• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.161-167
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• 2020

The goal of this study was to isolate and characterize the wild yeast strains from the gut of earthworm(Eisenia andrei). The 19 yeast strains isolated from 5 gut of earthworm samples from Nanji water regeneration center in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea. Among them, 16 strains were recorded and 3 strains, Yarrowia deformans YP242 (=KACC48778), Sporidiobolus pararoseus YP66 (=KCTC27963) and Naganishia liquefaciens YI9 (=KACC48948) were recorded for the first time in Korea. The microbiological characteristics of these previously unrecorded yeasts were investigated. All three strains were oval-shaped, convex and smooth. However, they showed some differences in colony color and result of carbon assimilation assays. YP242 was white-colored and assimilated glycerol, L-arabinose and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine as carbon sources. YP66 was red-colored and assimilated D-Saccharose. YI9 was whitecolored and positive for 2-keto-D-gluconate assimilation.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2020

The goal of this study was to isolate and identify the wild yeast strains in intestine of Othius punctulatus collected in Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea and characterize their unrecored yeast strains. We isolated 16 wild yeast strains from 5 intestine samples from Othius punctulatus. The 16 wild yeast strains were included three strains in the genus Aureobasidium, four strains in the genus Cystofilobasidium, one strain in the genus Mrakia, three strains in the genus Naganishia, two strains in the genus Saitozyma, two strains in the genus Sampaiozyma and one strain in the genus Scheffersomyces. Among them Cystofilobasidium capitatum YP53, Cystofilobasidium capitatum YP71, Cystofilobasidium macerans YS620, Cystofilobasidium macerans YS622, Mrakia aquatica YP158 and Scheffersomyces stipitis YI5 were recorded for the first time in Korea. The microbiological characteristics and carbon assimilation of these previously unrecorded yeasts were investigated. Almost all of them were oval-shaped. And, glycerol, L-arabinose, xylitol, and inositol are not utilized.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.337-349
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• 2021

This study aimed to isolate wild yeasts from water and soil sample of the Nonsan stream and Sapgyoho (lake) in Chungcheonnam-do, Korea, and to further characterize previously unrecorded wild yeast strains. In total, 102 strains, representing 55 different species of wild yeast were isolated from 95 samples collected from the Jangseoncheon and Ipchoncheon of Nonsan stream in Jellabuk-do and Chungcheonnam-do. Among these, 33 strains were isolated from alkalophilic yeast extract-peptone-dextrose (YPD) medium (pH 9.0), and 9 strains were isolated concurrently on general YPD medium (pH 6.5) and alkalophilic medium. Seventeen strains of Cryptococcus laurentii were predominantly isolated. Additionally, 65 strains, representing 27 different species of wild yeast were isolated from 58 samples obtained from Sapgyoho (lake). Among the 82 isolated wild yeast strains, 8 strains, including Candida fructus JSC 72-1(JSL-GGU 015), had not previously been recorded. All 8 previously unrecorded yeasts were oval in shape except C. fructus JSC72-1(JSL-GGU-015), and only the Filobasidium chernovii JSC39-1(JSL-GGU-013) strain formed spores. All strains except Pseudosydowia eucalypti JSC23-6(JSL-GGU-012) grew well in yeast extract-peptone-dextrose (YPD) and yeast extract-malt extract media and grew in vitamin-free medium. Four strains, including P.eucalypti JSC23-6(JSL-GGU-012) grew well in 15% NaCl-containing YPD medium. F.chernovii JSC39-1(JSL-GGU-013) and Sirobasidium intermedium JSC7-3(JSL-GGU-014) assimilated lactose, and five strains, including F. chernovii JSC39-1(JSL-GGU-013) also assimilated starch. All strains were resistant to 800 ppm of Ca, Cu, Li, and Mg ions.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.373-381
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• 2023

This study aimed to isolate and characterize wild yeast strains from the vineyard soil in Korea. Twenty yeast strains were isolated from vineyard soil in Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, where Vitis labrusca cv. Campbell Early is grown. Eighteen strains were previously recorded in Korea. The remaining two, Cyberlindnera mrakii VG-21-10C and Starmerella bacillaris GR9 were not previously recorded in Korea. The mycological characteristics of VG-21-10C and GR9 were investigated. Both were oval-shaped, convex, and smooth. However, differences were evident in colony color and carbon assimilation activities. Strain VG-21-10C is white-colored and assimilates glucose, glycerol, D-xylose, D-cellobiose, D-saccharose, and D-raffinose as carbon sources. Strain GR9 is cream-colored and assimilates glucose, D-saccharose, and D-raffinose as carbon sources.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.350-355
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• 2021

In 2020, 11 Basidiomycetous yeast strains were isolated from soil samples collected from the forests of Namhansanseong in Korea. Among them, seven species were reported, but four species were unreported in Korea. To identify wild yeasts, pairwise sequence comparisons of D1/D2 domain of the 26S rRNA were performed using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). The cell morphologies and assimilation test are observed by phase contrast microscope and API 20C AUX kit, respectively. The 11 strains were assigned to the genera Rhodotorula (4 strains) of the order Sporidiobolales of the class Microbotryomycetes; and Cryptococcus(2 strains), Goffeauzyma (1 strains), Naganishia (2 strains) of the order Filobasidiales and Saitozyma (2 strains) of the order Tremellales of the class Tremellomycetes in the phylum Basidiomycota. The unreported yeast strains Cryptococcus gastricus 20n5-2, Goffeauzyma gilvescens 20n2-7, Naganishia adeliensis 20n8-1, and Naganishia friedmannii 20n24-1 belong to the family Filobasidiaceae. All strains had oval shaped cells and cream-colored colonies cultured on on YM agar for 3 days. In this study, we focus on the description of four unreported yeast species in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.98-104
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• 2018

