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Gom-chwi (Ligularia fischeri) is severely infected with Phytophthora drechsleri, the causal organism of Phytophthora root rot, an economically important crop disease that needs management throughout the cultivation period. In the present study, Phytophthora root rot was controlled by using bacterial isolates from rhizosphere soils collected from various plants and screened for antagonistic activity against P. drechsleri. A total of 172 bacterial strains were isolated, of which, 49 strains showed antagonistic activities by dual culture assay. In the seedling assay, six out of the 49 strains showed a predominant effect on suppressing P. drechsleri. Among the six strains, the ObRS-5 strain showed remarkable against P. drechsleri when treated with seed dipping or soil drenching. The ObRS-5 strain was identified as Enterobacter asburiae based on 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences analysis. The bacterial cells of E. asburiae ObRS-5 significantly suppressed sporangium formation and zoospore germination in P. drechsleri by 87.4% and 66.7%, respectively. In addition, culture filtrate of E. asburiae ObRS-5 also significantly inhibited sporangium formation and zoospore germination by 97.0% and 67.6%, respectively. Soil drenched bacterial cells, filtrate, and culture solution of E. asburiae ObRS-5 effectively suppressed Phytophthora root rot by 63.2%, 57.9%, and 81.1%, respectively. Thus, E. asburiae ObRS-5 could be used as a potential agent for the biological control of Phytophthora root rot infecting gom-chwi.

This study endeavored to sustainably control aphids and anthracnose after spraying endophytic Isaria javanica pf185 under field conditions. Under two different tents, one batch of seedlings was sprayed with a 107 conidia/mL I. javanica pf185 suspension, while another was sprayed with 0.05% Tween 80® in distilled water. Six leaf discs from the top, middle, and bottom part of the plant canopy were weekly collected and placed on moistened filter paper in a Petri dish for insecticidal and antifungal bioassays against Myzus persicae and Colletotrichum acutatum. Differences were noticed from the 18th day after spraying with mortality (86.67 ± 0.57% versus 36.67 ± 0.64%) and leaf damage (13.45 ± 0.03% versus 41.18 ± 0.06%) on fungus-treated and controlled, respectively. The corrected insecticidal efficacy was 20.43, 39.82, 72.32, 66.43 and 70.04%, while the corrected fungicidal efficacy was 26.07, 38.01, 53.35, 29.08 and 41.81% during five successive weeks. A positive correlation was evident between insecticidal efficacy and relative humidity (r2 = 0.620) and temperature (r2 = 0.424), respectively. No correlation was found between antifungal activity and relative humidity (r2 = 0.061) and temperature (r2 = 0), respectively. The entomopathogenic fungus survived on leaf surface area and in tissues after spraying.

Cilostazol exerts potent anti-inflammatory effects and celecoxib, a COX-2 specific inhibitor, improves the unsatisfactory profile of NSAIDs. It was aimed to assess the anti-arthritic potential of celecoxib add-on for cilostazol therapy in collagen induced arthritis (CIA), and to elucidate the implication of interleukin (IL)-10 in the action of cilostazol and celecoxib cotreatment. Cotreatment of RAW 264.7 cells with 10 μM cilostazol and 0.3 μM celecoxib synergistically suppressed RANKL-induced increases in RANK mRNA and protein levels. When cultured in the presence of RANKL for 5 days, RANKL-stimulated expressions of osteoclastogenic genes (OSCAR, DC-STAMP, and cathepsin K mRNA) and the expression of RANK mRNA were markedly elevated. Furthermore, these gene expressions, including that of RANK, were significantly suppressed by cotreatment with cilostazol (10 μM) and celecoxib (0.3 μM). In addition, this co-treatment strongly down-regulated RANKL-induced NFATc1 protein and TRAP activity (key osteoclastogenic factors), and these down-regulations were significantly prevented by pretreating cells with IL-10 neutralizing antibody. Furthermore, increased osteoclast formation and extensive resorption pit formation by bone marrow-derived monocytes obtained from C57BL/6 mice cultured in the presence of M-CSF/RANKL were markedly suppressed by cilostazol and celecoxib cotreatment. Consequently, hindlimb paw thicknesses in DBA/1J CIA mice were significantly reduced by cilostazol (10 mg/kg/d) and celecoxib (5 mg/kg/d) cotreatment. These results were accompanied by synergistic suppression of cartilage depletion and bone erosion and reductions in arthritis scores in the CIA mice. In conclusion, serum IL-10 levels in these mice were markedly increased by cilostazol and celecoxib cotreatment, whereas elevated serum IL-1β levels were markedly reduced. Cotreatment with low-dose cilostazol and celecoxib may ensure the synergistic anti-arthritic potential.

