• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.203-206
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• 2017

The soil organisms that develop beneficial Symbiotic relationships with plants roots and contribute to plant growth are mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculations change the growth and biochemical composition of the host plant and soil. Mycorrhizal root systems do augment the absorbing area of roots from 10 to 100 times thereby greatly improving the ability of the plants to utilize the soil resources. A pot experiment was conducted during the kharif seasons at Jaipur, Rajasthan, to find out the effects of three different indigenous AM fungi i.e. Glomus mosseae, Glomus fasciculatum and Gigaspora decipiens either single and in combination inoculation on biochemical and histochemical changes of Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) grown under barren soil conditions. The AM fungus has shown to improve the tolerance of plant to drought stress. Experimental results showed that AM fungi treated plants improved their plants growths, biochemical and histochemical changes as compared to non-mycorrhizal treatments. The AM fungi inoculated plant was found to be attaining maximum plant biochemical and histochemical substances in Glomus mosseae (alone) and also Glomus mosseae + Glomus fasciculatum treatments.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.183-191
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• 2020

Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic association of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner (the photobiont or phycobiont), usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium. According to more recent studies, the biological activities of lichens and lichen substances include an antibiotic activity, antitumor and antimutagenic activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), allergenic activity, plant growth inhibitory activity, and enzyme inhibitory activity. This study screened lichen extracts with a potent in vitro antifungal activity against plant diseases caused by phytopathogenic fungi. The compounds were isolated from Stereocaulon alpinum and Sphaerophorus globosus, and their chemical structures were identified as methyl hematommate, methyl β-orsellinate, 5-hydroxyferulic acid, sphaerophorin, and 2-heptyl-4,6-dimethoxybenzoic acid by electron ionization mass spectrometry (EI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral analyses. In vitro disease control against Alternaria mali, Cochliobolus miyabeanus, Colletotrium gloeosporioides, and Verticillum dahliae was evaluated. And among the five compounds, only methyl hematommate was effective against A. mali, C. miyabeanus, and C. gloeosporioides. The compounds were isolated from these lichens, which have a similar biosynthetic pathway, respectively. This is the first report of these compounds being isolated from these lichens.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.30-40
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• 2004

Lichen is one of the most widely distributed eucaryotic organisms in the world. Lichen is the result of a symbiotic association between two unrelated organisms - a fungus and an alga (or cyanobacterium). In USA, Japan and European countries, there has been a resurgence of interest in lichens as source of novel, pharmacologically active molecules during the last 20 years. However, lichen researches in Korean lichens were mainly focused on investigation of Korean lichen flora and most of them were primitive and short-term based projects until 1990s. In this communication, general introduction of lichens was attempted to draw the attention of Korean researchers to Korean lichen bioresource. Research activities on Korean lichens during the past were also summarized. Recent progress in Korean lichen research is briefly discussed with emphasis of KoLRI (Korean Lichen Research Institute) activities and roles in national researches projects on bioresource development in Korea.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.67-76
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• 2023

Background: Kombucha, known domestically as black tea mushroom, is a traditional fermented beverage from Northeast Asia made by fermenting a mixture of black tea extract and fungus. It is known for its high detoxifying, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities, as well as its effects on relieving arthritis pain, reducing blood pressure, and addressing gastrointestinal or metabolic diseases. Purpose: This study aims to identify the main microbial system of Kombucha fermentation. Methods: The 16sRNA sequencing method was applied to analyze the microbial composition of Kombucha fermentation. Results: Bacterial, yeast, and fungi groups were identified. Through the identification of commercial Kombucha strains, it was confirmed that the bacteria in the Kombucha fermentation liquid and the pellicle were predominantly microbes from the Gluconacetobacter and Gluconobactor, which are involved in the fermentation of Kombucha. Among the yeasts, Sacchromycetes class, Starmerella bacillaris were identified with the highest expression rate. It was confirmed that the main microbial system fermenting Kombucha is SCOBY(Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast), and that different strains are prominently expressed compared to the foreign Kombucha, which is mainly composed of Acetobacter acetic bacteria and Zygosaccharomyces yeast commonly. Conclusions: This study highlights the complexity and diversity of the microbial ecosystem in Kombucha fermentation, and comparative analysis with commercial strains reveals the potential for diversification of SCOBY to improve the functional properties of Kombucha. Future studies will investigate microbial interactions within the SCOBY and their impact on the health-promoting properties of Kombucha.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.25 no.2 s.81
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• pp.101-110
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• 1997

