• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.337-344
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• 2020

Plant growth-promoting microorganisms promote plant growth by supplying nutrients to roots and interacting with the intrinsic factors in plants through volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this study, we evaluated the effect of UOS, plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) isolated from previous study, on the growth of Nicotiana tabacum L. var Xanthi nc. Phylogenetic analysis and GC-MS were used to identify the fungal species and the VOCs emitted by the UOS, respectively. The fresh weight of UOS-treated Nicotiana tabacum L. was 3.8 and 4.2-fold higher than that of the control groups grown in vertical and I-plates, respectively. Moreover, in the UOS-treated plants, the length of the primary root was half and the number of lateral roots were twice compared to those in control plants. The UOS was identified as Phoma sp. by studying spore and mycelial morphology and using phylogenetic analysis. GC-MS revealed that the VOC emitted by the UOS was hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D3). These results suggest that the UOS of Phoma sp. influences plant growth and root development through D3. We expect this UOS and its VOC, D3 to be utilized in the future to increase growth and enhance yield for other plants.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.311-316
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• 2009

The brown algae, or phaeophytes, are a large group of multicellular algae, including many notable types of seaweed. We analysed intra- and interspecific phylogenic studies within the genus Pelvetia in Korea and compared them with results of both same and different species in GenBank. The sequences for P. babingtonii in Korea were generally similar to those for P. babingtonii AF102957, and the sequences of P. siliquosa in Korea were also similar to those of P. siliquosa AF102958. Sequence variation within the Pelvetia is mostly due to nucleotide substitutions, although several small indels and some large indels can be found. Another source of sequence divergence is length variation due to stretches of short repeats that occur at the ITS1 or ITS2 in all the Pelvetia. NJ analysis consists mainly of two clades. One of them contains P. canaliculata and P. limitata, and is sister to the rest of the genus (P. siliquosa, P. compressa, and P. babingtonii). P. babingtonii is not grouped one clade. In the MP analysis, ten accessions or populations were fully resolved and all accessions from the same species formed with 99% or 100% bootstrap supports.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: Yeast isolates associated with the leaves, stems, and flowers of the tiger lily needed to be identified using isolation methods that have previously been used effectively in yeast biotechnology. A culture-based approach was necessary for the isolation of many yeast strains associated with tiger lily. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, the homogenized leaves, stems, and flowers of tiger lily were spreaded onto GPY medium containing chloramphenicol, streptomycin, Triton X-100, and L-sorbose. A total of 82 yeast strains from the leaves, 94 and 97 yeast strains from the stems and flowers were isolated, respectively. Yeast isolates were identified by phylogenetic analysis based on internal transcribed spacer region sequencing. The yeast species isolated from the leaves comprised of 31 isolates of the genus Pseudozyma, 28 of Aureobasidium pullulans, and 11 of the genus Cryptococcus. Those isolated from the stems comprised of 40 of A. pullulans and 11 of Cryptococcus, and 95 of A. pullulans While, 1 isolate each of the genera Rhodotorula and Metschnikowia were isolated from the flowers. CONCLUSION: We identified site-specific yeast communities associated with tiger lily. These yeast isolates may have high potential for application in the field of biotechnology.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.56-60
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• 2017

This study investigated the in vitro symbiotic seed germination of the achlorophyllous orchid, Gastrodia elata, using a new Mycena species. A leaf-disc ($2{\times}2cm$) of Quercus accutissima was inoculated with either of the two fungal species, NIFOS101 (NCBI accession number KY449288) or KFRI1212 (HQ662845), following which it was placed on water agar medium, prior to sowing seeds of G. elata. After 20 days of symbiotic culture, NIFOS101 and KFRI1212 germinated 94% and 70% of G. elata seeds, respectively, although the initiation of protocorm development was induced much earlier by KFRI 1212 than by NIFOS101. Furthermore, the NIFOS101 mycelia grew much faster than KFRI 1212 at all temperatures tested. A phylogenetic analysis using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences showed that NIFOS101 belonged to a clade with M. purpureofusca, which completely differed from the clade with KFRI1212. This study not only identified a new fungal species, NIFOS101, which improved the rate of symbiotic seed germination up to 94% as compared to KFRI1212 (70%), but also revealed that G. elata required a broad taxonomic range of fungi for its symbiotic germination.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.373-378
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• 2010

