Hyunchae Jung

An effective biocontrol bioformulation against Phytophthora blight of pepper using growth mixtures of combined chitinolytic bacteria under different field conditions

Phytophthora blight of pepper caused by Phytophthora capsici has devastating consequences when combined with other pathogens, including Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum, and Fusarium solani. In order to develop a field-effective biocontrol strategy against Phytophthora blight of pepper, three chitinolytic bacteria, Serratiaplymuthica strain C-1, strongly antagonistic to P. capsici, Chromobacterium sp. strain C-61, strongly antagonistic to R. solani, and Lysobacter enzymogenes strain C-3, antagonistic to R. solani and Fusarium spp., were selected. In pot studies, application of cultures combining the three bacterial strains effectively suppressed Phytophthora blight more than application of any single bacterial strain. Bioformulations developed from growth of the strains in a simple medium containing chitin under large batch conditions resulted in effective control in field applications. Efficacy of the bioformulated product depended on both the dose and timing of application. Although the undiluted product suppressed Phytophthora blight under all field conditions, a 10-fold diluted product was effective in solar-sterilized greenhouses and in fields with crop rotation. These results suggest that the developed product could be a new effective system to control Phytophthora blight disease in pepper.

The Effect of Fungal Morphology on Ligninolytic Enzyme Production by a Recently Isolated Wood-Degrading Fungus Trichophyton Rubrum LSK-27

The morphology and ligninolytic enzyme production of a recently isolated wood-degrading fungus Trichophyton rubrum LSK-27 was investigated. In submerged cultures, the organism appeared to be an efficient manganese peroxidase (MnP) producer. When grown in baffled and unbaffled shake flasks with three different working volume/total volume ratios (WV/TV 10, 25 and 50%), the organism displayed notable morphological differences, with variations in pellet shape and size. Cultivation in baffled flasks with 25% WV/TV resulted in higher MnP and also laccase production as well as an earlier appearance of these enzymes in culture broth. However, oxygen limitation conditions inhibited MnP and laccase production and resulted in considerable changes in the morphology of this fungus.

Control of Powdery Mildew of Pepper Using Culture Solutions of Chitinolytic Bacteria, Chromobacterium sp. and Lysobacter enzymogenes

Powdery mildew of pepper is one of the most devastating diseases which is occurring all the year under greenhouse condition. In this study, control efficacy against powdery mildew was evaluated by mixed culture solutions of two chitinolytic bacteria, Lysobacter enzymogenenes strain C-3 and Chrornobacterium sp. strain C-61, cultivated in the chitin-supplemented medium. In all experiments, white powder on the reverse side of pepper leaves perfectly disappeared 3 days after application of mixed culture solutions. However, periods required for formation of new white powder on the same sites after application (control-lasting period) were largely differed according to environmental conditions. In particular, the control-lasting period was much longer when sprayed on 6 PM than 9 AM and especially, on rainy days than sunny days. This indicates that control efficacy of culture solution may be largely affected by environmental conditions after application. The undiluted culture solution resulted in a perfect control with control value more than 95% by application of 5-day-intervals under severely diseased field and 7-day-intervals under disease-started field. A ten-fold diluted product also showed control value more than 81% by application of the same method. These results suggest that this culture solution can be practically used to control powdery mildew disease in pepper plants.