The global biopesticide market was estimated to become about 4% of the total crop protection market in 2015, mainly due to variability of their efficacy, narrow spectrum or difficulties in long-term storage. Therefore, many people focus on overcoming these issues as a big trend. Suggested solutions include the investigation of synergy between microorganisms, the use of genetic engineering, improving the pesticide life shelf, etc. As a result, biopesticides market has grown by more than 17% over the last decade. In this context and aiming to develop new entomopathogenic fungi–based pest management tools, we constructed a fungal library by isolating insect pathogenic fungi from soil. A total of 581 isolates belonging to 35 species were isolated and characterized. Beauveria bassiana was the most abundant, representing 38.55% of the total strains, followed by Metharizium anisopliae (22.55%) and bubillosa (8.6). …% of the total isolates were highly virulent against Tenebrio molitor killing most of the treated insects in 2 to 3 days.

Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus, is the main pest that mediates pine wilt nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, that causes serious damage to pine forests. In this study, we studied the strategy to control M. alternatus using entomopathogenic fungi. The fungi were collected from soil by an insect-baiting method and two fungal isolates (Metarhizium anisopliae JEF-197 and JEF-279) showed high virulence against M. alternatus. The Metarhizium isolates were evaluated for insecticidal activity against M. alternatus by spray treatment on live pine trees and wintering trees, and the M. anisopliae JEF-197 showed high insecticidal activity. In addition, the interaction of fungi and M. alternatus were analyzed by RNA-seq. This result can contribute to the development of insect control agents using entomopathogenic fungi.

Developmental characteristics of immature stages of Ostrinia scapulalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), which is a main insect pest against legume crops, were investigated at constant temperatures to prepare fundamental data for integrated pest management. Egg, larva and pupa could survive at temperatures from 16oC to 36oC. Developmental periods of those stages became shorter with increasing temperature between 16 and 31oC, 16 and 36oC, and 16 and 34oC, respectively. The lower developmental thresholds and degree-days(DD) were determined as 13.0oC and 56.9DD, 13.8oC and 277.5DD, and 14.2oC and 90.8DD using a linear regression model between temperature and development rate. Other parameters for explaining development of this species were estimated using a few non-linear models for developmental rate, distribution, and survivorship.

거미는 산림 및 농작물 해충의 천적으로 알려져 있으며, 겨울철 벼 재배지에서 볏짚이나 논둑 등에 월동한다. 이 연구는 월동시기부터 모내기 전까지 유기 벼 재배지에 서식하는 거미상을 알아보기 위해 수행하였다. 거미의 발생을 조사하기 위해 함정트랩을 이용하였고, 농업과학원 유기재배포장에서 2018년 1월 중순부터 5월 중순까지 2주 간격으로 총 8회에 걸쳐 거미를 채집하였다. 조사가 이루어진 논은 거미가 월동 서식처로 이용할 수 있도록 볏짚을 걷어내지 않은 상태로 유지하였다. 조사 결과 6과 15종 359개체의 거미가 채집되었다. 그 중에서 애접시거미가 119개체(33%)로 가장 많았고, 들늑대거미(23%), 턱거미(17%), 각시긴손접시거미(8%) 순으로 나타났다. 또한 4월 중순(7회)에 가장 많은 개체가 채집되었고, 채집이 이루어질수록 거미의 개체수가 증가하는 경향을 보였다.

A species of Beauveria bassiana is widely used for biological pest management in many countries. Many efforts have been given to figure out the clear fungal mode of action to enhance the insecticidal activity. Homologous recombination (knock-out) or hairpin RNA (knock-down) is popularly used in fungal gene function study, but gene cloning and generation of knock-out or -down mutants takes long time or temporarily knock-downed. Here in this work, we used previously generated egfp-expressing B. bassiana strain (Bb-egfp #3) and integrated dsegfp to the Bb-egfp #3 using a protoplast integration method. This work suggests that protoplast integration with dsRNA possibly generate significantly reduced gene expression in B. bassiana and the reduction is quite stable over generations which provide easy of functional study for fungal mode of action.

