• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1622-1628
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• 2006

Bacteria from the Methylobacterium genus, called pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophic bacteria (PPFMs), are common inhabitants of plants, potentially dominating the phyllosphere population, and are also encountered in the rhizosphere, seeds, and other parts of plants, being versatile in nature. The consistent success of the Methylobacterium plant association relies on methylotrophy, the ability to utilize the one-carbon compound methanol emitted by plants. However, the efficiency of Methylobacterium in plant growth promotion could be better exploited and thus has attracted increasing interest in recent years. Accordingly, the present study investigated the inoculation effects of Methylobacterium sp. strains CBMB20 and CBMB 110 on seed imbibition to tomato and red pepper on the growth and accumulation of phytohormone levels under gnotobiotic conditions. Seeds treated with the Methylobacterium strains showed a significant increase in root length when compared with either the uninoculated control or Methylobacterium extorquens $miaA^-$ knockout mutanttreated seeds. Extracts of the plant samples were used for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), trans-zeatin riboside (t-ZR), and dihydrozeatin riboside (DHZR) assays by immunoanalysis. The treatment with Methylobacterium sp. CBMB20 or CBMB 110 produced significant increases in the accumulation of IAA and the cytokinins t-ZR and DHZR in the red pepper extracts, whereas no IAA was detected in the tomato extracts, although the cytokinin concentrations were significantly increased. Therefore, this study proved that the versatility of Methylobacterium as a plant-growth promoting bacteria could be better exploited.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.270-281
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• 2012

The bacteria B1-9 that was isolated from the rhizosphere of the green onion could promote growth of pepper, cucumber, tomato, and melon plants. In particular, pepper yield after B1-9 treatment on the seedling was increased about 3 times higher than that of control plants in a field experiment. Partial 16S rDNA sequences revealed that B1-9 belongs to the genus Pantoea ananatis. Pathogenecity tests showed non-pathogenic on kimchi cabbage, carrot, and onion. The functional characterization study demonstrated B1-9's ability to function in phosphate solubilization, sulfur oxidation, nitrogen fixation, and indole-3-acetic acid production. To trace colonization patterns of B1-9 in pepper plant tissues, we used $DRAQ5^{TM}$ fluorescent dye, which stains the DNAs of bacteria and plant cells. A large number of B1-9 cells were found on the surfaces of roots and stems as well as in guard cells. Furthermore, several colonized B1-9 cells resided in inner cortical plant cells. Treatment of rhizosphere regions with strain B1-9 can result in efficient colonization of plants and promote plant growth from the seedling to mature plant stage. In summary, strain B1-9 can be successfully applied in the pepper plantation because of its high colonization capacity in plant tissues, as well as properties that promote efficient plant growth.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.30-34
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• 2005

Fifteen PGPF (plant growth promoting fungi) isolates were selected from 728 fungal isolates collected from rhizosphere of zoysiagrass in Korea. Identification of the 15 isolates was based on their morphological characteristics. They were classified as Gliocladium sp. (n=1), Penicillium sp. (n=5), Trichoderma sp. (n=3), Fusarium sp. (n=3), and unidentifed species (n=3). Of the 15 isolates, six (PF-31, PF-136, PF-238, PF-255, PF-395, PF-420) significantly promoted the growth of tomato seedlings, and three (PF-31, PF-101, PF-255) also promoted the growth of hot pepper and two (PF-31, PF-225) also promoted the growth of cucumber, The 15 PGPF isolates were divided into 4 groups based on root colonizing ability. Isolates PF-17, PF-101 and PF-225 were included in the group 1, which had high root colonizing ability.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.225-233
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• 1991

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of indigenous vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(VAMF) in the rhizosphere soil of horticultural crops grown under greenhouse and open-field condition, in the southern area of Kores. Soil samples collected from the rhizosphere of some sellected horticultural crops, such as cucumber, hot pepper, lettuca, tomato and eggplant grown under greenhouse or open-field condition. All tested crops are considered as mycorrhizal plants. The infection rate of horticultural crops investigated ranged from 38% to 70%, hot pepper and eggplant grown under greenhouse condition showed the highest infection being 66.0% and 70.0%, respectively. Spore densities were from 4.8 to 20.0g-1 on dried soil basis. Spore densities of VAMF in the rhizosphere soils under greenhouse condition were higher than that of open-field conditions. The highest distribution of spores in diameter ranged from $75{\mu}m$ to $106{\mu}m$ in the rhizosphere soil of lettuce, cucumber and tomato while those in hot pepper and eggplant ranged from $75{\mu}m$ to $250{\mu}m$. Glomus sp.-type spores predominated in the slightly acid soil(pH 6.3), while Acaulospora sp.-type spores greatly predominated in the very strongly acid field(pH 4.9).

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.46-50
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• 2013

Some rhizobacteria producing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase can make plant to continue growth under the stress conditions through lowering the level of phytohormone, ethylene which inhibits the plant growth and accelerates plant aging. In this study, some rhizobacteria producing ACC deaminase have been isolated from the rhizosphere of plants grown at sand beaches, and identified as Escherichia hermannii m-2, Enterobacter asburiae m-4, Pseudomonas thivervalensis BD2-26 and Pseudomonas brassicacearum subsp. neoaurantiaca BD3-35 through sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Strain BD3-35 showed the highest activity of ACC deaminase among the isolates, 20.26 ${\alpha}$-ketobutyrate ${\mu}M/mg$ protein/h. Strains BD3-35 and BD2-26 secreted a phytohormone cytokinin, and strains m-4 and m-2 could produce auxin and abscisic acid, respectively. When these bacteria were applied to the 7-day old tomato plant under drought stress for 7 days, strains BD3-35, m-2, and m-4 increased the length of tomato root by 14, 15, and 35%, respectively, and strains m-2, BD2-26 and BD3-35 increased the dry weight of tomato plant by 22, 33, and 68%, respectively compared to the uninoculated control tomatoes. Therefore, these rhizobacteria may be utilized as a microbial fertilizer for the plants under drought stress.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2009

