• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2010

Dead insects infected with fungi were collected from mountains and islands in several locations in Korea from 2003 to 2007. Morphological characteristics of the fungal fruiting bodies produced on the insect samples were examined. A total of 542 entomopathogenic fungal isolates were obtained from the insect samples and identified based on their morphological and cultural characteristics. Three species of Beauveria, eight species of Cordyceps and four species of Isaria were mainly isolated from the insect samples. The other entomopathogenic fungi isolated from the insect samples were Metarhizium anisopliae, Nomuraea rileyi, Paecilomyces sp. and Verticillium sp.

• Mycobiology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.230-241
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• 2019

The Great Sebkha of Oran is a closed depression located in northwestern of Algeria. Despite the ranking of this sebkha among the wetlands of global importance by Ramsar Convention in 2002, no studies on the fungal community in this area have been carried out. In our study, samples were collected from two different regions. The first region is characterized by halophilic vegetation and cereal crops and the second by a total absence of vegetation. The isolated strains were identified morphologically then by molecular analysis. The biotechnological interest of the strains was evaluated by testing their ability to grow at different concentration of NaCl and to produce extracellular enzymes (i.e., lipase, amylase, protease, and cellulase) on solid medium. The results showed that the soil of sebkha is alkaline, with the exception of the soil of cereal crops that is neutral, and extremely saline. In this work, the species Gymnoascus halophilus, Trichoderma gamsii, the two phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium brachygibbosum and Penicillium allii, and the teleomorphic form of P. longicatenatum observed for the first time in this species, were isolated for the first time in Algeria. The halotolerance test revealed that the majority of the isolated are halotolerant. Wallemia sp. and two strains of G. halophilus are the only obligate halophilic strains. All strains are capable to secrete at least one of the four tested enzymes. The most interesting species presenting the highest enzymatic index were Aspergillus sp. strain A4, Chaetomium sp. strain H1, P. vinaceum, G. halophilus, Wallemia sp. and Ustilago cynodontis.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.106-114
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• 2024

Fusarium head blight (FHB), predominantly caused by Fusarium graminearum and F. asiaticum, is a significant fungal disease impacting small-grain cereals. The absence of highly resistant cultivars underscores the need for vigilant FHB surveillance to mitigate its detrimental effects. In 2023, a notable FHB outbreak occurred in the southern region of Korea. We assessed FHB disease severity by quantifying infected spikelets and grains. Isolating fungal pathogens from infected samples often encounters interference from various microorganisms. We developed a cost-effective, selective medium, named BGT (Burkholderia glumae Toxoflavin) medium, utilizing B. glumae, which is primarily known for causing bacterial panicle blight in rice. This medium exhibited selective growth properties, predominantly supporting Fusarium spp., while substantially inhibiting the growth of other fungi. Using the BGT medium, we isolated F. graminearum and F. asiaticum from infected wheat and barley samples across Korea. To further streamline the process, we used a direct PCR approach to amplify the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF-1α) region without a separate genomic DNA extraction step. Phylogenetic analysis of the TEF-1α region revealed that the majority of the isolates were identified as F. asiaticum. Our results demonstrate that BGT medium is an effective tool for FHB diagnosis and Fusarium strain isolation.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 1987

Two kinds of heat treatment method for the selective isolation of soil fungi to eliminate the commonest fungi and also to examine the vertical and seasonal distributions of the fungal population were applied to soil samples from two plots around Seoul area. The incubation method at $42^{\circ}C$ and heat treatment at $70^{\circ}C$ were used in this experiment. In the incubation method, the almost all the fungi isolated from two plots were mesophile, while the thermotolerant fungi was Aspergillus fumigatus and thermophilic fungi were Sporotrichum thermophile and Malbranchea pulchella var. sulfrea. The most dominant species isolated by this method was A. fumigatus. Nine genera and fourteen species were isolated from the two plots, and S. thermophile, Talaromyces ucrainicus,Malbranchea pulchella var. sulfrea were new to Korea. From the selection method by heat treatment at $70^{\circ}C$, ten genera and twenty species were isolated. Among these, the most fungi were also mesophile and thermotolerant fungus was A. fumigatus. The most dominant species isolated by this method was T. stipitatus, Talaromyces helicus var. major, Emericella nidulans var. nidulans, Chaetomium subspirale and Neosartorya fisheri var. fisheri were new to Korea. From the two isolation methods, it was found that the total number of soil fungi and frequency of species appeared including dominant ones were the highest at the soils of upper layer while the lowest at the soils of lower layer in its vertical distribution.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.125-136
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• 2019

