Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus Hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in forest is considered as a serious forest pest in pine trees. In this study, we collected entomopathogenic fungi from soil and assessed their virulence against the adults of the inset using a spray method in laboratory condition. Two entomopathogeinc fungi isolates showed high virulence against the adults. In the concentration of 1.0 × 107conidia/ml, the mortality rate of the adults were 53% and 60%. In semi-field condition, one isolate showed a virulence of 60% against the adult. Consequently, we confirmed the possibility of the fungal isolates in controlling the beetles. In near the future, we will investigate several factors which is possibly related to the control of the forest insect pest using entomopathogenic fungi in field conditions, given the importance of fungal formulation and practical application methods.

The hard tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis (Ixodida: Ixodidae) is one of the vectors of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) causing in humans, however little consideration was given to the biological control of the pest. Therefore, this study provides a screening method to select entomopathogenic fungi, having high virulence against H. longicornis. The virulence test was conducted by dipping method with a conidial suspension (1×107 conidia/ml). As a result, cadavers of H. longicornis infected with entomopathogenic fungi were obtained by this method. Based on this results, we selected several isolates having high virulence to H. longicornis. We suggest that, selected isolates in this study can be used for the control of H. longicornis.

Entomopathogenic fungi have been known as promising candidates for biological control of insect pests. Recently, researchers consider the fungal thermotolerance in formulations and field applications. In this study, we investigated the production of thermotolerant Isaria javanica and I.fumosorosea conidia through grain-based solid cultures and exposure to light stress. As results, of the ten grain substrates, Italian millet, rice, perilla seed and sesame, rice, sorghum produced highly thermotolerant conidia in the strains. The two strains were exposed to a light stress and a heat stress. And they showed enhanced thermal stability compared to control, when exposed to 45°C for 2 hours. This work suggests that heat-resistant entomopathogenic fungal conidia can be produced by grain-based solid cultures and exposure to light stress.

Melon thrips, Thrips palmi Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a serious insect pest of various crops in the world. The management of this pest mainly have relied on chemical agents. However, the overuse of chemical agents for long times causes insect resistance, and negative effects on environment. Therefore, alternative control methods, such as biological control, that are less harmful to the environment and have different mode of action are needed to control this pest. In this study, we isolated entomopathogenic fungi from Korean soil, and characterized them via morphological and molecular identifications and pathogenicity check against Tenebrio molitor larvae. The isolated fungi were subjected to virulence assay against T. Palmi with a conidial suspension of 1×107 conidia/ml in laboratory conditions. This entomopathogenic fungi library would be a good resource to select effective strains for the control of T. palmi in fields.

Entomopathogenic fungi play an important natural role in regulating their insect host populations, and their ecology was also associated with plant and soil. These microorganisms have been living by reacting to insect, plant and environmental factor. The advanced bioinformatics technology such as next-generation sequencing and RNA sequencing has revolutionized in understanding of entomopathogenic fungi. Recently studies provided a lot of information on evolutionary relationships and virulence-related characteristics. We are starting to know where these microorganisms from is, and how they live in nature. The bioinformatics technology will give us further our understanding of the natural roles of these fungi in nature.

