• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.513-521
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• 2023

Seed-borne diseases reduce not only the seed germination and seedling growth but also seed quality, resulting in the significant yield loss in crop production. Plant seed harbors diverse microbes termed endophytes other than pathogens inside it. However, their roles and application to agricultures were rarely understood and explored to date. Recently, we had isolated from soybean seeds culturable endophytes exhibiting in-vitro antagonistic activities against common bacterial and fungal seed-borne pathogens. In this study, we evaluated effects of seed treatment with endophytes on plant growth and protection against the common seed-borne pathogens: four fungal pathogens (Cercospora sojina, C. kikuchii, Septoria glycines, Diaporthe eres) and two bacterial pathogens (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. glycines, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci). Our experiments showed that treatment of soybean seeds with seed endophytes clearly offer protection against seed-borne pathogens. We also found that some of the endophytes promote plant growth in addition to the disease suppression. Taken together, our results demonstrate agricultural potential of seed endophytes in crop protection.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.75-78
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• 2005

Fungicides and antagonists were tested for their efficacy in the management of fungal pathogens of watermelon. The fungal species in different genera were isolated from the seeds of watermelon and their vulnerability was assessed against an array of chemicals and bioagents. Among the fungal pathogens, Fusarium species were effectively controlled by Bavistin. Topsin also showed the promising effects against all the fungal pathogens, and Dithane M-45 effectively controlled Didymella bryoniae. Seed treatment with antagonists like Trichoderma harzianum and T. viride improved the seed germination, seedling vigour and reduced the incidence of seed-borne fungal pathogens. Bavistin and Topsin among chemicals increased significantly the seed germination and vigour index. Trichoderma harzianum showed its efficacy against all Fusarium species and even stood effective than Captan and Blitox. However, Pseudomonas fIuorescens also showed promising effect against Didymella bryoniae over fungicides. Under field condition, Topsin and Dithane M-45 showed better yield than Bioagents.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.216-220
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• 2002

Seed decay of soybean caused by Diaporthe phaseolorum, Colletotrichum truncatum and Cercospora kikuchii is a serious disease when soybean is harvested under warm and wet weather conditions. Benomyl has been used for controlling the disease, however, benomyl application may be limited due to common occurrence of resistance. The efficacy of 21 fungicides against the pathogens was evaluated in vitro. Among the fungicides tested, benomyl, carbendazim, fluazinam, iprodione+propineb, thiophanate-methyl, and triflumizole were found effective and were evaluated for their ability to control the seed pathogens. Fluazinam completely inhibited mycelial growth at a concentration of 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$\textrm{m}{\ell}$ for D. phaseolorum; and at a concentration of 500 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$\textrm{m}{\ell}$ for C. truncatum and C. kikuchii. $EC_90$ values of fluazinam were similar to that of benomyl. Because fluazinam, iprodione+propineb, and triflumizole were found effective against the seed pathogens, these were subjected for field-testing. Suppression of pod and seed infection by fluazinam and iprodione+propineb was as high as that of benomyl without any reduction in agronomic characters of soybean. This study shows that fluazinam and iprodione+propineb may be used in combination with benomyl to control seed pathogens, manage resistance, and ensure production of high quality soybean seeds.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.313-322
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• 2022

Seed-borne pathogens in crops reduce the seed germination rate and hamper seedling growth, leading to significant yield loss. Due to the growing concerns about environmental damage and the development of resistance to agrochemicals among pathogen populations, there is a strong demand for eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic chemicals in agriculture. It has been well established during the last few decades that plant seeds harbor diverse microbes, some of which are vertically transmitted and important for plant health and productivity. In this study, we isolated culturable endophytic bacteria and fungi from soybean seeds and evaluated their antagonistic activities against common bacterial and fungal seed-borne pathogens of soybean. A total of 87 bacterial isolates and 66 fungal isolates were obtained. Sequencing of 16S rDNA and internal transcribed spacer amplicon showed that these isolates correspond to 30 and 15 different species of bacteria and fungi, respectively. Our antibacterial and antifungal activity assay showed that four fungal species and nine bacterial species have the potential to suppress the growth of at least one seed-borne pathogen tested in the study. Among them, Pseudomonas koreensis appears to have strong antagonistic activities across all the pathogens. Our collection of soybean seed endophytes would be a valuable resource not only for studying biology and ecology of seed endophytes but also for practical deployment of seed endophytes toward crop protection.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.229-236
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• 1998

The incidence of fungi and their possible contribution to low vigour were examined in a collection of ginseng (Panax quiquefolius) seed from Ontario. When examined after one winter of stratification in the field and storage at 4f for five months in the laboratory, the collection exhibited low vigour (plant stand 16.7% of seeding rate six weeks after seeding) and high incidence (94%) of discolored or soft seed. Fungi isolated (and incidence) from 1,304 endosperm halves recovered from surface-sterilized seed were, in order of abundance, Fusarium rostrum (22.2%), Chaetomium crispuum (14.3%), Funriud oxysporum (9.0%), Fusarium sdani (9.0%), iwmor sp. (8.4%), Alternaria sp. (8.1%), Zowieua lucotricha (7.8%), Cylindruarpn sp. (0.9%), Fusarium avenacmm (0.9%), and Vdudla iliata (0.4%). Most of these fungi, including known and potential pathogens of ginseng (species of Alerraria, Cylindrocarpon, Fusarium, and Trichodirma), were associated with both healthy and diseased seed. Application of Benlate (benomyl), Thiram (thiram), or UBI-2584 (tebuconazole) to seed caused slight to pronounced reduction in emergence and did not significantly affect plant stand six weeks after seeding. The study demonstrated the high level of infection by fungi, including known and potential pathogens of the cry, in an arbitrary collection of ginseng seed from commercial sources, and the phytotoxicity of the fungicides tested when applied to moist stratified seed. The lack of efficacy of the fungicides precluded determination of the contribution of seedborne fungi to low vigour of the seed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.585-591
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• 2012

