Royal jelly (RJ) is a well-known functional and medicinal food for human health promotion. Major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs), which are the major protein components in RJ, exhibit antimicrobial activities. However, the identities of the MRJPs of RJ responsible for its antioxidant effects have remained unclear. Here, we report that honeybee (Apis cerana) MRJP 2 (AcMRJP2) acts as an antimicrobial and antioxidant agent in RJ. Using recombinant AcMRJP2, which was produced in baculovirus-infected insect cells, we established the antimicrobial and antioxidant roles of MRJP 2. AcMRJP2 bound to the surfaces of bacteria, fungi, and yeast, which then induced structural damage in the microbial cell walls and led to a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities. AcMRJP2 protected mammalian and insect cells via the direct shielding of the cell against oxidative stress, which led to reduced levels of caspase-3 activity and oxidative stress-induced cell apoptosis, followed by increased cell viability. Moreover, AcMRJP2 exhibited DNA protection activity against reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our data indicate that AcMRJP2 could play a crucial role as an antimicrobial agent and antioxidant in RJ, suggesting that MRJP 2 is a component responsible for the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of RJ.

Bee venom, which serves as a weapon to defend the colony from predator attacks, induces an immediate local inflammatory response that causes acute redness and swelling at the site of the sting. This venom-induced inflammation is a rapid anti-predatory defense strategy of the bee against vertebrate predators. Although acute inflammation by venom from venomous arthropods, including bees, is a typical response, how venom acutely elicits inflammatory responses remains unknown. Here, we identify a novel mechanism underlying acute inflammation and provide a rationale for the presence of superoxide dismutase (SOD3) in bee venom. In mouse models, paradoxically, SOD3 in bee venom (bvSOD3) acts as a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based harm-inducing system to promote acute inflammation. Exogenous bvSOD3 rapidly induced overproduction of H2O2 through endogenously produced superoxide by venom components, such as melittin and phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which then upregulated the expression of proinflammatory genes and promoted the acute inflammatory response. Furthermore, a more severe noxious effect by bvSOD3 elevated a type 2 immune response, and bvSOD3 immunization protected against bvSOD3-mediated toxicity. Our findings that bvSOD3 promotes an acute inflammatory response and induces a protective immune response against inflammation may offer a new approach in venom therapy/immunotherapy.

Incursions of red imported fire ant (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta into Korea have been increasing. After a first interception of a colony of S. invicta on Gamman pier, Pusan port while intensive surveillance by Animal & Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) in September 2017, three more RIFA colonies have been found in sea port piers of Pyeongtek, Incheon and Pusan cities. The social forms and mitochondrial DNA haplotypes of the intercepted RIFA colonies were analysed by allelic discrimination assay (peptide nucleic acid probe based RT-PCR) of Gp-9 gene and mt-DNA fragment of 768 bp, which is part of the Cytochrome oxidaseⅠ gene. The colony on Gamman pier, intercepted in Sep. 2017 was previously reported as a haplotype 5 (H5) of mitochondrial DNA and a social form of polygyne. The colony on Hutchison pier of Pusan port, intercepted in June 2018 were confirmed as a H22 haplotype and a monogyne. Those different social forms show different origins of each colonies. Those on piers of Pyeongtek and Incheon ports, also found in 2018 were confirmed samely as H22 and monogyne. However, it could be putatively assumed that those two colonies were differently introduced via different container cargoes, considering those colonies were found in container yards of distantly located different sea ports. More genetic variation analyses using diverse sets of molecular markers such as microsatellites, genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms, etc. in nuclear gens are being proceeded for more exact introduction routes (origins).