Beauveria bassiana is widely studied for its potential as biopesticide. However, little is known about the factors to influence genetic diversity among isolates. In this work, we aimed to study the gene diversity of 42 isolates to figure out the impact of sequences variability on various biological features. The accumulated data showed no correlation between sequence variability and the fungal geographic localization. Meanwhile, weak to strong correlations have been obtained between the sequence diversity of various genes and the studied biological features. Interestingly, Biotrophy-associated gene 2 gene variability was correlated with all the studied biological features, being an important marker to determine isolates of interest for biological control. Therefore, the obtained data would serve as a database to focus on interesting genes related to improving or screening highly virulent isolates as biological control agents.

The serious emergence of chemical-mediated residual toxicity and insect resistance have been enforced the regulation of synthetic pesticides. Future decisions to select more realistic control options probably depend on the speed of technological development in chemical and biological pesticides. Now, a strategic collaboration between synthetic pesticides and biopesticides has been progressed, such as distribution and R&D in collaboration and M&A for obtaining microbial resources. Recently registered microbial pesticides are entomopathogenic fungi in pest management. A concept of e-biopesticide could be properly combined with digital agriculture and accelerate the use of biological control agents in the future farming.

The longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, is one of the vectors of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) in human. The use of pyrethroid insecticides induced pest resistance and environmental residual toxicity. Here in this work, our interest was given to the selection of highly virulent fungi against longhorned tick. A total of 101 fungal pathogens were assayed by dipping the nymph stage of ticks into a conidial suspension. Interestingly of the several species, one species showed high virulence and mycosis were observed in 7-15 days. Highly virulent strains were selected, and semi-field experiments were conducted. As a result, the control efficacy of the isolate was over 80% at 30 days of treatment. This work suggests that entomopathogenic fungi could be used to effectively control longhorend ticks.

Silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci is a worldwide agricultural pest that cause serious damage to crops. However, since this insect developed resistance to variety of chemicals, alternative control strategy needs to be studied. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential of entomopathogenic fungi as biological control tools against this pest. We developed a dipping method in laboratory conditions to screen insecticidal activity of different fungal species and isolates against the nymphal stage of whitefly. The highly virulent isolates were characterized and 2 isolates were further selected based on their high conidial productivity and thermotolerance. Finally, several grain substrates were used to confirm the conidial productivity and thermotolerance of the selected isolates, revealing optimum conidial production when the fungi were cultured on millet grains. Both isolates could be used in further millet grain-based formulations to control the whitefly in fields.

Red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae is one of the serious pests, damaging to the egg production in chickens. Moreover, the overuse of chemical insecticides caused pest resistance and environmental residual toxicity. Therefore, this work provides a screening method to select entomopathogenic fungi as a candidate of environmentally safe control agent, having high miticidal activity against D. Gallinae. The virulence test was conducted using a spraying method. Of the several species, Beauveria species showed high virulence and mycosis were observed. Some isolates were produced on eight cereal grains in Petri dish conditions. Millet, perilla seed and barley showed the high conidia production. Conidia of the isolates produced on millet and rice showed high thermal stability, when exposed to 45℃. Based on these results, this work suggests that entomopathogenic fungi could be used to control the D. Gallinae.

현재 고려되고 있는 단층 심지층처분장 개념은 부지 소요면적이 지나치게 크기 때문에, 처분밀도를 향상시키기 위한 다층 심지층처분장 개념이 제안되고 있다. 심부암반에 건설된 다층 심지층처분장 주위에 형성된 암반손상대가 심지층처분장의 온도 분포에 미치는 영향이 분석되었다. 다층 심지층처분장의 열해석에는 완충재, 뒤채움재 및 암반에서 일어나는 재포화 현상을 고려한 열-수리 모델이 사용되었다. 암반손상대의 존재는 심지층처분장의 온도 분포에 큰 영향을 미치는 것으로 나 타났으며, 손상대의 크기와 열전도도 저하 정도에 따라 복층 및 삼층 심지층처분장의 최고첨두온도를 각각 최대 7℃와 12℃ 까지 증가시킬 수 있다. 다층 심지층처분장의 첨두온도에 영향을 크게 미치는 인자는 암반손상대에서의 열전도도 저하이며, 처분공 주위에 형성된 암반손상대가 처분터널 주변에 형성된 암반손상대보다 첨두온도에 더 큰 영향을 미친다.

