• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.751-758
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• 2016

This study aimed at constructing a draft genome of the adult female worm Toxocara canis using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and de novo assembly, as well as to find new genes after annotation using functional genomics tools. Using an NGS machine, we produced DNA read data of T. canis. The de novo assembly of the read data was performed using SOAPdenovo. RNA read data were assembled using Trinity. Structural annotation, homology search, functional annotation, classification of protein domains, and KEGG pathway analysis were carried out. Besides them, recently developed tools such as MAKER, PASA, Evidence Modeler, and Blast2GO were used. The scaffold DNA was obtained, the N50 was 108,950 bp, and the overall length was 341,776,187 bp. The N50 of the transcriptome was 940 bp, and its length was 53,046,952 bp. The GC content of the entire genome was 39.3%. The total number of genes was 20,178, and the total number of protein sequences was 22,358. Of the 22,358 protein sequences, 4,992 were newly observed in T. canis. Following proteins previously unknown were found: E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase cbl-b and antigen T-cell receptor, zeta chain for T-cell and B-cell regulation; endoprotease bli-4 for cuticle metabolism; mucin 12Ea and polymorphic mucin variant C6/1/40r2.1 for mucin production; tropomodulin-family protein and ryanodine receptor calcium release channels for muscle movement. We were able to find new hypothetical polypeptides sequences unique to T. canis, and the findings of this study are capable of serving as a basis for extending our biological understanding of T. canis.

• ALGAE
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2021

As the global demand for the carrageenophyte Kappaphycus is steadily increasing, its overall productivity, carrageenan quality, and disease resistance are gradually declining. In the face of this dilemma, wild Kappaphycus populations are viewed as sources of new cultivars that could potentially enhance production; therefore, assessment of their diversity is crucial. This study highlights the morphological and genetic diversity of wild Kappaphycus species obtained from two sites in the Philippines. Nucleotide alignments of available 5' region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI-5P) and cox2-3 spacer sequences of Kappaphycus confirmed the presence of K. alvarezii in Guiuan, Eastern Samar and K. striatus in Bolinao, Pangasinan. Based on the concatenated sequences of the COI-5P and the cox2-3 spacer, nine novel haplotypes were observed along with other published haplotypes. However, there was no relationship between haplotype and morphology. These newly recognized haplotypes indicate a reservoir of unutilized wild genotypes in the Philippines, which could be taken advantage of in developing new cultivars with superior traits. DNA barcodes generated from this study effectively expand the existing databank of Kappaphycus sequences and can provide insights in elucidating the genetic diversity of Kappaphycus species in the country.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2023

Diatoms are unicellular eukaryotic microalgae, and they are highly diversified in aquatic environments. We describe an unrecorded diatom species Fragilaria saxoplanctonica Lange-Bertalot & Ulrich (Bacillariophyceae) collected from Paldang Reservoir, Korea, on 4 April 2022. The valve was needle shaped and narrowly rectangular, its ends were rounded, and no spines were found on the outline of their valves. The valve was 67.2-70.2㎛ in length and 1.4-2.9㎛ in width. The ratio of width-to-length was 1 : 23.2-50.1. The pattern of striation was alternate or opposite, and the number of striae in 10㎛ was 24-26. Molecular comparisons of the 18S rDNA and rbcL sequences showed that it belonged to the genus Fragilaria. These morphological and phylogenetic results confirmed that our species was F. saxoplanctonica, and it was the first record in Korea.

• Mycobiology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.174-180
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• 2014

We analyzed the genetic diversity of Cylindrocarpon destructans isolates obtained from Korean ginseng (i.e., Panax ginseng) roots by performing virulence tests and nuclear ribosomal gene internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and mitochondrial small subunit (mt SSU) rDNA sequence analysis. The phylogenetic relationship analysis performed using ITS DNA sequences and isolates from other hosts helped confirm that all the Korean C. destructans isolates belonged to Nectria/Neonectria radicicola complex. The results of in vivo and ex vivo virulence tests showed that the C. destructans isolates could be divided into two groups according to their distinctive difference in virulence and the genetic diversity. The highly virulent Korean isolates in pathogenicity group II (PG II), together with foreign isolates from P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius, formed a single group. The weakly virulent isolates in pathogenicity group I, together with the foreign isolates from other host plants, formed another group and exhibited a greater genetic diversity than the isolates of PG II, as confirmed by the mt SSU rDNA sequence analysis. In addition, as the weakly virulent Korean isolates were genetically very similar to the foreign isolates from other hosts, they were likely to originate from hosts other than the ginseng plants.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2010

A Gram negative, aerobic, nonspore-forming, straight or curved rod-shaped bacterium, designated Gsoil $317^T$, was isolated from soil of a ginseng field in Pocheon Province (South Korea) and was characterized using a polyphasic approach. Cells were dimorphic, with stalk (or prostheca) and nonmotile or nonstalked and motile, by means of a single polar flagellum. Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain Gsoil $317^T$ was most closely related to Caulobacter mirabilis LMG $24261^T$ (97.2%), Caulobacter fusiformis ATCC $15257^T$ (97.1 %), Caulobacter segnis LMG $17158^T$ (97.0%), Caulobacter vibrioides DSM $9893^T$ (96.8%), and Caulobacter henricii ATCC $15253^T$ (96.7%). The sequence similarities to any other recognized species within Alphaproteobacteria were less than 96.0%. The detection of Q-10 as the major respiratory quinone and a fatty acid profile with summed feature 7 ($C_{18:1}\;{\omega}7c$ and/or $C_{18:1}\;{\omega}9t$ and/or $C_{18:1}\;{\omega}12t;$ 56.6%) and $C_{16:0}$ (15.9%) as the major fatty acids supported the affiliation of strain Gsoil $317^T$ to the genus Caulobacter. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 65.5 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments showed that the DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain Gsoil $317^T$ and its closest phylogenetic neighbors were below 11%. On the basis of its phenotypic properties and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain Gsoil $317^T$ should be classified as representing a novel species in the genus Caulobacter, for which the name Caulobacter ginsengisoli sp. novo is proposed. The type strain is Gsoil $317^T$ (=KCTC $12788^T=DSM\;18695^T$).

