Identification and Characterization of Eurotium rubrum Isolated from Mejuin Korea

We isolated and identified a strain of Eurotium rubrum from Meju that has not been reported in Korea. This fungus is yellowish brown; reverse dark brown on CYA and PDA while yellow on 2% MEA at $25{^{\circ}C}$. Cleistothecia are first bright yellow and gradually turned brown. Mycerial growth on CYA attained a diameter of 30 mm at $20{^{\circ}C}$, 37 mm at $25{^{\circ}C}$ and 32 mm at $30{^{\circ}C}$ after 15 days. The isolate grew slower on 2% MEA ($<$ 20 mm 15 days at $25{^{\circ}C}$) compared to CYA and PDA ($<$ 40 mm 15 days at $25{^{\circ}C}$). Cleistothecia are superficial, yellow to light brown, globose to subglobose, 40~75 ${\mu}m$ in diameter. Asci are 8-spored and globose to subglobose 8~11 ${\mu}m$. Ascospores are disciform, 4.0~5.0 ${\mu}m$ in length and 4.2~4.5 ${\mu}m$ in width. Conidia are ovate or bacillar, finely roughened to densely spinulose, 4.6~6.0 ${\mu}m$ in length and 3.0~4.3 ${\mu}m$ in width. Compared to known Eurotium rubrum, the Korean isolate showed 99% sequence similarity in ITS rDNA (554 bp) and calmodulin (750 bp) gene and 100% in $\beta$-tubulin (1016 bp) gene. The E. rubrum isolate also had weak $\beta$-glucosidase and protease activities.