This study aims to identify the differences between Korean and Chinese and males and females in terms of female image preferences. The survey was conducted for 1 month targeting male and female Korean and Chinese subjects. Among the 350 completed questionnaires, 309 were used for analysis. For the analysis, 11 female images were chosen based on theoretical study, then a t-test and a paired t-test were carried out using SPSS 19.0. The results of this study are as follows: First, differences in female image preferences were observed to depend on nationality and gender. Koreans prefer urban images while Chinese prefer cute, intelligent, and sexy images. Second, males prefer innocent or sexy images, while females prefer sophisticated images. Third, Korean males prefer innocent, active, sophisticated, gentle, cute, sexy, urban, natural, intelligent, spectacular, and neutral images in order. Chinese males prefer gentle, innocent, sexy, active, sophisticated, intelligent, cute, natural, urban, spectacular, and neutral images in order. Fourth, Korean females prefer sophisticated, gentle, urban, natural, intelligent, innocent, active, sexy, cute, spectacular, and neutral images in order. Chines females prefer sophisticated, intelligent, cute, gentle, innocent, active, natural, sexy, urban, spectacular, and neutral images in order. Using these results, it will be possible to design marketing strategies for global consumers.

In order to develop the D. adamsi breeding technique that is highly likely to be used as an emotional pet insect, the results of the D. adamsi was collected in the large exhibition Jang Tae-san in Daejeon to the indoor breeding began to spawn after 10 days after the training, the egg laying period was 33.6 days, the average number of spawn per female was 27.7, and the period was 11.8 days. D. adamsi larvae bred with food of oak-boiled molted two times, the duration of 1st larvae development was 11.8 days, 2nd larvae 14.5 days, and the third larvae was 29.4, and the larvae were used to build houses using Masato(soil) and in the pupae, and then in April of the following year. D. adamsi has a characteristic to build a house with fallen leaves and spawn one or two eggs in the fallen leaves, and the results of the spawn mat test using fallen leaves, leaf mold and a sawdust, etc., and the number of spawn was high in the Masato was spread about 3 ~ 5cm, and a fallen leaves on a 10 cm or so, and the growth and survival rate of the larvae were also high. Larvae breeding density was 2 ~ 3 ℓ in the container size to raise the object was normal growth, the higher the density mortality was high and the growth was sluggish. Larvae feeding conditions were normally developed in dry fallen leaves and fermented fallen leaves, compared to the sterile fallen leaves, oak sawdust, sterile fallen leaves and oak sawdust was abnormal, the mortality rate was higher than 50%.

Insect-killing fungi have high potential in pest management. A deeper insight into the fungal genes at the whole genome level is necessary to understand the inter-species or intra-species genetic diversity of fungal genes, and to select excellent isolates. In this work, we conducted a whole genome sequencing of Beauveria bassiana (Bb) JEF-007 and characterized pathogenesis-related features and compared with other isolates including Bb ARSEF2860. A large number of Bb JEF-007 genes showed high identity with Bb ARSEF2860, but some genes showed moderate or low identity. The two Bb isolates showed a significant difference in vegetative growth, antibiotic-susceptibility, and virulence against Tenebrio molitor larvae. When highly identical genes between the two Bb isolates were subjected to real-time PCR, their transcription levels were different, particularly in heat shock protein 30 (hsp30) gene which is related to conidial thermotolerance. In several B. bassiana isolates, chitinases and trypsin-like protease genes involved in pathogenesis were highly conserved, but other genes showed noticeable sequence variation within the same species. Given the transcriptional and genetic diversity in B. bassiana, a selection of virulent isolates with industrial advantages is a pre-requisite, and this genetic approach could support the development of excellent biopesticides with intellectual property protection.

