• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.324-332
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• 2017

Objectives: Much scientific evidence indicate a positive association between moldy environments and respiratory illnesses and/or symptoms. However, few comprehensive assessments of mold have been performed for such settings. Spore counts or microscopic enumeration only may not be sufficient for evaluating fungal exposure. Recently, Mold Specific QPCR technology developed by the US EPA (Environmental Relative Moldiness Index, ERMI) has been widely used worldwide and great performance for assessing fungal exposure has been shown. Methods: We aimed to develop a Korean version of ERMI suitable for the distribution of fungal flora in Korea. Thirty dwellings in the Seoul and Incheon area were selected for sampling, and each was classified as 'Flooded, 'Water-damaged' or 'Non-water-damaged'. Results: Dust on the floor and airborne sampling were collected using an MAS100 and a 'Dustream' collector. Samples were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction(QPCR) for the 36 molds belonging to ERMI. Student t-test and ANOVA tests were carried out using SAS software. The median ERMI values of flooded, water damaged, and non-water damaged dwellings were 8.24(range: -5.6 to 27.9), 5.47(-25. 4 to 32.7), and -15.30(-24.6 to 14.8), respectively. Significant differences were observed between flooded and non-water damaged dwellings (P=0.001) and between water-damaged and non-water damaged dwellings (P=0.032). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that ERMI values attributed to dust samples in Korea could be applicable for the identification of flooded or water damaged buildings. However, much data is needed for continuously developing the Korean version of ERMI values.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.87-98
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• 2018

The fungal species contain diverse transposable elements and repetitive sequences up to ~10% of their genome. It has been reported that distribution of transposable elements tends to correlate with the host range of the pathogen. Moreover, transposable elements cause the loss of an avirulence gene in the pathogen, which resulted in disease on a resistance cultivar. Thus, the transposable elements in the fungal pathogens may be one of the key factors driving the plant-fungus interactive evolution. In this article, we reviewed classification and biological functions of transposable elements in Magnaporthe species.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.51-58
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• 1991

With the soil samples collected from 33 locations in Kwangju area, the physiochemical properties of soil and soil microorganisms have been studied and the results of'the analysis were as follows ;1 . Tlle temperatilre, pH, moisture and organic matter of sampling s'tes were measured in the range of 21.O~28.O$^{\circ}C$, 4.0"6.6, 2.1"24.0% and 2.8~22.0% respectively.and that showed wide range distribution in moisture and organio mattrr particulary.and averase was 24.$^{\circ}C$ of temperature, 4.9 of pH, 11.9% of moisture and 8.9% of'organic matter.2. The general bacterial number, cellulolytic bacterial number, general fungal number and cellulolytic fungal number were measured in tile range of 23$\times$10$^{[-995]}$ _1548x10$^{[-995]}$ , 8.0$\times$10$^{[-995]}$ ~412.0$\times$10$^{[-995]}$ , 0.3$\times$10$^{[-994]}$ ~56.4$\times$10$^{[-994]}$ and 0.Ix10$^{[-994]}$ ~17.2x10$^{[-994]}$ , respectivelyand average was 378.4$\times$10$^{[-995]}$ of general bacteria, 102.5$\times$10$^{[-995]}$ of cellulolytic bacteria.13.OX10$^{[-994]}$ of general fungi and 4.3$\times$10$^{[-994]}$ of cellulolytic fungi.tic fungi.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.1.1-5
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• 2001

