Pink Rot on melon and White Stain Symptom on grape are caused by Trichothecium roseum, one of the most important diseases of grape and melon. These diseases have been occurred in national-wide in Korea and causes irreversible damage on the grape and the melon at harvest season. This research presents the evaluation of the capacity of Bacillus subtillis HK2 to protect both melon and grape against T. reseum and establishes its role as a biocontrol agent. In this study, we isolated a Bacillus strain HK2 from rhizosphere soil, identified it as Bacillus subtillis by 16S rRNA analysis and demonstrated its antifungal activity against T. roseum. Under I-plate assay it was observed that the effect of hyphal growth inhibition was not due to production of volatile compounds. The optimum culture condition of HK2 was found at 30℃ and initial pH of 7.0. Application of HK2 culture suspension reduced 90.2% of white stain symptom on grape as compared to control, resulting in greater protection to grape against T. roseum infestation. Butanol extract of HK2 culture purified using flash column chromatography. The antifungal material was a polar substance as it showed antifungal activity in polar elute. Therefore, our results indicated a clear potential of B. subtilis HK2 to be used for biocontrol of Pink rot in melon and white stain symptom on grape caused by T. roseum.

A severe pink mold rot on matured asian pear (Pyrus serotina Rehder) fruit occurred in the organic farmers’ orchard in Jinju, Korea in October, 2012. Decay of pear fruit appeared as a softened water-soaked symptom that was easily punctured by pressure. Later pink mycelium appeared on the surface of pear fruit and produced a mass of powdery pink conidia spores. Optimum temperature for mycelial growth of T. roseum was 25℃. Conidia showed hyaline, smooth, 2-celled, thick-walled with truncate bases, ellipsoidal to pyriform, and characteristically held together zig-zag chains and 10-22(34)×6-10(12) ㎛ in size. Conidiophore was erect, colorless, unbranched type, and 4-5 ㎛ width. On the basis of mycological characteristics, pathogenicity test, and molecular identification with the ITS region, the causal fungus was identified as Trichothecium roseum (Pers.) Link ex Gray.