The Asian corn borer, O. furnacalis (Crambidae) and the old world bollworm, H. armigera (Noctuidae) simultaneously cause ear damage in corn in Suwon area. It has been assumed that the second generation of larvae of both insects is responsible for the damage. We, therefore, studied proper spray timing of insecticide in order to reduce the damage. A waxy corn hybrid cultivar, Ilmichal, was sown directly on four plots of a field at April 10, April 20, May 4, and May 18, 2018, respectively. A sodium channel blocker, indoxacarb, was sprayed eight times at 3- or 4-day intervals around the silking stage of corn in each sowing plot. At ear harvest time of each plot, we investigated damaged ratio and length of ear, and the numbers of both insect species. The significantly effective spray timings on reduction of ear damage were the sprays at June 29 and July 2 in the plot sown at April 10, the sprays from July 2 to 13 in the April 20-sown plot, the sprays from July 2 to 19 in the May 4-sown plot, and the sprays at July 19 in the May 18-sown plot, respectively. The damage level was positively related to the insect number. The result indicated that the spray at the silking stage of corn was effective on reduction of ear damage. It was assumed that occurrence time of neonate larvae of the insects at silking stage cause the damage, based on the experimental results using screened pots inoculated with the two species.

Longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis (Ixodida: Ixodidae) is one of the vectors of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) in human. The tick occurs in mostly grass fields, and the use of pyrethroid insecticides induced pest resistance and environmental residual toxicity. Particularly the use of chemicals near residential areas where persons live become a big issue, so environmentally safe control agents need to be considered. Here in this work, our interest was given to the selection of highly virulent fungi against H. longicornis. A total of 101 fungal pathogens collected from mountainous areas were assayed by a dipping the nymph stage of ticks into a conidial suspension (1×107conidia/ml). Interestingly among several species, one species showed high virulence and mycosis were observed in 7-15 days. Most of the selected isolates produced a large amount of conidia in Italian millet, rice and millet with thermotolerance at 40-45°C. Based on these results, we selected a couple of isolates with high virulence against H. longicornis and they could be used for the control of the ticks after the set-up of a practical application strategy in fields by optimizing fungal colonization in soil and phyllosphere.

Thrips is one of the serious insect pests in many economic crops, in which general managements rely mainly on chemical insecticides. However, the overuse of chemicals led to the development of insect resistance and environmental residual issues. Therefore, thrips management requires the consideration of alternative strategies which are less harmful to the environment and working on different target points. In this work, we isolated entomopathogenic fungi from soil, and identified them with morphological and molecular biology methods, followed by a preliminary virulence assay against Tenebrio molitor larvae. Selected fungal isolates were adjusted to 1×107 conidia/ml for an indoor virulence assay against thrips adults, and highly virulent isolates were added to a thrip-pathogenic fungal library. Biological characteristics of efficacious isolates were investigated comparing to a previously commercialized fungal isolate. This entomopathogenic fungal library could be used as a valuable resource for developing effective strains to control thrips in agricultural fields.

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.

Whitefly has a broad host range of more than 600 species, and 40 biotypes have been reported worldwide. Among the various ecological types, B and Q are the most problematic. Especially, Biotype Q, which causes serious damage in the green house, mediates more than 40 kinds of viruses, including Tomato yellow leaf cull virus (TYLCV). The development of resistance to whitefly, adverse effects on non-target organisms, and strengthened legal regulations are making chemical control difficult in application. For these reasons, the use of alternative strategies is needed to suppress the Biotype Q whitefly population. Entomopathogenic fungi were investigated and developed to control hard-control insect pest, such as whitefly. These fungi are natural pathogen of their invertebrate host and contribute to the regulation of their host population in the environment. In addition, these agents are typically harmless to humans and non-targeted organisms and do not adversely impact the environment. Therefore, in this study, we screened pathogenic fungi against whitefly using our entomopathogenic fungal library, and virulence tests were conducted with conoidal suspension (1×107conidia/ml) in laboratory conditions. As a result, 10 isolates showed 80-100% mortality at 5 days after treatment. We will analyze the characteristics of these fungal isolates and evaluate their potential as insecticides against whitefly. The selected isolates against the high mortality of whiteflies can be effectively used in integrated pest management programs for whiteflies.