• Mycobiology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.186-190
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• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of foliar endophytic fungi and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on plant community structure in experimental microcosms containing an assemblage of five species of plants (Oenothera odorata, Plantago asiatica, Trifolium repens, Isodon japonicas and Aster yomena). Leaves of Sasa borealis, Potentilia fragarioides, and Viola mandshurica were collected in Chungbuk, Korea. Endophytic fungi were isolated from the surface sterilized leaves and identified to species level using molecular and morphological techniques. Four isolates of the endophytic fungi were inoculated to the leaves of host plants in the microcosms. Also, three species of AMF spores were extracted from pure cultures and the mixture of the three species inoculated to the roots of the plants. After four months of growth in a green house, effects of both symbiotic fungi on plant species diversity, community composition and productivity were examined. The plant species diversity showed significant differences with inoculation of the symbiotic fungi. Results indicate that AMF significantly affect plant productivity and plant community structure.

• Mycobiology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2013

Two new species of endophytic fungi were encountered during a diversity study of healthy tissues of chili pepper plants in Korea. The species were identified as Paecilomyces inflatus and Bionectria ochroleuca based on molecular and morphological analyses. Morphological descriptions of these endophytic isolates matched well with their molecular analysis. In the present study, detailed descriptions of internal transcribed spacer regions and morphological observations of these two fungi are presented.

• Mycobiology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.266-271
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• 2011

Species of Phoma and its allies were isolated during a survey on the diversity of endophytic fungi associated with pine trees in Korea. Based on the phylogenetic analyses of internal transcribed spacer and ${\beta}$-tubulin gene sequences, two Phoma-like species from the needles of Pinus koraiensis were identified as Peyronellaea calorpreferens and P. glomerata. They were also morphologically identified based on the previous descriptions. Here, we report P. calorpreferens and P. glomerata being present in Korea as endophytic fungi in Pinus koraiensis.

• ALGAE
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2014

Endophytic green algae growing in fronds of Grateloupia spp. were examined for infection frequency from their field populations of Jeju, Wando, and Uljin, Korea in August and September 2013. Three endophytes were isolated in laboratory culture from a G. lanceolata thallus collected in Jeju. Unialgal cultures were made from the endophytes, and their morphological characteristics were observed with light microscopy. In addition, a phylogenetic analysis based on chloroplast-encoded elongation factor tufA gene sequences was performed to identify the G. lanceolata endophytes. Three filamentous green endophytic species, Ulvella leptochaete, Blastophysa rhizopus, and Bolbocoleon piliferum were reported for the first time in Korea. General biological information for the three endophytes was also described.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2019

We isolated endophytic fungi from the conifer leaves of Pinus densiflora inhabiting Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea. We identified the isolated fungal strains based on phylogenetic analysis performed using the nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer, large subunit, and beta-tubulin. We confirmed the presence of three novel endophytic fungi in Korea, namely Paracamarosporium hawaiiense, Tubakia dryina, and Zasmidium fructigenum. In this report, we described the morphological characteristics of these fungal strains and the results of their phylogenetic analysis.

• 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.1
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• pp.89-94
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• 2021

Forty-three (n = 43) endophytic fungi with different morphologic characteristics were from a medicinal plant Sceletium tortuosum, were utilized to investigate their antifungal effectiveness against pathogenic fungi. All fungal isolates exhibited antifungal activity against one or more pathogens in the dual culture test whereas only 33 fungal culture filtrates (77%) showed decent antifungal effect. Fusaria and Aspergillus were the dominate genus that displayed significant antifungal activity. Isolates GG02, GG09, ND15, and ND17 showed the broadest spectrum of antifungal activity. Furthermore, culture filtrate of Fusarium sp. DR08 exhibited a broad range of antifungal activity against all the pathogens. The results suggest endophytic fungi isolated from medicinal plant might be a source of novel bioactive molecules. To the best our knowledge, this is the first report on endophytic fungi isolated from native kougoed exhibiting antifungal activity against plant fungal pathogens.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.361-365
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• 2022

Here, Podospora leporina was isolated and cultured from Cypripedium guttatum Sw. (spotted lady's slipper), which was designated as an endangered wildlife class 1 by the Ministry of Environment. Further, Podospora sp., which is found in Calanthe discolor Lindl. (Japanese hardy orchid) root is recorded as an endophytic fungus in Jeju Island, Korea. However, there is no existing record of Podospora spp. Thus, in this study, we analyzed the morphological characteristics and two molecular markers, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large ribosomal subunit (LSU), of P. leporina and compared these data with other relative species. Consequently, this endophytic fungal species was confirmed as an unrecorded species in Korea, so we presented cultural characteristics and microstructures, such as the conidia of P. leporina.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.229-237
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• 2023

In the present study, we isolated endophytic fungi from different tissues of two plants, Pseudosasa japonica and Quercus serrata from Taean-gun, Korea. Morphological characteristics of the isolated fungal strains were observed. We identified the fungi based on the phylogenetic analysis using DNA sequences from the region of internal transcribed spacer, large subunit rDNA, β-tubulin, and translation elongation factor 1-α DNA. Three endophytic fungi that were not previously recorded in Korea, namely Geomyces asperulatus, Leptoxyphium fumago, and Tubakia oblongispora were identified. Here, we describe the morphological characteristics of these unrecorded fungi and present the results of the phylogenetic analysis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1777-1789
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• 2019

Drought is more concerned to be a huge problem for agriculture as it affects plant growth and yield. Endophytic bacteria act as plant growth promoting bacteria that have roles for improving plant growth under stress conditions. The properties of four strains of endophytic bacteria were determined under water deficit medium with 20% polyethylene glycol. Bacillus aquimaris strain 3.13 showed high 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase production; Micrococcus luteus strain 4.43 produced indole acetic acid (IAA). Exopolysaccharide production was high in Bacillus methylotrophicus strain 5.18 while Bacillus sp. strain 5.2 did not show major properties for drought response. Inoculation of endophytic bacteria into plants, strain 3.13 and 4.43 increased height, shoot and root weight, root length, root diameter, root volume, root area and root surface of Jerusalem artichoke grown under water limitation, clearly shown in water supply at 1/3 of available water. These increases were caused by bacteria ACC deaminase and IAA production; moreover, strain 4.43 boosted leaf area and chlorophyll levels, leading to increased photosynthesis under drought at 60 days of planting. The harvest index was high in the treatment with strain 4.43 and 3.13 under 1/3 of available water, promoting tuber numbers and tuber weight. Inulin content was unchanged in the control between well-watered and drought conditions. In comparison, inulin levels were higher in the endophytic bacteria treatment under both conditions, although yields dipped under drought. Thus, the endophytic bacteria promoted in plant growth and yield under drought; they had outstanding function in the enhancement of inulin content under well-watered condition.