• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
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• 2019.10a
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• pp.134-134
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• 2019

Utilization of organic waste as a renewable energy source is promising for sustainability and mitigation of climate change. Pyrolysis converts organic waste to gas, oil, and biochar by incomplete biomass combustion. Biochar is widely used as a soil conditioner and adsorbent. Biochar adsorbs/desorbs metals and ions depending on the soil environment and condition to act as a nutrient buffer in soils. Biochar is also regarded as a carbon storage by fixation of organic carbon. Phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) are strictly controlled in many wastewater treatment plants because it causes eutrophication in water bodies. P and N is removed by biological and chemical methods in wastewater treatment plants and transferred to sludge for disposal. On the other hand, P is an irreplaceable essential element for all living organisms and its resource (phosphate rock) is estimated about 100 years of economical mining. Therefore, P and N recovery from waste and wastewater is a critical issue for sustainable human society. For the purpose, intensive researches have been carried out to remove and recover P and N from waste and wastewater. Previous studies have shown that biochars can adsorb and desorbed phosphates implying that biochars could be a complementary fertilizer. However, most of the conventional biochar have limited capacity to adsorb phosphates and nitrate. Recent studies have focused on biochar impregnated with metal salts to improve phosphates and nitrate adsorption by synthesizing biochars with novel structures and surface properties. Metal salts and metal oxides have been used for the surface modification of biochars. If P removal is the only concern, P adsorption kinetics and capacity are the only important factors. If both of P and N removal and the application of recovery are concerned, however, P and N desorption characteristics and bioavailability are also critical factors to be considered. Most of the researches on impregnated biochars have focused on P removal efficiency and kinetics. In this study, coffee waste is thermally treated to produce biochar and it was impregnated with Mg/Al to enhance phosphates and nitrate adsorption/desorption and P bioavailability to increase its value as a fertilizer. Kinetics of phosphates and nitrate adsorption/desorption and bioavailability analysis were carried out to estimate its potential as a P and N removal adsorbent in wasewater and a fertilizer in soil.

• ALGAE
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.283-294
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• 2023

Previous research indicated that free-living sporangial filament keep hollow morph under high-culture density and form bipartite cells under low-culture density, while the following conchospore release was inhibited by high light. Here, we further explored the molecular bases of these affects caused by light and culture density using a transcriptome analysis. Many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to carbon dioxide concentration and fixation, photosynthesis, chlorophyll synthesis and nitrogen absorption were upregulated under high-light conditions compared with low-light conditions, indicating the molecular basis of rapid vegetative growth under the former. The stress response- and ion transport-related DEGs, as well as the gene encoding the vacuole formation-brefeldin A-inhibited guanine nucleotide exchange protein (BIG, py05721), were highly expressed under high-density conditions, indicating the molecular basis of the hollow morph of free-living sporangial filaments under high-culture density conditions. Additionally, the brefeldin A treatment indicated that the hollow morph was directly influenced by vacuole formation-related vesicle traffic. Others DEGs related to cell wall components, zinc-finger proteins, ASPO1527, cell cycle and cytoskeleton were highly expressed in the low density with low-light group, which might be related to the formation and release of conchospores. These results provide a deeper understanding of sporangial filaments in Neopyropia yezoensis and related species.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.1040-1050
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• 2024

To isolate and analyze bacteria with Verticillium wilt-resistant properties from the fermentation residue of kitchen wastes, as well as explore their potential for new applications of the residue. A total of six bacterial strains exhibiting Verticillium wilt-resistant capabilities were isolated from the biogas residue of kitchen waste fermentation. Using a polyphasic approach, strain ZL6, which displayed the highest antagonistic activity against cotton Verticillium wilt, was identified as belonging to the Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bioassay results demonstrated that this strain possessed robust antagonistic abilities, effectively inhibiting V. dahliae spore germination and mycelial growth. Furthermore, P. aeruginosa ZL6 exhibited high temperature resistance (42℃), nitrogen fixation, and phosphorus removal activities. Pot experiments revealed that P. aeruginosa ZL6 fermentation broth treatment achieved a 47.72% biological control effect compared to the control group. Through activity tracking and protein mass spectrometry identification, a neutral metalloproteinase (Nml) was hypothesized as the main virulence factor. The mutant strain ZL6ߡNml exhibited a significant reduction in its ability to inhibit cotton Verticillium wilt compared to the strain P. aeruginosa ZL6. While the inhibitory activities could be partially restored by a complementation of nml gene in the mutant strain ZL6CMߡNml. This research provides a theoretical foundation for the future development and application of biogas residue as biocontrol agents against Verticillium wilt and as biological preservatives for agricultural products. Additionally, this study presents a novel approach for mitigating the substantial amount of biogas residue generated from kitchen waste fermentation.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.701-710
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• 2013