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.137-148
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• 2012

During investigating of shiitake mushroom competitors, 289 isolates of Trichoderma spp. were collected from shiitake mushroom farms in different districts and the Forest Mushroom Research Center of Korea, among which 29 representative strains were selected. Based on the DNA sequences of the rpb2 and tef1 genes and the ITS rDNA, and their morphological characteristics, they were identified as T. atroviride, T. citrinoviride, T. harzianum, T. longibrachiatum, and two undescribed species, Trichoderma spp. 1 and 2, which are considered to be the candidate of new species. Competition tests between Lentinula edodes (Sanjo302) and the Trichoderma species indicated that the six species of Trichoderma were significantly different from each other in terms of their ability to invade the mycelial blocks of shiitake. In both of dual cultures on potato dextrose agar and sawdust media, Trichoderma spp. 1 and 2 strongly invaded the mycelial blocks of shiitake. Our results suggest that the two Trichoderma species may cause potentially serious economic losses in shiitake cultivation of Korea.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.251-257
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• 2020

The genus Plectus Bastian, 1865 represents a group of free-living freshwater nematodes belonging to the family Plectidae Örley, 1880. However, only one species has been reported thus far from Korea. Plectus aquatilis Andrássy, 1985 and Plectus cirratus Bastian, 1865 are reported for the first time from Korea, from sediments collected from the Nakdong River. Plectus aquatilis is distinguished from other Plectus species by its three longitudinal alae in the lateral field, thin and directed cephalic setae, continuous lip region (head not set-off), and rectangular shaped tail. Plectus cirratus is distinguished from other Plectus species by its large body, two longitudinal alae in the lateral field, larger stoma, and longer tail. Morphological characters and measurements of the specimens generally agree with the original descriptions of Plectus species. Here, the morphological characters (detailed morphometrics) of two species in the genus Plectus are fully redescribed and illustrated using optical microscopy. DNA barcode sequence information from the 18S rDNA gene is also provided for molecular species identification and compared with sequences from other Plectus species available on GenBank.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.220-224
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• 2009

The causal agents of bacterial blossom blight in kiwifruit were isolated from flowers displaying symptoms in Korea. The pathogens were characterized by biochemical and physiological tests, and identified on the basis of 16S rDNA and 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that the blossom blight of kiwifruit in Korea is caused by two pathogens, Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae and P. fluorescens. Carbon source utilization and DNA-DNA hybridization experiments confirmed P. fluorescens as one of the causal agents of blossom blight of kiwifruit. P. syringae pv. syringae and P. fluorescens can be distinguished from each other by the symptoms they produce in flowers. P. syringae pv. syringae primarily affected the stamen, while P. fluorescens caused rotting of all internal tissues of buds or flowers.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.331-340
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• 2020

The family Peronosporaceae, an obligate biotrophic group of Oomycota, causes downy mildew disease on many cultivated and ornamental plants such as beet, cucumber, grape, onion, rose, spinach, and sunflower. To investigate the diversity of Peronosporaceae species in Korea, we performed morphological analysis for dried plant herbariums with downy mildew infections by two largest genera, Peronospora and Plasmopara. As a result, it was confirmed that there are five species of Peronospora and two species of Plasmopara, which have been so far unrecorded in Korea, as well as rarely known in the world; Pl. angustiterminalis (ex Xanthium strumarium), Pl. siegesbeckiae (ex Siegesbeckia glabrescens), P. chenopodii-ambrosioidis (ex Chenopodium ambrosioides), P. chenopodii-ficifolii (ex Chenopodium ficifolium), P. clinopodii (ex Clinopodium cf. vulgare), P. elsholtziae (ex Elsholtzia ciliata), and P. lathyrina (ex Lathyrus japonicus). In addition, their phylogenetic relationship was inferred by molecular sequence analysis of ITS, LSU rDNA, and cox2 mtDNA. By rediscovering the seven missing species and barcoding their DNA sequences, this study provides valuable insights into the diversity and evolutionary studies of downy mildew pathogens.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.75-80
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• 2016

Morphological and culture characteristics of the novel Phellinus linteus variant KACC93057P collected in Korea were characterized in this study. The surface of the was angular, sessile, tough-woody, concentrically zonate, and dark brown in color. Basidiocarppores were circular, with 5-7 pores per mm. The hyphal system was dimitic, and basidiospores were ellipsoid or oval, $4.5-6{\times}4-5$, exhibiting characteristics typical of P. linteus. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth was $25-30^{\circ}C$, and optimal pH for growth was 5-7. The mycelial growth rate of P. linteus KACC93057P was faster than that of other P. baumii isolates. On growth medium, KACC93057P formed aerial mycelia with density higher than that of other isolates. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-ribosomal DNA sequences were closely related to the sequences P. linteus complex.