• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2007

The 44 endophytic bacterial strains were isolated from surface-sterilized root of rice cultivated in seven different locations of Chungcheong province, Korea. Each isolate was introduced into rice seedlings grown gnotobiotically by inoculating scissor-cut first true leaf with cell suspensions, and the colonization capacity of each isolate in root tissue was analyzed at 7 days after inoculation. Sixteen out of 44 isolates were re-isolated from root successfully with the frequency of $10^{3-5}$ CFU/g tissue. Interestingly, seven out of 16 isolates were identified as Burkholderia species. The identity between inoculated strains and re-isolates was confirmed by genomic finger-printing and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. By a confocal laser scanning microscopic observation it was revealed that KJ001 strain, one of the sixteen isolates tagged with gfp colonized in root tissue especially around xylem. Six out of seven Burkholderia strains obtained in this study showed antagonizing activities against seven different fungal pathogens, contain nifH gene, and five of them enhanced growth of cucumber over 30%. The isolates showed no hypersensitive response on tobacco leaves and no pathogenecity in rice. From these results it was found that the endophytic Burkholderia strains will be useful in agriculture to develop a biocontrol agent or a bio-fertilizer.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.131-137
• /
• 2009

Plant defensins are small (5-10 kDa) basic peptides thought to be an important component of the defense pathway against fungal and/or bacterial pathogens. To understand the role of plant defensins in protecting plants against the brown planthopper, a type of insect herbivore, we isolated the Brassica rapa Defensin 1 (BrD1) gene and introduced it into rice (Oryza sativa L.) to produce stable transgenic plants. The BrD1 protein is homologous to other plant defensins and contains both an N-terminal endoplasmic reticulum signal sequence and a defensin domain, which are highly conserved in all plant defensins. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of the defensin domain of various plant defensins, we established that BrD1 belongs to a distinct subgroup of plant defensins. Relative to the wild type, transgenic rices expressing BrD1 exhibit strong resistance to brown planthopper nymphs and female adults. These results suggest that BrD1 exhibits insecticidal activity, and might be useful for developing cereal crop plants resistant to sap-sucking insects, such as the brown planthopper.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.106-114
• /
• 2024

Fusarium head blight (FHB), predominantly caused by Fusarium graminearum and F. asiaticum, is a significant fungal disease impacting small-grain cereals. The absence of highly resistant cultivars underscores the need for vigilant FHB surveillance to mitigate its detrimental effects. In 2023, a notable FHB outbreak occurred in the southern region of Korea. We assessed FHB disease severity by quantifying infected spikelets and grains. Isolating fungal pathogens from infected samples often encounters interference from various microorganisms. We developed a cost-effective, selective medium, named BGT (Burkholderia glumae Toxoflavin) medium, utilizing B. glumae, which is primarily known for causing bacterial panicle blight in rice. This medium exhibited selective growth properties, predominantly supporting Fusarium spp., while substantially inhibiting the growth of other fungi. Using the BGT medium, we isolated F. graminearum and F. asiaticum from infected wheat and barley samples across Korea. To further streamline the process, we used a direct PCR approach to amplify the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF-1α) region without a separate genomic DNA extraction step. Phylogenetic analysis of the TEF-1α region revealed that the majority of the isolates were identified as F. asiaticum. Our results demonstrate that BGT medium is an effective tool for FHB diagnosis and Fusarium strain isolation.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
• /
• v.6
• /
• pp.51-79
• /
• 2024

