• Mycobiology
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.122-132
• /
• 2021

The reexamination of the fungal genus Botryosphaeria on 12 plant species of 10 families was carried out based on molecular phylogenetic analyses using the regions of translation elongation factor 1-α, β-tubulin, DNA-directed RNA polymerase II subunit, and internal transcribed spacer region of rDNA and morphological characteristics. Japanese isolates were divided into five clades and include Botryosphaeria dothidea, B. qingyuanensis, B. sinensis, and Botryosphaeria spp. Two species, B. qingyuanensis and B. sinensis have been newly added to the Japanese mycoflora, but their host plants are not specified. Botryosphaeria tenuispora isolated from Leucothoe fontanesiana and insect galls on fruits of Aucuba japonica has been proposed as a new species.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.51 no.5
• /
• pp.333-342
• /
• 2023

Phytophthora species, classified under Oomycota, cause significant damage to various crops and trees. The present study introduced Phytophthora species, P. nagaii and P. tentaculata, new to Korea, which pose notable risks to their respective host plants. Our research provided a comprehensive description of these species taking into account their cultural features, morphological characteristics, and molecular phylogenetic analysis using the internal transcribed spacer rDNA region and cytochrome c oxidase subunit mtDNA genes (cox1 and cox2) sequences. In addition, this study first evaluated the sensitivity of P. nagaii and P. tentaculata to five anti-oomycete fungicides, finding both species most responsive to picarbutrazox and P. tentaculata resistant to fluazinam. The data can guide targeted treatment strategies and offer insights into effective control methods. The findings expand our understanding of the diversity, distribution, and management of Phytophthora species in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.135-143
• /
• 2024

Lindera obtusiloba Blume, a shrub prevalent in the understory vegetation of the deciduous forests in East Asia and Korea, is known for its pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-allergic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Endophytic fungi were isolated from surface-sterilized twigs and leaves of L. obtusiloba collected from Samcheok-si and Jecheon-si in Korea. The fungal strains were identified based on their morphological characteristics and molecular analyses using DNA markers such as internal transcribed spacer, large subunit rDNA, β-tubulin, chitin synthase, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Here, we report two new records of endophytic fungi isolated from L. obtusiloba in Korea: Colletotrichum citricola and Valsa ceratophora. These results enhance our understanding of the diversity of endophytic fungi in L. obtusiloba and contribute to enhancing our knowledge of fungal biodiversity in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.471-478
• /
• 2014

Trichomonad species inhabit a variety of vertebrate hosts; however, their potential zoonotic transmission has not been clearly addressed, especially with regard to human infection. Twenty-one strains of trichomonads isolated from humans (5 isolates), pigs (6 isolates), rodents (6 isolates), a water buffalo (1 isolate), a cow (1 isolate), a goat (1 isolate), and a dog (1 isolate) were collected in Indonesia and molecularly characterized. The DNA sequences of the partial 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene or 5.8S rRNA gene locus with its flanking regions (internal transcribed spacer region, ITS1 and ITS2) were identified in various trichomonads; Simplicimonas sp., Hexamastix mitis, and Hypotrichomonas sp. from rodents, and Tetratrichomonas sp. and Trichomonas sp. from pigs. All of these species were not detected in humans, whereas Pentatrichomonas hominis was identified in humans, pigs, the dog, the water buffalo, the cow, and the goat. Even when using the high-resolution gene locus of the ITS regions, all P. hominis strains were genetically identical; thus zoonotic transmission between humans and these closely related mammals may be occurring in the area investigated. The detection of Simplicimonas sp. in rodents (Rattus exulans) and P. hominis in water buffalo in this study revealed newly recognized host adaptations and suggested the existence of remaining unrevealed ranges of hosts in the trichomonad species.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.51-56
• /
• 2016

Diverse endophytic fungi were isolated from surface-sterilized leaves of three species of conifers inhabiting various sites in Korea: Abies nephrolepis, Pinus koraiensis and Taxus cuspidate. The isolates were identified based on morphological characteristics and sequences analysis of both internal transcribed spacer and large subunit regions of rDNA. In this paper, we report on five previously unreported species of endophytic fungi isolated from conifers: Biscogniauxia maritime, Nemania diffusa, Pezicula carpinea, Phomopsis juglandina and Sydowia polyspora.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.109-113
• /
• 2023

Auricularia is one of the broadly cultivated edible mushrooms in Korea. Most of the Korean Auricularia strains used for cultivation and breeding are known as A. auricula-judae. Recently, this species has been reported to belong to a species complex. Therefore, this study was carried out to genetically clarify the bred and cultivated Korean A. auricula-judae strains. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and IGS1 rDNA region sequences were determined from 10 A. auricula-judae strains by PCR and sequencing. Variation in the nucleotide sequence and sequence length of the two rDNA regions were found among the seven A. auricula-judae strains. A maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree based on the ITS sequences clearly placed all the 10 Korean A. auricula-judae strains in the A. heimuer clade of the A. auriculajudae complex. A. heimuer is diverged from A. auricula-judae. An ML phylogenetic tree based on the IGS1 sequences revealed the close relationship between Korean A. heimuer strains to Chinese A. heimuer strains. But each strain could be distinguishable by the IGS1 sequence. Furthermore, progeny strains in the seven Korean strains could be differentiated from their parental strains by the IGS1 sequence based phylogenetic tree. Our results are expected to be used to complement the distinction of domestic Auricularia cultivars.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.187-192
• /
• 2010