This experiment was carried out to determine the forage production and soil characteristics in mixtures of barley and annual legumes at riverbed. The dry matter (DM) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) in barley and hairy vetch mixture were higher compared to other mixtures. Barley, single cropping was the highest in DM content. Comparing different mixtures, barley and crimson clover mixture was higher than other mixtures in DM contest. The crude protein (CP) content of barely and hairy vetch mixture was highest, but ether extract (EE) and TDN contents were lower than other mixtures. Barely and hairy vetch mixture significantly removed organic matter and phosphorus from riverbed through forage production (P<0.05). The total nitrogen (TN) of barley and hairy vetch mixture was highest because of high nitrogen fixation in riverbed soil. Single barley was highest in organic matter (OM) of soil. Comparing different mixtures, barley and crimson clover mixture was higher than other mixtures in OM contest. The available P2O5 of soil in barley and crimson clover mixture and barley and rape mixture were higher than others, and that of barley and hairy vetch was lower than other mixtures. The barely and hairy vetch mixture was highest in cation exchange capacity (CEC) content. Therefore barley and hairy vetch mixture is more suitable in forage mixtures because of high forage production and protein, and reduction of soil phosphorus in riverbed.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.38-47
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• 2020

This study was conducted to investigate both plant growth-promoting and plant disease- controlling activities of bacterial strains isolated from soil. All the isolated strains were able to grow at various temperatures. All the strains, except ANG40, showed antagonistic effects against various phytopathogenic fungi. This antagonism can be ascribed to the production of siderophores and antibiotic substances. In addition, all the strains showed abilities such as nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and siderophore production. These results suggest that nitrogen, phosphorus, and iron can be converted into forms that can be easily absorbed by the plants for their growth. Analysis of the growth-promoting properties revealed that ANG51 produced 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) both of which are related to ethylene production. In contrast, the other strains were found to have only IAA-producing ability. Therefore, this study suggests that Pseudomonas geniculata ANG3, Exiguobacterium acetylicum ANG40, and Burkholderia stabilis ANG51, which were selected through analysis of comparative advantages for both plant growth promotion and disease-controlling activity, may be used as biological agents.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1213-1222
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• 2009

The search for diverse plant growth-promoting (PGP) diazotrophic bacteria is gaining momentum as efforts are made to exploit them as biofertilizers for various economically important crops. In the present study, 17 diazotrophic strains belonging to eight different genera isolated from rice paddy fields were screened for multiple PGP traits and evaluated for their inoculation effects on canola and rice plants. All of the strains tested positive for 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity and production of indole 3-acetic acid (IAA) and ammonia ($NH_3$). Additionally, four of the strains were able to solubilize phosphorus (P), five tested positive for zinc (Zn) solubilization and sulfur (S) oxidation, and eight strains produced siderophores. Based on the presence of multiple PGP traits, 10 strains were selected for inoculation studies. Treatment with Herbaspirillum sp. RFNB26 resulted in maximum root length (54.3%), seedling vigor, and dry biomass in canola, whereas Paenibacillus sp. RFNB4 exhibited the lowest activity under gnotobiotic conditions. However, under pot culture conditions, Paenibacillus sp. RFNB4 significantly increased plant height and dry biomass production by 42.3% and 29.5%, respectively. Canola plants and rhizosphere soils inoculated with Bacillus sp. RFNB6 exhibited significantly higher nitrogenase activity. In greenhouse experiments, Serratia sp. RFNB18 increased rice plant height by 35.1%, Xanthomonas sp. RFNB24 enhanced biomass production by 84.6%, and rice rhizosphere soils inoculated with Herbaspirillum sp. RFNB26 exhibited the highest nitrogenase activity. Our findings indicate that most of the selected strains possess multiple PGP properties that significantly improve the growth parameters of the two plants when tested under controlled conditions.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2013

