• Mycobiology
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.79-84
• /
• 2016

A coelomycete with characters resembling the asexual morphs in the family Botryosphaeriaceae was isolated from a fallen leaf of an orchid collected in Thailand. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses placed the strain in Neoscytalidium. Phylogenetic relationships among Neoscytalidium species were inferred by analyzing internal transcribed spacers and large subunit of rRNA sequence data and indicate that our strain is a new species, which is introduced and illustrated herein as Neoscytalidium orchidacearum sp. nov.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.188-192
• /
• 2016

A previously unrecorded fungus was isolated from the persimmon (Diospyros kaki) leaf phyllosphere in Korea. The isolated fungus was characterized by morphological and phylogenetic analyses. The typical morphological characteristics of Phialocephala piceae, including dark brown colonies and short, thick conidiophores, were observed on the isolated fungus. A phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB1) also confirmed the identification of the isolated fungal species as P. piceae. Therefore, this is the first report of P. piceae in Korea.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.340-345
• /
• 2019

An 82-year-old man with diabetes was admitted to the emergency department with a third-degree burn on his left leg. The deep swab specimen from his left leg was cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar without cycloheximide and incubated at $25^{\circ}C$ for 5 days. On the basis of morphological characteristics and multigene phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA and partial fragments of beta-tubulin and translation elongation factor 1-alpha, the causal agent of fungal skin infection was identified as Bisifusarium delphinoides, which was newly introduced by accommodating a Fusarium dimerum species complex. Thus, we describe here the first case of skin infection caused by B. delphinoides on a burn patient with diabetes mellitus based on morphological observation and molecular analysis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.57 no.5
• /
• pp.481-487
• /
• 2019

Mitochondrial DNA sequence variability of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei in GenBank was observed by reinvestigation of mitochondrial cox1 and cytb sequences. The DNA sequences were analyzed in this study, comprising complete DNA sequences of cox1 (n=239) and cytb (n=213) genes. The 10 complete mitochondrial DNA sequences of Spirometra species were compared with those of Korea, China and Japan. The sequences were analyzed for nucleotide composition, conserved sites, variable sites, singleton sites and parsimony-informative sites. Phylogenetic analyses was done using neighbor joining, maximum parsimony, Bayesian inference and maximum-likelihood on cox1 and cytb sequences of Spirometra species. These polymorphic sites identified 148 (cox1) and 83 (cytb) haplotypes within 239 and 213 isolates from 3 Asian countries. Phylogenetic tree topologies were presented high-level confidence values for the 2 major branches of 2 Spirometra species containing S. erinaceieuropaei and S. decipiens, and S. decipiens sub-clades including all sequences registered as S. erinaceieuropaei in cox1 and cytb genes. These results indicated that mitochondrial haplotypes of S. erinaceieuropaei and S. decipiens were found in the 3 Asian countries.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.175-193
• /
• 2021

This study provides the first report of the presence of Coolia malayensis in the Mediterranean Sea, co-occurring with C. monotis. Isolated strains from the Gulf of Gabès, Tunisia (South-eastern Mediterranean) were identified by morphological characterization and phylogenetic analysis. Examination by light and scanning electron microscopy revealed no significant morphological differences between the Tunisian isolates and other geographically distant strains of C. monotis and C. malayensis. Phylogenetic trees based on ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and D1-D3/28S rDNA sequences showed that C. monotis strains clustered with others from the Mediterranean and Atlantic whereas the C. malayensis isolate branched with isolates from the Pacific and the Atlantic, therefore revealing no geographical trend among C. monotis and C. malayensis populations. Ultrastructural analyses by transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of numerous vesicles containing spirally coiled fibers in both C. malayensis and C. monotis cells, which we speculate to be involved in mucus production.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.439-453
• /
• 2021