High SPM concentrations(199.8~249.4${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$/㎥) were detected in the west Korea during the Yellow Sand Periods, 2000. Majority of the total SPM were composed of about 5${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ sized coarse particles over the periods. However, fine particles sized about 1 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and coarse particles sized about 5-6${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ showed peaks at the graph of SPM size distribution in the Non Yellow Sand Period. Airborne fungal spores at the SPM samples were cultured and identified. Full-grown colonies during the Yellow Sand Periods, Fusarium, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Basipetospora are hyphomycetes in the division Fungi imperfecti(Deuteromycota). And morphologically more diversified mycelia of hyphomycetes were grown on the sample captured from 1.1~2.1${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ sized SPM than on other sized samples during the Yellow Sand Period. But no mold was observed on the sample of 1.1~2.1${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ sized SPM in the Non Yellow Sand Period. It was thought that several sorts of fine sized fungal spores were suspended in the atmospheric environment of the west Korea during the Asian dust episodes.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.392-398
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• 2020

This study was conducted to understand the dynamics of microbial communities of soil microorganisms, and their distribution and abundance in the indigenous microorganisms (IMOs) manipulated from humus collected from the forest near the crop field. The soil microorganisms originated from humus and artificially cultured microbial-based soil amendments were characterized by molecular and biochemical analyses. The bacterial population (2 × 10⁶~13 × 10⁶ CFU/g sample) was approximately 100-fold abundant than the fungal population (2 × 10⁴~8 × 10⁴ CFU/g sample). The 16S rDNA and ITS sequence analyses showed that the bacterial and fungal communities in humus and IMOs were mainly composed of Bacillus and Pseudomonas, and Trichoderma and Aspergillus species, respectively. Some of the bacterial isolates from the humus and IMOs showed strong inhibitory activity against soil-borne pathogenic fungi Fusarium oxysporum and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. These bacteria also showed the siderophore production activity as well as phosphate solubilizing activity, which are requisite traits for biological control of plant pathogenic fungi. These results suggest that humus and IMOs could be a useful resource for sustainable agriculture.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2011

Gibberella zeae (anamorph: Fusarium graminearum), a homothallic (self-ferile) ascomycete with ubiquitous geographic distribution, causes serious diseases in several cereal crops. Ascospores (sexual spores) produced by this fungal pathogen have been suggested as the main source of primary inoculum in disease development. Here, we report the function of a gene designated GzRUM1, which is essential for ascospore formation in G. zeae. The deduced product of GzRUM1 showed significant similarities to the human retinoblastoma (tumor suppressor) binding protein 2 and a transcriptional repressor, Rum1 in the corn smut fungus (Ustilago maydis). The transcript of GzRUM1 was detected during the both vegetative and sexual stages, but was more highly accumulated during the latter stage. In addition, no GzRUM1 transcript was detected in a G. zeae strain lacking a mating-type gene (MAT1-2), a master regulator for sexual development in G. zeae. Targeted deletion of GzRUM1 caused no dramatic changes in several traits except ascospore formation. The ${\Delta}$GzRUM1 strain produced perithecia (sexual fruit bodies) but not asci nor ascospores within them. This specific defect leading to an arrest in ascospore development suggests that GzRUM1, as Rum1 in U. maydis, functions as a transcriptional regulator during sexual reproduction in G. zeae.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.760-770
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• 2023

Continuous cropping obstacles have become a serious factor restricting sustainable development in modern agriculture, while companion planting is one of the most common and effective methods for solving this problem. Here, we monitored the effects of companion planting on soil fertility and the microbial community distribution pattern in pepper monoculture and companion plantings. Soil microbial communities were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing technology. Companion plants included garlic (T1), oat (T2), cabbage (T3), celery (T4), and white clover (T5). The results showed that compared with the monoculture system, companion planting significantly increased the activities of soil urease (except for T5) and sucrase, but decreased catalase activity. In addition, T2 significantly improved microbial diversity (Shannon index) while T1 resulted in a decrease of bacterial OTUs and an increase of fungal OTUs. Companion planting also significantly changed soil microbial community structures and compositions. Correlation analysis showed that soil enzyme activities were closely correlated with bacterial and fungal community structures. Moreover, the companion system weakened the complexity of microbial networks. These findings indicated that companion plants can provide nutrition to microbes and weaken the competition among them, which offers a theoretical basis and data for further research into methods for reducing continuous cropping obstacles in agriculture.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.84-86
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• 2008

