No abstract

In an ongoing survey of Korean indigenous fungi, two fungal strains (KNU16-74 and KNU16-99) belonging to the genus Chrysosporium were isolated from field soil in Gyeongnam, Korea. Morphological characterization and phylogenetic analysis using sequence of the internal transcribed spacer regions were carried out to confirm its precise identification. These strains were identified as Chrysosporium indicum (KNU16-74) and Chrysosporium fluviale (KNU16-99). To examine the keratin degradation efficiency of these two fungal species, human hair strands were incubated with fungus culture. Results revealed that these two fungal species have the ability to degrade keratin substrate. This is the first report of these two species in Korea.

Materials and Methods Experimental materialsFresh leaves of 21 plant species were collected from local sources. The identity of these plant species was confirmed at Haramaya University Herbarium where voucher specimens are deposited. The plants included Acacia albida, A. seyal Isolation of the pathogen and inoculum preparationBanana fruits showing anthracnose disease symptoms were collected and used for isolation of Colletotrichum musae. Pure culture was maintained on PDA medium. Inoculum was prepared by dislodging the surface of 10 days old culture with sterile distilled water and adjusted to 105 ml -1 using a hemacytometer. Extraction of plant samplesExtraction was done using methanol and water. The methanolic extracts were used for preliminary screening of the plant specimens for their potency against the fungal pathogen, while aqueous extracts were used for further testing. Fifty gram of powdered samples of each of the plant specimens was extracted with 250 ml solvent (methanol or water). The methanolic and aqueous extracts were filtered and reduced to dryness on rotary evaporator under vacuum at 40°C and 60°C water bath temperatures, respectively [8,9]. The extract of each plant was weighed, re-dissolved and then tested for antifungal activities. In vitro assay of plant extractsPaper disc method: The method as described by [9] was used. AbstractThe present study was conducted to determine the efficacy of extracts of some plant species against Colletotrichum musae. Methanolic extracts of 21 plant species were screened for their inhibitory effect against C. musae using paper disc method and spore germination assay. Among them, extract of Prosopis juliflora exhibited superior antifungal activity (30.7 mm), followed by Acacia albida (19 mm) as compared to nill in the control. On the other hand, carbendazim, which was used as a standard chemical check, demonstrated by far the highest inhibition zone of 51.7 mm diameter. Extracts from A. albida, Dovalis abyssinica and P. juliflora reduced conidial germination to 0.2, 0.5 and 0.3%, respectively, which didn't vary statistically from 1.2% in Carbendazim. Six plant species, viz., A. albida, Azadirachta indica, Argemone mexicana, D. abyssinica, P. juliflora and Vernonia amygdalina, that showed high to moderate antifungal activity in the preliminary screening, were further tested for their thermal stability at 60°C and for the efficacy of their aqueous extracts against C. musae. Extracts of the tested plant species were found to be heat stable and aqueous extracts of A. albida showed the highest antifungal activity (18 mm), followed by P. juliflora (12.3 mm). Further studies need to be undertaken to isolate the active compounds from those extracts with fungicidal potential.

Three new records of Ascomycota species (Chaetomium acropullum, Phialemonium globosum, Phialemonium atrogriseum) from field soils in Korea are presented in this study. These newly discovered fungal isolates were isolated from field soils from various places across Gyeongnam, Korea in 2016. All the isolates were identified and described based on morphological characteristics, and rDNA internal transcribed spacer and β-tubulin gene sequence data. Morphological features of these fungal species were studied on different agar media: potato dextrose agar, oatmeal agar, malt extract agar, Czapek yeast extract agar, and yeast extract sucrose agar. Full description and illustrations of their morphological characters are provided. These fungal species have not officially been previously reported in Korea.

A field experiment was conducted to determine the integrated effect of planting dates, insecticides, and their interaction on the reduction of yield and yield related components of haricot bean caused by haricot bean foliage beetle damage at Sirinka Agriculture Research Center, Ethiopia. Planting dates were normal planting (NP) and late planting (10 days after normal planting) (LP), while insecticides comprised Apron star seed dressing (A) and without insecticide (WI). The combined analysis revealed that late planting combined with Apron star seed dressing (LPA) resulted in the highest yield (1223.7 Kg/ha). On the other hand, normal planting date without insecticide application (NPWI) gave the lowest yield (209.6 kg/ha) and the maximum yield loss (209.6%). The cost-benefit analysis showed that use of LPA gave by far better high net profit over control. Thus, LPA are recommended for haricot bean foliage beetle management in northeastern Ethiopia.