Jong-Han Park

Screening of Tomato Cultivars Resistant to Bacterial Wilts

Bacterial wilts, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is a very destructive disease to tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) in Korea. Selection of resistant cultivar is the best way to prevent or reduce the occurrence of this disease. Thirty-nine tomato cultivars, twenty-one cherry tomato cultivars and thirteen rootstock tomato cultivars were inoculated with Ralstonia solanacearum, to evaluate tomato cultivars for resistance against bacterial wilts. Thirty-seven cultivars were highly susceptible to bacterial wilts and 61-100% of their whole tissue became wilted within 10 days after inoculation. Twenty-four cultivars showed moderate resistance and twelve were resistant to bacterial wilts. In an evaluation of 73 major commercial cultivars, ‘Lilyance’, ‘TP-7’, ‘Choice’, ‘Dadaki’, ‘Akiko’, ‘Redstar’, ‘Match’, ‘B-blocking’, ‘Magnet’, ‘Support’, ‘Friend’ and ‘Special’ were found to have a high level of resistance to bacterial wilts of tomatoes.

Diversity of Endophytic Fungi Associated with the Roots of Four Aquatic Plants Inhabiting Two Wetlands in Korea.

Abstract A total of 4 aquatic plants, Eleocharis kuroguwai Ohwi, Hydrocharis dubia Backer, Salvinia natans All., and Zizania latifolia Turcz., were sampled from representative two wetlands of South Korea. A total of 38 endophytic fungal strains were isolated from aquatic plants native to the Daepyeong wetland, and 27 strains were isolated from the Jilnal wetland. The internal transcribed spacer regions of fungal isolates were sequenced and a phylogenetic analysis was performed. In addition, endophytic fungal diversity from each wetland and host plant species was deduced. A total of 25 fungal genera were purely isolated, and 16 fungal genera were isolated from each of the two wetlands. Commonly isolated genera from both wetlands were Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Clonostachys, Fusarium, Leptosphaeria, Penicillium, and Talaromyces. This study revealed that fungal diversity varied with environmental conditions and by host plant in representative two wetlands.

First Report of Myrothecium roridum Causing Leaf and Stem Rot Disease on Peperomia quadrangularis in Korea

Abstract In 2010, symptoms of leaf and stem rot were observed on potted plants (Peperomia quadrangularis) in a greenhouse in Yongin, Korea. The causative pathogen was identified as Myrothecium roridum based on morphological data, internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis, and pathogenicity test. To our knowledge, this is the first report of M. roridum causing leaf and stem rot disease on P. quadrangularis in Korea and elsewhere worldwide.

Effect of Temperature, Relative Humidity on Germination and Development of Powdery Mildew (Leveillula taurica) on Pepper and Its Inoculation Method

Pepper powdery mildew, Leveillula taurica is one of the most important pathogens of pepper in the greenhouses and fields in Korea and is becoming a worldwide disease. These experiments were carried out to investigate the optimal germination, disease development conditions, disease incidence and effective inoculation methods of pepper powdery mildew. The incidence of powdery mildew was investigated throughout the country based on the major pepper growing areas in 2009. The average rate of infected leaves ranged from 15.3% to 81.8% in greenhouses and fields. Powdery mildew incidences were more severe in greenhouses than those of fields. The optimal temperature for conidial germination was and showed the highest germination at 6 hs after treatment. The range of temperature for germination was to . Temperature of greater than and below affected the abnormal germination and germ tube elongation. The optimal relative humidity for germination and germ tube elongation was 85% and germination increased as relative humidity increased. Disease development started 8 days after inoculation and showed the highest disease severity at 15 days in greenhouse and field regardless of varieties. Among three different inoculation methods tested the spore dropping method was better than touching with infected leaves and spraying with spore suspension. However, the method has limitation in mass inoculation due to the amount of time consumed.

Genetic Diversity of Ralstonia solanacearum Strains Isolated from Pepper and Tomato Plants in Korea

A total of 35 strains of Ralstonia solanacearum isolated from wilted pepper and tomato plants in Korea were analyzed for their genetic diversity by bacteriological, pathological and molecular biological approaches. All the strains were identified as R. solanacearum biovar 4 on the basis of physiological and biochemical tests, and species-specific PCR primers. Pathogenicity of the strains was confirmed by inoculating on 4-week-old pepper and tomato seedlings. Using cluster analysis based on repetitive sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) genomic fingerprints, R. solanacearum strains isolated from pepper and tomato in Korea divided into 6 groups showing a high degree of genetic diversity at 55% similarity level. The genetic diversify of strains was not significantly correlated with their geographic origins and host plants.