Ginseng damping-off, caused by the fungal pathogens Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium sp., is a critical disease in ginseng seedling. In a continuing effort to find microorganisms with the potential of acting as a biocontrol agent against Rhizoctonia damping-off, we found that a Streptomyces sp. A501 showed significant antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani. In field experiment to test the efficacy of Streptomyces sp. A501 in controlling ginseng damping-off, the incidence of damping-off disease was meaningfully reduced when ginseng seeds were soaked in the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. A501 before sowing. To perform characterization of the antifungal compound, we isolated it from the culture broth of strain A501 through Diaion HP-20 and silica gel column chromatographies and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. The structure of the antifungal compound was assigned as fungichromin by spectroscopic methods, mainly nuclear magnetic resonance and electrospray ionization-mass analysis.

Sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci biotype Q has been recognized as one of the most destructive insect pests worldwide because of increased resistance to some insecticide groups. To develop an alternative control agent, the effects of different culture conditions such as fermentation methods, culture temperatures, initial inoculum concentrations, substrates and medium supplements on the conidial production of the isolate Isaria javanica Pf04 were assessed. The results demonstrated that conidia of the isolate could be economically produced by single-phase solid state fermentation on barley substrate at 25 °C with 10 8 conidia/g of initial substrate concentrations. Using optimal conditions, the maximum conidial production obtained was 3.5 × 10 9 conidia/g dry substrate after 15 d of cultivation. The conidia, which were produced on barley alone and barley with 5% additives of silkworm powder and moth larvae, were virulent against second instar nymphs of whitefly, providing ≥90% mortality.

Osteoclasts are bone-specific multinucleated cells generated by differentiation of monocyte/macrophage hematopoietic lineages and degrade bone matrix by secretion of lytic enzymes. The regulation of osteoclast differentiation provides a potential strategy for treatment of bone-lytic damage. In this study, cilostazol, an inhibitor of type III phosphodiesterase, inhibited RANKL [receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK) ligand]-induced RANK expression in bone marrow-derived monocyte/macrophage precursors (BMMs) and Raw 264.7 cells by inhibiting PU.1 via SIRT1 activation. RANKL-induced RANK expression was attenuated by cilostazol and rSIRT1 in Raw 264.7 cells, and these were blocked by sirtinol. In line with these, cilostazol elevated SIRT1 mRNA and protein levels in 12–24 h and increased SIRT1 activity, and these effects were inhibited by sirtinol. Furthermore, the RANKL-induced nuclear expression of PU.1, a transcription factor required for macrophage differentiation, was suppressed by cilostazol. Additionally, marked RANKL-induced RANK immunofluorescence staining in Raw 264.7 cells was attenuated by cilostazol and rSIRT1, and both attenuations were prevented by sirtinol. Extensive RANK staining of knee synovial tissues in a mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was markedly reduced by cilostazol (30 mg/kg/day). In line with these results, both RANKL- and M-CSF-induced differentiation of BMMs to multinucleated TRAP+ giant cells and resorption pit formation were inhibited by cilostazol associated with a decrease in TRAP (a marker enzyme of osteoclasts) activity. In conclusion, cilostazol activates SIRT1, which suppresses the nuclear translocation of PU.1, and thus, inhibits RANKL-stimulated RANK expression and causes anti-osteoclast formation in BMMs in vitro and in their murine model of CIA.

For mass production of entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana 149, isolated from moth larva, by two-phase fermentation, we performed selection of carbon and nitrogen sources for liquid culture and examined solid fermentation on carrier, ingredient, temperature, and water content. Spore production with rice powder, corn powder, and starch from sweet potato was higher than that of sucrose and dissolvable starch for liquid fermentation as first-phase fermentation. As a nitrogen source, addition of peptone and yeast powder showed higher spore production than , fish powder, and soybean powder. The isolate produced more conidia in sawdust + wheat bran + corn powder, sawdust + wheat bran and rice shell + wheat bran as carrier and ingredient than vermiculite as carrier. Conidia production of B. bassiana 149 in solid-phase fermentation was twice higher at 30 than 20. Conidia yield was higher at 60% and 70% water content ( and ) than 40% and 50% (and ), respectively.

Recently, the Q biotype of tobacco whitefly has been recognized as the most hazardous strain of Bemisia tabaci worldwide, because of its increased resistance to some insecticide groups. As an alternative control agent, we selected an Isaria javanica isolate as a candidate for the development of a mycopesticide against the Q biotype of sweet potato whitefly. To select optimal mass production media for solid-state fermentation, we compared the production yield and virulence of conidia between 2 substrates (barley and brown rice), and we also compared the effects of various additives on conidia production and virulence. Barley was a better substrate for conidia production, producing 3.43 × 10(10) conidia/g, compared with 3.05 × 10(10) conidia/g for brown rice. The addition of 2% CaCO3 + 2% CaSO4 to barley significantly increased conidia production. Addition of yeast extract, casein, or gluten also improved conidia production on barley. Gluten addition (3% and 1.32%) to brown rice improved conidia production by 14 and 6 times, respectively, relative to brown rice without additives. Conidia cultivated on barley produced a mortality rate of 62% in the sweet potato whitefly after 4-day treatment, compared with 53% for conidia cultivated on brown rice. The amendment of solid substrate cultivation with additives changed the virulence of the conidia produced; the median lethal time (LT50) was shorter for conidia produced on barley and brown rice with added yeast extract (1.32% and 3%, respectively), KNO3 (0.6% and 1%), or gluten (1.32% and 3%) compared with conidia produced on substrates without additives.

The beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is difficult to control using chemical insecticides because of the development of insecticide resistance. Several pest control agents are used to control the beet armyworm. Entomopathogenic fungi are one of the candidates for eco-friendly pest control instead of chemical control agents. In this study, among various entomopathogenic fungal strains isolated from soil two isolates were selected as high virulence pathogens against larva of beet armyworm. Control efficacy of fungal conidia was influenced by conidia concentration, temperature, and relative humidity (RH). The isolates Metarhizium anisopliae FT83 showed 100% cumulative mortality against second instar larvae of S. exigua 3 days after treatment at 1 × 10(7) conidia/mL and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus FG340 caused 100% mortality 6 days after treatment at 1 × 10(4) conidia/mL. Both M. anisopliae FT83 and P. fumosoroseus FG340 effectively controlled the moth at 20~30℃. M. anisopliae FT83 was significantly affected mortality by RH: mortality was 86.7% at 85% RH and 13.4% at 45% RH. P. fumosoroseus FG340 showed high mortality as 90% at 45% RH and 100% at 75% RH 6 days after conidia treatments. These results suggest that P. fumosoroseus FG340 and M. anisopliae FT83 have high potential to develop as a biocontrol agent against the beet armyworm.

An isolate of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum CC110 was selected as an effectiveantagonist for biological control of cucumber downy mildew caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis.Temperature range for growth of CC110 isolate was 7.5~55.0 o C, and its optimal temperature at 36.6 o C. pHrange for growth of CC110 isolate was 4.5~9.5, and its optimal pH at 7.0. In this study, the most effectivesources of carbon and nitrogen for growth of CC110 isolate were fructose and yeast extract, respectively. Thevolatile of CC110 isolate was found to be effective to control downy mildew on cucumber showing nodiseased area whereas that of control was 13.2% using the I plate bioassay. The culture broth and cells ofisolate CC110 cultured in TSB media for 48 hours at 28 o C inhibited occurrence of cucumber downy mildew.The cells and culture broth were transformed into sporangia of P. cubensis by in observation under lightmicroscope and scanning electron microscope. Key words Biological control, Cucumber, Cultivation, Downy mildew, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp.plantarum CC110, Volatile compounds

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens M27 was selected as a control agent for the biological control ofcucumber powdery mildew. The new mixture of B.amyloliquefaciens M27 and plant (Eucalytus) extract wasdeveloped to improve the control activity of B.amyloliquefaciens M27 against cucumber powdery mildew. Themixed formulation showed the high preventive and curative control effect against cucumber powdery mildewwhen it was diluted at 500 times and foliar-sprayed. Its control effect was higher in preventive spraying thancurative spraying. When 500-fold diluted solution of the formulation was sprayed preventively four times atfive-day intervals, three times at seven-day intervals and twice at ten-day intervals, the diseased leaf area wasshown to be 4.4%, 8.0%, 27.9%, respectively; Whereas the diseased leaf area in the control plot was 45.4%.When the 500-fold diluted formulation was sprayed curatively four times at five-day intervals, three times atseven-day intervals and twice at ten-day intervals after occurred cucumber powdery mildew, the diseases leafarea was 11.5%, 25.2%, 51.8%, respectively; whereas in the control plot, the diseases leaf area was 64.3%.When the 500-fold diluted formulation was treated four times at five-day intervals in the plastic house, itscontrol effect was higher than that treated three times at seven-day intervals and twice at ten-day intervals. Asthe results, the mixed formulation of B.amyloliquefaciens M27 and plant extract could be a promisingcandidate of bio-fungicides for the environment-friendly control of powdery mildew of cucumber.Key words Bacillus amyloliquefaciens M27, Cucumber Powdery mildew, Plant Extract

This study was conducted to test effect of fungicides on the spore germination and mycelial growth of BotaniGard(Beauveria bassiana GHA). Eight fungicides, which are using for plant disease control in cucumber cultivation, with different concentration were mixed with conidia of GHA isolate for 0.5, 2, and 4 hours. The fungicides trifluminazol, fenarimol, ethaboxam, copper hydroxide and tetraconazol did significantly not inhibit on spore germination and mycelial growth. The trifluminazol, propineb and tetraconazol on high concentrations inhibited the mycelial growth of GHA. However, mixing time of fungicide with conidia of GHA did not affect in spore germination and mycelial growth. These results suggest that fungicide effect needed be checked before mycopesticide is applied in the field.

