• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.373-383
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• 2015

Five halophytic plant species, Suaeda maritima, Limonium tetragonum, Suaeda australis, Phragmites australis, and Suaeda glauca Bunge, which are native to the Muan salt marsh of South Korea, were examined for fungal endophytes by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region containing ITS1, 5.8S rRNA, and ITS2. In total, 160 endophytic fungal strains were isolated and identified from the roots of the 5 plant species. Taxonomically, all 160 strains belonged to the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Zygomycota. The most dominant genus was Fusarium, followed by the genera Penicillium and Alternaria. Subsequently, using 5 statistical methods, the diversity indices of the endophytes were determined at genus level. Among these halophytic plants, P. australis was found to host the greatest diversity of endophytic fungi. Culture filtrates of endophytic fungi were treated to Waito-C rice seedlings for plant growth-promoting effects. The fungal strain Su-3-4-3 isolated from S. glauca Bunge provide the maximum plant length (20.1 cm) in comparison with wild-type Gibberella fujikuroi (19.6 cm). Consequently, chromatographic analysis of the culture filtrate of Su-3-4-3 showed the presence of physiologically active gibberellins, $GA_1$ (0.465 ng/mL), $GA_3$ (1.808 ng/mL) along with other physiologically inactive $GA_9$ (0.054 ng/mL) and $GA_{24}$ (0.044 ng/mL). The fungal isolate Su-3-4-3 was identified as Talaromyces pinophilus.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.763-772
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• 2004

The patterns of fungal growth and fiber digestion under the microscope, and tile productions of fibrolytic enzyme were studied in an in vitro culture with Neocallimastix frontalis SA when either filter paper or rice straw was provided as sole energy source. Under the microscopic observation, active zoospores attachment, sporangium development and complex rhizoidal system were founded on the surface and at the edge of filter paper. After 7 days of incubation, a reduced fiber mass, a decreased fiber cohesion and a weakened fiber structure by fungal digestion were clearly observed. Similar fungal development was observed with rice straw, but fungal growth and digestion took place mostly on the damaged and exposed portion of rice straw. Although there were some differences in absolute concentration and pattern, the concentration of both cellulase and xylanase increased with incubation time with the higher activity being obtained with filter paper. Their differences were large especially after 48 and 96hr of incubation(P< 0.05). The filter paper was more good inducer of cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes compared with complex substrate, rice straw. These findings suggest that the filter paper is the better energy source for N frontalis than the complex substrate, and structural disintegration by physical process is able to help rumen fungal growth on the lignified roughage although anaerobic rumen fungi have mechanical and enzymatic functions for fiber digestion.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.20-20
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• 2015

Endophytic fungi are microorganisms inhabiting living plant tissues without causing apparent harm to the host. They are drawing increasing attention due to their ability to produce various bioactive compounds as well as their effects on host growth and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. As a first step to assess biodiversity of plant associated fungi in Korea and the following evaluation on diverse biological activities, we are collecting endophytic fungi from plant in wild followed by systematic long-term storage in liquid nitrogen. Molecular identification using ITS sequences was also incorporated for pure culture by hyphal tip isolation. As of April 2015, about 1,400 fungal strains had been isolated from about 170 plant taxa. Fungal isolates belonging to Pleosporales, Diaporthales, Glomerellales, Hypocreales, and Xylariales were the most abundant. These collections are being used for several complementary researches, including screening of isolates with novel bioactive compounds or conferring drought stress resistance, phylogenetic and genomic study. Genome sequencing was performed for 3 isolates, one Xylaria sp. strain JS573 producing griseofulvin, an antifungal compound, and two Fusarium spp. strains JS626 and JS1030, which are assumed to be new species found in Korea. More detailed analysis on these genomes will be presented. These collections and genome informations will serve as invaluable resources for identifying novel bioactive materials in addition to expand our knowledge on fungal biodiversity.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.446-450
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• 2013