During the rainy season in Thailand, specimens of Phallus chiangmaiensis sp. nov. and P. merulinus were collected from Chiang Mai and Samut Sakhon Provinces, respectively. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of the nuclear ribosomal large subunit (LSU), nuclear ribosomal 5.8S gene including the internal transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2 (ITS), and the protein-coding gene atp6 (mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate [ATP] synthase subunit 6) support the placement of the new species within Phallus. Phallus chiangmaiensis has a well-developed white indusium and campanulated caps with reticulate surfaces. It differs morphologically from the related species, as supported by the phylogenetic data. Phallus merulinus is reported here as a species that was re-encountered in Thailand. The descriptions of the species are accompanied by illustrations of macro- and micro- morphological features, and a discussion of the related taxa is presented.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.405-414
• /
• 2018

Endophytic fungi were isolated from the leaves of diverse plants inhabiting Jeju Island, Korea. The fungal isolates were identified through phylogenetic analyses incorporating nucleotide sequences derived from the internal transcribed spacer region, large subunit region of ribosomal DNA, and beta-tubulin gene. Our results identified six endophytic fungi previously unknown in Korea namely, Diaporthe goulteri, Diaporthe vaccini, Rhizosphaera pini, Valsa friesii, Xylaria primorskensis, and Zalerion arboricola were identified. Here, we present their cultural and morphological characteristics and phylogenetic relationship.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.423-443
• /
• 2020

Freshwater fungi are a poly-phylogenetic group of taxonomically diverse organisms. In this study, we isolated diverse fungal strains from various environmental samples obtained from freshwaters in Korea. These strains were identified by performing molecular phylogenetic analyses of rDNA and/or other sequences (beta-tubulin, RNA polymerase II, and translation elongation factor 1). In addition, we examined their morphological characteristics microscopically and cultural characteristics using different media. We identified eleven unrecorded Pezizomycotina species: Cladosporium angulosum, Pseudorobillarda phragmitis, Paraconiothyrium estuarinum, Pseudopithomyces palmicola, Pyrenochaetopsis paucisetosa, Thelebolus globosus, Plagiostoma mejianum, Trichoderma cremeum, Fusarium tanahbumbuense, Coniochaeta endophytica, and Chaetomium tenue. Environmental samples obtained from different freshwater ecosystems in Korea could thus be a good source for isolating and investigating novel fungal species.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.32-41
• /
• 2021

South Korea presently harbors less than 800 long-tailed gorals (Naemorhedus caudatus), an endangered species. I report for the first time on the taxonomic status and genetic diversity of the Korean species using non-invasive fecal sampling based on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence analyses. To determine the taxonomic status of this species, I reconstructed a consensus neighbor-joining tree and generated a minimum spanning network combining haplotype sequences obtained from feces with a new goral-specific primer set developed using known sequences of the Korean goral and related species (e.g., Russian goral, Chinese goral, Himalayan goral, Japanese serow, etc.). I also examined the genetic diversity of this species. The Korean goral showed only three different haplotypes. The phylogenetic tree and parsimony haplotype network revealed a single cluster of Korean and Russian gorals, separate from related species. Generally, the Korean goral has a relatively low genetic diversity compared with that of other ungulate species (e.g., moose and red deer). I preliminarily showcased the application of non-invasive fecal sampling to the study of genetic characteristics, including the taxonomic status and genetic diversity of gorals, based on mitochondrial DNA. More phylogenetic studies are necessary to ensure the conservation of goral populations throughout South Korea.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.24-45
• /
• 2021

The occurrence of Austroboletus subflavidus and Fistulinella gloeocarpa is documented from the Dominican Republic. The latter species is reported for the first time outside its original locality in Martinique, extending the geographic range for this uncommon pinkish-spored bolete. A detailed morphological description is provided for each species and accompanied by color pictures of fresh basidiomes in habitat and line drawings of the main anatomical features. Both species represent independent lineages within their respective genera based on phylogenetic inference. In addition, A. subflavidus clusters in a sister lineage to the core Austroboletus clade (Austroboletus clade I) here named as Austroboletus clade II. In order to confirm the accuracy of species identification, their identity and relationships were subjected to multilocus phylogenetic analyses of three gene markers (ITS, nrLSU, RPB2) including genetic material already available in public databases. Austroboletus subflavidus is a widely distributed species in North and Central America, whereas F. gloeocarpa is apparently highly localized and seems to appear sparingly in the Dominican Republic, Martinque, and southern Florida. Comparisons with morphologically similar and molecularly inferred allied species are also presented and discussed.