• Mycobiology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.166-170
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• 2010

Gummy stem blight is a major foliar disease of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.). In this study, morphological characteristics and rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences were analyzed to identify the causal organism of this disease. Morphological examination of the Jeonbuk isolate revealed that the percentage of monoseptal conidia ranged from 0% to 10%, and the average length $\times$ width of the conidia was 70 ($\pm$ 0.96) $\times$ 32.0 ($\pm$ 0.15) ${\mu}m$ on potato dextrose agar. The BLAST analysis showed nucleotide gaps of 1/494, 2/492, and 1/478 with identities of 485/492 (98%), 492/494 (99%), 491/494 (99%), and 476/478 (99%). The similarity in sequence identity between the rDNA ITS region of the Jeonbuk isolate and other Didymella bryoniae from BLAST searches of GenBank was 100% and was 95.0% within the group. Nucleotide sequences of the rDNA ITS region from pure culture ranged from 98.2% to 99.8%. Phylogenetic analysis with related species of D. bryoniae revealed that D. bryoniae is a monophyletic group distinguishable from other Didymella spp., including Ascochyta pinodes, Mycosphaerella pinodes, M. zeae-maydis, D. pinodes, D. applanata, D. exigua, D. rabiei, D. lentis, D. fabae, and D. vitalbina. Phylogenetic analysis, based on rDNA ITS sequence, clearly distinguished D. bryoniae and Didymella spp. from the 10 other species studied. This study identified the Jeonbuk isolate to be D. bryoniae.

• ALGAE
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.241-252
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• 2023

The genera Carolibrandtia and Chlorella have been described as small green algae with spherical cell shapes that inhabit various environments. Species of these genera are often difficult to identify because of their simple morphology and high phenotypic plasticity. We investigated two small coccoid strains from Antarctica based on morphology, molecular phylogeny by two alignment methods which have been applied to previous phylogenetic studies of the genus Chlorella, and comparison of the secondary structures of nuclear small subunit (SSU) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequences. Light microscopy of two strains revealed spherical cells containing chloroplasts with pyrenoids, and the morphological characteristics of the strains were nearly identical to those of other Chlorella species. However, based on the phylogenetic analyses of nuclear SSU and ITS rDNA sequences, it was determined that the Antarctic microalgal strains belonged to two genera, as the Chlorella and Carolibrandtia. In addition, the secondary structures of the SSU and ITS2 sequences were analyzed to detect compensatory base changes (CBCs) that were used to identify and describe the two strains. A unique CBC in the SSU rDNA gene was decisive for distinguishing strain CCAP 211/45. The ITS2 rDNA sequences for each strain were compared to those obtained previously from other closely related species. Following the comparison of morphological and molecular characteristics, we propose KSF0092 as a new species, Chlorella terrestris sp. nov., and the reassignment of the strain Chlorella antarctica CCAP 211/45 into Carolibrandtia antarctica comb. nov.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.521-527
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• 2007

Several yeast strains degrading malic acid as a sole carbon and energy source were isolated from Korean wine pomace after enrichment culture in the presence of malic acid. Among them, the strain designated as KMBL 5774 showed the highest malic acid degrading ability. It was identified as Issatchenkia orientalis based on its morphological and physiological characteristics as well as the nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1-5.8S rDNA-ITS II region. Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS I-5.8S rDNA-ITS II sequences showed that the KMBL 5774 is the closest to I. orientalis zhuan 192. Identity of the sequences of the KMBL 5774 was 99.5% with those of I. orientalis zhuan 192. The optimal pH of the media for the growth and malic acid degradation by the yeast was between 2.0 and 3.0, suggesting that the strain is an acidophile. Under the optimized conditions, the yeast could degrade 95.5% of the malic acid after 24 h of incubation at $30^{\circ}C$ in YNB media containing 2% malic acid as a sole carbon and energy source.

• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2012

A $Mariannaea$ fungus was isolated during investigation of an elm tree infested with unidentified beetles. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular analysis of the internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequence, the fungus was identified as $Mariannaea$ $elegans$ var. $elegans$. Fungal growth was better on malt extract agar than on potato dextrose agar and oatmeal agar. Optimal temperature and pH for growth of the fungus were $30^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.0, respectively. The fungus was found to have the ability to produce extracellular enzymes such as amylase, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, cellulase, and protease. This is first report on $M.$ $elegans$ var. $elegans$ in Korea.

