• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2016

Coastal plant species Tetragonia tetragonoides (Pall.) Kuntze native to the Dokdo islands was sampled and then 17 endophytic fungi were purely isolated based on morphological differences. The fungal isolates were characterized by their growth properties under NaCl concentration or pH gradient. Culture filtrates of the 17 fungal isolates were treated to Waito-c rice (WR) seedlings for verifying plant growth-promoting activity. As the results, YH103 strain showed the highest plant growth-promoting activity among them. Phylogenetic analysis of the isolates was done by the maximum likelihood method based on partial internal transcribed spacer region (ITS region: contaning ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2), beta-tubulin (BenA), and calmodulin (CaM) gene sequences. Chromatographic analysis of the strain YH103 culture filtrate showed the existence of gibberellins ($GA_4$, $GA_7$, $GA_8$, and $GA_{19}$). Finally, the strain YH103 was identified as Aspergillus tubingensis by microscopic observation and molecular analysis and, to our knowledge, this is the first report of GAs producing A. tubingensis.

• 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 Life Science
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1384-1391
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• 2012

Five coastal plant species, Artemisia fukudo, Aster sphathulifolius, Plantago camtschatica, Sedum oryzifolium, and Setaria viridis, were collected from the coastal region of Ulleung Island (Ulleung-Do, South Korea). Thirty-six endophytic fungi were isolated from the roots of these plants, and all were identified by using PCR with the following specifications: internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), 5.8S rRNA, and ITS2 regions. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that all fungal strains belong to the phylum Ascomycota and comprise four orders (Capnodiales, Eurotiales, Hypocreales, and Pleosporales). Among all the identified species, the Eurotiales species were more abundant than species in the other orders. Nine different genera (Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Exserohilum, Fusarium, Neosartorya, Penicillium, Phoma, and Pyrenochaeta) in the four orders were confirmed. Penicillium and Aspergillus species were the most dominant species among the endophytic fungi isolated from the coastal plants. Shannon's diversity index (H') ranged from 0.684 to 1.609, and the endophytic fungi in S. oryzifolium was more diverse compared to the endophytic fungi in the other plants.

• Mycobiology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.297-311
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• 2017

Saprolegniasis is one of the most devastating oomycete diseases in freshwater fish which is caused by species in the genus Saprolegnia including Saprolegnia parasitica. In this study, we isolated the strain of S. parasitica from diseased rainbow trout in Korea. Morphological and molecular based identification confirmed that isolated oomycete belongs to the member of S. parasitica, supported by its typical features including cotton-like mycelium, zoospores and phylogenetic analysis with internal transcribed spacer region. Pathogenicity of isolated S. parasitica was developed in embryo, juvenile, and adult zebrafish as a disease model. Host-pathogen interaction in adult zebrafish was investigated at transcriptional level. Upon infection with S. parasitica, pathogen/antigen recognition and signaling (TLR2, TLR4b, TLR5b, NOD1, and major histocompatibility complex class I), pro/anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin $[IL]-1{\beta}$, tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-8, interferon ${\gamma}$, IL-12, and IL-10), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP9 and MMP13), cell surface molecules ($CD8^+$ and $CD4^+$) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase) related genes were differentially modulated at 3- and 12-hr post infection. As an anti-Saprolegnia agent, plant based lawsone was applied to investigate on the susceptibility of S. parasitica showing the minimum inhibitory concentration and percentage inhibition of radial growth as $200{\mu}g/mL$ and 31.8%, respectively. Moreover, natural lawsone changed the membrane permeability of S. parasitica mycelium and caused irreversible damage and disintegration to the cellular membranes of S. parasitica. Transcriptional responses of the genes of S. parasitica mycelium exposed to lawsone were altered, indicating that lawsone could be a potential anti-S. parasitica agent for controlling S. parasitica infection.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2007

In March of 2004, gray snow mold (Typhula blight) caused by Typhula spp. occurred on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poo pratensis L.) at MuJu golf courses in Jeonbuk Province. Leaves in the affected areas were matted together and frequently covered with white to grayish mycelia. Sclerotia were formed on the leaf blade, leaf sheath, or crown regions. The fungus isolated from the diseased leaf formed whitish mycelium, clamp connections, and light pink to brown, irregular-shaped small sclerotia of less than 1.4 mm in diameter, which are characteristic to Typhula incarnata. Optimum temperature ranges for mycelial growth were $5^{\circ}C$ to $15^{\circ}C$. The causal organism was confirmed to be T. incarnata as the partial sequence of its ribosomal RNA ITS1 (internal transcribed spacer) region was 91% homologous to those of T. incarnata in GenBank database. Out of the 14 fungicides tested fur antifungal activity in vitro, 10 fungicides including iprodione, tebuconazole, polyoxin D, flutolanil, hexaconazole, tolclofos-methyl, fosetyl-Al, mepronil, pencycuron+tebuconazole, and fenarimol completely inhibited fungal growth at their recommended concentrations. In the field test, these fungicides and others such as thifluzamide and thiram effectively controlled the gray snow mold of turfgrass with some variable degrees of control efficacies.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.397-405
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• 2020

Beech mushroom (Hypsizygus marmoreus) is one of the most popular mushrooms in Japan, China, and Korea because of its delicious taste, nutritious value, and unique crunchy texture. In 2018-2019, unusual signs on the mushroom were observed in mushroom farms in Gyeongnam Province. The main signs were the inhibition of mycelial growth and primordial formation on the surface of mushroom media. When green mold caused contamination at early stage, the rate of pinhead formation by the mushroom greatly decreased to 46.5-71.5%. Conidia of the causal green mold were ellipsoidal, dark green, and measured 2.0-3.1㎛ long. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth of the green mold was 25℃. The phylogenetic tree obtained from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequences showed that the isolated green mold corresponded to Penicillium brevicompactum (100.0%). This is the first report of green mold contamination caused by P. brevicompactum on H. marmoreus.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.653-660
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• 2020

