Entomopathogenic fungi are natural pathogens of insects and contribute to the regulation of host insect populations in the environment. Several these fungi produce a wide range of secreted enzymes, secreted protein toxins and secondary metabolites to overcome host defenses and ultimately kill the host, and to defend host resources against competing pathogens and saprophytes. Therefore, this study was performed to select the antimicrobial activity of entomopathogenic fungi form Korea soils against plant pathogenic bacteria Ralstonia solanacearum and plant pathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea using dual culture technique on SDYA. In addition, we also performed to screening of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals scavenging activity compounds from liquid culture filtrates of entomopathogenic fungi and investigate to it’s anticancer activity. As results, 12 isolates, 6 isolates and 25 isolates showing of these fungal metabolites produced antibacterial, antifungal and radicals scavenging activity compounds, respectively. The preferential antimicrobial and radical scavenging activities give evidence that these entomopathogenic fungal metabolites might be useful as a source for plant pathogen control and pharmaceutical interests.

The bulb mite (Rhizoglyphus echinopus) damages garlic, shallot and onion in the bulbs, corms and tubers. It has recently become a serious problem because of the continuous use of acaricides resulting in resistance among bulb mite population. Thus, there is need to find alternative control measures to suppress bulb mite population. Here, we report the screening result of pathogenic fungi for the control of R. echinopus. Initial screenings were performed using 352 isolates of entomopathogenic fungi from Korea soils. As results, 15 isolates of acaropathogenic fungi showed the pathogenicity to bulb mite supporting fungal conidiation. These isolates were identified as 3 isolates of Metarhizium flavoviride var. pemphigi and 12 isolates of Metarhizium pingshaense by microscopic examination and genetic sequencing of the ITS region and elongation factor-1 alpha. Selected 15 isolates were tested for their virulence against adult R. echinopus and the thermotolerance and the activity to UV-B irradiation of conidia. Additionally, the activities of chitinases and proteases produced by M. pingshaense were compared according to the medium. These acaropathogenic fungi would be considered promising for biological control of bulb mite.

Entomopathogenic fungi are natural pathogens of insects and contribute to the regulation of host insect populations in the environment. Several these fungi produce a wide range of secreted enzymes, secreted protein toxins and secondary metabolites to overcome host defenses and ultimately kill the host, and to defend host resources against competing pathogens and saprophytes. This study was performed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of 207 entomopathogenic fungi form Korea soils against plant pathogenic bacteria Ralstonia solanacearum and plant pathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea using dual culture technique on SDYA. As results, twelve isolates (5.7%) and six isolates (2.8%) showing the greatest inhibition against R. solanacearum and B. cinerea, respectively. The culture supernatant of these selected isolates completely suppressed the growth of the pathogen, indicating that suppression was due to the presence of antimicrobial compound in the culture filtrate. The stability test of the culture filtrate showed that the antimicrobial component was heat stable and not protein. These entomopathogenic fungal metabolites may be a good feature to be used in the development of a new biocontrol method of R. solanacearum and B. cinerea.

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae Sulzer, is one of the most important pests affecting protected and open-grown crops, because they cause direct damage by feeding on crops and indirect damage as virus vectors. It has recently become a serious problem because of the continuous use of insecticide resulting in resistance among green peach aphid population. Thus, the development of entomopathogenic fungi as aphid biocontrol agents has received increasing interest as part of integrated control strategies. In this study, we report the screening result of pathogenic fungi for the control of green peach aphid. Initial screenings were performed using 347 isolates of putative pathogenic fungi from Korea soils. As results, 20 isolates of entomopathogenic fungi were isolated from cadavers of green peach aphid supporting fungal conidiation. These isolates were identified as three strains of Lecanicillium attenuatum, nine strains of Beauveria bassiana, one strain of Metarhizium anisopliae, one strain of Metarhizium flavoviride, five strains of Paecilomyces lilacinus, one strain of Aspergillus sp. by microscopic examination, genetic sequencing of the ITS region and Universally Primed PCR (UP-PCR). Based on the screening results, twenty isolates were tested for their pathogenicity against adult green peach aphid. All fungal isolates were pathogenic to green peach aphid but mortality varied with isolates. These entomopathogenic fungi may be useful to develop eco-friendly insecticide to control green peach aphid.

The entomopathogenic fungi were an important natural pathogenic of insects that has been developed as potential biological control agents for many important agricultural, forest and medical pests. Several these fungi produce a wide range of secondary metabolites with high therapeutic value as antibiotics, cytotoxic substances, insecticides, compounds that promote or inhibit growth, attractor and repellent. Therefore, this study was performed to select the antibacterial activity of liquid culture filtrates of 347 entomopathogenic fungi form Korea soils against two pathogenic bacteria including Ralstonia solanacearum and Escherichia coli using novel method which represents a quick and easily applicable tool obtaining large number of samples. As results, eight-five strains (24%) and seventy-six strains (22%) of these fungal metabolites produced anti-R. solanacearum and anti-E. coli compounds, respectively. The preferential antibacterial activity against R. solanacearum and E. coli gives evidence that these entomopathogenic fungal metabolites might be useful as an agent for bacteria control and the technique was simple to operate and allowed a large number of samples to be handled concurrently.

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is an economically important pest of crops of plant grown in the field or greenhouse worldwide. It has recently become a serious problem because of the continuous use of acaricides resulting in resistance among spider mite population. Thus, there is a need to find alternative control measures to suppress spider mite populations. In this study, we report the screening result of pathogenic fungi for the control of spider mite. Initial screenings were performed using 352 isolates of putative pathogenic fungi from Korea soils. As results, 11 strains of acaropathogenic fungi were isolated from 8 cadavers of spider mite supporting fungal conidiation. These isolated were identified as four isolates of Beauveria bassiana (6, 2R-3-3-1, 2R-4-5, 2R-4-7), two isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae (4-2, 2-2), one isolate of Clonostachys rosea 5-2, one isolate of Lecanicillium attenuatum 4-1, one isolate of Pochonia suchlasporia 2R-3-1, one isolate of Aspergillus flavus 7 and one isolate of Isaria lilacinus 2R-4-6 by microscopic examination and genetic sequencing of the ITS region. Based on the screening results, eleven isolates were tested for their virulence against adult spider mites. All fungal isolates were pathogenic to spider mite but mortality varied with isolates. These acaropathogenic fungi may be useful to develop eco-friendly acaricide to control two-spotted spider mite.

Muscle strength and endurance activities of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer; KG) were compared with those of wild simulated cultivation ginseng (WCG) in mice. Fifty male ICR mice were divided into five groups: A (vehicle); B (WCG 100 mg/kg); C (WCG 500 mg/kg); D (KG 100 mg/kg); E (KG 500 mg/kg). Subsequently, the mice were subjected to the forced swimming test (FST) and treadmill test at the 4th and 7th weeks. The glycogen content in the muscle and blood analysis (levels of glucose, triglyceride (TG), IGF-1) were also performed immediately after the last FST and treadmill test at the 7th week. Immobility times in FST were shorter in WCG- than KG-treated groups, and the results of the treadmill tests were also significant except for KG-treated at 100 mg/kg. The glycogen content was increased in both groups with a peak at 500 mg/kg of WCG groups. Serum concentrations of TG and glucose were decreased by administration of KG and WCG and all treated groups showed increase in the level of IGF-1 in serum. These results suggest that KG and WCG supplementations are effective in escalating the muscle strength and endurance.