Kushenol A and 8-prenylkaempferol, tyrosinase inhibitors, derived from Sophora flavescens.

Tyrosinase is known for an enzyme that plays a key role in producing the initial precursor of melanin biosynthesis. Inhibition of the catalytic reaction of this enzyme led to some advantage such as skin-whitening and anti-insect agents. To find a natural compound with inhibitory activity towards tyrosinase, the five flavonoids of kushenol A (1), 8-prenylkaempferol (2), kushenol C (3), formononetin (4) and 8-prenylnaringenin (5) were isolated by column chromatography from a 95% methanol extract of Sophora flavescens. The ability of these flavonoids to block the conversion of L-tyrosine to L-DOPA by tyrosinase was tested in vitro. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited potent inhibitory activity, with IC50 values less than 10 µM. Furthermore, enzyme kinetics and molecular docking analysis revealed the formation of a binary encounter complex between compounds 1-4 and the enzyme. Also, all of the isolated compounds (1-5) were confirmed to possess antioxidant activity.

Benzaldehyde Synergizes the Response of Female Xyleborinus saxesenii (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) to Ethanol.

The ambrosia beetle, Xyleborinus saxesenii Ratzeburg (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae), infests physiologically stressed apple and peach trees in Korea. Dispersing females utilize the degradation product ethanol and host-related volatiles to locate and colonize new host trees. We examined the extent to which 12 chemicals emitted from fruit trees act synergistically with ethanol to attract X. saxesenii. The addition of benzaldehyde to ethanol significantly increased beetle attraction, although benzaldehyde was not attractive by itself. The addition of (-)-α-pinene, ethyl butyrate, ethyl isovalerate, (R)-(+)-limonene, 3-methyl-1-butanol, ethyl tiglate, (+)-aromadendrene, vanillin, 2-butanol, styrene, or ethyl 3,3-dimethylacrylate to ethanol had no effect on beetle attraction. In a dose-response test, the addition of 5-50% benzaldehyde doses synergistically increased the number of beetle captures; however, trap catches did not increase as the benzaldehyde dosage increased. The synergistic influence of benzaldehyde on beetle response to ethanol was lower in early spring than in late summer to early fall, probably because synthetic benzaldehyde emissions from field lures were overwhelmed by background levels of natural benzaldehyde emitted from peach twigs in the flowering stage.

Process development of oxalic acid production in submerged culture of Aspergillus niger F22 and its biocontrol efficacy against the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita.

Oxalic acid has potent nematicidal activity against the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. In this study, fermentation parameters for oxalic acid production in submerged culture of Aspergillus niger F22 at 23, 25, and 30 °C were optimized in 5-L jar fermenters. The viscosity of the culture broth increased with increasing temperature. There was a negative correlation between oxalic acid production and the apparent viscosity; high volumetric productivity of oxalic acid was obtained at low apparent viscosity (less than 1000 cP), with a productivity of more than 100 mg/L h. When the apparent viscosity was over 2500 cP, the volumetric productivity decreased below 50 mg/L h. In addition, the volumetric mass transfer coefficient, K L a, positively correlated with volumetric productivity. When the K L a value increased from 0.0 to 0.017 /s, the volumetric productivity proportionally increased up to 176 mg/L h. When the temperature decreased, K L a increased due to the decrease in viscosity, leading to increased volumetric productivity. The highest productivity of 7453.3 mg/L was obtained at the lowest temperature, i.e., 23 °C. The nematicidal activity of culture filtrate was proportional to the content of oxalic acid. Based on a constant impeller tip speed, oxalic acid production was successfully scaled up to a 500-L pilot vessel, producing a final concentration comparable to that in the 5-L jar.

Cutaneous Microflora from Geographically Isolated Groups of Bradysia agrestis, an Insect Vector of Diverse Plant Pathogens.