Spirometra tapeworms (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) collected from carnivorous mammals in Tanzania were identified by the DNA sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), and by morphological characteristics. A total of 15 adult worms were collected from stool samples and carcasses of Panthera leo, Panthera pardus, and Crocuta crocuta in the Serengeti and Selous ecosystems of Tanzania. Three Spirometra species: S. theileri, S. ranarum and S. erinaceieuropaei were identified based on morphological features. Partial cox1 sequences (400 bp) of 10 specimens were revealed. Eight specimens showed 99.5% similarity with Spirometra theileri (MK955901), 1 specimen showed 99.5% similarity with the Korean S. erinaceieuropaei and 1 specimen had 99.5% similarity with Myanmar S. ranarum. Sequence homology estimates for the ITS1 region of S. theileri were 89.8% with S. erinaceieuropaei, 82.5% with S. decipiens, and 78.3% with S. ranarum; and 94.4% homology was observed between S. decipiens and S. ranarum. Phylogenetic analyses were performed with 4 species of Spirometra and 2 species of Dibothriocephalus (=Diphyllobothrium). By both ML and BI methods, cox1 and ITS1 gave well supported, congruent trees topology of S. erinaceieuropaei and S. theileri with S. decipiens and S. ranarum forming a clade. The Dibothriocephalus species were sisters of each other and collectively forming successive outgroups. Our findings confirmed that 3 Spirometra species (S. theileri, S. ranarum, and S. erinaceieuropaei) are distributed in the Serengeti and Selous ecosystems of Tanzania.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1023-1029
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• 2023

Biosurfactants reduce surface and interfacial tension due to their amphiphilic properties and are an eco-friendly alternative for chemical surfactants. In this study, a new yeast strain JAF-11 that produces a biosurfactant was selected using drop collapse method, and the properties of the extracts were investigated. The nucleotide sequences of the strain were compared with closely related strains and identified based on the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. Neodothiora populina CPC 39399^T, the closest species with strain JAF-11, showed a sequence similarity of 97.75% for LSU and 94.27% for ITS, respectively. The result suggests that the strain JAF-11 represents a distinct species that cannot be assigned to any existing genus or species in the family Dothideaceae. Strain JAF-11 produced a biosurfactant reducing the surface tension of water from 72 mN/m to 34.5 mN/m on the sixth day of culture and the result of measuring the critical micelle concentration (CMC) by extracting the crude biosurfactant was found to be 24 mg/l. The molecular weight 502 of the purified biosurfactant was confirmed by measuring the fast atom bombardment mass spectrum. The chemical structure was analyzed by measuring ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ¹³C NMR, and two-dimensional NMRs of the compound. The molecular formula was C₂₆H₄₆O₉, and it was composed of one octanoyl group and two hexanoyl groups to myo-inositol moiety. The new biosurfactant is the first report of a compound produced by a new yeast strain, JAF-11.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.483-491
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• 2023

This study aimed to compare the bioactive compounds in Centella asiatica (C. asiatica) cultivated in a smart farm and a field and their effects on human keratinocyte cells. C. asiatica was collected in Jeju-do, Korea, and cultured in a smart farm and a field. The main bioactive compounds in the two differentially cultured C. asiatica were identified, and their activation in keratinocytes were assessed. Amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) DNA in the nucleus and psbA-H DNA in the chloroplast were performed for species analysis. A comparison of DNA of plants reported in the NCBI GenBank was performed. The ITS DNA and psbA-H DNA sequences of C. asiatica cultivated in a smart farm and a field were consistent with No. MH768338.1 and No. JQ425422.1, respectively. Analysis of the triterpenes was performed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and as a result, C. asiatica cultured in a smart farm had more triterpenes than those cultured in a field. The effects of C. asiatica grown in a smart farm on cell proliferation and scratch recovery in HaCaT cells were greater than those grown in a field. These results suggest that C. asiatica cultivated in a smart farm can be effectively utilized as a health functional food.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.420-428
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• 2009

In this study, the variation of 20 Pinus thunbergii isolates of F. circinatum from 2 damaged sites in Jeju-Island were compared with a known Fusarium circinatum using molecular biological techniques. Two- and four-year-old seedlings of Pinus rigida${\times}$Pinus x rigitaeda and two-, three- and six-year-old seedlings of P. thunbergii were inoculated with one of the most virulent isolates, FT-7, to determine differences in susceptibility. In site 1 (FT), 13 isolates of F. circinatum were isolated from 14 individuals and in site 2 (FS), 7 isolates of F. circinatum were isolated from 9 individuals. No difference was found in the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal RNA genes in the FS and FT isolates, and also even in the known isolate of F. circinatum, FE 1-1. However, the ITS sequences of the FS and FT isolates differed from those of a fungus, Botrytis cinerea. Two-year-old seedlings of P. rigida${\times}$P. x rigitaeda showed higher susceptibility (93.3% of mortality) than four-year-old ones. Three-year-old seedlings of P. thunbergii showed the highest susceptibility (66.7% of mortality) compared to those at other ages in the same species. We found a positive correlation between basal diameter and lesion length in the seedlings of P. rigida${\times}$P. x rigitaeda ($R^2=0.66$) and P. thunbergii (p < 0.0001), respectively. There were significant differences in susceptibility by the age of seedlings in each of P. rigida${\times}$P. x rigitaeda (p < 0.0001) and P. thunbergii (p < 0.0001) based on lesion length.