Toll and IMD pathways play an important role in producing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) through NF-κB in insects. The functions of IκB kinase (IKK) complex regulating the NF-κB signaling cascade have not yet been investigated in Tenebrio model. Here, we identified TmIKK-β (or TmIrd5) which contains 2,112 bp encoding 703 amino acid residues. Domain analysis shows that TmIKK-β contains one Serine/Threonine protein kinases catalytic domain. Developmental expression patterns indicate that TmIKK- β gene was highly expressed in early pupal (P1) and adult (A5) stages. Tissue specific profiles show that TmIKK-β was highly expressed in the integuments in last instar larvae, and fat body and hemocytes in 5 day-old adults. TmIKK-β1 transcripts were strongly induced at 3 and 12 h-post injection of E. coli, and 3 h-post injection of S. aureus or C. albicans in hemocytes. In gut, TmIKK-β transcripts were slightly induced by E. coli (at 6, 9 and 24 h) and C. albicans (at 24 h), while it was not induced by S. aureus challenge. Moreover, it was highly induced at 6 h-post injection of E. coli and then it was gradually decreased in the fat body. To understand the immunological role of TmIKK-β, gene specific RNAi and mortality assay was performed. Depletion of TmIKK-β mRNA leads to increase microbial susceptibility of larvae against E. coli, S. aureus and C. albicans. In addition, induction patterns of fourteen AMP genes in response to microbial challenge was tissue specifically investigated in TmIKK-β–silenced T. molitor larvae. The results suggest that expression of ten AMP genes out of fourteen genes were drastically decreased by TmIKK-β RNAi in fat body, suggesting that TmIKK-β plays an important role in antimicrobial innate immune responses.

It has been well known that IKK-β, -ε and –γ play a pivotal role in IMD pathway. In this study, TmIKK-ε was identified and their functions in countering pathogenic infections were investigated. We identified TmIKK-ε gene which including 2,196 bp nucleotides (encoding 731 amino acid residues). Domain analysis of TmIKK-ε indicates that there is one Serine/Threonine protein kinases catalytic domain. TmIKK-ε gene was highly expressed in 2 day-old pupal stage and the expression was gradually decreased until 1 day-old adults. Then the expression was slightly increased until 4 day-old adult stage. Tissue specific expression of TmIKK-ε mRNA was high in the gut, integuments and hemocytes in last instar larvae, and fat body, Malpighian tubules and testis in 5-daysold adult. In hemocytes, TmIKK-ε was drastically induced by E. coli injection after 3 h and by S. aureus at 3 and 12 h-post injection. In gut, expression level of TmIKK-ε was high at 6 h-post injection of microbial injection. Expression of TmIKK-ε in fat body was drastically induced by E. coli at 3 and 24 h-post injection while it was not significantly induced by S. aureus and C. albicans. To understand the immunological role of TmIKK-ε, gene specific RNAi and mortality assay were performed. TmIKK-ε RNAi caused increased larval mortality against E. coli, not S. aureus and C. albicans. Finally, to investigate the induction patterns of Tenebrio fourteen AMP genes in response TmIKK-ε RNAi, three microorganisms were treated into TmIKK-ε-silenced T. molitor larvae. Nine out of fourteen AMP genes were not induced by microbial challenge in TmIKK-β dsRNA-injected group. Taken together, our results indicate that TmIKK-ε may regulates nine antimicrobial peptide genes in response to microbial challenge in T. molitor fat body.