Previous studies have reported that a Gamitrinib variant containing triphenylphosphonium (G-TPP) binds to mitochondrial Hsp90 and rapidly inhibits its activity, thus inducing the apoptotic pathway in the cells. Accordingly, G-TPP shows a potential as a promising drug for the treatment of cancer. A cell can die from different types of cell death such as apoptosis, necrosis, necroptosis, and autophagic cell death. In this study, we further investigated the mechanisms and modes of cell death in the G-TPP-treated Hep3B and U937 cell lines. We discovered that G-TPP kills the U937 cells through the apoptotic pathway and the overexpression of Bcl-2 significantly inhibits U937 cell death to G-TPP. We further discovered that G-TPP kills the Hep3B cells by activating necroptosis in combination with the partial activation of caspase-dependent apoptosis. Importantly, G-TPP overcomes the apoptosis resistance conferred by Bcl-2 in Hep3B cells via necroptosis. We also observed that G-TPP induces compensatory autophagy in the Hep3B cell line. We further found that whereas there is a Bcl-2-Beclin 1 interaction in response to G-TPP, silencing the beclin 1 gene failed to block LC3-II accumulation in the Hep3B cells, indicating that G-TPP triggers Beclin 1-independent protective autophagy in Hep3B cells. Taken together, these data reveal that G-TPP induces cell death through a combination of death pathways, including necroptosis and apoptosis, and overcomes the apoptosis resistance conferred by Bcl-2 in Hep3B cells via necroptosis. These findings are important for the therapeutic exploitation of necroptosis as an alternative cell death program to bypass the resistance to apoptosis.

Bacillus species have been widely used as biological control agents in agricultural fields due to their ability to suppress plant pathogens. Bacillus velezensis M75 was isolated from cotton waste used for mushroom cultivation in Korea, and was found to be antagonistic to fungal plant pathogens. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of the M75 strain, which has a 4,007,450-bp single circular chromosome with 3921 genes and a G+C content of 46.60%. The genome contained operons encoding various non-ribosomal peptide synthetases and polyketide synthases, which are responsible for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Our results will provide a better understanding of the genome of B. velezensis strains for their application as biocontrol agents against fungal plant pathogens in agricultural fields.

Sclerotium cepivorum is a causal agent of white rot disease on different plants including Allium species such as garlic. A mycoparasite, Paraconiothyrium minitans S134 was selected for biological control of sclerotinia rot of garlic caused by S. cepivorum. The experiment was carried out in a garlic field in Taean from October in 2011 to June in 2012. Spore suspension of the mycoparasite was treated twice onto soil surface around garlic plants in sowing in 2011 and late Feb. in 2012, and disease rating was made June in 2012. Incidence of white rot in the twice-application plot of the mycoparasite ( spores/mL) and in the fluquinconazole (WP)-treated plot was 6.8% and 0.4%, respectively, whereas that of control was 19.5%. As the results, P. minitans S134 could be a prospective biofungicide for biological control of white rot of garlic.

Streptomyces spp. were isolated from rhizosphere in fallow lands. The Streptomyces spp. were identifiedas Streptomyces griseus (MSS181), Streptomyces griseoaurantiacus (MSS269), Streptomyces microflavus (MSS275),Streptomyces herbaricolor (MSS276) based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Afterwards, cucumber, pepper, tobaccoand tomato were drenched with the isolates at early growth stages and plant growth such as height and dry weightof 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 sameisolates 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% and65-165%, respectively compared to the control. When antifungal activities of the isolates were tested against plantpathogenic fungi, Streptomyces microflavus (MSS275) effectively inhibited the mycelial growth of Phytophthoracapsici, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.Key words Streptomyces, Plant growth promotion

A mycoparasite, Paraconiothyrium minitans CM2 was selected for biological control of sclerotinia rot of lettuce caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The experiment was carried out in a lettuce greenhouse in Yangpyeong from March to April.. When lettuce sclerotinia rot showed in the early stage of occurrence, Conidial suspension of the mycoparasite was weekly treated once to three times onto soil surface around lettuce plants. Incidence of sclerotinia rot in the once-application plot of the mycoparasite (1 × 10 7 spores/ml) and in the benomyl(WP)-treated plot was 11.0% and 2.7%, respectively, whereas that of control was 31.0%. Incidence of twice- and three- appli- cation plots of the isolate was 7.9% and 12.8%, respectively. For increasing the effect of the mycoparasite, the experiment for the timing of application of P. minitans CM2 was carried out in a lettuce greenhouse in Yangpyeong and Suwon. Control efficacy against lettuce sclerotinia rot in the soil-drenching plots of P. minitans CM2 (5 × 10 6 spores/ml) in the planting was 75.3~84.7%, and control effect by treatment of the isolate at the pot drenching+the soil-drenching plots in the early stage of disease occurrence was 63.8~58.0%. As the results, P. minitans CM2 could be a prospective biofungicide for biological control of sclerotinia rot of lettuce.

