Current status of bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides development, farmer's acceptance and their utilization in Korea

To reduce input of chemical fertilizers and pesticides but to sustain productivity and agro-ecosystem, bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides become ideal substitutes for the environment friendly agriculture in Korean. At present, totally 138 companies produce hundreds commercial products and 23 bio-pesticides are registered in the country. Among bio-pesticides 12 are fungicides and the others are insecticides. The microbial agents used for bio-pesticides include Paenibacillus polymyxa, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquifacians, Paecilomyes fumosoroseus, Streptomyces goshikiensis, Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai and etc. Among commercial bio-fertilizers, EXTN-1 that was developed by the author's group is the most widely accepted and dependable bio-fertilizer in Korea. EXTN-1 was identified as Bacillus vallismortis as a PGPR and ISR agent originated from pepper root. Soil drenching or seed priming of EXTN-1 stimulated seed germination and growth about 20 crops without any harmful effect. Furthermore, it showed a broad controlling spectrum to various viral, bacterial, and fungal plant diseases such as CMV, TMV, PVY, and bacterial wilt, anthracnose, rice blast and Fusarium wilt. Besides the bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides, egg yolk and cooking oil(EYCO) mixture developed by the author is widely adopted by Korean farmers for the control of various pests and to increase plant health. Among various cooking oils, sunflower and rape seed oil(canola) at 0.3～0.5% emulsified with 0.1% egg yolk was the most effective showing over 90% control value of powdery mildew and mites. It shows relatively high protective but low curative effects. Because of simple preparation at home, cheap price about 1/4 of chemical pesticide, and safety for organic and environment friendly agriculture, EYCO is widely applied by Korean farmers.