Autophagy is an important self-eating process to eliminate damaged or unused organelles. We identified nine autophagy-related genes (Atg) including AaAtg-1, -3, -4b, -4d, -5, -6, -8, -12 and -13 from the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus. Developmental expression patterns indicate that mRNA levels of AaAtg-1, -3, -4b, -4d, -5, -6, -12 and -13 were highly expressed in egg, whereas expression of AaAtg8 was high in 1stand3rdinstarlarvalstages. TissuespecificexpressionofthesegenesindicatesthatAaAtg1 was highly expressed in thorax and midgut in blood-fed adult female mosquitoes (BF), and head and thorax in sugar fed adult female mosquitoes (SF). Transcript level of AaAtg3 was high in thorax in BF, but head, thorax and Malpighian tubules in SF. AaAtg4b, -4d mRNA levels were significantly high in Malpighian tubules in BF, and head in SF, respectively. AaAtg-5 and -6 transcripts were highly expressed in head in BF, and expression of AaAtg-8 was high in Malpighian tubules in BF. Levels of AaAtg-12 and -13 mRNAs were significantly high in head and midgut in BF. Induction patterns of AaAtg genes against pathogens showed that AaAtg-1, -3, -4b, -8, -12 and -13 were strongly induced at 6 h-post injection of S. aureus, and mRNA levels of AaAtg-1, -3 and -13 were significantly induced by E. coli challenge after 3 h-post injection in SF abdominal carcass. In SF midgut, AaAtg-1, -3, -4b, -4d, -5, -6, -12 and -13 transcripts were drastically induced at 9 h-injection of E. coli and S. aureus, while expression of AaAtg-8 was highly induced by S. aureus and C. albicans at 9 h-post injection. Each AaAtg gene was slightly induced by E. coli, S. aureus or C. albicans at different time points in abdominal carcass in BF. Interestingly, AaAtg-8 was not induced by microbial challenge. While eight other Atg genes except AaAtg-8 were highly influenced by S. aureus at 6 and 9 h-post injection, E. coli at 3 h-post-treatment, and 3, 6, and 9 h-post inoculation. In the future, we will characterize the functional roles of autophagy during mosquito-microbes interaction.

Host defense against pathogen invasion highly relies on immune defense machinery that is controlled by the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) of transcription factors. The Toll pathway are well known as an insect innate immune mechanism to protect host itself from invaded pathogens. Basically, in the edible insect, Tenebrio molitor, the Toll pathway is primarily activated by polymeric Lys-type peptidoglycans (PGNs), and components of fungal cell walls, β-1,3-glucan. Based on the current studies, the tremendous study has been focused on recognition and subsequent activation of spätzle in haemolymph, hence, there is a grave gap for intracellular event. Herein, in order to understand intracellular event of Toll signaling pathway, the Dorsal gene were identified. Moreover, domain analyses of TmDorsal2 gene indicate that there are two major domains such as Rel homology domain (RHD), ig-like, plexins, and transcription factors (IPT) domains. Based on the achieved results, TmDorsal2 mRNA was highly expressed in 1-day old pupa. Furthermore, TmDorsal2 was highly expressed in Malpighian tubules and fat body in last instar larvae (LL), and likewise mainly expressed in Malpighian tubules during adult 5-day old period, also the lowest expression of TmDorsal2 was observed in gonads. Moreover, TmDorsal2 mRNA levels after infection with E. coli appreciably went up at 6 and 9h time points. To investigate the effects of TmDorsal2 RNAi on larval susceptibility against various pathogens namely E. coli, S. aureus or C.albicans, dsRNA of TmDorsal2 has been synthesized the larvae dissected after 24h. As a result, TmAttacin1a, 1b and 2, TmDefencine1 and 2, TmTenecin1, 2, 3 and 4, TmCecropin2, TmColeoptericin1 and 2, Thaumatin-like protein 1 and 2 markedly reduced in the gut after injecting all mentioned microbes. In contrast, TmTenecin 2, Thaumatin-like protein 1 and 2 strikingly increased after microbe injection in the fat body. Interestingly, the most AMPs gene expression in whole body experimental case were upregulated. On the horizon, we will investigate effects of TmDorsal1 RNAi on larval susceptibility against various pathogens. Taken together, our studies may aid to understand insect innate immunity.