Agricultural Microbiology Division, NAAS, RDA, Suwon 441-707, Korea(Received 12, November 2012., Revised 27, November 2012., Accepted 3, December 2012)ABSTRACT: Stem canker and tuber rot symptoms were observed on yam grown in Andong and Jinju, Koreain 2011. A total of 20 isolates of Rhizoctonia and allied fungi were obtained from the symptomatic plants. Amongthe isolates, 8 isolates were identified as Rhizoctonia solani and 12 isolates as Ceratobasidium sp. based on rDNA-internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence similarity. In the cluster analysis of rDNA-ITS sequences, 7 isolates ofR. solani belonged to AG 2-2IIIB and remaining one to AG 1-1A. In addition, among the 12 isolates of Cera-tobasidium sp., 7 isolates belonged to AG-Fa, three isolates to AG-A and the other two isolates to AG-Fb and AG-O, respectively. Pathogenicity tests showed that all the R. solani AG 2-2IIIB isolates are pathogenic on stem andtuber of yam but R. solani AG 1-1A and all the Ceratobasidium isolates are non-pathogenic. The results indicatethat R. solani AG 2-2IIIB is an important pathogen causing stem canker and tuber rot on yams grown in thestudy areas. This is the first report of R. solani AG 2-2IIIB causing stem canker and tuber rot of yam in Korea.KEYWORDS : Rhizoctonia solani, Stem canker, Tuber rot, Yam

In June 2012, leaf spot and stem rot were observed on Wilford Swallowwort plants grown in Cheonan, Korea. Three fungal isolates obtained from the diseased leaves and stems were identified as Stemphylium lycopersici, based on morphological, cultural, and molecular characteristics and pathogenicity. This is the first report of leaf spot and stem rot on Wilford Swallowwort caused by S. lycopersici.

The soil chemical properties, microbial community structures and biochemical properties of lettuce or cucumber-cultivated greenhouse soil samples were analyzed to assess soil health and characterize microbial distribution in 8 locations in Korea. Although most of chemical properties were within the soil management guidelines, the available phosphate, and the contents of exchangeable potassium and calcium were higher than those of recommended levels. In the culture-dependent analysis, 841 bacterial strains were isolated from the greenhouse soils and were identified at the genus level by 16S rRNA gene sequences analysis. The dominant bacterial genera were Bacillus (35.7%), Microbacterium (9.3%), Arthrobacter (5.7%) and Lysobacter (5.1%). The abundance of pseudomonads was highly variable depending on the soil samples. In the culture-independent analysis, soil microbial community was investigated by using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) method. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that a specific grouping for microbial community structure in the greenhouse soils was not observed based on cultivated crops and investigated sites. The results revealed that the greenhouses soils examined are relatively sound managed in terms of soil chemical contents and microbial properties.

Gray mold symptoms were frequently observed on green twigs, blossoms, leaves, and fruits of blueberry trees grown in greenhouses in Cheongyang, Dangjin, Daejeon, and Jeju during disease survey in eight locations of Korea from 2007 to 2010. The disease symptoms were not observed in the fields of the other locations investigated. The disease incidence ranged 1~30% in the greenhouses investigated. A total of 27 single spore isolates of Botrytis species were obtained from the gray mold symptoms, and all the isolates were identified as Botrytis cinerea based on their morphological and cultural characteristics. Four isolates of the fungus were tested for pathogenicity to leaves of four varieties of blueberry trees by artificial inoculation with conidial suspensions. All the tested isolates caused gray mold symptoms on the leaves, which were similar to those observed in the greenhouses. This is the first report that B. cinerea causes gray mold of blueberry trees grown in greenhouses in Korea.

One fungal isolate CM2 parasitic to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and S. minor causing Sclerotinia rot of lettuce was identified as Paraconiothyrium minitans based on its morphological and molecular characteristics. P. minitans CM2 grew best on PDA with pH 6.5 at under alternating cycles of 12 hr near ultraviolet light and 12 hr darkness. Scleroria of S. sclerotiorum and S. minor treated with conidial suspension of P. minitans CM2 did not directly germinate and produced no apothecia.

Colletotrichum panacicola isolates were obtained from anthracnose lesions of Korean ginseng and compared with four Colletotrichum species in morphology, molecular phylogeny and pathogenicity. Based on morphological characteristics, C. panacicola was easily distinguished from Colletotrichum gloeosporioides but not from Colletotrichum higginsianum, Colletotrichum destructivum and Colletotrichum coccodes. A phylogenetic tree generated from ribosomal DNA-internal transcribed spacer sequences revealed that C. panacicola is remarkably distinguished from C. gloeosporioides and C. coccodes but not from C. higginsianum and C. destructivum. However, molecular sequence analysis of three combined genes (actin + elongation factor-1α + glutamine synthatase) provided sufficient variability to distinguish C. panacicola from other Colletotrichum species. Pathogencity tests showed that C. panacicola is pathogenic to Korean ginseng but not to other plants. These results suggest that C. panacicola is an independent taxon distin-zguishable from C. gloeosporioides and other morphologically similar Colletotrichum species.