An antagonistic bacterial strain KLF01 was isolated from rhizosphere of tomato and identified to be Lactobacillus sp. by biochemical and genetic analysis. This strain showed antagonism against the used plant pathogenic bacteria like Ralstonia solanacearum, (bacterial wilt), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, (Citrus canker), Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Bacterial spot), Eriwinia pyrifoliae (Shoot-blight) and Eriwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora group (Potato scab) through agar well diffusion method. In planta test done by drench application of strain KLF01 $(4{\times}10^8 cfu/ml)$ into the experimental plot containing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivar 'Lokkusanmaru' and red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivar 'Buja' plants, in pot test post-inoculated with the plant pathogenic bacteria, R. solanacearum significantly reduced the disease severity, compared to the non-treated plants.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.355-363
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• 2020

Bacterial traits for virulence of Ralstonia solanacearum causing lethal wilt in plants were extensively studied but are not yet fully understood. Other than the known virulence factors of Ralstonia solanacearum, this study aimed to identify the novel gene(s) contributing to bacterial virulence of R. solanacearum. Among the transposon-inserted mutants that were previously generated, we selected mutant SL341F12 strain produced exopolysaccharide equivalent to wild type strain but showed reduced virulence compared to wild type. In this mutant, a transposon was found to disrupt the murI gene encoding glutamate racemase which converts L-glutamate to D-glutamate. SL341F12 lost its motility, and its virulence in the tomato plant was markedly diminished compared to that of the wild type. The altered phenotypes of SL341F12 were restored by introducing a full-length murI gene. The expression of genes required for flagella assembly was significantly reduced in SL341F12 compared to that of the wild type or complemented strain, indicating that the loss of bacterial motility in the mutant was due to reduced flagella assembly. A dramatic reduction of the mutant population compared to its wild type was apparent in planta (i.e., root) than its wild type but not in soil and rhizosphere. This may contribute to the impaired virulence in the mutant strain. Accordingly, we concluded that murI in R. solanacearum may be involved in controlling flagella assembly and consequently, the mutation affects bacterial motility and virulence.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.383-386
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• 2012

Streptomyces spp. were isolated from rhizosphere in fallow lands. The Streptomyces spp. were identified as Streptomyces griseus (MSS181), Streptomyces griseoaurantiacus (MSS269), Streptomyces microflavus (MSS275), Streptomyces herbaricolor (MSS276) based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Afterwards, cucumber, pepper, tobacco and tomato were drenched with the isolates at early growth stages and plant growth such as height and dry weight of plants was measured. By treatment of Streptomyce spp., plant height of cucumber was increased by 16-29% compared to the control, But there were no statistically significant differences in dry weight. When the same isolates were treated on chili-pepper, plant height and dry weight of chili-pepper were increased respectively by 10-19% and 19-25% compared to the control. The dry weight of tobacco and tomato were increased by 44-73% and 65-165%, respectively compared to the control. When antifungal activities of the isolates were tested against plant pathogenic fungi, Streptomyces microflavus (MSS275) effectively inhibited the mycelial growth of Phytophthora capsici, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.897-904
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• 2013

Seven bacterial isolates (viz., AB05, AB10, AB11, AB12, AB14, AB15, and AB17) were derived from the rhizosphere and evaluated in terms of plant growth-promoting activities and the inhibition of Phytophthora infestans affecting tomatoes in Korea. According to 16S rDNA sequencing, a majority of the isolates are members of Bacillus, and a single isolate belongs to Paenibacillus. All seven isolates inhibited P. infestans by more than 60% in vitro. However, AB15 was the most effective, inhibiting mycelial growth of the pathogen by more than 80% in vitro and suppressing disease by 74% compared with control plants under greenhouse conditions. In a PGPR assay, all of the bacterial isolates were capable of enhancing different growth parameters (shoot/root length, fresh biomass, dry matter, and chlorophyll content) in comparison with non-inoculated control plants. AB17-treated plants in particular showed the highest enhancement in fresh biomass with 18% and 26% increments in the root and shoot biomass, respectively. However, isolate AB10 showed the highest shoot and root growth with 18% and 26% increments, respectively. Moreover, the total chlorophyll content was 14%~19% higher in treated plants.

• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2021

The application of antagonistic fungi for plant protection has attracted considerable interest because they may potentially replace the use of chemical pesticides. Antipathogenic activities confirmed in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from microorganisms have potential to serve as biocontrol agents against pre- and post-harvest diseases. In the present study, we investigated Galactomyces fungi isolated from rotten leaves and the rhizosphere of cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme). VOCs produced by Galactomyces fungi negatively affected the growth of phytopathogenic fungi and the survival of nematodes. Mycelial growths of all nine examined phytopathogenic fungi were inhibited on agar plate, although the inhibition was more intense in Athelia rolfsii JYC2163 and Cladosporium cladosporioides JYC2144 and relatively moderate in Fusarium sp. JYC2145. VOCs also efficiently suppressed the spore germination and mycelial growth of A. rolfsii JYC2163 on tomatoes. The soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans exhibited higher mortality in 24 h in the presence of VOCs. These results suggest the broad-spectrum activity of Galactomyces fungi against various plant pathogens and the potential to use VOCs from Galactomyces as biocontrol agents.