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) is a species of ant native to South America. The fire ant was inadvertently introduced into USA, Australia, New Zealand, and other Asian countries including China and Taiwan. Since the first report of the fire ant in port city of Busan, Korea in 2017, it was found in many other cities of Korea in following year. To obtain the molecular information of this invasive species, total RNA was extracted from the abdominal segment of the ants collected in Incheon, and subjected to transcriptome sequencing. By using Illumina sequencer platform, 101 base pared-end sequencing generated 2 × 50,064,081 of raw reads to obtain 2 × 45.95 Gbase of quality filtered nucleotide sequences. The in silico cDNA library was constructed by Trinity de novo assembler followed by TransDecoder ORF finder and CD-HIT clustering program to streamline the library. The final version of cDNA library contains 20,442 contigs with protein coding capability. To survey the virome of this ant, these contigs were searched against the viral reference sequences from NCBI RefSeq database with BLASTN program. As a result, contigs which showed high sequence identities with several RNA viruses including previously reported SINV-2 were found from the fire ant. This virome information might give an idea of a shift of virological environment of this newly found ant isolate or population in Korea.

붉은불개미는 세계 100대 침입외래 해충 중의 하나로 우리나라에서는 관리 해충으로 1996년도에 지정되었다. 2017년 9월28일 부산항 감만 부두에서 국내 최초로 발견된 후, 2018년에 부산항, 평택항 과 인천항에서 발견이 되었고, 9월18일에 대구의 아파트 공사장에서 내륙에서는 처음으로 발견이 되었다. 대구에서 발견된 붉은불개미도 아파트 건설을 위하여 중국에서 수입한 석재에 혼합되어 수입된 토양과 식물체와 같이 혼입된 것으로 추측이 된다. 그러므로, 현재까지 국내에서 붉은불개미가 번식을 하여 토착화되었다는 증거는 없다. 현재까지 붉은불개미에 대한 종 판명은 전문가에 의한 형태적인 분류가 대부분이다. 그래서, 붉은불개미에 대한 확증을 위해서는 채집된 개체를 검역기관으로 이송하여 분자진단을 실시해야 하므로, 최소 이틀의 시간이 필요하다. 현재 항원항체 반응을 이용한 붉은불개미 진단 키트가 해외에서 개발되어 판매되고 있지만, 낮은 민감도로 최소 3~5개의 충체가 필요한 실정이다. 현재 판매되고 있는 진단키트가 가지는 문제점은 이를 대신할 새로운 키트의 개발이 필요함을 보여주고 있다. 신속한 붉은불개미의 검역현장에서 진단을 가능하게하기 위한 노력 중의 하나로 우리는 붉은불개미의 복부에서 발현되는 유전체에 대한 연구를 수행하였다. 본 발표에서는 그에 대한 현재까지의 연구 진행과 결과를 설명하도록 하겠다. (본 연구는 농림축산 검역본부의 연구비 지원으로 이루어졌음).

소나무재선충병의 나무주사는 살선충제를 중심으로 실시되어 왔으며, 매개충인 솔수염하늘소와 북방수염하늘소의 방제는 주로 항공방제나 지상방제를 통하여 이루어졌다. 본 연구에서는 나무주사를 통하여 매개충 (솔수염하늘소)을 방제하기 위한 연구로 Abamectin+Acetamiprid ME, Thiamethoxam DC 약제의 나무주사시 솔수염하늘소의 약효발현농도, 처리 후 기간별 효과(2017년~2018년)를 검토하였다. 실내 발현농도 시험에서는 Acetamiprid, Thiamethoxam LC50 value는 각각 0.102ppm, 0.083ppm 으로 나타 났으며, 야산(포장)에서 Abamectin+Acetamiprid ME, Thiamethoxam DC 처리구의 100.0% 치사 소요일 수는 처리 90일 후 11.0일, 9.4일, 처리 360일 후 11.6일, 10.0일로 나타나서 두 약제 모두 3월 처리시 다음해에 발생하는 매개충 (솔수염하늘소) 방제까지 가능함을 확인 할 수 있었다.