To screen for potential biocontrol agents against postharvest disease of garlics caused by Penicillium hirsutum, a total of 1292 isolates were isolated from the rhizoshere or rhizoplane of Allium species. Among them, S59-4 isolate was selected as a potential biocontrol agent by in vivo wounded garlic bulb assay. The isolate was identified as Pantoea agglomerans (Pa59-4) through Biolog system. Pa59-4 did not inhibit the mycelial growth of P. hirsutum in dual-culture with P. hirsutum on tryptic soy agar. In order to elucidate mode of action of Pa59-4 on biological control, nutrient competition between Pa59-4 and P. hirsutum was investigated by the simple method using tissue culture plates with cylinder inserts containing defusing membrane reported by Janisiewicz et al. (2000). The results showed that Pa59-4 effectively suppressed spore germination and mycelial growth of blue mold in the low concentration (0.5%) of garlic juice, but it did not suppress those of blue mold in the high concentration (5%) of garlic juice. This result suggests that the mechanism in biocontrol of garlic blue mold by Pa 59-4 may be involved in nutrient competition with P. hirsutum on garlic bulbs.

Stem canker symptoms were observed in a rape field in Muan, Korea during a disease survey in May 2006. A total of 15 isolates of Phoma sp. were obtained from the infected stems of the plant. All isolates were identified as Leptosphaeria biglobosa based on their morphological and cultural characteristics. The Korean isolates of L. biglobosa were assigned to `brassicae` among six subclades of L. biglobosa complex based on the entire ITS sequences of rDNA. Pathogenicity of the fungal isolates was confirmed on leaves and stems of rape by artificial inoculation. This is the first report that Leptosphaeria biglobosa causes stem canker of rape in Korea.

Bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt and Foot rot caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, Fusarium oxysporum, and Phytophthora capsici respectively, continue to be severe problems to tomato, potato and black pepper growers in Vietnam. Three bio-products, Bacillus vallismortis EXTN-1 (EXTN-1), Bacillus sp. and Paenibacillus sp. (ESSC) and Bacillus substilis (MFMF) were examined in greenhouse bioassay for the ability to reduce bacterial wilt, fusarium wilt and foot rot disease severity. While these bio-products significantly reduced disease severities, EXTN-1 was the most effective, providing a mean level of disease reduction 80.0 to 90.0% against bacterial wilt, fusarium wilt and foot rot diseases under greenhouse conditions. ESSC and MFMF also significantly reduced fusarium wilt, bacterial wilt and foot rot severity under greenhouse conditions. Bio-product, EXTN-1 with the greatest efficacy under greenhouse condition was tested for the ability to reduce bacterial wilt, fusarium wilt and foot rot under field condition at Song Phuong and Thuong Tin locations in Ha Tay province, Vietnam. Under field condition, EXTN-1 provided a mean level of disease reduction more than 45.0% against all three diseases compared to water treated control. Besides, EXTN-1 treatment increased the yield in tomato fruits 17.3% than water treated control plants.

The screening of antifungal active compounds from the fermentation extracts of soil-borne bacterium Burkholderia cepacia K87 afforded pyrrolnitrin (1) and two new pyrrolnitrin analogs, 3-chloro-4-(3-chloro-2-nitrophenyl)-5-methoxy-3-pyrrolin-2-one (2) and 4-chloro-3-(3-chloro-2-nitrophenyl)-5-methoxy-3-pyrrolin-2-one (3). Pyrrolnitrin showed strong antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani but the analogs (2 and 3) were found to be marginally active. The isolates, 2 and 3, are believed to be biodegraded derivatives of pyrrolnitrin.

Twenty isolates of Bacillus spp. obtained from livestock manure composts and cotton-waste composts were tested for in vitro antagonistic effects against soilborne plant pathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum, Phytophthora capsici, Rhizoctonia solani AG-4, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Seven isolates of Bacillus spp. had antagonistic effects on mycelial growth of all the isolates of F. oxysporum tested. The bacterial isolate RM43 was the most effective to inhibit the mycelial growth of the fungal isolates. Twelve isolates of Bacillus spp. had antagonistic effects on mycelial growth of all the isolates of P. capsici tested. The bacterial isolates M34 and M47 were very effective to inhibit the mycelial growth of the fungal isolates. Thirteen isolates of Bacillus spp. had antagonistic effects on mycelial growth of all the isolates of R. solani AG-4 tested. The bacterial isolates M27 and M75 were very effective to inhibit the mycelial growth of the fungal isolates. Fourteen isolates of Bacillus sp. had antagonistic effects on mycelial growth of all the isolates of S. sclerotiorum tested. The bacterial isolates M49 and M75 were very effective to inhibit the mycelial growth of the fungal isolates. The antagonistic effects of most Bacillus spp. isolates against the isolates of the four fungi differed depending on the fungal species and the isolates of each fungus. The bacterial isolates M27 and M75 were the most effective to inhibit the mycelial growth of all four fungi.