The ascomycete fungus Fusarium graminearum is a major causal agent for Fusarium head blight in cereals and produces mycotoxins such as trichothecenes and zearalenone. Isolation of the fungal strains from air or cereals can be hampered by various other airborne fungal pathogens and saprophytic fungi. In this study, we developed a selective medium specific to F. graminearum using toxoflavin produced by the bacterial pathogen Burkholderia glumae. F. graminearum was resistant to toxoflavin, while other fungi were sensitive to this toxin. Supplementing toxoflavin into medium enhanced the isolation of F. graminearum from rice grains by suppressing the growth of saprophytic fungal species. In addition, a medium with or without toxoflavin exposed to wheat fields for 1 h had 84% or 25%, respectively, of colonies identified as F. graminearum. This selection medium provides an efficient tool for isolating F. graminearum, and can be adopted by research groups working on genetics and disease forecasting.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2015.11a
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• pp.14-14
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• 2015

Cellular aspects of sooty mold on walnut leaves were investigated by using light and electron microscopy. A black coating developed on the adaxial leaf surface of a walnut tree. No infestations were found on the abaxial leaf surface with peltate glandular trichomes. Light microscopy showed that fungal complexes from the leaf surface were composed of brown conidia and hyphae. Conidia, with longitudinal and transverse septa, were variable in length ranging from 10 to $30{\mu}m$, and commonly found in clusters, forming microsclerotia. Neither epidermal penetration nor hyphal entrance to host tissues was observed. Based on their morphological characteristics, the fungal complexes were assumed to be Capnodium species. An electron-dense melanized layer was present on the cell wall of multi-celled conidia. Concentric bodies in the fungal cytoplasm had an electron-translucent core surrounded by an electron-dense margin with a fibrillar sheath. Chloroplasts without starch granules in the palisade mesophyll cells of sooty leaves had electron-dense stromata and swollen plastoglobuli. These results suggest that the epiphytic growth of fungal complexes can be attributed to the melanized layer and concentric bodies against a water-deficient environment on the leaf surface. Ultrastructural characteristics of the sooty leaves indicate typical features of dark-adapted and non-photosynthetic shade leaves.

• Mycobiology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.440-447
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• 2018

Dual biocontrol of both insects and plant pathogens has been reported for certain fungal entomopathogens, including Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillum spp. In this study, we demonstrate, for the first time, the dual biocontrol potential of two fungal isolates identified by morphological and phylogenetic analyses as Isaria javanica. Both these isolates caused mortality in the greater wax moth, and hence can be considered entomopathogens. Spores of the isolates were also pathogenic to nymphs of the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), with an $LC_{50}$ value of $10^7spores/mL$ 4 days after inoculation and an $LT_{50}$ of 4.2 days with a dose of $10^8spores/mL$. In vitro antifungal assays also demonstrated a strong inhibitory effect on the growth of two fungi that are pathogenic to peppers, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Phytophthora capsici. These results indicate that I. javanica isolates could be used as novel biocontrol agents for the simultaneous control of aphids and fungal diseases, such as anthracnose and Phytophthora blight, in an integrated pest management framework for red pepper.

• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.534-550
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• 2021

During a survey of fungal diversity associated with insects, mud, soil, and freshwater niches in different areas in Korea, nine interesting fungal strains were isolated. Based on their morphological characteristics and molecular phylogeny analyses, using a combined data set of b-tubulin (BenA), calmodulin (CaM), and second largest subunit of RNA polymerase (RPB2) sequences, the strains CNUFC AM-44, CNUFC JCW3-4, CNUFC S708, CNUFC WT202, CNUFC AS1-29, CNUFC JCW3-5, CNUFC JDP37, and CNUFC JDP62 were identified as Aspergillus alabamensis, A. floridensis, A. subversicolor, Penicillium flavigenum, P. laevigatum, P. lenticrescens, Talaromyces adpressus, and T. beijingensis, respectively. The strain CNUFC JT1301 belongs to series Westlingiorum in section Citrina and is phylogenetically related to P. manginii. However, slow growth when cultivated on CYA, MEA, CREA is observed and the property can be used to easily distinguish the new species from these species. Additionally, P. manginii is known to produce sclerotia, while CNUFC JT1301 strain does not. Herein, the new fungal species is proposed as P. aquadulcis sp. nov. Eight species, A. alabamensis, A. floridensis, A. subversicolor, P. flavigenum, P. laevigatum, P. lenticrescens, T. adpressus, and T. beijingensis, have not been previously reported in Korea. The present study expands the known distribution of fungal species belonging to the families Aspergillaceae and Trichocomaceae in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.255-262
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• 2022

