Identification of Aspergillus strain with antifungal activity against Phytophthora species

Fungal strain CGF was isolated from the soil of ChungNam Province, South Korea. Based on the 28S rDNA sequence analysis and the sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA, together with morphological and cultural characteristics, this strain was identified as Aspergillus sclerotiorum and renamed Aspergillus sclerotiorum CGF. This is the first strain of Aspergillus sclerotiorum identified in Korea. When the antifungal activity of A. sclerotiorum CGF was evaluated, among the phytopathogenic fungi, mycelial growth of only Phytophthora species was inhibited. Germination of P. capsici zoospore was also inhibited. The bioactive compound of A. sclerotiorum CGF was highly thermo-and pH-stable.