Objective To examine whether cilostazol, a selective phosphodiesterase type III inhibitor, protects rat articular chondrocytes against nitric oxide (NO)–induced apoptosis and prevents cartilage destruction in mono-iodoacetate–induced osteoarthritis (OA) in a rat model in which inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is expressed. Methods The NO donor sodium nitroprusside was administered to rat articular chondrocytes that had been pretreated with cilostazol. Induction of apoptosis was evaluated by DNA electrophoresis and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The expression level and the subcellular location of apoptosis-associated factors were examined by Western blot analysis and confocal microscopy, respectively. Protein kinase CK2 (PKCK2) activity was also assayed. To examine whether orally administered cilostazol prevents cartilage destruction in vivo, cartilage samples obtained from rats with experimentally induced OA were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin, Safranin O, and TUNEL staining and immunohistochemical analysis of iNOS expression. Results Cilostazol prevented NO-induced reduction in viability, in a dose-dependent manner. It also prevented the up-regulation of phosphorylated p53 and p38, the down-regulation of heme oxygenase 1, the subcellular translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor and cytochrome c, and the activation of caspases 3, 7, and 8 induced by NO treatment, indicating that cilostazol prevented NO-induced cell death by blocking apoptosis. In addition, cilostazol prevented NO-induced translocation of cleaved Bid onto mitochondria, and caused phosphorylated Bid to accumulate in the nucleus and cytosol. Cilostazol prevented the down-regulation of PKCK2 and the reduction in PKCK2 activity induced by NO, indicating that its apoptosis-preventing activity was mediated via PKCK2. It also prevented chondrocyte apoptosis and cartilage destruction in a rat model of experimentally induced OA. Conclusion Our findings indicate that cilostazol prevents NO-induced apoptosis of chondrocytes via PKCK2 in vitro and prevents cartilage destruction in a rat model of OA.

Powdery mildew caused by Podosphaera fusca is one of the most important diseases in leafy lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Since the disease has been a threat to safe cultivation of leafy lettuce, its control methods have to develop to produce good quality of lettuce for farmer and consumer. Occurrence of lettuce powdery mildew is increasing more and more due to continuous cultivation of lettuce all through the year, non-removal of diseased plant parts of lettuce, spray of inadequate fungicides by mistaken acknowledge of lettuce powdery mildew for lettuce downy mildew, etc. The control effect of five fungicides against lettuce powdery mildew was examined in a plastic greenhouse located in Suwon. When fungicides were sprayed three times at 10 days-intervals in the early stage of occurrence of powdery mildew, the incidence of powdery mildew in the plants treated with kresoxim-methy SC, azoxystrobin SC, Ampelomyces quisqualis AQ94013 WP, Paenibacillus polymyxa AC-1 SC and Bacillus subtilis Y 1336 WP was 0.7%, 0.7%, 26.0%, 36.7% and 42.0%, respectively, whereas the incidence of non-treated control was 55.3% on eight days after final application. Phytotoxicity of five fungicides tested was not observed in lettuce seedling plants.

308 isolates of Ampelomyces sp. were isolated from powdery mildew fungi of 73 plant species in Korea for selection of biocontrol agents. An isolate 94013 isolated from powdery mildew fungus of red bean was selected as an effective biological control agent against cucumber powdery mildew in greenhouse. The morphological characteristics of the isolate is as follows. Pycnidia were sub-globose or elongated to pyriform, pale to dart brown, , and conidia were guttulate, straight cylindrical to fusiform, pale brown, . The isolate 94013 was identified as Ampelomyces quisqualis by morphological characteristics and rDNA ITS sequencing. The isolate A. quisqualis 94013 was different from that of the commercial product in the rDNA ITS sequence.

308 isolates of Ampelomyces quisqualis were isolated from powdery mildew fungi of 73 plant species in Korea from 1994 to 2004. Among them, the new mycohosts and new plant hosts of A. quisqualis were found in 13 species of powdery mildew fungi in 38 species of plant. The new hosts of A. quisqualis were Erysiphe heraclei on Heracleum moellenderfii; E. hommae on Elsholtzia splendins; E. glycines on Glycine max; E. lespedezae on Lespedeza biclor; E. pileae on Pilea mongolica; E. pisi on Phaseolus radiatus; E. polygoni on Rumex aquatica and Rumex crispus; Golovinomyce artemisiae on Artemisia princeps var. orientalis; G. cichoracearum on Rudbeckia laciniata var. hortensis; G. rubiae on Rubia akane; Oidium sp. on Valeriana fauriei, Lactuca indica var. laciniata, Carpesium triste var. manshuricum, Aster ageratoides var. turczaninow, Lufa cylindrica, Ixeris demtats Nakai, Phlox paniculata, Bidens bipinnata and Pathenocissus tricuspidata; Microsphaera alphitoides on Quercus aliema, M. pseudolonicerae on Cocculus trilobos; Podosphaera sp. on Ligustrum obtusifolium; Sphaerotheca aphanisi on Fragaria ananassa; S. balsaminae on Impatiens textori; S. fusca on Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita maxima, Ligularia fischeri, Solanum melongena, Lagenaria leucantha, Cucumis melo var. makuwa, Acalypha australis, Cosmos bipinnatus and Aster scaber; Uncinuliella simulans on Rosa muliflora and Uncinula australiana on Lagerstroemia indica.