농업인구의 고령화 및 감소에 따른 노동력 부족으로 농업 생산 부분은 기계화 및 자동화를 비롯한 다양한 기술 도입을 요구하고 있다. 국내 과수 재배 작물 중 하나인 사과는 연간 10회 이상의 병해충 방제작업이 이루어지고 있어 병해충 방제를 위한 농약 살포 작업의 노력과 방제 비용, 작업자의 약제 노출 등을 줄이고 병해충 방제 효율을 높이는 방제 작업 시스템이 필요하다. 본 연구는 사과원 미세 분무 약제 살포 자동화 설비 구축을 위해 사과 과수원 내 미세 분무 살포 시스템을 설치하고 국·내외 산 노즐별 사과 잎의 농약 부착 정도를 비교하여 효과적인 노즐을 선발하기 위해 수행되었다. 국·내외 산 노즐별 사과 잎의 농약 부착 정도는 큰 차이를 보이지 않았으나 잎의 앞면 보다 뒷면의 농약 부착 정도가 낮게 나타나는 결과를 보였다.

The continuous emergence of chemical-mediated residual toxicity and insect resistance have enforced the regulation of synthetic pesticides. Synthetic pesticides with novel mode of actions could be developed to overcome these issues, but as an alternative biopesticides with more efficacious control activity could be developed by the advanced technology. In pest management, entomopathogenic fungi have high potential in reducing pest population to an economic threshold, and some of isolates have been commercialized. However still a novel application strategy needs to be considered for successful industrialization. An insight on fungal genes in whole genome and transcriptome levels is necessary to understand the role of genes in pathogenesis and genetic diversity of fungal genes. Herein, we have identified the genetic differences of entomopathogenic fungi using whole genome sequencing of Beauveria bassiana (Bb) and tried to understand the interaction between fungus and insect using RNA-seq. We have obtained the whole genome sequence of Bb JEF-007 using PacBio sequencing technology and compared the transcriptomes of Bb JEF-007 and bean bug, Riptortus pedestris before and after the fungal infection using Hiseq 2000 system.

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 showed enhanced thermal stability compared to control, when exposed to 45°C for 2 hours. This work suggests that heatresistant entomopathogenic fungal conidia can be produced by grainbased solid cultures and exposure to light stress.

딱정벌레목 바구미과에 속하는 나무좀은 일찍부터 산림의 주요 해충으로 다루어져 왔다. 최근 사과원에서 M.9 대목을 이용한 사과 밀식재배가 확산되고, 기후변화에 따른 이상 기상으로 사과나무 동해에 의한 2차 나무좀 피해가 늘어나고 있어 이들에 대한 관리대책이 필요한 실정이다. 본 연구는 사과원에 발생하는 나무좀류의 발생 양상을 파악하고 효과적인 약제 선발을 통해 효율적인 방제 체계 개발을 위한 기초 자료로 활용하고자 수행하였다. 사과원에 발생하는 나무좀은 암브로시아나무좀, 오리나무좀, 붉은목나무좀, 사과둥근나무좀 등 4종으로 암브로시아나무좀이 우점종으로 조사되었다. 암브로시아나무좀의 발생은 4월부터 시작하여 연 2회 발생하였다. 주간부에서 나무좀의 피해는 대부분 21~100cm 높이에서 발생하였으며, 야외 방제 시험에서 Phentoate EC, Chlorpyrifos WP, Thiacloprid SC 등이 높은 방제가를 나타내었다.

