• Mycobiology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.87-90
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• 2007

A total of 520 overwintered sclerotia were collected from surface of soil under mulberry trees in six locations in Korea during February in 2006 and 2007. The collected sclerotia were tested for their germination in vitro and identified based on their morphological characteristics. Out of all sclerotia tested, 52.3% of the sclerotia germinated and produced two types of apothecia. The two types of fungi occurred from the sclerotia at the ratio of 49.8 vs. 50.2. The fungal type with cup-shaped apothecia was identified as Ciboria shiraiana and another type of fungus with club-shaped apothecia as Scleromitrula shiraiana. Taxonomy and distribution of the two sclerotial fungi were described and discussed.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.131-136
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• 2007

Occurrence of popcorn disease on mulberry fruits was surveyed in several locations in Korea from 2005 to 2007. The diseased fruits turned grayish white and changed to hard and black sclerotia during overwintering after falling onto the ground. Apothecia produced from overwintered sclerotia in the fields of mulberry trees were observed in early May. Two types of apothecia were produced from the sclerotia, which were cup-shaped or club-shaped. The fungus with cup-shaped apothecia was identified as Ciboria shiraiana, and that with club-shaped apothecia as Scleromitrula shiraiana. C. shiraiana occurred at the ratio of about 6 vs. 4 in the fields. Occurrence of the disease differed remarkably depending on years, locations, and varieties of mulberry trees investigated. Field survey of the disease incidence showed that Baekhahyeongsang, Dahojosaeng, Hasusang, a native variety and Sawonppong 22 were resistant to the disease, Cheongilppong, Daeseongppong, Guksang 20 and Turkey-D were moderately susceptible, and Cateneo, Moreji and Sanggwa were highly susceptible. Disease incidence in the fields mulched with nonwoven fabrics or plastic films was much lower than that in the non-mulched fields. Disease incidence in the fields mulched with rice straws was similar to that in the non-mulched fields.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.308-312
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• 2013

The popcorn disease caused by sclerotia forming fungi reduces the productivity of mulberry fruits in world wide. In Korea, only two species (Ciboria shiraiana and Scleromitrula shiraiana) have been reported as the major causal organisms and their morphological features are also largely unknown. Hereby, we report the first identification of another species (i.e. Ciboria carunculoides) in Korea and detailed features of their anamorphic stage. Fungi dominantly associated with sclerotia were purely isolated from infected mulberry fruits under the microscope. PCR-amplified DNA encoding 5.8S rRNA displayed 100% similarity to Ciboria carunculoides. The anamorphic features exhibited the absence of true mycelia. Instead, very short, aseptated, branched conidiophores were directly emerged from sclerotia. Phialides were usually three in number from each conidiophore, ampuliform to navicular in shape, slightly curved and tapering towards the apex. Conidia were produced from phialides and mostly found as one celled, pear shaped, not hyaline with smooth to uneven surface walled. Diversely modified features in phialides formed pseudo-mycelial structures around the host tissue. Combined all, current study is the first report of C. carunculoides isolated in Korea and the foremost detailed description of its anamorph stage.