• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.1-29
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• 2022

Hypocreales is one of the largest orders within the class Sordariomycetes in Ascomycota. Several species of this order are cosmopolitan and have a broad range of habitats. Here, we isolated several fungal strains from environmental samples, including freshwater sediment and plant litter. The strains were identified via molecular and phylogenetic analyses of rDNA and other DNA markers, such as TUB, RPB2, and EF1. The morphological characteristics of the fungi were investigated using microscopy, and culture characteristics were assessed from their growth on several media. We identified 17 species previously unrecorded in Korea: Dactylonectria hordeicola, Flavocillium bifurcatum, Fusarium luffae, Ilyonectria ilicicola, Ilyonectria qitaiheensis, Ilyonectria robusta, Lecanicillium aphanocladii, Nectria ulmicola, Neonectria lugdunensis, Ovicillium oosporum, Pseudonectria foliicola, Sarocladium spinificis, Scolecofusarium ciliatum, Trichoderma appalachiense, Trichoderma subviride, Trichoderma taiwanense, and Trichoderma tsugarense.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.311-318
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• 2022

Endophytic fungal strains were isolated from the leaves of two conifer species (Juniperus rigida and Pinus densiflora) in Korea and identified on the basis of their morphological and molecular characteristics. Internal transcribed spacer and large subunit regions of rDNA were used for the phylogenetic analysis, and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF) and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) genes were analyzed depending on the species. Two fungal species that were previously unrecorded in Korea were identified: Acrodontium burrowsianum and Pestalotiopsis humicola. Their morphological and phylogenetic characteristics are described herein.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.361-365
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• 2022

Here, Podospora leporina was isolated and cultured from Cypripedium guttatum Sw. (spotted lady's slipper), which was designated as an endangered wildlife class 1 by the Ministry of Environment. Further, Podospora sp., which is found in Calanthe discolor Lindl. (Japanese hardy orchid) root is recorded as an endophytic fungus in Jeju Island, Korea. However, there is no existing record of Podospora spp. Thus, in this study, we analyzed the morphological characteristics and two molecular markers, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large ribosomal subunit (LSU), of P. leporina and compared these data with other relative species. Consequently, this endophytic fungal species was confirmed as an unrecorded species in Korea, so we presented cultural characteristics and microstructures, such as the conidia of P. leporina.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2023

Tumors are surrounded by a variety of tumor microenvironmental cells. Profiling individual cells within the tumor tissues is crucial to characterize the tumor microenvironment and its therapeutic implications. Since single-cell technologies are still not cost-effective, scientists have developed many statistical deconvolution methods to delineate cellular characteristics from bulk transcriptome data. Here, we present an overview of 20 deconvolution techniques, including cutting-edge techniques recently established. We categorized deconvolution techniques by three primary criteria: characteristics of methodology, use of prior knowledge of cell types and outcome of the methods. We highlighted the advantage of the recent deconvolution tools that are based on probabilistic models. Moreover, we illustrated two scenarios of the common application of deconvolution methods to study tumor microenvironments. This comprehensive review will serve as a guideline for the researchers to select the appropriate method for their application of deconvolution.

• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.393-400
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• 2023

During a disease survey in October 2019, leaf spot symptoms with a yellow halo were observed on Korean angelica (Anglica gigas) plants grown in fields in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, Korea. Incidence of diseased leaves of the plants in the investigated fields ranged from 10% to 60%. Morphological and cultural characteristics of two single-spore isolates from the leaf lesions indicated that they belonged to the genus Didymella. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using combined sequences of LSU, ITS, TUB2, and RPB2 regions showed distinct clustering of the isolates from other Didymella species. In addition, the morphological and cultural characteristics of the isolates were somewhat different from those of closely related Didymella spp. Therefore, the novelty of the isolates was proved based on the investigations. Pathogenicity of the novel Didymella species isolates was confirmed on leaves of Korean angelica plants via artificial inoculation. This study reveals that Didymella gigantis sp. nov. causes leaf spot in Korean angelica.

• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.313-319
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• 2023

During disease surveys of Angelica acutiloba plants in Korea, leaf spot symptoms were observed in a field in Andong in July 2019, and stem rot symptoms in vinyl greenhouses in Yangpyeong in April 2020. Incidence of leaf spot and stem rot of the plants ranged from 10 to 20% and 5 to 30%, respectively. Morphological and cultural characteristics of fungal isolates from the leaf spot and stem rot symptoms fitted into those of the genus Phoma. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of two single-spore isolates from the symptoms using concatenated sequences of LSU, ITS, TUB2, and RPB2 genes authenticated an independent cluster from other Didymella (anamorph: Phoma) species. Moreover, the isolates showed different morphological and cultural characteristics in comparison to closely related Didymella species. These discoveries confirmed the novelty of the isolates. Pathogenicity of the novel Didymella species isolates was substantiated on leaves and stems of A. acutiloba through artificial inoculation. Thus, this study reveals that Didymella acutilobae sp. nov. causes leaf spot and stem rot in Angelica acutiloba.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.471-490
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• 2023

Soil is a rich source of saprobic and pathogenic fungi in crop cultivation areas. Compared with that of the fruit trees, scarce information is available regarding the fungi present in orchard soils in Korea. We sampled rhizosphere soils of apple and pear trees from several orchards in Cheongju, Anseong, and Cheonan, Korea. During the processing of soil fungi, seven unrecorded species of the phylum Ascomycota were isolated. These included Acrocalymma walkeri, Clonostachys krabiensis, Coniella vitis, Cosmospora diminuta, Lasiobolidium spirale, Penicillium vallebormidaense, and Pseudothielavia arxii. All the species were identified and described based on morphological characteristics and molecular analysis of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene and partial β-tubulin gene (BenA) sequences. Descriptions and illustrations of the morphological characteristics are provided.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.335-347
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• 2023

Sordariomycetes is the second largest class of Ascomycota, distributed throughout various habitat including terrestrial and aquatic environments and also existing as endophytes. We isolated endophytic fungal strains in Korea, identifying them based on their morphological characteristics and molecular analyses, using eight specific DNA regions for accurate genus identification. We identified five previously unrecorded endophytic fungal species in Korea: Chaetomium subaffine, Colletotrichum jiangxiense, Colletotrichum sydowii, Diaporthe vacuae and Neurospora tetraspora. In this study, we describe the morphological characteristics and present our phylogenetic analyses of these five fungal species.

• ALGAE
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.161-174
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• 2004

Phonological, morphological and molecular characteristics of Spatoglossum pacificum Yendo are examined. S. pacificum has an annual life cycle composed of saprophytes with apparent absence of male and female gametophytes in Korea. The seasonal growth of this species explains that the annual growth is closely related to the monthly variation of water temperature. S. pacificum has protruding reproductive structures above the outmost cortical layer. Although this observation is restricted to several species, reproductive structures on the thallus can make S. pacificurn distinguishable from S. crassum and S. lacturn. The morphogenesis of a midrib at the base of S. pacificum in this study is the same as those of Dictyopteris but different from those of S. crassum and S. lacturn, suggesting that S. pacificum is closely related to Dictyopteris. In the comparison of plastid gene sequences among species of Spatoglossum and Dictyopteris, S. pacificum is more similar to D. divaricata and D. undulate than those of S. crassum in rbcL, rbcS, psbA and psaA. This result is congruent with the anatomical characteristic of a midrib at the base of the thallus and the protrusion of reproductive organs on the thallus. The phylogenetic relationship based on these plastid genes also shows that S. pacifism is included in Dictyotpteris Glade and separated from S. crassum. We propose the new combination of Dictyopteris pacifica (Yendo) I.K. Hwang, H.S. Kim et W.J. Lee, comb. nov. based on the differences of anatomical characteristics of the midrib, the existence of reproductive organs on thallus and the molecular analyses.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.723-731
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• 2015

Microalgae hold promise as producers of sustainable biomass for the production of biofuels and other biomaterials. However, the selection of strains with efficient and robust production of desirable resources remains challenging. In this study, we isolated a green microalga from Korea and analyzed its morphological, molecular, and biochemical characteristics. Microscopic and phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that the isolate could be classified into the genus Chlamydomonas, and we designated the isolate Chlamydomonas sp. KIOST -1. Compositions of protein, lipid, and carbohydrate in the microalgal cells were estimated to be 58.8 ± 0.2%, 22.7 ± 1.2%, and 18.5 ± 1.0%, respectively. Similar to other microalgae belonging to Chlorophyceae, the dominant amino acid and monosaccharide in Chlamydomonas sp. KIOST-1 were glutamic acid and glucose. On the other hand, the proportions of saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids clearly differed from other species in the genus Chlamydomonas, and monounsaturated fatty acids accounted for a large portion (41.3%) of the total fatty acids in the isolate. Based on these results, Chlamydomonas sp. KIOST-1 has advantageous characteristics for biomass production.