• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.103-116
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• 2020

Freshwater ecosystems provide a complex environment for microorganisms. In this study, we isolated diverse fungal strains from plant litter in freshwaters. These strains were identified using molecular phylogenetic analyses of rDNA and/or other gene sequences (TUB, GAPDH, and EF1). In addition, we examined their morphological characteristics by microscopy and cultural characteristics on several media. We identified six previously unrecorded Sordariomycetes species in Korea, i.e., Colletotrichum godetiae, Discosia rubi, Robillarda sessilis, Monochaetia dimorphospora, Idriella lunata, and Phialemoniopsis endophytica. Of these, D. rubi and M. dimorphospora exhibited high extracellular amylase, lipase, and protease activities, suggesting that these fungal isolates might play an important role as decomposers in freshwater ecosystems. Plant litter could thus be a good source for isolating and investigating previously undocumented fungal species in freshwater environments.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.183-197
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• 2021

Various freshwater ecosystems, such as streams, lakes and rivers, provide a dynamic habitat for fungi. In this study, we isolated several fungal strains from freshwater sediment and plant litter. The strains were identified using molecular phylogenetic analyses of rDNA and beta tubulin (TUB) sequences. Morphological characteristics of the fungi were also investigated using microscopy and culture characteristics of the fungi grown on several media. We identified seven species previously unrecorded in Korea, Nothophoma spiraeae, Westerdykella aquatica, W. aurantiaca, W. dispersa, Chrysosporium sanyaense, C.pseudomerdarium and Taeniolella phialosperma.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.423-443
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• 2020

Freshwater fungi are a poly-phylogenetic group of taxonomically diverse organisms. In this study, we isolated diverse fungal strains from various environmental samples obtained from freshwaters in Korea. These strains were identified by performing molecular phylogenetic analyses of rDNA and/or other sequences (beta-tubulin, RNA polymerase II, and translation elongation factor 1). In addition, we examined their morphological characteristics microscopically and cultural characteristics using different media. We identified eleven unrecorded Pezizomycotina species: Cladosporium angulosum, Pseudorobillarda phragmitis, Paraconiothyrium estuarinum, Pseudopithomyces palmicola, Pyrenochaetopsis paucisetosa, Thelebolus globosus, Plagiostoma mejianum, Trichoderma cremeum, Fusarium tanahbumbuense, Coniochaeta endophytica, and Chaetomium tenue. Environmental samples obtained from different freshwater ecosystems in Korea could thus be a good source for isolating and investigating novel fungal species.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.247-251
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• 2016

Three aquatic fungi were isolated from samples of freshwater-deposited plant litter and foam collected in Samcheok, Gangwon-do, and Yeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. Based on their morphological characteristics and a phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA region, the three isolates NNIBRFG329, NNIBRFG339, and NNIBRFG19 were confirmed as aquatic fungi: Articulospora tetracladia, Margaritispora aquatica, and Aquanectria penicillioides. These species were known as aquatic fungi but neither species has been previously reported in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.265-276
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• 2023

This study aimed to isolate and characterize fungi from freshwater environments in South Korea and evaluate their extracellular enzyme activities. Fungal strains were collected from various freshwater sources and identified using phylogenetic analysis. The isolated fungi included known aquatic hyphomycetes and previously unreported species. Extracellular enzyme, including those of protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase, laccase, and chitinase, activities were evaluated. Among the isolated strains, several showed high enzyme activity, suggesting their potential role in organic matter decomposition in freshwater ecosystems. This research expands our knowledge of the diversity and enzyme activities of the fungi in freshwater environments, contributing to our understanding of their ecological roles.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.263-270
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• 2016

Freshwater is a diverse and complex environment for fungi and provides several types of habitat including plant litter, sediment, and carcasses. We collected plant litter from the main stream and branch streams of Nakdong River, Sohancheon in Samcheok, and Geumoreum in Jeju. From several samples of plant litter, we isolated 8 fungal strains belonging to 4 Montagnulaceae species unrecorded in Korea: Paraconiothyrium archidendri, Paraphaeosphaeria sporulosa, Paraphaeosphaeria michotii, and Paraphaeosphaeria viridescens. These fungi were identified by phylogenetic analysis using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and examination of morphological characteristics. Montagnulaceae is known as one of the families in Pleosporales and includes coniothyrium-like fungi. In this study, we described phylogenetic analysis and mycological characteristics of these species, and this is the first report of these taxa in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.103-113
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• 2022

Freshwater ecosystems have a large reserve of latent biological resources that play an essential ecological role, and have significant economic and social value. Fungi in freshwater are prospective materials that can be used in the food, medicine, and biomass energy fields. In this study, three promising fungal species were isolated from freshwater ecosystems in Korea. These isolates were identified as Mortierella biramosa, Paraphoma radicina, and Sordaria macrospora, based on their cultural and morphological characteristics, as well as molecular phylogenetic analyses. These species were previously unknown in Korea. The finding allows us to explore its physiological and biochemical characteristics in more detail and use them as biological resources.

• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.476-490
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• 2021

Global temperatures are steadily increasing, leading to significant changes in microbial diversity and ecology. In the present study, we isolated high-temperature-growing fungi and fungi-like group (Oomycota) strains from freshwater environments of Korea and identified them based on cultural, morphological, and multilocus phylogenetic analyses. As a result, we introduce Saksenaea (Fungi) isolates as a new species, Saksenaea longicolla sp. nov. and record Phytophthora chlamydospora and P. lagoariana (Oomycota) new to Korea. In the growth experiments, they exhibited high-temperature tolerance, which can grow at 35-40 ℃ but become inactive at 4 ℃ and below. This study confirms the presence of high-temperature-tolerant fungi and oomycetes in Korea and suggests that the Korean climate conditions are changing in favor of these species. This indicates that climate warming is altering microbial distributions in freshwater environments.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.491-498
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• 2020

In this study, we aimed to observe the diversity of aquatic fungi by collecting deposits of soil, plants, and plant litter from streams and rivers. Three Penicillium strains were isolated from soil in streams. Based on the morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis using DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer, β-tubulin and calmodulin genes, the isolates were identified as Penicillium guanacastense, P. saturniforme, and P. scabrosum. These three fungi have not yet been reported in Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.661-672
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• 2017

Endophytic fungi are present in host plants and contribute to resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. Aquatic plants are living in aquatic environment such as saltwater or freshwater and exposed more water stress than other land plants. In this study, we investigated 4 wetlands in Jeju and collected 11 aquatic plants. Exogenous microbes were removed by preprocessing of plants and endophytic fungal strains were isolated from the plants. We isolated 126 fungal strains from Namsaengi-pond, 22 fungal strains from Sujangdong-marsh, 44 fungal strains from Yongsu-reservoir and 32 fungal strains from Gangjeongcheon. The fungal strains were identified using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and analyzed the phylogeny and diversity. Endophytic fungi isolated from plants of Namsaengi-pond were classified to 30 genera, 19 families, 12 orders, 7 classes and 4 phyla. Endophytic fungi of Sujangdong-marsh were classified to 11 genera, 11 families, 6 orders, 5 classes and 4 phyla. Endophytic fungi of Yongsu-reservoir were classified to 13 genera, 12 families, 7 orders, 5 classes and 4 phyla. Endophytic fungi isolated from Gangjeongcheon were classified to 9 genera, 7 families, 5 orders, 2 classes and 1 phyla. Overall, they were divided 40 genera and Alternaria, Colletotrichum and Fusarium were isolated from 4 sites in common. By investigating the endophytic fungi in aquatic plants, it is for baseline data that determination of diversity and the ecological distribution of endophytic fungi.