An isolate of Ampelomyces quisqualis 94013(AQ94013) was selected as an effective parasite for biological control of cucumber powdery mildew. In the greenhouse, occurrence of cucumber powdery mildew was significantly suppressed for nine days by pre-treatment with and of conidial suspension of AQ94013. The disease was effectively controlled within three to seven days by post-treatment with the suspension of AQ94013. When AQ94013 was treated at concentration of three times at seven-day interval in the vinylhouse, the control effect was higher than that treated twice at ten-day interval and that treated with fenarimol twice. As the results, Ampelomyces quisqualis 94013 could be a prospective biofungicide for biological control of powdery mildew of cucumber.

An isolate of Ampelomyces quisqualis 94013(AQ94013) was selected as an effective agent for biological control against cucumber powdery mildew. In order to develop mass production technique, six cereal media made with barley, rice, mille and brown rice, sorghumand rice seed were tested. Among them, barley medium was the best for the growth and conidial production of AQ94013. Optimum temperature for the mass production of AQ94013 was and followed by and . Light radiation inhibited conidial production of AQ94013 since number of conidia formed on barely medium under continuous light or 12 hrs alternative light were much less than cultured in darkness. Tthe conidia produced on the medium at maintained the parasitic ability to Sphaerotheca fusca for 30 days. A culture method of AQ94013 in barley liquid medium with adding barely power(40 g/l) in darkness for five days at using a 30 l-fermenter was very effective for mass production of conidia.

【Biocontrol activity of five strains of selected rhizo-bacteria were tested in tomato against bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. After root bacterization the plants were grown in a perlite-hydroponic system. Upon challenge inoculation with the pathogen, all of the rhizobacterial strains efficiently suppressed the bacterial wilt in tomato in various rates, at maximum by the strain, Bacillus vallismortis strain EXTN-1. While the percent of infected plants in the non-bacterized control plants were 95%, it was only 65% in plants pre-treated with EXTN-1. It was also demonstrated that the movement of R. solanacearum within the stem was significantly hampered when the plants were root bacterized. As EXTN-1 has no antagonistic properties against R. solanacearum, the bacterial wilt was probably suppressed by a mechanism other than antibiosis. Previously, the strain had been proven to produce an efficient elicitor for inducing systemic resistance in many crops. As the present study confirmed that EXTN-1 has the ability for reducing the pathogen spread in tomato, the strain could be effectively used as a potential biocontrol agent against bacterial wilt.】

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum strain CC178 is a phyllosphere bacterium with antagonistic activity against a wide range of plant fungal pathogens. The genome of strain CC178 is 3,916,828 bp in size and harbors 3,972 genes. Six giant gene clusters are dedicated to the nonribosomal synthesis of antimicrobial polypeptides and polyketides.

Four leguminous crops grown in greenhouses and fields in Korea were surveyed from 2000 through 2002. Sclerotinia rot most severely occurred up to in Phaseolus vulgaris grown in greenhouses but occurred as low as in that grown in fields. Incidence of the disease in Pisum sativum grown in greenhouses ranged , and that in Vicia Java and Vigna sinensis grown in fields was and , respectively. Symptoms of Sclerotinia rot commonly developed on stems and pods of the crops. A total of 59 isolates of Sclerotinia species were obtained from diseased stems and pods of the crops. All of the isolates were identified as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum based on their morphological characteristics. Eight isolates of the fungus were tested for their pathogenicity to four host crops by artificial inoculation. All of the isolates induced rot symptoms on stems of the host crops tested, which were similar to those observed in the fields. The pathogenicity tests revealed that there was no significant difference in the susceptibility to the isolates among the leguminous crops tested This is the first formal report that S. sclerotiorum causes the Sclerotinia` rot of the four leguminous crops in Korea.

An isolate of Ampelomyces quisqualis 94013 was selected as an effective parasite for biological control against cucumber powdery mildew. Temperature range for the parasitism of A. quisqualis 94013 against cucumber powdery mildew was , and optimal temperature for that . In humidity of the greenhouse, parasitic ability of A. quisqualis 94013 against Sphaerotheca fusca was not good. Inoculation tests revealed that A. quisqualis 94013 can parasitize on six species of Sphaerotheca in the 12 crops and Ersiphe cichoracerum in tomato. As host rang of A. quisqualis 94013 was broad and it may be used effectively as a biocontrol agent for powdery mildew of 13 crops.

Ampelomyces quisqualis 94013 (AQ94013), a hyperparasite, was selected as an effective biological control agent against cucumber powdery mildew. Optimal temperature for mycelial growth of AQ94013 was , and the optimal pH was 6.5. Conidia of AQ94013 were more Produced on potato dextrose agar (PDA) in darkness than under alternating cycles of 12 hr fluorescent light and 12 hr darkness. Temperature range for spore germination of the fungus was , and optimal temperature was . Conidial germination of the fungus began 8 hr after incubation at . Germination rate of conidia at concentration of was higher than at concentration of . The best source of carbon and nitrogen for mycelial growth of the fungus were dextrin and neopeptone, respectively.