IKK-γ is an essential protein to form IKK complex which regulate NF-κB. We identified TmIKK-γ (or TmKenny) gene which has 1,521 bp of nucleotides encoding 506 amino acid residues. Domain analysis of TmIKK-γ shows that there are one NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO) domain and a leucine zipper domain. Expression of TmIKK-γ gene was gradually increased from egg to 2-day-old pupal stage, dramatically decreased until 7 day-old pupal stage, and then it was gradually increased. TmIKK-γ transcripts were highly expressed in fat body and hemocytes in late instar larvae and integuments, fat body and Malpighian tubules in 5 day-old adult. TmIKK-γ was drastically induced by E. coli after 3 h challenges and by S. aureus at 3 and 12 h-post injection in hemocytes. TmIKK-γ was not induced by C. albicans although it was significantly induced by E. coli (at 3, 6 and 24 h) and S. aureus (at 9 h) in gut. In fat body, expression of TmIKK-γ was drastically induced by E. coli at 3 and 24 h-post injection while it was not significantly induced by S. aureus and C. albicans. To understand the immunological role of TmIKK-γ, gene specific RNAi and mortality assay was performed. larval mortality against microbial challenge was dramatically increased by TmIKK-γ RNAi. Furthermore, we investigate the tissue specific induction patterns of fourteen AMP genes in response TmIKK-γ dsRNA-treatment. In fat body, ten AMP genes out of fourteen was not significantly induced by microbial challenge in TmIKK-γ dsRNA-treated group. Based on these results, TmIKK-γ might play an important role in antimicrobial innate immune responses in Tenebrio molitor.

2017년 국내 육성 사과 ‘아리수’ 품종에서 노린재류에 의한 피해와 유사한 반점 증상이 확인되었다. 사과 과실 전면에 발생하는 이 반점 증상은 크기가 2∼4 mm이며 진한 갈색, 짙은 고동색으로 반점 중심부가 약간 함몰되는 형태를 가진다. 이 연구는 이러한 반점증상의 원인이 노린재에 의한 피해인지 여부를 알기 위해 수행하였다. 노린재류는 접종 전 채집하였고, 6월 초순부터 ‘아리수’ 사과에 약 15일 간격으로 썩덩나무노린재와 갈색날개노린재를 각각 접종하였다. ‘아리수’ 사과의 수확기인 9월 초순까지 총 5회(6월 상순, 7월 상순, 7월 중순, 8월 상순, 8월 중순) 접종하였으며, 접종후 접종시기별로 피해 양상을 확인하였다. 6월 상순에 노린재에 의해 가해 받은 과실은 비대하지 못하거나 낙과하였다. 다른 시기에 노린재에 의해 가해 받은 접종 1~2일후 흡즙구멍을 확인할 수 있었고, 5일 후부터는 가해 받은 부위 주변이 붉게 착색되는 halo 증상이 나타났다. 노린재류에 의한 ‘아리수’ 사과의 피해양상은, 기 보고된 ‘후지’ 품종에서의 피해양상과 거의 유사하였다. 실험결과 2017년 ‘아리수’ 사과에 발생한 반점증상은 노린재에 의한 것이 아님을 확인할 수 있었다.

상주는 귀농 도시이자 농업 중심 도시로써 농업기술원을 유치할 만큼 생태학적 연구가치가 있는 친환경 도시이다. 특히 경천섬은 낙동강 본류에 있는 상주보 인근에 위치하고 있어 낙동강 생태 환경 연구의 중요 지역 중 하나이다. 하지만, 아직 경천섬에 대한 생물다양성 연구가 부족한 상태이다. 섬과 산지의 생태환경이 다르기 때문에 생물의 다양성도 다를 것이라 간주하고, 경천섬 주변의 생태학적 가치를 재조명할 기초자료를 조사하고자 한다. 이에 경천섬과 인근에 위치한 청룡사 길목 산지에 서식하는 곤충 채집을 통해 생물다양성을 조사하여 비교분석하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 채집방법은 직접잡기, 쓸어잡기, 함정트랩, 흡충관을 이용하였으며, 함정트랩에 사용된 유인제는 소주1.8ℓ와 빙초산350㎖를 혼합하여 사용하였다. 2018년 4월~8월 중 3회 채집과정을 수행하여 목표개체수를 확보하였고, 채집된 곤충은 에탄올을 채운 conical tube에 넣어 냉동실에 보관하여 보존성을 높였다. 채집과정에서 잡은 곤충들을 건조시키고 유사종끼리 분류하고 동정하는 과정을 거쳐 다양도지수, 우점도지수, 종풍부도지수, 종균등도지수, 유사도지수를 계산할 것이다. 기존에 알려지지 않았던 경천섬 일대의 생물다양성을 세세하게 분석하는 과정을 통해 경천섬의 생태학적 가치를 드러내고, 경천섬 일대의 자연환경관리와 보존에 필요한 정보나 체계적인 관리체계를 구축할 기초자료를 제공하고자 한다.