The antagonistic effect of Trichoderma harzianum on a range of seed-borne fungal pathogens of wheat (viz. Fusarium graminearum, Bipolaris sorokiniana, Aspergillus spp., and Penicillium spp.) was assessed. The potential of T. harzianum as a biocontrol agent was tested in vitro and under field conditions. Coculture of the pathogens and Trichoderma under laboratory conditions clearly showed dominance of T. harzianum. Under natural conditions, biocontrol effects were also obtained against the test fungi. One month after sowing, field emergence (plant stand) was increased by 15.93% over that obtained with the control treatment, and seedling infection was reduced significantly. Leaf blight severity was decreased from 22 to 11 at the heading stage, 35 to 31 at the flowering stage, and 86 to 74 at the grain filling stage. At harvest, the number of tillers per plant was increased by 50%, the yield was increased by 31.58%, and the 1,000-seed weight was increased by 21%.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.44-51
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to develop specific and sensitive PCR-based procedures for simultaneous detection of economically important plant seed infection pathogenic bacteria and virus, Xanthomonns campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv), Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm), Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora (Ecc), Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) and Tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV) in pepper and tomato seeds. Most of pepper and tomato bacterial and virus diseases are responsible for germination and growth obstruction. PCR with arbitral primers: selection of specific primers, performance of PCR with specific primers and determination of the threshold level for pathogens detection. To detect simultaneously the Xcv, Cmm, Ecc, PMMoV and TMGMV in pepper and tomato seeds, five pairs (Cmm-F/R, Ecc-F/R, Xcv-F/R, PMMoV-F/R, TMGMV-F/R) of specific primer were synthesized by primer-blast program. The multiplex PCR for the five pathogens in pepper and tomato seeds could detect specially without interference among primers and/or cDNA of plant seeds and other plant pathogens. The PCR result for pathogen detection using 20 commercial pepper and 10 tomato seed samples, Ecc was detected from 4 pepper and 2 tomato seed samples, PMMoV was detected from 1 pepper seed sample, and PMMoV and TMGMV were simultaneously detected from 1 pepper seed sample.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2019

Microbial wound infection prolonged the hospitalization and increase the cost for wound management. Silver is commonly used as antimicrobial wound dressing. However, it causes several adverse side effects. Hence, this study was aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficiency of Swietenia macrophylla seed extract on clinical wound pathogens. Besides, the bioactive constituents of the seed extract were also determined. S. macrophylla seeds were extracted with methanol by maceration method. The seed extract inhibited 5 test bacteria and 1 yeast on disc diffusion assay. The antibacterial activity was broad spectrum, as the extract inhibited both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. On kill curve analysis, the antibacterial activity of the seed extract was concentration-dependent, the increase of extract concentration resulted in more reduction of bacterial growth. The extract also caused 99.9% growth reduction of Bacillus subtilis relative to control. A total of 21 compounds were detected in gas chromatography- mass spectrometry analysis. The predominant compounds present in the extract were oleic acid (18.56%) and linoleic acid (17.72%). In conclusion, the methanolic extract of S. macrophylla seeds exhibited significant antimicrobial activity on clinical wound pathogens. Further investigations should be conducted to purify other bioactive compounds from the seeds of S. macrophylla.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.179-182
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• 2014

The purpose of the present research was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil extracted from Pinus koraiensis seed against pathogens related to acne. The essential oil was extracted by steam distillation method. The chemical compositions of essential oil were analyzed by GC-MS. Alpha-pinene (29.87%), D-limonene (19.26%), betapinene (11.19%), beta-myrcene (3.84%), n-hexadecanoi acid (3.2%), beta-caryphyllene (2.72%), and cyclohexene (2.17%) were main components. This essential oil had antimicrobial activities against Malasseizia furfur, Propionibacterium acnes, and Staphylococcus epidermidis.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.228-233
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• 2012

Trifoliate orange seed extracts (TSEs) were prepared from different solvents, water (TW), ethanol (TE), and n-hexane (TH), and assessed for their antimicrobial activities against six gram-negative food-borne pathogens (Escherichia coli KCTC 1039, Escherichia coli O157:H7 ATCC 43895, Salmonella Enteritidis ATCC 3311, Salmonella Typhimurium KCCM 11862, Shigella sonnei KCTC 2518, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802). Among the tested TSEs, TE and TH showed a slight inhibition activity on V. parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802, but a good growth inhibition activity on Sal. Typhimurium KCCM 11862. TH and TE showed steady growth inhibition activity with increasing growth time after 6 hr when compared to the control (p<0.05). From these results, we confirmed the possibility of TH and TE as antimicrobial materials.