Studies on standardization and quality upgrade of nuruk which is a basic component in brewing are required to increase the quality level of Korean traditional rice wines and to develop the technology for practical use of it. It is important to isolate best strains, to improve the properties and effectively preserve them for brewing industry. In this study, 16 commercial nuruk samples were obtained from the commercial markets located in Chungcheong areas in Korea. 174 fungal strains were isolated from the samples on DG18 medium using a dilution plating method and then screened for enzyme activity and acid production. The active strains were identified based on the morphological characteristics and ITS sequence analysis. Out of 174 strains, 12 strains showed high amylase activity. Especially, Rhizopus sp. CN084, CN174, Aspergillus sp. CN161 and Mycocladus sp. CN042 showed high saccharogenic power and dextrinogenic enzyme activity on cooked wheat bran medium. On the other hand, Aspergillus sp. CN010, CN161, Rhizopus sp. CN105, CN168 and Rhizomucor sp. CN088 produced high acid production on the same medium. Our results showed that the active strains may be used as microbial sources for nuruk starter with good quality in brewing.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2012

In November 2009, a powdery mildew on glossy abelia (Abelia ${\times}$ grandiflora) was found in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, Korea. Further survey in the southern part of Korea, e.g., Jeju, Busan, and Tongyeong confirmed occurrence of the disease. White colonies were present on leaves, young stems, and flowers, detracting from their beauty in landscape plantings. Severely infected lesions were discolored to red-purplish. Based on the morphological characteristics and analysis of rDNA, the fungus associated with the symptoms was identified as Erysiphe abeliicola U. Braun & S. Takam. This work provides the morphological feature of its anamorph for the first time, which is characterized by having multi-lobed hyphal appressoria and short foot-cells of conidiophores. Morphological characteristics of mature chasmothecia were consistent with the previous Japanese record of this species. The sequence of internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA obtained from a Korean sample showed that this species places in the section Microsphaera of the genus Erysiphe in phylogenetic position, corresponding with the classical taxonomy. This is the first report of E. abeliicola and its host plant in Korea. The host plant A. ${\times}$ grandiflora is newly listed in the host range of E. abeliicola.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.293-296
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• 2016

In late June 2016, stalk rot symptoms were observed on five vatieties of sorghum (Sorghum bicolar) at organic paddy-upland rotation system in Anseong city, Korea. The initial symptom on stalk surfaces was red color with a dark red spot lesion. A fungus was isolated from the initial lesion, and cultured on potato dextrose agar. Size of microconidia mostly extend to $5-19{\times}2-{\mu}m$ in culture, with 0-1 septa and macroconidia extend to $29-52{\times}3-4{\mu}m$ with 4-6 septa. Pathogenicity was investigated using conidial suspension spray to seedling of sorghum. After 3 days of inoculation, the dark red lesion was produced on stalks. On the basis of mycological characteristics, pathogenicity, and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequence analysis, this fungus was identified as Fusarium thapsinum. This is the first report of stalk rot on sorghum caused by F. thapsinum in Korea.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2018

From 2014 to 2016, Fusarium wilt disease was found on fassionfruit in Iksan and Jeju, Korea. Symptoms included wilting of foliage, drying and withering of leaves, and stunting of the plants. The infected plants eventually died during growth. Colonies on potato dextrose agar were pinkish white, and felted with cottony and aerial mycelia with 35 mm after one week. Macroconidia were falcate to almost straight, thin-walled and usually 2-3 septate. Microconidia were usually formed on monophialides of the hyphae and were hyaline, smooth, oval to ellipsoidal, aseptate or medianly 1-septate, very occasionally 2-septate, slightly constricted at the septa, $3-12{\times}2.5-6{\mu}m$. On the basis of the morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of two molecular markers, internal transcribed spacer rDNA and translation elongation factor $1{\alpha}$, the fungus was identified as Fusarium oxysporum. Pathogenicity of a representative isolate was proved by artificial inoculation, fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence of F. oxysporum on fassionfruit in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the optimum culture conditions, for mass production of Tremella fuciformis in M9 basic medium. The strain KMCC04674, used in this study was identified T. fuciformis by internal transcribed spacer (ITS). To define the optimum conditions for the mass production of T. fuciformis, we investigated the effects of different culture conditions and various nutrient sources on the fungal growth. The optimum initial pH and temperature for the fungal growth were 5.0 and $25^{\circ}C$, respectively. The optimal composition of the growth medium was 4.0% mannitol, 3.0% $NH_4H_2PO_4$, 1.0% malt extract, 1.0% glutamic acid, 5mM $CaCl_2$, and 0.5% glucanic acid.

• 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.