This study was to identify the orchid mycorrhizal fungi and to test whether the orchid plants antificially inoculated with this fungus showed better growth them uninoculated plants. Symbioses in the root cells of the native plants of Cymbidium goeringii collected were observed and the digestive forms of peletons were also observed in various native roots. Two types of hyphae, thick $(7{\sim}10\;{\mu}m)$ and thin $(2{\sim}4\;{\mu}m)$ in thickness, were conclusively found to be from various native orchid roots. The symbiotic fungus was isolated by several agars and identified as a Rhizoctonia repens or a R. endophytica var. endophytica. Symbioses on the plantlets of C. karnan and Cymbidium hybrid 'Onomoron' were evaluated as the isolates inoculated on oatmeal agars. The growth of plantlets were measured with the formations of mycorrhizae in the roots. R. repens was shown to be the better isolate than the other in growth stimulation of plantlets on oatmeal agars when grown for two months. The two types of hyphae in the root cells under nature were speculated from the different fungal isolates of Rhizoctonia. Further isolates would be needed for application works for the orchid industries.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.37-37
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• 2018

We use two different methods for laboratory propagation from seed of lady's slipper orchid(Cypripedium macranthos Sw.); immature seed which also called green capsule or fully mature seed about 120~130 days from pollination. In green capsule culture, the seed pods should be collected within precisely right time. The right time of seed collection could be diverse under the wether conditions or nutritional factors of the plants. In fully matured seed culture, the more complicated procedures are needed to break the dormancy of the seed; thermal or chemical treatment. The seedlings in this study were easily germinated from immature seeds in Harvais medium; 53 days after pollination(DAP) in Cypripedium pubescens, DAP 65 in C. parviflorum and C. macranthos. The germinated seedlings were transplanted to hormone free media immediately to avoid abnormal growth of seedlings. When the seedlings have roots with a minimum length of around 2-3cm and have visible dormant buds, the seedlings were removed from the flask and stored in refrigerator for vernalization. To examine the correlation of seedlings and maternal plants, the 125 seedlings of C. macranthos were transplanted in the soil bed at a distance of 20-100 cm from mother plants on April 20. The survival rate of seedlings were 92% in 20 cm distance from the ripe plants, and 56 % in 100 cm distance. The seedlings which were transplanted near mother plants showed vigorous growth in plant height, leaf width, and especially dormant buds. Considering the existence of mycorrhiza which is a symbiotic association between a fungus and the roots of a orchid vascular, the various fungus from mother plants could affect the growth of the seedlings. These results indicate the possibility of high and stable production and practical industrialization of endangered lady's slipper orchids.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 2007

Lichen thalli of Dirinaria applanata heavily colonized on the twigs of dead or dying Rhododendron trees in Solok island, Jeonnam province in Korea. Pathogenesis of the lichen on the trees was investigated to find out the possibility of lichen as a causal agent. Histological examination of the lichen colonized twigs was attempted with differential staining technique. Lichen-forming fungus colonized only on the surface of bark and there was no direct penetration of fungal hyphae into the plant tissues. Symbiotic algae of the lichen was also examined. The isolated algal cells were inoculated on artificially induced wounds of the healthy trees. Histological examination of the inoculated tissues showed that some algal cells were successfully colonized inside the tissues without any pathogenic symptoms, even 2 months later, The extract of the lichen thalli was also examined using 10% of DMSO solution. Treated tissues showed no pathogenic symptoms, even 4 weeks later. The results suggested that the lichen was not directly involved in the death of the trees.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.89.1-89
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• 2003