Bacterial Fruit Blotch of Melon Caused by Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli

In September and October 2005, melons(Cucumis melo L.) from the commercial greenhouses in Naju and Gwangju exhibited severe foliar necrosis and fruit rot. Leaf symptoms initially appeared as V-shaped, necrotic lesions and extending to the midrib. Symptoms on the fruit were occurred randomly as necrotic and sunken spots. Two isolates from diseased leaves and fruits were identified as Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli on the basis of bacteriological and genetic characteristics. Pathogenicity of the isolates was confirmed by inoculating on 3-week-old melon and cucumber seedlings. This is the first report of bacterial fruit blotch of melon in Korea.

Endophyte distribution and comparative analysis of diversity in wetlands showing contrasting geomorphic conditions

The distribution and diversity of endophytic fungi in native hydrophytes from Korea were investigated. Fourteen hydrophytes (i.e., Hydrocharis dubia, Iris pseudacorus, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, Miscanthus sinensis, Nymphoides peltata, Nymphaea tetragona, Nelumbo nucifera, Pistia stratiotes, Salvinia natans, Sagittaria trifolia, Trapa japonica, Typha orientalis, Vallisneria natan, and Zizania latifolia) were sampled from freshwater marshes. A total of 216 fungal endophytes, isolated purely on the basis of morphological differences, were identified by ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA sequence similarity. The hydrophytes harbored a variety of endophytic fungi, most of which belonged to three phyla, seven classes, and 43 genera. Dramatic differences in diversity values were found among the six marshes, even within the same hydrophyte species. This distinguishing diversity or distribution of endophytes correlated with the specific environmental features but not the plant taxon. Several endophyte genera that have been reported to have biological activity (PGPR, ISR) were identified. This study provided basic data on the symbiotic relationship between hydrophytes and their endophytic fungi.

Specific rhizobacterial resources: characterization and comparative analysis from contrasting coastal environments of Korea

This study analyzed the rhizobacterial distribution from two coasts, which show contrasting climates and geographical and geological characteristics, to secure specific microbial resources. Furthermore, rhizobacteria were characterized and the results were comparatively analyzed with reference to the characteristics of two coastal environments. For this purpose, three representative halophyte species communities native to the Dokdo Islands and the East Sea coast of Korea were selected. Partial identification of rhizobacteria showed a clear difference between each sampling site and halophyte. Furthermore, isolates were characterized by their growth properties under NaCl or pH gradients related with previous geographical, geological, and climatic studies of the Dokdo Islands and the East Sea coast. A high proportion of the East Sea isolates showed halotolerance, but a high proportion of Dokdo isolates shared halophilic traits. Meanwhile, a higher proportion of East Sea isolates grew at a wider range of pH values than those of the Dokdo Islands. The results of our study suggest that unique rhizobacterial resources developed under specific rhizospheric conditions derived from halophytes interacting with their specific environment, even within the same coastal halophytic species. Therefore, this study proposes the necessity of securing characterized and unique microbial resources to apply to specific environments for the purpose of recovering and restoring sand dunes or salt‐damaged agricultural lands.

Microflora of phytopathogen-transferring Bradysia agrestis: a step toward finding ideal candidates for paratransgenesis

Owing to the effect of symbiotic gut bacteria on the proliferation of infectious disease-transferring insects and their potential as paratransgenic tools, their identification or securing their use in controlling insect vectors is urgently needed. Bradysia agrestis is one of the major plant epidemic vectors in East Asia; however, its normal microbiota remains unstudied. This research was primarily designed to secure promising candidates for use in a paratransgenic approach to phytopathogen control, as well as to provide a picture of the gut microbiota of wild-caught B. agrestis from a blight field. A total of 180 larvae from three different regions in South Korea were analyzed for their gut microfloral composition. Diverse bacterial strains were purely isolated based on morphological differences in microbiological media. We found a total of 64 bacterial strains in the B. agrestis midgut and analyzed their 16S rRNA gene sequences for molecular identification and phylogenetic characterization. Furthermore, the microbial diversity of each normal microbiota group was analyzed with various diversity indices. Bacterial biota including species diversity, richness or species distribution, species constituents, and dominance varied by each regional vector group. The most widely distributed species was Bacillus aryabhattai, and the most common genera were Bacillus and Microbacterium. These saprophytic bacteria were isolated from all regional groups and their potential as paratransgenic candidates for controlling B. agrestis-mediated plant disease is discussed.

First Report of Fusarium subglutinans Causing Leaf Spot Disease on Cymbidium Orchids in Korea

Abstract In 2006~2010, leaf spot symptoms, that is, small, yellow spots that turned into dark brown-to-black lesions surrounded by a yellow halo, were observed on Cymbidium spp. in Gongju, Taean, and Gapyeong in Korea. A Fusarium species was continuously isolated from symptomatic leaves; in pathogenicity testing, isolates caused leaf spot symptoms consisting of sunken, dark brown lesions similar to the original ones. The causal pathogen was identified as Fusarium subglutinans based on morphological and translation elongation factor 1-alpha sequence analyses. This is the first report of F. subglutinans as the cause ofleaf spot disease in Cymbidium spp. in Korea.