Hang Yeon Weon

In Vitro Antagonistic Characteristics of Bacilli Isolates against Trichoderma spp. and Three Species of Mushrooms

Twenty isolates of Bacillus species obtained from livestock manure composts and cotton-waste composts were tested for their antagonistic effects in vitro against three green mold pathogens of mushrooms (Trichoderma harzianum, T. koningii, and T. viridescens). However, there exists a possibility Bacillus species may have antagonistic effects against mushrooms themselves, and thus the same 20 isolates were tested in vitro against three species of mushrooms (Flammulina velutipes, Lentinus edodes, and Pleurotus ostreatus). Of the 20 Bacillus species isolates tested, two inhibited mycelial growth of T. harzianum, seven that of T. koningii, and eight that of T. viridescens. Importantly, the bacterial isolates M27 and RM29 strongly inhibited mycelial growth of all the Trichoderma spp. isolates tested. The isolate M27 was subsequently identified as the most effective in inhibiting mycelial growth of all the Trichoderma species. Interesting results of the effect Bacillus isolates had upon the mushroom species followed. It was found that most Bacillus isolates except 5T33 at least somewhat inhibited mycelial growth of the three mushroom species or some of the mushrooms. Furhermore, the antagonistic effects of the bacterial isolates against the three species of mushrooms varied depending on the mushroom species, suggesting a role for mushroom type in the mechanism of inhibition. The bacterial isolates M27 and RM29 were identified as having the most antagonistic activity, inhibiting mycelial growth of all the Trichoderma spp. as well as mycelial growth of the three species of mushrooms. These results suggest that the bacterial isolates and their antagonistic effects on green mold pathogens should be further studied for their practical use for biological control of green mold in the growing room of the mushrooms.

Effect of Casing Layer on Growth Promotion of the Edible Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus.

Various bacteria were isolated from the casing layer soil of the culture bed of P. ostreatus and their role in fruiting body induction of the edible mushroom, P. ostreatus, was investigated. Analysis of the bacterial community isolated from the casing layer soil revealed that the composition of genera and number of cultivable bacteria were different for each sterilizing treatment. Bordetella was predominant in the bulk soil whereas Flavobacterium was predominant after sterilization of the casing layer soil. Fluorescent Pseudomonas was predominant in the non-sterilized casing layer soil. Total number of the bacterial genera in the casing layer soil was higher than that in the bulk soil. In particular, an increase in the fluorescent Pseudomonas population was observed in the non-sterilized casing layer accompanied by induction of fruiting body and enhanced mushroom production yield. The results suggested that specific bacterial populations in the casing layer play an important role in the formation of primodia and the development of basidiome in P. ostreatus.

Effect of Fermented Sawdust on Pleurotus Spawn

A method of spawn making procedures through the application of fermented sawdust for the purpose of avoiding contamination by undesirable fungi in the course of Pleurotus ostreatus mycelial growth was evaluated. Of three kinds of supplements, rice bran was the most effective to raise temperature up to 70°C. Mycelial activity and density was more considerably improved in the case of using fermented sawdust supplemented with rice bran than the case of non-fermented sawdust. Primordia of Pleurotus ostreatus were formed on fermented sawdust. The substrate of fermented sawdust showed potential to prevent the growth of Trichoderma sp. which caused a symptom on mushroom mycelium, whereas there was nothing to inhibit the growth of Trichoderma sp. during 30 days after inoculation in non-fermented sawdust.

Effect of Heavy Metals on Mycelial Growth of Color Mutants at Pleurotus ostreatus

Mycelial growth of Pleurotus ostreatus isolates was examined on PDA media added with heavy metals to reveal effects of heavy metals on mycelial growth of the fungus. Cd and Cu strongly inhibited mycelial growth of three isolates of fungus tested. However, addition of Pb to growing media of white color mutant of fungus resulted in increase of the fungal growth rate. Addition of 2 mM Cr to the media resulted in increase of growth rate of the white color mutant and the dark color mutant of fungus. Mycelial growth rate of the white color mutant was relatively better than the other isolates on media added with Cr, Pb, Cu, or Mn, respectly. Tolerance of the white color mutans to heavy metals was higher than that of the black color mutant. It is suggested that tolerance of the white color mutant to heavy metals was not controled by color-related substance of the fungus.

Changes of Enzyme Activities and Compositions of Abnormal Fruiting Bodies Grown under Artificial Environmental Conditions in Pleurotus ostreatus.

Abstract This study investigated the biochemical changes of abnormal fruiting bodies grown under artificial environmental conditions in P. ostreatus. Abnormal mushroom growth during cultivation damages the production of good quality mushroom. This study showed that different environmental conditions produced morphological changes in the fruiting bodies of P. ostreatus. The fruiting bodies with morphological changes were collected and examined for differences in biochemical properties, enzyme activities, and carbohydrates composition. The enzyme activities assay showed that glucanase and chitinase activities decreased when the temperature was below or above the optimum cultivation temperature for P. ostreatus. The biochemical compositions of the abnormal mushroom were significantly different from the normal fruiting bodies. It was suggested that the changes in the biochemical composition of abnormal mushroom were caused by the unfavorable environmental conditions during mushroom cultivation.

Selection of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens M27 for Biocontrol on Lettuce Sclerotinia Rot

For selection of effective antagonists for control Sclerotinia rot of lettuce, 29 bacteria were isolated from soil in Korea. The bacterial isolates M27 and RM43 identified as Bacillus sp, were selected as prospective agents for inhibiting mycelial growth of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotinia minor. Among the selected isolates, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens M27 effectively suppressed incidence of Sclerotinia rot by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotinia minor in the lettuce nursery.

Selection of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CC110 for Biological Control of Cucumber Downy Mildew Caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis

In order to select antagonists for biological control of downy mildew of cucumber, 126 bacteria were isolated from cucumber plants collected from several locations in Korea. Among them, Five isolates were selected as potential biocontrol agents of cucumber downy mildew using a leaf disc bioassay method. In preventive and curative effect tests, the isolate CC110 was found to be effective to control downy mildew on cucumber showing diseased area by 0% whereas that of control was 15.0~18.0%. A bacterium isolate CC110 was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum based on phylogenetic analysis using gyrB gene sequence. The culture liquid of isolate CC110 in TSB media were more effective for the control of the disease than those cultured in LB, NB, and KB media in leaf disk bioassay. when undiluted liquid, two-fold, five-fold diluted culture broth, and undiluted liquid, two-fold, five-fold diluted filtrate of isolate CC110 in TSB media were treated, diseased area of cucumber powdery mildew were 0%, 3.0%, 8.0%, 0%, 4.0% and 7.0%, respectively, whereas diseased area in the control was 21.0%. In the cucumber seedling tests, when the culture broth of isolate CC110 in TSB media was treated, diseased area were 35.0%, whereas that of control was 82.0%. When B. amyloliquefaciens CC110 was treated four times at five-day interval in the vinylhouse test, the control effect of cucumber downy mildew was higher than that treated three at seven-day interval.