Vitis vinifera is very susceptible to downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola). A number of authors have suggested different genetic populations of this fungus exist in Europe, each showing a different degree of virulence. Work performed to date indicates this diversity to be the result of different factors. In areas where gene flow is greater and recombination more frequent, the diversity of P. viticola appears to be wider. In vineyards isolated by geographic barriers, a race may become dominant and produce clonal epidemics driven by asexual reproduction. The aim of the present work was to identify the conditions that influence the genetic diversity of P. viticola populations in the vineyards of northwestern Spain, where the climatic conditions for the growth of this fungus are very good. Vineyards situated in a closed, narrow valley of the interior, in more open valleys, and on the coast were sampled and the populations of P. viticola detected were differentiated at the molecular level through the examination of microsatellite markers. The populations of P. viticola represented in primary and secondary infections were investigated in the same way. The concentration of airborne sporangia in the vegetative cycle was also examined, as was the virulence of the different P. viticola populations detected. The epidemiological characteristics of the fungus differed depending on the degree of isolation of the vineyard, the airborne spore concentration, and on whether the attack was primary or secondary. Strong isolation was associated with the appearance of dominant fungal races and, therefore, reduced populational diversity.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1019-1030
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• 2003

The study was conducted to isolate and identify highly fibrolytic anaerobic fungi from the guts of a Hanwoo steer and a Korean native goat, and then investigate the characterization of cellulolytic activity of an anaerobic fungus. Twenty-one anaerobic fungal colonies were isolated in the study, in which 16 colonies were isolated from the rumen contents of the Hanwoo steer and 5 colonies from the duodenal fluids of the Korean native goat. Four anaerobic fungi were selected based on higher cellulolytic enzyme activities to identify under a optical microscope. NLRI-M003 and -T004 belong to Neocallimastix genus and NLRI-M014 belongs to Piromyces genus based on the morphology of their thallus, sporangia, rhizoid and the number of flagella. NLRI-M001 appeared to be an unknown strain of anaerobic fungi due to its different morphology from existing types of anaerobic fungi, though the morpholgoy is similar to Orpinomyces sp. Supplementation of 2% anaerobic fungal culture(NLRI-M003) in rumen-mixed microorganisms increased in vitro DM degradability of rice straw and filter paper up to 4 and 11%, respectively, compared with non-supplementation(control). CMCase and xylanase activities in in vitro culture were also higher in 2% fungal supplementation than controls in both rice straw and filter paper substrates.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.193-200
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• 2007

Indoor airborne bacterial and fungal concentrations were examined at classrooms and corridors of 3 elementary schools in Ulsan. Airborne microorganisms were collected with an impaction-type air sampler using plate count agar and dichloran rose bengal chloramphenicol agar. During the semester, concentrations of bacteria ranged $168{\sim}3,887 MPN/m^3$ at classrooms and $168{\sim}6,339 MPN/m^3$ at corridors, while those of fungi ranged $34{\sim}389 MPN/m^3$ at classrooms and $91{\sim}507 MPN/m^3$ at corridors. The bacterial concentrations showed larger variations between situations and schools compared to those of fungi. When airborne bacteria were isolated and identified, 84% were observed as Gram-positive, and Micrococcus spp. was the most abundant group with 61% of tested isolates, followed by genus Staphylococcus with 10%. The Micrococcus spp. isolates, of which 75% were identified as M. luteus, appeared to be from human origins. The protective pigments and substantial cell wall of Micrococcus may provide selective advantage for their survival in the air. We also isolated and identified 15 genera of filamentous fungi. The most common culturable fungi were Cladosporium, Aspergillus and Penicillium, and these 3 genera were 69% of fungal isolates. Genus Stachybotrys, of which S. chartarum is a well known producer of many potent mycotoxins, was also detected from one of the schools. further systematic studies are necessary with an emphasis on species identification and mycotoxin production of isolated fungal genera, including Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.241-246
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• 1981

