• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2021

In a study of the fungal diversity on Ulleung Island in Korea, three novel strains of Penicillium were isolated. Different sites on Ulleung Island were selected for collecting endophytic fungi, and three endophytic fungal strains showed unique morphological characteristics. DNA sequence of the internal transcribed spacer, β-tubulin, calmodulin, and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit regions of the strains were analyzed and they showed unique taxonomic position from the other species of Penicillium section Sclerotiora. The new strains were named Penicillium ulleungdoense sp. nov. As the novel endophytic Penicillium taxa were discovered in a unique environment, the data could be meaningful for understanding the geographical distribution of Ascomycetes on Ulleung Island.

• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.201-212
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• 2021

Truffles are the fruiting bodies of ascomycete fungi that form underground. Truffles are globally valued, culturally celebrated as aphrodisiacs, and highly sought-after delicacies in the culinary world. For centuries, naturalists have speculated about their mode of formation, and in cultures surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, many species have been prized as a delectable food source. Truffle fruiting bodies form underground and emit a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Truffle volatiles are believed to have evolved to attract animals that disperse their spores. The main VOCs identified from truffles include sulfur compounds, such as dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS); in addition, 1-octen-3-ol and 2-methyl-1-propanol have been found in most truffle species. Humans use pigs and dogs trained to detect truffle VOCs in order to find these prized subterranean macrofungi. Truffles have pharmacological potential, but until more reliable cultivation methods become available their high price means they are unlikely to see widespread use as medicinals.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.30-45
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• 2022

During a survey of plant-inhabiting fungi and water niches from Korea, noteworthy fungi were collected; among them, two new species, Paracamarosporium noviaquum sp. nov. and Phyllosticta gwangjuensis sp. nov., are described based on morphology and multi-gene phylogenies. Paracamarosporium noviaquum was characterized by its production of 1-celled and 2-celled conidia, forming conidiomata on only potato dextrose agar medium. Phyllosticta gwangjuensis was characterized by conidia hyaline, ovoid to ellipsoid shape, rounded at both ends, containing numerous guttulae or with a single large central guttule. Additional species were identified as Cosmospora lavitskiae, Monochaetia cameliae, and Roussoella doimaesalongensis, which are reported as new record species from Korea. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of these taxa are provided herein.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.172-180
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• 2022

The new genus and species, Jejulea byssolomoides, is described from Jeju Island, Korea. This lichen is characterized by saxicolous, crustose, pale greenish-gray, partly finely filamentous, matt, smooth thallus, prominent convex brown to dark brown ascomata with a concolorous margin constricted at the dark brown base, 300-800 ㎛ diameter, 200-250 ㎛ high, without a distinct proper margin, adhering to the substratum ending in a minute byssoid white external part of cylindrical cells, fusiform 3-5 septate ascospores (17-23 × 4-5 ㎛). Phylogenetic analyses using ITS and mtSSU sequences place Jejulea in the Pilocarpaceae (Lecanorales). The new taxon is closely related to Byssoloma, a cosmopolitan group of foliicolous lichens, which is most diverse in the tropics. Like Byssoloma, Jejulea also forms a byssoid apothecial margin.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.101-110
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• 1982

This study has been carried out for the publication of colored illustrations of Korean fungi. The fresh fungi of Ascomycetes were collected and photographed, for the most part, at Gwangneung, Kyonggi Province, Mt. Yongmun in Kyonggi Province, Mt. Sokri in Chungcheong Province, Mt. Jiyee in Kyeongsang Province, Mt. Mudeug in Jeonra Province, and Mt. Hanra in Jeuju Island from July 1, 1981 to June 31, 1982. These higher fungi were made into colored slides and dried specimens, then classified. According to the investigated result, colored slides and classification for the common and new to Korea 101 species were completed among 620 spp. which were known all of the fungi in Korea. They were included 10 oders, 19 families, 51 genera and 101 species. Their world distributions were investigated. Twenty six species of them, that is, Peziza vesiculosa, Rhizina inflata, Gelasinospora longispora, Sordaria fimicola, Cantharcmyces exiguus, Dichomyces biformis, D. furcifer, D. homalotae, D. hybridus, D. vulgatus, Dioicomyces anthici, Enathromyces indicus, Laboulbenia borealis, L. brachconychi, L. cristata, L. exigua, L. fusciculata, L. filifera, L. flagellata, L. rougetii, L. tachys, L. vulgaris, L. yoshidai, Rickia ancylopi, R. papuana and R. peyerimhoffii were found to be new in Korea. In addition their common names and descriptions prepared. According to study plan, this paper pressed only one page in colored plate among 101 species.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.104-107
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• 2009

Mitrula paludosa (Geoglossaccae, Helotiales, Ascomycetes) is reported about morphological and ecological characteristics for the first time in Korea. The mushroom fruited on rotten pine leaves or fine twigs in ditches with flowing or standing water in Sogri Mountain National Park from May to June. The apothecium of M. paludosa is 20 to 50 mm tall. The cap is bright yellow to orange, cylindrical to wrinkled ovoid and $5{\sim}10\;{\times}\;10{\sim}20$ mm. The stem is whitish and cylindrical distinctly set off from the cap. The ascospore is hyaline, smooth long elliptical fusoid with round ends and $13{\sim}17\;{\times}\;1.5{\sim}2.0{\mu}m$. The ascus is unitunicate, $90{\sim}110\;{\times}\;5{\sim}6{\mu}m$, and has eight spores biseriately lined to the inoperculate apex. Paraphyses are septate filiform, $95{\sim}120\;{\times}\;1.0{\sim}1.5{\mu}m$, $7{\sim}10{\mu}m$ longer than the asci.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.169-178
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• 2002

