biodiversity, no study has been reported on the bacterial diversity. In this study, soil and water samples were collected from the wetland in order to isolate novel bacterial species. Bacterial strains belonging to the phyla Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria were isolated after spreading soil and water samples onto solid agar media. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the strains assigned to the three phyla were compared to those of type strains of the species in the phyla. The strains that showed less than 98.7% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the validly published species were considered to be novel species candidates. A total of 32 strains were regarded as novel species candidates in the phyla Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. Diversity of novel species candidates was very low; the candidates were confined to only few genera. In the Bacteroidetes, 13 novel candidate species were affiliated with the genera Mucilaginibacter, Sphingobacterium, Pedobacter, Flavobacterium, and Chryseobacterium. A total of 13 novel candidate species that assigned to the genera Paenibacillus Lysinibacillus, and Bacillus were identified in the phylum Firmicutes. Only two candidate species that belonged to the genera Mycobacterium and Nocardia were excavated in the Actinobacteria. Cultural, physiological, and chemotaxonomic characteristics have been determined for the novel species candidates, and the characteristics are described in this study.

• 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.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.38-45
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• 2005

The feasibility of stimulating in situ aerobic cometabolic activity of indigenous microorganisms was investigated in a trichloroethylene (TCE)-contaminated aquifer. A series of single-well natural drift tests (SWNDTs) was conducted by injecting site groundwater amended with a bromide tracer and combinations of toluene, oxygen, nitrate, ethylene and TCE into an existing monitoring well and by sampling the same well over time. Three field tests, Push-pull Transport Test, Drift Biostimulation Test, and Drift Surrogate Activity Test, were performed in sequence. Initial rate of toluene degradation was much faster than the rate of bromide dilution resulting from natural groundwater drift, indicating stimulation of indigenous toluene-oxidizing microorganisms. Transformation of ethylene, a surrogate probing overall activity of TCE transformation, was also observed, and its transformation results in the production of ethylene oxide, suggesting that some tolueneoxidizing microorganisms stimulated may express a orthomonooxygenase enzyme. Also in situ transformation of TCE was confirmed by greater retardation of TCE than bromide after the stimulation of toluene-oxidizing microorganisms. These results indicate that, in this environment, toluene and oxygen additions stimulated the growth and aerobic cometabolic activity of indigenous microorganisms expressing orthomonooxygenase enzymes. The simple, low-cost field test method presented in this study provides an effective method for conducting rapid field assessments and pilot testing of aerobic cometabolism, which has previously hindered application of this technology to groundwater remediation.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 1995

Adsorption experiments of heavy metal cations by Fe- and Al-hydroxides was conducted to obtain clear information on their adsorption mechanisms. The adsorption isothermal curves of heavy metal cations by Fe- and Al-hydroxides conformed to Langmuir's equation. Increasing the crystallinity degree of Fe- and Al-hydroxides tended to decrease the adsorption capacity and binding energy of heavy metal cations. At the same crystallinity degree, Al-hydroxide showed higher adsorption capacity and energy for the heavy metal cations than Fe-hydroxide. The adsorption capacity and energy of heavy metal cations were directly related to CEC, specific surface area and charge density of hydroxides, and the sequence was in the order of $Cu^{+{+}}$ > $Zn^{+{+}}$ > $Cd^{+{+}}$. The adsorption mechanism of $M^{+{+}}$ form of heavy metal could be presumed as the specific adsorption of $M^{+{+}}$ and the desorption of two $H^+$ from the surface aquo($OH_2$) and/or hydroxo(-OH) group for each mole of $M^{+{+}}$ adsorbed. A ring structure between $M^{+{+}}$ and two surface aquo and/or hydroxo groups was postulated. Nonspecific adsorption involved the adsorption of $MCl^+$ and the desorption of one H+ from the surface aquo and/or hydroxo groups for each mole of $M^{+{+}}$ adsorbed. A single bond structure in which $MCl^+$ replaced one $H^+$ from the surface aquo and/or hydroxo groups was postulated. The ratio of specific to nonspecific adsorption increased with increasing pH.

• 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.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.227-232
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• 2008

Biological antagonists of Phytophthora capsici were isolated from soil in Gyeongbuk, Korea. Among the isolated bacteria, a Bacillus sp. was identified from l6S rDNA sequence analysis and named Bacillus sp. AM-651. Bacillus sp. AM-65l strain which can strongly a antifungal activity against Phytophthora capsici. Culture conditions for the maximum production of the antagonistic substance were optimized. The production of antibiotic were high on modified Davis mineral medium pH 7 at $30^{\circ}C$. The medium for highest production of the agonistic substance optimized. It is composed the best activity on glucose, $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ and $K_2HPO_4$ at 0.5%, 0.1%, and 0.7%, respectively. By time course of culture solution selected Bacillus sp. AM-65l, the culture solution after 48hrs had strongly growth inhibition rate against P. capsici. And culture solution of Bacillus sp. AM-651 was stable within a pH range $5{\sim}11$ and temperature range $4{\sim}70^{\circ}C$. Bacillus sp. AM-651 cultured broth shown fungal growth inhibitory activity against B. sorokiniana, B. cinerea, R. solani avove and beyond P. capsici and comparatively showed a high activity against C. gloeosporioides, B. dothidea, B. cinerea and F. graminearum by agar diffusion method.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.201-209
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• 2014

