(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Jae-young = The National Nakdong River Biological Resources Institute announced on the 16th that they have found microorganisms that can prevent 'fruit tree anthrax,' which causes significant damage to farms.
The Nakdong River Biological Resources Institute has been conducting research to secure fungi living in freshwater and utilizing them to create crop protectants since 2021.
Recently, the research team discovered strains called Aspergillus flaocosus and Streptomyces caniferus in Anyangcheon, which inhibited the mycelial growth of the pathogens causing fruit tree anthrax by over 70%.
In particular, these strains showed benefits in plant growth when applied to pepper seedlings, increasing stem length and thickness by about 30%.
The research team plans to file a related patent within this month.
The Ednia strain discovered by the institute's research team in March 2019 was also confirmed to have antibacterial effects against fruit tree anthrax pathogens.
In subsequent research, two peptide-based antibacterial substances produced by this strain were discovered, and currently, field research is being conducted using them for fruit tree anthrax control crop protectants.
An official from the institute said, "It is significant that new biological resources to prevent fruit tree anthrax have been discovered domestically," and added, "We will actively promote research for the practical application of freshwater biological resources."
jylee24@yna.co.kr