Field surveys and specimen collections of the rust fungal pathogen Gymnosporangium were carried out for 15 years from 1985 through 1999 in various locations of Korea. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations of morphological characteristics of aecia from the collected specimens revealed that Gymnosporangium globosum is the causal agent of American hawthorn rust disease on Crataegus pinnatifida and C. pinnatifida varmajor. The host plants are new for this rust fungus. G. globosum was found only in Gyeonggi and Chungbuk provinces, indicating that its distribution in Korea is limited. This is a first full description on morphological characters of aecia of G. globosum in Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.406-417
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• 2011

Objectives: Exposure to bioaerosols in the indoor environment could be associated with a variety adverse health effects, including allergic disease such atopy. The objectives of this study were to assess children's exposure to bioaerosol in home indoor environments and to evaluate the association between atopy and bioaerosol, environmental, and social factors in Ulsan, Korea. Methods: Samples of viable airborne bacteria and fungi were collected by impaction onto agar plates using a Quick Take TM 30 and were counted as colony forming units per cubic meter of air (CFU/$m^3$). Bioaerosols were identified using standard microbial techniques by differential stains and/or microscopy. The environmental factors and possible causes of atopy based on ISAAC (International Study of Allergy and Asthma in Childhood) were collected by questionnaire. Results: The bioaerosol concentrations in indoor environments showed log-normal distribution (p < 0.01). Geometric mean (GM) and geometric standard deviation (GSD) of airborne bacteria and fungi in homes were 189.0 (2.5), 346.1(2.0) CFU/$m^3$, respectively. Indoor fungal levels were significantly higher than those of bacteria (p < 0.001). The concentration of airborne bacteria exceeded the limit recommended by the Korean Ministry of Environment, 800 CFU/$m^3$, in three out of 92 samples (3.3%) from 52 homes. The means of indoor to outdoor ratio (I/O) for airborne bacteria and fungi were 8.15 and 1.13, respectively. The source of airborne bacteria was not outdoors but indoors. GM of airborne bacteria and fungi were 217.6, 291.8 CFU/$m^3$ in the case's home and 162.0, 415.2 CFU/$m^3$ in the control's home respectively. The difference in fungal distributions between case and control were significant (p = 0.004) and the odds ratio was 0.996 (p = 0.027). Atopy was significantly associated with type of house (odds ratio = 1.723, p = 0.047) and income (odds ratio = 1.891, p = 0.041). Some of the potential allergic fungal genera isolated in homes were Cladosporium spp., Botrytis spp., Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., and Alternatia spp. Conclusions: These results suggest that there this should be either 'was little' meaning 'basically no significant association was found' or 'was a small negative' mean that an association was found but it was minor. It's a very improtant distinction. Association between airborne fungal concentrations and atopy and certain socioeconomic factors may affect the prevalence of childhood atopy.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.72 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 1986

To compare the fungal distribution of matsutake-producing (Tricholoma matsutake) stand with that of non-producing stand, mushrooms on forest floor were collected in September of 1984 from 28-year-old non-producing and 55-year-old matsutake-producing stands of Pinus densiflora in Kangwon Province. A total of 18 fungal species in 12 genera were collected from a non-producing stand, and all the species except one were putative ectomycorrhizal. Common genera in non-producing stand included Suillus, Russula, Lactarius, Hydnum, and Amanita. From a matsutake-producing stand a total of 30 fungal species in 22 genera were collected, of which 22 species were ectomycorrhizal. Common genera in the producing stand included Hydnum, Tricholoma, Laccaria, and Cantharellus. Common species in both stands were six species only. It is concluded that matsutake-producing stand had more diversified fungal population than non-producing stand, probably because of higher contents of organic matters in soil and better development of understory vegetation through the ageing of the stand.