This study was carried out in order to develop a biological control of anthracnose of red pepper caused by fungal pathogens. In particular, this study focuses on the Colletotrichum species, which includes important fungal pathogens causing a great deal of damage to red pepper. Antagonistic bacteria were isolated from the soil of pepper fields, which were then tested for biocontrol activity against the Colletotrichum gloeosporioides anthracnose pathogen of pepper. Based on the 16S rRNA sequence analysis, the isolated bacterial strain CS-52 was identical to Bacillus sp. The culture broth of Bacillus sp. CS-52 had antifungal activity toward the hyphae and spores of C. gloeosporioides. Moreover, the substances with antifungal activity were optimized when Bacillus sp. CS-52 was grown aerobically in a medium composed of 0.5% glucose, 0.7% $K_2HPO_4$, 0.2% $KH_2PO_4$, 0.3% $NH_4NO_3$, 0.01% $MnSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$, and 0.15% yeast extract at $30^{\circ}C$. The inhibition of spore formation resulting from cellulase, siderophores, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), were produced at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h, respectively. Bacillus sp. CS-52 also exhibited its potent fungicidal activity against anthracnose in an in vivo test, at a level of 70% when compared to chemical fungicides. These results identified substances with antifungal activity produced by Bacillus sp. CS-52 for the biological control of major plant pathogens in red pepper. Further studies will investigate the synergistic effect promoting better growth and antifungal activity by the formulation of substances with antifungal activity.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.872-878
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• 2014

This study aimed to enhance storage and freshness of strawberry fruits and foliage vegetables by spray treatment with Chlorella vulgaris as a bio-fertilizer. The tested strain, C. vulgaris CHK0008, was isolated from an organically cultivated rice paddy and identified as C. vulgaris by its morphology and 18S rDNA and 23S rDNA sequence homology. We successfully cultured C. vulgaris CHK0008 in BG11 modified medium (BG11MM) and adjusted $2.15{\times}10^6cell/mL$ C. vulgaris CHK0008 to one OD value by measuring the optical density at 680 nm using a UV-vis spectrophotometer. The soluble solid content of 'Seolhyang' and 'Yukbo' strawberry fruits treated by spray application with C. vulgaris CHK0008 was enhanced by 22.2% and 11.5% respectively, compared to untreated controls. Additionally, the decay rates of treated 'Seolhyang' and 'Yukbo' strawberry fruits decreased 63.8% and 74.4% respectively, compared to untreated control. Surface color changes and chlorosis of leaves in leaf vegetables such as lettuce, kale, red ornamental kale, white ornamental kale and beet were observed in samples treated with water spray for 10 days after cold storage. However, the decay rate of leafy vegetables treated with foliar application of 25% C. vulgaris CHK0008 liquid culture was significantly decreased compared to that of the untreated control during storage at $4^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1625-1630
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• 2008

A microorganism capable of producing high level of poly-3-hydoxybutyrate (PHB) from xylose was isolated from soil. The isolated strain J-65 was identified as Bacillus megaterium based on the morphological, biochemical and molecular biological characteristics. The optimum temperature and pH for the growth of B. megaterium J-65 were $37^{\circ}C$ and 8.0, respectively. The optimum medium composition for the cell growth was 2% xylose, 0.25% $(NH_4)_2SO_4$, 0.3% $Na_2HPO_4{\cdot}12H_2O$, and 0.1% $KH_2PO_4$. The optimum condition for PHB accumulation was same to the optimum condition for cell growth. Copolymer of ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyric and ${\beta}$-hydroxyvaleric acid was produced when propionic acid was added to shake flasks containing 20 g/l of xylose. Fermenter culture was carried out to produce the high concentration of PHB. In batch culture, cell mass was 9.82 g/l and PHB content was 35% of dry cell weight. PHB produced by B. megaterium J-65 was identified as homopolymer of 3-hydoxybutyric acid by GC and NMR.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.342-347
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• 2004

A bacterial strain YC4963 with antifungal activity against Colletotrichum orbiculare, a causal organism of cucumber anthracnose was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of Siegesbeckia pubescens Makino in Korea. Based on physiological and biochemical characteristics and 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis, the bac­terial strain was identified as Pseudomonas aurantiaca. The bacteria also inhibited mycelial growth of several plant fungal pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani on PDA and 0.1 TSA media. The antifungal activity was found from the culture filtrate of this isolate and the active compound was quantitatively bound to XAD adsorption resin. The antibiotic compound was purified and identified as phenazine-l-carboxylic acid on the basis of combined spectral and chemical analyses data. This is the first report on the production of phenazine-l-carboxylic acid by Pseudomonas aurantiaca.