A fungal strain which produced high levels of acid protease and amylase was isolated from the atmosphere for application to the manufacture of digestive enzme preparation. This study was carried out to elucidate its microbiological characteristics, environmental conditions for production of the enzymes, and relationships between the enzyme activity and acidity. 1. The isolate was identified as a fungal strain which belonged to Aspergillus niger by the manual of Rafer and Fennel, and was found to be a strain producing high levels of acid protease and amylase. 2. The optimal pH of tile enzymes produced by the strain were: protease, 2.0;, ${\alpha}-amylase$, 4 to 5; and glucoamylase, 3 to 5. 3. The optimal culture conditions for production of the enzymes were: protease (at pH 2.5), 2 to 3 days incubation on wheat bran at $30^{\circ}C$; ${\alpha}-amylase$ and glucoamylase(at pH 3.0), 3 days incubation at $30^{\circ}C$. 4. The production of acid protease and glucoamylase was increased approximately by 20 percent when 2 percent of corn starch was added to the wheat bran medium. 5. The addition of 0.3 percent ammonium sulfate to the wheat bran medium resulted in enhancing the enzyme production, especially of acid prctease.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.128-133
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of storage time on the sapstain development of Japanese red pine and Korean pine logs during storage in log yard, and their stain characteristics. Japanese red pine and Korean pine trees were harvested and cut into logs in mid January of 2001. These logs were transported to the two local sawmills where they were closely stacked in remote parts of log yard. The logs were then sampled destructively by cutting seven to nine 3-cm long discs along the length of each log at intervals of 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 month after felling. The stain coverage and maximal radial penetration of stain were measured from the discs of the sampled logs after the isolation of causal staining fungi. The sapstain was primarily infested by the attack of bark beetles and the species of bark beetle was identified as Tomicus piniperda. The main fungal species isolated from stained wood was Ophiostoma species. Based on the present study, the logs could be stored in log yard until May without stain; but stain development was rapid after May and the severity of stain increased proportionally with storage time. Korean pine was more susceptible to fungal stain than Japanese red pine. During summer storage, decay started to develop in logs and the main species were identified as Tyromyces sp. and Schizophyllum commune. Information provided in this paper would be very useful to develop more effective control strategies for sapstain prevention in Japanese red pine and Korean pine logs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2003

Using fungal (Fusarium solani f. pisi) and bacterial (Pseudomonas mendocina) cutinases, the initial hydrolysis rate of p-nitrophenyl esters was systematically estimated for a wide range of enzyme and substrate concentrations using a 96-well microplate reader. Both cutinases exhibited a high substrate specificity; i.e. a high hydrolytic activity on p-nitrophenyl butyrate (PNB), yet extremely low activity on p-nitrophenyl palmitate (PNP). When compared to the hydrolysis of PNB and PNP by other hydrolases [lipases and esterases derived from different microbial sources, such as bacteria (Pseudomonas cepacia, Psedomonas furescens, Baciilus stearothermophilus), molds (Aspeillus niger, mucor miehei), and yeasts (Candida rugosa, Candida cylindracea)], the above substrate specificity would seem to be a unique characteristic of cutinases. Secondly, the hydrolytic activity of the cutinases on PNB appeared much faster than that of the other hydrolytic enzymes mentioned above. Furthermore, the current study proved that even when the cutinases were mixed with large amounts of other hydrolases (lipases or esterases), the Initial hydrolysis rate of PNB was determined only by the cutinase concentration for each PNB concentration. This property of cutinase activity would seem to result from a higher accessibility to the substrate PNB, compared with the other hydrolytic enzymes. Accordingly, these distinct properties of cutinases may be very useful in the rapid and easy isolation of various natural cutinases with different microbial sources, each of which may provide a novel industrial application with a specific enzymatic function.