Disease suppression by ectomycorrhizal(ECM) fungi has been demonstrated on red pine seedlings. Culturing of pathogenic fungi on petri plates containing culture filtrates of ECM fungi showed that culture filtrates of the ECM fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum may inhibit the mycelial growth of all tested soil-borne plant pathogenic(SBPP) fungi upto 60％, In order to examine the effects of ECM fungi on SBPP fungi and on red pine seedlings, both symbiotic and pathogenic fungi were inoculated into the soil with red pine seedlings by three inoculation methods; pre-inoculation of SBPP fungi 10 days before inoculation of ECM fungi, simultaneous inoculation of both fungi, post-inoculation of SBPP fungi 60 days after inoculation of ECM fungi. Seedling mortality, seedling growth, and ectomycorrhizal formation by the combined treatments were examined and compared. Pine seedlings were dead by the pre-inoculation of pathogenic fungi, except Rhizina undulate which required 9-12 days, within 6 days after inoculation. Among pathogenic fungi tested, Fusarium oxysporum was the most pathogenic with the mortality of 44％. However, no dead seedlings were shown by simultaneous inoculation of both fungi or pre-inoculation of ECM fungi. In addition, pine seedlings treated by simultaneous or post-inoculation of SBPP fungi were relatively higher than those treated by pre-inoculation in diameter at root crown and the number of ectomycorrhizal roots. There were no significant differences among inoculation methods in root length and dry weight of treated seedlings. It means that ECM fungi somehow play a role in protecting primary roots of red pine seedlings against invasion by the SBPP fungi.

• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.458-466
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• 2015

Oak tree death caused by symbiosis of an ambrosia beetle, Platypus koryoensis, and an ophiostomatoid filamentous fungus, Raffaelea quercus-mongolicae, has been a nationwide problem in Korea since 2004. In this study, we surveyed the yeast species associated with P. koryoensis to better understand the diversity of fungal associates of the beetle pest. In 2009, a total of 195 yeast isolates were sampled from larvae and adult beetles (female and male) of P. koryoensis in Cheonan, Goyang, and Paju; 8 species were identified by based on their morphological, biochemical and molecular analyses. Meyerozyma guilliermondii and Candida kashinagacola were found to be the two dominant species. Among the 8 species, Candida homilentoma was a newly recorded yeast species in Korea, and thus, its mycological characteristics were described. The P. koryoensis symbiont R. quercusmongolicae did not show extracelluar CM-cellulase, xylanase and avicelase activity that are responsible for degradation of wood structure; however, C. kashinagacola and M. guilliermondii did show the three extracellular enzymatic activities. Extracelluar CM-cellulase activity was also found in Ambrosiozyma sp., C. homilentoma, C. kashinagacola, and Candida sp. Extracelluar pectinase activity was detected in Ambrosiozyma sp., C. homilentoma, Candida sp., and M. guilliermondii. All the 8 yeast species displayed compatible relationships with R. quercus-mongolicae when they were co-cultivated on yeast extract-malt extract plates. Overall, our results demonstrated that P. koryoensis carries the yeast species as a symbiotic fungal associate. This is first report of yeast diversity associated with P. koryoensis.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2020

The genus Termitomyces (Lyophyllaceae, Basidiomycota) is often associated with fungus-feeding termites (Macrotermitinae) due to their strong symbiotic relationships. The genus is widely found exclusively in certain regions of Africa and Asia. They are recognized as edible mushroom within Southeast Asia as well. But it is often misidentified based on morphology by the local communities especially in Malaysia for Chlorophyllum molybdites which is a highly poisonous mushroom. Thus, it is necessary to study the genus for Malaysia with the synergy of using both morphological and molecular identification. In this study, we aim to describe another new species as an addition to the genus Termitomyces found within Sabah, Malaysia. We generated two new sequences (nrLSU and mtSSU) for the new species and a total of 28 nrLSU and mtSSU sequences were retrieved from GenBank for the phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inferences. We identified that the new collection from Sabah province is a new species and named as Termitomyces gilvus based on the termites found in the mound. A phylogeny tree made from the concatenated genes of LSU and mtSSU suggests that T. gilvus is closely related to T. bulborhizus from China. According to our results, the combination of molecular and morphology proved to be a robust approach to re-evaluate the taxonomic status of Termitomyces species in Malaysia. Additional surveys are needed to verify the species diversity and clarify their geographic distribution.