Orchids are evolutionally known to be the most advanced plants in the order Liliales, and comprise approximately 1,000 genera and 35,000 species world-wide. In Korea, more than 110 species of Orchidaceae have been reported to be cultivated or to be collected in the wild. Orchids aye mostly dependant on orchid mycorrhizae(OM) throughout or in part of their life cycle. The OM endomycorrhizae belonging to basidiomycetes or rarley ascomycetes are needed for orchid seed germination. Various fungi, including plant pathogenic, antagonistic and symbiotic fungi, were isolated from the roots of orchid native to Korea. The OM fungi collected from the roots of Cymbidium goeringii were three species of Rhizoctonia namely, R. repens (anamorph state of Tulsanella repens), R. endophytica (Ceratobasidium cornigerum), and an unidentified species (possibly an anamorph of T. calospora). These symbiotic fungi induced peloton in the cortical cells of orchid roots, and differed biologically and in 18s rDNA sequences from plant pathogenic Rhizoctonia species. Also, the mycorrhyzal fungi enhanced the orchid root absorption of nitrogen sources and minerals from the soil. The activity of mycorrhizal fungal hyphae in the roots caused prevention from pathogenic fungi. In nature, the peloton is observed in the cortical cells of Cymbidium goeriingii roots, indicating mycorrhizal colonization in the native orchid roots. On the other hand, pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium and/or Rhizoctonia species are mostly isolated from commercial orchid plants. These suggest that application of symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi should be needed for orchid cultivation in nurseries and at the time of transplanting.

• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2012

In the present study, an attempt to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of fungal endophytes inhabiting $Emblica$ $officinalis$ has been made keeping in view the medicinal importance of the selected host plant in Indian traditional practices. A total of four endophytic fungi belonging to Phylum Ascomycetes were isolated from different parts of the plant which were characterized morphologically and by using rDNA-internal transcribed spacer. The most frequently isolated endophyte was $Phomopsis$ sp. The antioxidant activity by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and reducing power assay, and total phenol were evaluated using ethanolic extract of endophytic fungi. DPPH activities in all the ethanolic extract increased with the increase in concentrations. Endophytes, $Phomopsis$ sp. and $Xylaria$ sp. showed highest antioxidant activity and also had the higher levels of phenolics. Antimicrobial activity of fungal extract were tested against four bacteria namely, $Escherichia$ $coli$ MTCC730, $Enteroccocus$ $faecalis$ MTCC2729, $Salmonella$ $enterica$ ser. $paratyphi$ MTCC735 and $Streptococcus$ $pyogenes$ MTCC1925, and the fungus $Candida$ $albicans$ MTCC183. In general, the fungal extracts inhibited the growth of test organisms except $E.$ $coli$.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2019

The genomic structure of the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene from the entomopathogenic fungus, Cordyceps pruinosa was characterized. The SOD1 gene of C. pruinosa spans 947 nucleotides and consisted of four exons encoding for 154 amino acids and three introns. Four exons of the SOD1 gene are composed of 13, 331, 97 and 20 nucleotides respectively. Homology search of amino acid sequences of the SOD1 gene of C. pruinosa with another 13 fungi species showed higher sequence similarity of 69% ~ 95% and had the most highest sequence identity of 95% with Beauveria bassiana and Cordyceps militaris, which can easely infect domesticated Bombyx mori and another wild lepidopteran species in artificial or natual manner of infection. This SOD1 gene sequence showed copper, zinc and beta-barrel fold sites. Homology search showed that the Cu/Zn SOD1 gene from the entomopathogenic fungus, C. pruinosa is an orthologous gene homolog present in different species of organism whose ancestor predates the split between the relating species. In addition, C. pruinosa SOD1 gene is placed together within the ascomycetes group of fungal clade. From these results it is concluded that C. pruinosa SOD1 gene is orthologous gene having the same or very similar functions with a common evolutionary ancestor.

• ALGAE
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.363-368
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• 2005

The brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum and its mutualistic, ascomycete symbiont, Mycophycias ascophylli, form a complex ‘rganism’or symbiotum. Here we show the interaction of the symbiotum to the abundant brown algal epiphyte, Elachista fucicola. Microscopy of field-collected plants shows morphological responses of A. nodosum to the common epiphyte E. fucicola. When E. fucicola attaches to A. nodosum a bundle of several to dozens of rhizoids penetrates into the host. On the surface of the host, the cells proliferate to form a donut-shaped ring, 100-200 μm in height that surrounds the thallus of E. fucicola. A pit forms in advance of the rhizoids and the cells of A. nodosum break down. This leaves the network of fungal hyphae partially intact and intermingling with the epiphyte rhizoids and its lowermost cells. After the pit is formed, the cells of A. nodosum bordering the infection chamber redifferentiate an epidermal layer. Neither the host nor its mutualistic fungus, M. ascophylli appears to recognize E. fucicola as an invader and to prevent the attachment and growth of this epiphyte. Based on the physical damage to the host caused by invading rhizoids, we conclude that the relationship of E. fucicola to A. nodosum is that of a parasite and its host.