Larvae of Bradysia agrestis, an insect vector that transports plant pathogens, were sampled from geographically isolated regions in Korea to identify their cutaneous fungal and bacterial flora. Sampled areas were chosen within the distribution range of B. agrestis; each site was more than 91 km apart to ensure geographical segregation. We isolated 76 microbial (fungi and bacteria) strains (site 1, 29; site 2, 29; site 3, 18 strains) that were identified on the basis of morphological differences. Species identification was molecularly confirmed by determination of universal fungal internal transcribed spacer and bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences in comparison to sequences in the EzTaxon database and the NCBI GenBank database, and their phylogenetic relationships were determined. The fungal isolates belonged to 2 phyla, 5 classes, and 7 genera; bacterial species belonged to 23 genera and 32 species. Microbial diversity differed significantly among the geographical groups with respect to Margalef's richness (3.9, 3.6, and 4.5), Menhinick's index (2.65, 2.46, and 3.30), Simpson's index (0.06, 0.12, and 0.01), and Shannon's index (2.50, 2.17, and 2.58). Although the microbial genera distribution or diversity values clearly varied among geographical groups, common genera were identified in all groups, including the fungal genus Cladosporium, and the bacterial genera Bacillus and Rhodococcus. According to classic principles of co-evolutionary relationship, these genera might have a closer association with their host insect vector B. agrestis than other genera identified. Some cutaneous bacterial genera (e.g., Pseudomonas) displaying weak interdependency with insect vectors may be hazardous to agricultural environments via mechanical transmission via B. agrestis. This study provides comprehensive information regarding the cutaneous microflora of B. agrestis, which can help in the control of such pests for crop management.

Optimization of Herbicidin A Production in Submerged Culture of Streptomyces scopuliridis M40.

Herbicidin A is a potent herbicide against dicotyledonous plants as well as an antibiotic against phytopathogens. In this study, fermentation parameters for herbicidin A production in submerged culture of Streptomyces scopuliridis M40 were investigated. The herbicidin A concentration varied with the C/N ratio. High C/N ratios (>4) resulted in a herbicidin A production of more than 900 mg/l, whereas maximally 600 mg/l was obtained at ratios between 1 and 3.5. In 5-L batch fermentation, there was a positive correlation between the oxygen uptake rate (OUR) and herbicidin A production. Once the OUR increased, the substrate consumption rate increased, leading to an increase in volumetric productivity. Mechanical shear force affected the hyphal morphology and OUR. When the medium value of hyphal size ranged from 150 to 180 µm, high volumetric production of herbicidin A was obtained with OUR values >137 mg O2/l·h. The highest herbicidin A concentration of 956.6 mg/l was obtained at 500 rpm, and coincided with the highest relative abundance of hyphae of 100-200 µm length and the highest OUR during cultivation. Based on a constant impeller tip speed, which affects hyphal morphology, herbicidin A production was successfully scaled up from a 5-L jar to a 500-L pilot vessel.

First Report of Myrothecium roridum Causing Leaf and Stem Rot Disease on Peperomia quadrangularis in Korea.

In 2010, symptoms of leaf and stem rot were observed on potted plants (Peperomia quadrangularis) in a greenhouse in Yongin, Korea. The causative pathogen was identified as Myrothecium roridum based on morphological data, internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis, and pathogenicity test. To our knowledge, this is the first report of M. roridum causing leaf and stem rot disease on P. quadrangularis in Korea and elsewhere worldwide.

Effects of associated bacteria on the pathogenicity and reproduction of the insect-parasitic nematode Rhabditis blumi (Nematoda: Rhabditida).

Three bacteria, Alcaligenes faecalis , Flavobacterium sp., and Providencia vermicola , were isolated from dauer juveniles of Rhabditis blumi . The pathogenic effects of the bacteria against 4th instar larvae of Galleria mellonella were investigated. Providencia vermicola and Flavobacterium sp. showed 100% mortality at 48 h after haemocoelic injection, whereas A. faecalis showed less than 30% mortality. Dauer juveniles showed 100% mortality against G. mellonella larvae, whereas axenic juveniles, which do not harbor associated bacteria, exhibited little mortality. All of the associated bacteria were used as a food source for nematode growth, and nematode yield differed with bacterial species. Among the bacterial species, P. vermicola was most valued for nematode yield, showing the highest yield of 5.2 × 10(4) nematodes/mL in the plate. In bacterial cocultures using two of the three associated bacteria, one kind stimulated the other. The highest total bacterial yield of 12.6 g/L was obtained when the inoculum ratio of P. vermicola to A. faecalis was 10:1. In air-lift bioreactors, the nematode growth rate increased with an increasing level of dissolved oxygen. The maximum nematode yield of 1.75 × 10(5) nematodes/mL was obtained at 192 h with an aeration rate of 6 vvm.