Soil microbes are important integral components of soil ecosystem which have significant and diverse role in organic matter decomposition, nitrogen cycling, and nitrogen fixation. In this study an effective denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) method was employed for paddy soil microbial diversity survey. For optimum paddy soil microbial DNA extraction, different methods such as Lysis buffer, skim milk bead, sodium phosphate buffer, Epicentre Soil Master DNA extraction kit (Epicentre, USA) and Mo Bio Power Soil DNA kit (MO BIO, USA) methods were utilized. Among all the method, using Mo Bio Power Soil kit was most effective. DGGE analysis of Bacteria was carried out at 6% polyacylamide gel and 45-60% denaturing gradient in the optimal conditions. Whereas DGGE analysis of fungi was done at 6% polyacrylamide gel and 45-80% denaturing gradient in the optimal conditions. By applying the above assay, it was found that variation within the microbial community of paddy soil occurs by a factor of time. DGGE assay used in this study through for a variety of soil microbial analysis suggests the potential use of this method.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.174-180
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• 1981

As the amount of pesticides consumption increases in agriculture, the side effects of pesticides on soil microorganisms have become an essential part in safety evaluation of pesticide for continued soil fertility. In order to establish the method of safety assessment of pesticides in Korea, a series of tests were carried out. Among the paddy pesticides Fujione (Isoprothiolane, fungicide), Ortran (Acephate, insecticide), and Machete (Butachlor, herbicide) were chosen and the effects of above three pesticides on Korean paddy soil microorganisms were studied. The measurements of pesticide effects on the cycling of carbon ($CO_2$ production), nitrogen fixation ($C_2H_2$ reduction), nitrification, and dehydrogenase activity were carried out. These measurements were complemented by evaluation of pesticide effects on viable microbial numbers. Although Fujione reduced the fungi numbers and inhibited nitrogen cycling activities somewhat, no significant adverse effects were show by any of the tested pesticides in our study.

• Ocean Science Journal
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.167-176
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• 2005

A time-series sediment trap was deployed at 1,034 m water depth in the eastern Bransfield Strait for a complete year from December 25, 1998 to December 24, 1999. About 99% of total mass flux was trapped during an austral summer, showing distinct seasonal variation. Biogenic particles (biogenic opal, particulate organic carbon, and calcium carbonate) account for about two thirds of annual total mass flux $(49.2\;g\;m^{-2})$, among which biogenic opal flux is the most dominant (42% of the total flux). A positive relationship (except January) between biogenic opal and total organic carbon fluxes suggests that these two variables were coupled, due to the surface-water production (mainly diatoms). The relatively low $\delta^{13}C$ values of settling particles result from effects on C-fixation processes at low temperature and the high $CO_2$ availability to phytoplankton. The correspondingly low $\delta^{l5}N$ values are due to intense and steady input of nitrates into surface waters, reflecting an unlikely nitrate isotope fractionation by degree of surface-water production. The $\delta^{l5}N$ and $\delta^{l3}C$ values of sinking particles increased from the beginning to the end of a presumed phytoplankton bloom, except for anomalous $\delta^{l5}N$ values. Krill and the zooplankton fecal pellets, the most important carriers of sinking particles, may have contributed gradually to the increasing $\delta^{l3}C$ values towards the unproductive period through the biomodification of the $\delta^{l3}C$ values in the food web, respiring preferentially and selectively $^{12}C$ atoms. Correspondingly, the increasing $\delta^{l5}N$ values in the intermediate-water trap are likely associated with a switch in source from diatom aggregates to some remains of zooplankton, because organic matter dominated by diatom may be more liable and prone to remineralization, leading to greater isotopic alteration. In particular, the tendency for abnormally high $\delta^{l5}N$ values in February seems to be enigmatic. A specific species dominancy during the production may be suggested as a possible and speculative reason.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.166-172
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• 1992

The identification on blue-queen algae which were collected from paddy rice fields of the whole nation was carried out in 1991. The blue-green algae identified were 20 species in 5 families including 7 species in the Chroococcaceae. 1 species in the Chamaesiphonaceae. 1 species in the Pleurocapsaceae, 6 species in the Nostocaeae and 5 species in the Oscillatoriaceae. Among the blue-green algae, 6 species in 4 genera including Cylindrospernum, Anabaenopsis, Anabaena and Nostoc were characterized by heterocysts concerning with nitrogen fixation capacity. A concentrated population of Oscillatoria spp. induced soil flakes with blue tint in paddy rice fields. The genera. Spirulina and Oscillatoria, showed their specific motility.