In the 1970s and 1980s, during the nascent phase of ginseng disease research, efforts concentrated on isolating and identifying pathogens. Subsequently, their physiological ecology and pathogenesis characteristics were scrutinized. This led to the establishment of a comprehensive control approach for safeguarding major aerial part diseases like Alternaria blight, anthracnose, and Phytophthora blight, along with underground part diseases such as Rhizoctonia seedling damping-off, Pythium seedling damping-off, and Sclerotinia white rot. In the 1980s, the sunshade was changed from traditional rice straw to polyethylene (PE) net. From 1987 to 1989, focused research aimed at enhancing disease control methods. Notably, the introduction of a four-layer woven P.E. light-shading net minimized rainwater leakage, curbing Alternaria blight occurrence. Since 1990, identification of the bacterial soft stem rot pathogen facilitated the establishment of a flower stem removal method to mitigate outbreaks. Concurrently, efforts were directed towards identifying root rot pathogens causing continuous crop failure, employing soil fumigation and filling methods for sustainable crop land use. In 2000, adapting to rapid climate changes became imperative, prompting modifications and supplements to control methods. New approaches were devised, including a crop protection agent method for Alternaria stem blight triggered by excessive rainfall during sprouting and a control method for gray mold disease. A comprehensive plan to enhance control methods for Rhizoctonia seedling damping-off and Rhizoctonia damping-off was also devised. Over the past 50 years, the initial emphasis was on understanding the causes and control of ginseng diseases, followed by refining established control methods. Drawing on these findings, future ginseng cultivation and disease control methods should be innovatively developed to proactively address evolving factors such as climate fluctuations, diminishing cultivation areas, escalating labor costs, and heightened consumer safety awareness.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.328-331
• /
• 2008

Hwangeumnodeul is a new japonica rice cultivar developed from a cross between Milyang165 and HR15151-B-21-3 at Honam Agricultural Research Institute (HARI), NICS, RDA, in 2007. This cultivar has short grains and about 139 days of growth duration from direct seeding to harvesting in the southern plain areas. Culm length of this cultivar is 78 cm and the number of spikelet per panicle is similar to that of the check cultivar, Nampyeongbyeo, while filled grain rate is lower than the check variety. This cultivar is moderately resistant to leaf blast, bacterial blight pathogens of $K_1$, $K_2$ and $K_3$ and stripe virus but susceptible to major virus diseases and insect pests. Milled kernel of Hwanggeumnodeul is translucent with non-glutinous endosperm. This cultivar has about 5.7% and 18.6% of protein and amylose contents, respectively. Palatability of cooked rice of Hwanggeumnodeul is similar to Nampyeongbyeo. Its milling recovery and head rice were 75.6% and 90.0%, respectively. Hwanggeumnodeul yielded 5.69 and 5.61 MT/ha in milled rice at the under wet-direct and dry-direct seeding conditions, respectively which are 17% and 12% higher than the check variety, Juanbyeo. It yielded 5.86 MT/ha, 8% higher than Nampyeongbyeo at the standard fertilizer level of the ordinary transplanting cultivation. "Hwanggeumnodeul" would be adaptable for ordinary transplanting as well as direct seeding in the southern plain including Chungcheong province.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.254-260
• /
• 2016

Doenjang samples were prepared by inoculation of multiple starters consisting of two Bacillus spp., one yeast, and one fungus. Doenjang A was fermented with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens EMD17, B. amyloliquefaciens MJ1-4, Pichia farinosa SY80, and Rhizopus oryzae. Doenjang B and C were fermented with the same yeast and fungus but different Bacillus strains; namely, B. amyloliquefaciens EMD17 and B. subtilis CH3-5 for doenjang B, and B. amyloliquefaciens MJ1-4 and B. subtilis CH3-5 for doenjang C. Doenjang D was fermented with microorganisms present in rice straw (control). The doenjang samples were spiked with B. cereus ATCC14579 at two different levels, 10⁴ CFU/g doenjang (I) and 10⁷ CFU/g doenjang (II). All eight doenjang samples were fermented for 70 days at 25℃. Growth of B. cereus was inhibited in doenjang A, B, and C, with the bacterial cell count after 70 days being less than the initial 10⁴ CFU/g added, whereas B. cereus was not inhibited in doenjang D. Doenjang B showed the strongest inhibitory activity against B. cereus, with a cell count of less than 10³ CFU/g after 42 days, even when B. cereus was initially added at 10⁷ CFU/g. Some properties of the doenjang samples, such as pH, TA, and amino-type nitrogen content, were similar to those of doenjang fermented with starters only. The results indicate that carefully selected starters can effectively prevent the growth of B. cereus during doenjang fermentation.