• Mycobiology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2017

Most known species in the Physalacriaceae are saprotrophs that grow on decaying leaves and wood, and approximately 21 genera in the Physalacriaceae have been reported worldwide. During an ongoing survey of indigenous fungi in Korea, four specimens belonging to the Physalacriaceae were collected on Ulleung Island. These specimens were identified as three species based on morphological characteristics and molecular analysis of rDNA-internal transcribed spacer sequences. Three species in three genera were shown to be new records in Korea: Hymenopellis orientalis, Paraxerula hongoi, and Ponticulomyces orientalis. The latter two are the first records of these genera in Korea. In this study, we provide detailed morphological descriptions of these species and describe their phylogenetic position within the Physalacriaceae.

• ALGAE
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.267-275
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• 2019

Three new species of the genus Micractinium were collected from five localities on the South Shetland Islands in maritime Antarctica, and their morphological and molecular characteristics were investigated. The vegetative cells are spherical to ellipsoidal and a single chloroplast is parietal with a pyrenoid. Because of their simple morphology, no conspicuous morphological characters of new species were recognized under light microscopy. However, molecular phylogenetic relationships were inferred from the concatenated small subunit rDNA, and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence data indicated that the Antarctic microalgal strains are strongly allied to the well-supported genus Micractinium, including M. pusillum, the type species of the genus, and three other species in the genus. The secondary structure of ITS2 and compensatory base changes were used to identify and describe six Antarctic Micractinium strains. Based on their morphological and molecular characteristics, we characterized three new species of Micractinium: M. simplicissimum sp. nov., M. singularis sp. nov., and M. variabile sp. nov.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.372-378
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• 2017

In this study, we identified the causative agent of post-harvest gray mold on broccoli that was stored on a farmers' cooperative in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, South Korea, in September 2016. The incidence of gray mold on broccoli was 10-30% after 3-5 weeks of storage at $3^{\circ}C$. Symptoms included brownish curd and gray-to-dark mycelia with abundant conidia on the infected broccoli curds. The fungus was isolated from infected fruit and cultured on potato dextrose agar. To identify the fungus, we examined the morphological characteristics and sequenced the rDNA of the fungus and confirmed its pathogenicity according to Koch's postulates. The results of the morphological examination, pathogenicity test, and sequencing of the 5.8S rDNA of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 and ITS4) and three nuclear protein-coding genes, G3PDH, HSP60, and RPB2, revealed that the causal agent of the post-harvest gray mold on broccoli was Botrytis cinerea. To our knowledge, this is the first report of post-harvest gray mold on broccoli in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 2016

The biodiversity of endophytic fungi on Thuja koraiensis in Mt. Hwaak, Seorak, and Hambaek, Korea was investigated. For the 202 isolates collected from the host trees, internal transcribed spacer rDNA region sequences-based analysis identified 32 taxa; 61.5% of the isolates belonged to Dothideomycetes, 27.0% belonged to Sordariomycetes, and 11.5% belonged to Leotiomycetes. This composition rate is somewhat different from that reported in previous studies for endophytic fungi inhabiting trees of the family Pinaceae. In particular, Phyllosticta spinarum in Dothideomycetes is a dominant species among the diverse endophytes of T. koraiensis. Therefore, further critical research is required for this species.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.113-122
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• 2020

From a moss sample, we isolated and identified Notohymena gangwonensis Kim et al., 2019 based on morphological and molecular data. The moss and type population has completely identical 18S rRNA (nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA) gene sequences and both are highly similar in morphological and morphometric attributes, except for the diameter and arrangement of the cortical granules. Thus, we reexamined the type materials(i.e., micrographs and gDNA) and resulted in finding mistakes made by the authors of the species. Based on these data and supporting materials newly obtained (i.e., internal transcribed spacer [ITS] 1, ITS2, 5.8S, and partial 28S rDNA sequences, and scanning electron micrographs), we provide improved diagnosis of the species to clarify its identity. In addition, a key for Notohymena species is provided.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2012

In August 2010, a severe crown rot was observed on chrysanthemum ($Chrysanthemum$ $morifolium$ Ramat., variety Sinro) in several greenhouses located at Damyang and Muan, Jeonnam province, Korea. Three isolates (EML-CHS1, -CHS2, and -CHS3) of $Fusarium$ were isolated from the affected plants and identified based on morphological characteristics and rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis. Sequence analysis by BLAST indicated that EMLCHS1, -CHS2 and CHS3 were closest to a $Fusarium$ species, $F.$ $solani$ with > 99% sequence similarity. Pathogenicity tests were performed on chrysanthemum with spore suspensions containing $3.4{\times}10^6$ spores/ml using the dipping method. Ten days after inoculation, similar symptoms to those observed in the greenhouses were seen on the inoculated plants. The causal fungus was reisolated from the artificially inoculated basal stems, fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of crown rot by $Fusarium$ $solani$ on chrysanthemum ($Chrysanthemum$ $morifolium$) in Korea.