The goal of this study was to elucidate wild yeast diversity of the midstream region of the Geumgang river, Gongju, Chungnam province, Korea. Fifty strains of 24 species of wild yeasts were isolated from 45 water and soil samples among which Cryptococcus spp. (11 strains), Cryptococcus magnus (7 strains), Rhodotorula spp. (9 strains), and Hanseniaspora spp. (6 strains) were dominant. Four species, Candida chauliodes WJSF 0201, Candida oleophila WJSF 0202, Candida catenulata WJSF 0203, and Candida jaroonii WJSF 0204, represented newly recorded yeasts in Korea. All of these unrecorded yeasts were oval in shape, formed ascospores and pseudomycelium, and grew in vitamin-free medium. Candida oleophila WJSF 0202 was thermophilic which can grow at $37^{\circ}C$.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.287-306
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• 2023

According to our previous study, 500 species of yeast exist in Korea, including nine variants comprising 142 genera and 48 classes in two phyla. Additionally, 4,483 fungal species have been documented at the National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR). However, despite the industrial use of several yeasts, only 173 species formed part of the National Species List of Korea (NSLK) as of December 2021, mainly due to the lack of taxonomic descriptions. This study aimed to investigate the taxonomy of seven newly isolated yeast species (Hyphopichia burtonii, Starmerella sorbosivorans, Cyberlindnera mycetangii, Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginosum, Nakazawaea ernobii, Pichia kudriavzevii, and Schizosaccharomyces japonicus) for inclusion in the NSLK. The strains were clustered for the phylogenetic analysis of fungal rDNA (D1/D2-26S) sequences. This study provides descriptions of their cell morphology and physiological characteristics, the results of which confirm the indigenous origin of these seven species in Korea and recommend their inclusion in the NSLK.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.204-209
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• 2020

In 2019, as a subset study to discover indigenous yeast species in Korea, a total of 20 yeast species were isolated from soil samples collected in Pochoen-si. Among them, eight strains were unreported species. From the high 26S rRNA gene sequence similarity and formation of a robust phylogenetic clade with the closest species, it was determined that each strain belonged to independent and predefined yeast species. The 20 strains were assigned to the genera Aureobasidium (1 strain) and Meyerozyma (1 strain) of the phylum Ascomycota and Cystofilobasidium (2 strains), Filobasidium (1 strain), Naganishia (2 strains), Bullera (3 strains), Leucosporidium (9 strains) and Sampaiozyma (1 strain) of the phylum Basidiomycota. There is no official report of the following species in Korea: Leucosporidium creatinivorum (4 strains), Leucosporidium escuderoi(2 strains), Leucosporidium golubevii(1 strain) and Leucosporidium intermedium (2 strains). Basic biochemical characteristics, colony and cell morphology are also described in the species description section.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.336-343
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• 2021

In 2020, as a subset study to discover indigenous yeast species in Korea, a total of 22 yeast species were isolated from soil samples collected in Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do. Among them, 10 strains were unreported species. From the high 26S rRNA gene sequence similarity and formation of a robust phylogenetic clade with the closest species, it was determined that each strain belonged independent and predefined yeast species. The 22 strains were assigned to the genera Dothiora (1 strain), Sarocladium (1 strain), Tetrapisispora (1 strain) and Torulaspora (2 strains) of the phylum Ascomycota; the genera Erythrobasidium (1 strain), Leucosporidium (4 strains), Ustilentyloma (2 strains), Fellozyma (1 strain), Sampaiozyma (2 strains), Filobasidium (1 strain), Solicoccozyma (2 strains) and Vishniacozyma (4 strains) of the phylum Basidiomycota. This is the first official report of the following species in Korea: Dothiora cannabinae (1 strain), Sarocladium strictum (1 strain), Fellozyma inositophila (1 strain), Filobasidium magnum (1 strain), Solicoccozyma phenolicus (1 strain), Solicoccozyma terreus(1 strain), Vishniacozyma tephrensis(1 strain) and Vishniacozyma victoriae (3 strains). Cell morphology, phenotypic features and biochemical features are described in the Species Description section.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.35-54
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• 2024

With a history spanning 9,000 years, yeast has played a central role in the traditional production of fermented foods, particularly alcohol and bakery. Recent research has highlighted the versatility of yeast in various industries, including the production of bioactive compounds, bioethanol, pigments, and enzymes, and as a host for molecular biology studies. In Korea, yeast isolation has traditionally focused on traditional fermented foods such as soybean paste. However, there is a growing trend in the isolation and characterization of yeasts from natural environments such as flowers and fruits for industrial applications. In this study, we isolated and identified 12 yeasts from various natural environments in Korea, including botanical gardens and parks that are not listed on the National Species List of Korea (NSLK). These newly discovered species included Sakaguchia oryzae, Cystobasidium raffinophilum, Meira argovae, Kazachstania humilis, Meyerozyma smithsonii, Anthracocystis trispicatae, Naganishia brisbanensis, Tremella yokohamensis, Kwoniella shandongensis, Kwoniella newhampshirensis, Aureobasidium proteae, and Rhodotorula dairenensis.