Pine wood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus causes devastating damage to pines worldwide. To develop new agent for controlling PWN, 43 alkyloxyalcohols were synthesized and nematicidal activity was tested against PWN. As a control, monochamol, which reported to have nematicidal activity was also tested. The nematicidal activity was diffferent according to total carbon chain length in compounds and carbon numbers of diol derivates. The odd numbered carbon diol derivates (ROC5OH, ROC7OH, ROC9OH) showed weak activity. The compounds which had C14H30O2 formula (C11OC3OH, C10OC4OH, C8OC6OH, C6OC8OH) showed the same level nematicital activity as that of monochamol in the term of LC50 value. Thee compounds which had C15H32O2 and C13H28O2 formulas (C12OC3OH, C11OC4OH, C12OC3OH, C10OC3OH, C9OC4OH, C5OC8OH) were followed.

Japanese pine sawyer beetle, Monochamus alternatus Hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is considered as a serious pest in pine trees. To develop an eco-friendly strategy to manage this forest insect, we collected entomopathogenic fungi from Korean soil and assessed their virulence against the adults of the insect in laboratory conditions. As a result, two isolates with conidial suspension (1.0×107conidia/ml), showed 87% and 90% mortality 12 days after fungal treatment, respectively. We assessed the potential of the fungi-derived destruxin and protease as additives to the fungal isolates, and they showed insecticidal activity via feeding and spraying treatments. Finally, we produced fungal conidia in massive solid cultures and formulated wettable powders, and now studying optimal conditions of oil-based formulation with two isolates. Based on these results, we are evaluating the control efficacy of the fungal agents against M. alternatus in field conditions.

본 연구는 기존에 재배된 바 없었던 암대극을 새로운 관상식물로 개발하고자, 절화 특성 평가를 실시하였다. 2017년 3월과 4월, 제주도에 자생하고 있는 암대극을 채취한 후, 수분흡수, 절화수명, 노화 과정 등 절화수명 특성을 평가하였다. 또한 sucrose 농도, 절화길이, pH 농도, 저장온도에 따른 절화 특성을 조사하였다. 본 실험은 국립수목원 유용식물증식센터의 Phyto-garden system(12h photoperiod, 25℃, 70% RH)과 실온(23℃, 44% RH)에서 수행하였고 2~3일 간격으로 수분흡수량, 생체중, 절화수명을 측정하였다. 실험 환경에 따른 연구에서 실온(14.4일) 보다 phyto-garden system(42.4일)의 절화 수명이 약 3배 더 길었고, 절화길이에 따른 연구에서는 절화수명이 20cm, 15.2일, 40cm, 17.4일로 나타났다. Sucrose 농도에 따른 연구에서는 처리에 따른 절화수명 증진 효과는 없었고, pH에 따른 연구의 절화수명은 pH 5, 15.6일, pH 6, 13.4일, pH 7, 13.1일, 증류수, 14.8일이었다. 저장온도에 따른 실험에서, 절화수명은 4℃, 83일, 10℃, 41.2일, 15℃, 35.5 일, 20℃, 17.4일, 실온, 14.4일이었는데, 온도가 감소할수록 절화수명이 길어짐을 알 수 있었다. 결론적으로, 암대극은 비교적 광도와 습도가 높은 환경과 절화길이가 길고 저장온도가 낮을수록 수명이 오래 유지되는 것을 알 수 있었다.