doi: 10.4489/KJM.2025.53.2.9 Citation BibTeX RIS Mendeley

Diversity and Screening of Endophytic Fungal Strains from Prunus × yedoensis for Inhibition of Taphrina wiesneri Growth

Diversity and Screening of Endophytic Fungal Strains from Prunus × yedoensis for Inhibition of Taphrina wiesneri Growth

• Jae-Deok Lee (Integrated Science Education, Graduate School, Korea National University of Education, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk 28173, Korea)
• Yun-Jeong Kim (Department of Biology Education, Korea National University of Education, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk 28173, Korea)
• Eun-Ju Kim (Department of Biology Education, Korea National University of Education, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk 28173, Korea)
• Ji-Won Kim (Department of Biology Education, Korea National University of Education, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk 28173, Korea)
• Ahn-Heum Eom (Department of Biology Education, Korea National University of Education, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk 28173, Korea)

Prunus × yedoensis, which is widely cultivated for ornamental purposes, is highly susceptible to witches’ broom disease caused by Taphrina wiesneri. Conventional physical and chemical control measures have certain limitations due to environmental concerns, thereby highlighting the need for alternative approaches. In this study, we sought to isolate and identify endophytic fungi from Prunus × yedoensis and evaluate their potential as biological control agents against T. wiesneri using dual culture assays. A total of 45 endophytic fungal species were isolated and identified based on an analysis of internal transcribed spacer sequences. Fungal species composition was found to differ between leaves and twigs, with Diaporthe eres and Nothophoma quercina being the most prevalent species. Dual culture assays revealed that Aspergillus flavus, and Trichoderma guizhouense have significant inhibitory effects on T. wiesneri (inhibition index > 0.5). These findings indicate that endophytic fungi could be harnessed to facilitate the suppression of witches’ broom disease in Prunus × yedoensis