수출 시 절화 장미의 재배 및 공선단계의 관행 기술을 개선하고자 수출 절화 장미 ‘Beast’와 ‘Cappucino’의 관행 관리 실태를 조사하였다. 일본으로 장미를 수출하는 파주시와 전주시의 재배농가 농가와 공선장 내 채화와 선별 시 사용하는 관리도구의 청결수준을 조사한 결과, 채화가위, 길이 선별 가위와 장갑과 선별대, 포장 시 사용하는 장갑과 선별대에서 300CFU･mL-1이상의 박테리아수가 검출되었다. 파주시 재배 농가 저온고 내 절화가 담긴 저장수는 2.8×105CFU･mL-1로 박테리아가 검출되었으며, Chrysal RVB clear intensive(Chrysal, Netherlands, 1%)를 사용하는 전주시 농가의 저장수에서는 4.7×105CFU･mL-1로 검출되었다. 파주시 공선장의 수출박스내 박테리아수는 후처리제(Al2O3, pH 4.5)를 사용함에도 불구하고 2.7ⅹ104CFU･mL-1이었다. 한편 파주시 재배농가에서 포장을 마친 국내 생산수출용 ‘Beast’와 ‘Beast’의 가공장미인 매직로즈의 절화보존제(Florallife-Clear200, Oasisfloral, Japan) 유무에 따른 절화수명 연장 효과를 알아보고자 실험한 결과, ‘Beast’의 경우 절화보존제 처리구의 절화수명은 TW에 비해 3일 절화수명을 연장시킬 수 있었다. 반면 매직로즈의 절화수명은 TW와 절화보존제처리 간 유의적 차이가 없었다. 이때 보존용액 내 박테리아수는 ‘Beast’의 경우 TW와 절화보존제 처리구에서 각각 8.1×104, 2.0×103CFU･mL-1이었으며, 매직로즈의 경우 9.9×104, 1.0×103CFU･mL-1이었다. ‘Cappuccino’를 이용하여 국내용 선별 단계(건식운송)와 수출단계(습식운송)를 마친 절화의 절화수명을 조사한 결과, 국내유통용의 절화수명은 8일인 반면 수출용은 12일로, 습식운송했던 수출용 절화가 건식운송한 국내유통용절화보다 4일 길었다. 이에 따른 절화수명종료 현상은 국내유통용처리에서는 꽃목굽음(bent neck)과 꽃잎 탈리 현상이 각각 50%로 나타났고, 수출용처리구에서는 꽃잎탈리는 72.7%, 꽃목굽음은 18.2%이 나타났으며, 국내유통용처리에서 나타나지 않았던 잿빛곰팡이병이 9.1%로 나타났다.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of fatigue and stress in seafarers. Ninety healthy adults were recruited and cumulative fatigue, stress index and stress resistance of seafarers were measured using autonomic nervous system analysis device (SA-6000; Medicoa Co. Ltd. Korea). The stress index had a significant correlation with the degree of resistance (p<.01). Cumulative fatigue and the stress index had a strong positive correlation (r=.781) with the stress resistance, cumulative fatigue had a strong negative correlation (r=.782) (p<0.01). Furthermore, the stress index had a strong negative correlation with the degree of resistance (r=.924) (p<.01). The present study indicate that there are significant correlation between the cumulative fatigue and stress index, cumulative fatigue and stress resistance, as well as stress index and stress resistance in the seafarers (p<.01).

The entomopathogneic fungal colonization has become an interesting issue in ecological pest management. Plant-orientedfungi induce plant growth promotion and act as natural control agents against insect pest. Herein this work, we evaluatedthe ability of fungal colonization on bark, branches and leaves of pine tree (Pinus densiflora) to select optimal candidatesfor controlling Japanese pine sawyer (Monochamus alternatus), which is the pine wilt disease vector in Korea. As a result,some Beauveria and Metarhizium isolates could colonize on the substrates of P. densiflora and showed pathogenicity againstM. alternatus. This result suggests that the selected entomopathogenic fungi are possibly candidates for long-term managementof M. alternatus in pine tree forest.

Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus HOPE (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) are considered as important pine forestinsect pests in several countries which transmits the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophylus. In this study, wetried to control Japanese pine sawyer using entomopathogenic fungi to prevent the spread of pine wilt disease in Korea.Several entomopathogenic fungi were exposed to the adults of Japanese pine sawyer and mycosis was observed in themembranous cuticles after 6 days. In particular, two isolates showed high virulence against the adults. The selected 2isolates were sprayed to the adults at 1×105, 1×106 and 1×107 conidia/ml. In the concentration of 1×107 conidia/ml, thesurvival rates of insects were 40% and 47%, respectively. Based on these results, the possibility of controlling the Japanesepine sawyer was confirmed.