In this study, the fungal strain KNUF-21-F39 was isolated from a declined apple tree (Malus domestica) in the Chungcheongbuk province in Korea. The strain KNUF-21-F39 presented a slow growth rate and a variety of macroconidia shapes and sizes ranging from ovoid to fusoid and 1- to 5-septate, primarily showing 3- and 4-septate, with "S" -shaped macroconidia rarely observed. The strain was identified based on morphological characteristics along with phylogenetic analysis performed using the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and partial sequences of translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1), RNA polymerase largest subunit (rpb1), and calmodulin (cal) genes. The fungal strain KNUF-21-F39 was identified as Fusarium diversisporum, which has not been previously reported in Korea. The ice nucleation activity (INA) of the strain was also evaluated, identifying the strain as positive for INA. This is the first report characterizing F. diversisporum as an IN-active fungal species.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.13-13
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• 2015

Rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, is the most destructive pathogen of rice in the world. This fungus has a biotrophic phase early in infection and switches to a necrotrophic lifestyle after host cell death. During the biotrophic phase, the fungus competes with host for nutrients and oxygen. Continuous uptake of oxygen is essential for successful establishment of blast disease of this pathogen. Here, we report transcriptional responses of the fungus to oxygen limitation. Transcriptome analysis using RNA-Seq identified 1,047 up-regulated genes in response to hypoxia. Those genes were involved in mycelial development, sterol biosynthesis, and metal ion transport based on hierarchical GO terms and well-conserved among three different fungal species. In addition, null mutants of three hypoxia-responsive genes were generated and tested for their roles on fungal development and pathogenicity. The mutants for a sterol regulatory element-binding protein gene, MoSRE1, and C4 methyl sterol oxidase gene, ERG25, exhibited increased sensitivity to hypoxia-mimetic agent, increased conidiation, and delayed invasive growth within host cells, suggesting important roles in fungal development. However, such defects did not cause any significant decrease in disease severity. The other null mutant for alcohol dehydrogenase gene, MoADH1, showed no defect in the hypoxia-mimic condition and fungal development. Taken together, this comprehensive transcriptional profiling in response to a hypoxia condition with experimental validations would provide new insights on fungal development and pathogenicity in plant pathogenic fungi.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2010

The phytopathogenic fungus Magnaporthe oryzae is a major limiting factor in rice production. To understand the genetic basis of M. oryzae pathogenic development, we previously analyzed a library of T-DNA insertional mutants of M. oryzae, and identified ATMT0879A1 as one of the pathogenicity-defective mutants. Molecular analyses and database searches revealed that a single TDNA insertion in ATMT0879A1 resulted in functional interference with an annotated gene, MGG00056, which encodes a short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR). The mutant and annotated gene were designated as $MoSDR1^{T-DNA}$ and MoSDR1, respectively. Like other SDR family members, MoSDR1 possesses both a cofactor-binding motif and a catalytic site. The expression pattern of MoSDR1 suggests that the gene is associated with pathogenicity and plays an important role in M. oryzae development. To understand the roles of MoSDR1, the deletion mutant ${\Delta}Mosdr1$ for the gene was obtained via homology-dependent gene replacement. As expected, ${\Delta}Mosdr1$ was nonpathogenic; moreover, the mutant displayed pleiotropic defects in conidiation, conidial germination, appressorium formation, penetration, and growth inside host tissues. These results suggest that MoSDR1 functions as a key metabolic enzyme in the regulation of development and pathogenicity in M. oryzae.