The aim of this study was to compare the results of morphological phenotypic examination and molecular biological method, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) using clinical isolates from Korean patients infected with dermatophytes. A total of 44 clinical isolates have been collected by Korean Collection Medical Fungi (KCMF) and those were subjected for the RAPD analysis. The results showed that the fungal strains that have RG1 band patterns were identified as Trichophyton rubrum by the neighbour-joining analysis. Additionally, other fungal strains that have RG3 band patterns were identified as Epidermophyton floccosum and RG5 band patterns were identified as Micorsporum gypseum. Even though molecular biological method such as RAPD are not necessary, it might be useful when some strains have similar morphological characteristics or when same species has phenotypic variations. In this study, therefore, we targeted internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of fungal rDNA, performed RAPD and then compared with morphological phenotypic examination.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.171-191
• /
• 2024

Identification of Helicotylenchus species is very challenging due to phenotypic plasticity and existence of cryptic species complexes. Recently, the use of rDNA barcodes has proven to be useful for identification of Helicotylenchus. Molecular markers are a quick diagnostic tool and are crucial for discriminating related species and resolving cryptic species complexes within this speciose genus. However, DNA barcoding is not an error-free approach. The public databases appear to be marred by incorrect sequences, arising from sequencing errors, mislabeling, and misidentifications. Herein, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the newly obtained, and published DNA sequences of Helicotylenchus, revealing the potential faults in the available DNA barcodes. A total of 97 sequences (25 nearly full-length 18S-rRNA, 12 partial 28S-rRNA, 16 partial internal transcribed spacer [ITS]-rRNA, and 44 partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I [COI] gene sequences) were newly obtained in the present study. Phylogenetic relationships between species are given as inferred from the analyses of 103 sequences of 18S-rRNA, 469 sequences of 28S-rRNA, 183 sequences of ITS-rRNA, and 63 sequences of COI. Remarks on suggested corrections of published accessions in GenBank database are given. Additionally, COI gene sequences of H. dihystera, H. asiaticus and the contentious H. microlobus are provided herein for the first time. Similar to rDNA gene analyses, the COI sequences support the genetic distinctness and validity of H. microlobus. DNA barcodes from type material are needed for resolving the taxonomic status of the unresolved taxonomic groups within the genus.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.246-250
• /
• 2017

Sclerotium rot was observed on mungbean (Phaseolus radiatus L.) plants cultivated in the exhibition field of Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services in September 2015. The progression of rot was initially observed as water-soaked lesions on several parts of the affected plant. Severely infected plants were blighted and eventually died. White mycelial mats spread over the lesions and numerous sclerotia formed on stems near the soil line. The sclerotia were globoid in shape, 1~3 mm in size, and white to brown in color. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth and sclerotia formation on potato dextrose agar (PDA) was $30^{\circ}C$ and the hyphal width was $4{\sim}8{\mu}m$. Typical clamp connections were observed on the hyphae of fungus grown on PDA. For molecular identification, the complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of the causal fungus was sequenced and analyzed. Based on the mycological characteristics, ITS rDNA sequence analysis, and pathogenicity to host plants, the fungus was identified as Sclerotium rolfsii. This is the first report of Sclerotium rot on mungbean caused by S. rolfsii in Korea.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.75-96
• /
• 2024

Rhodomonas (Cryptophyceae) and species assigned to this genus have undergone numerous taxonomic revisions. This also applies to R. marina studied here as it was originally assigned as a species of Cryptomonas and later considered a variation of R. baltica, the type species. Despite being described more than 130 years ago, R. marina still lacks a comprehensive characterization. Light and electron microscopy were employed to delineate a strain from western Greenland. The living cells were 18 ㎛ long and 9 ㎛ wide, elliptical in shape with a pointed to rounded posterior and truncated anterior in lateral view. Two sub-equal flagella emerged from a vestibulum, where also a furrow extended. In transmission electron microscopy, the furrow was associated with a tubular gullet and the pyrenoid embedded in a deeply lobed chloroplast. The chloroplast contained DNA in perforations and was surrounded by starch grains. A tubular nucleomorph was enclosed within the pyrenoid matrix. In scanning electron microscopy, the inner periplast consisted of rectangular plates with rounded edges and posteriorly these were replaced by a sheet-like structure. The water-soluble pigment was Crypto-Phycoerythrin type I (Cr-PE 545). A phylogenetic inference based on SSU rDNA confirmed the identity of strain S18 as a species of Rhodomonas as it clustered with congeners but also Rhinomonas, Storeatula, and Pyrenomonas. These genera formed a monophyletic clade separated from a diverse assemblage of other cryptophyte genera. To further explore the phylogeny of R. marina a concatenated phylogenetic analysis based on the SSU rDNA-ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2-LSU rDNA region was performed but included only closely related species. The secondary structure of nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 was predicted and compared to similar structures in related species. Using morphological and molecular signatures as diagnostic features the description of R. marina was emended.