• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.111-113
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• 2009

Ramaria botrytis is one of the commercially important ectomycorrhizal mushrooms in Korea and the mushroom is only picked in natural forest. This study was conducted to make ectomycorrhizal synthesis of the fungus using Pinus densiflora seedling. Ectomycorrhizal types of the fungus were simple and dichotomous. Diameter of ectomycorrhizal root was $325-380{\mu}m$ and fungal mantle was subhyaline with $20-30{\mu}m$ in diameter. On the other hand, optimum temperature for mycelial growth was $25^{\circ}C$ and the fungus grew 5 cm on potato dextrose agar medium in two months.

• Mycobiology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.70-75
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• 2002

The mycelia were directly isolated from eight species of fungal basidiocarps, confirmed to the ectomycorrhiza in the roots from the fields(forestry); Suillus bovinus, Paxillus involutus, Lactarius hysginus, Russula fragilis, Lepista nuda, Lyophyllum shimeji, Tricholoma matsutake, and Russula integra. The mycelia were pure-cultured with several transferring in various agars, and inoculated to the roots of pine(Pinus densiflora) seedling by in vitro method. After ten months growth under artificially aseptic conditions, all pine seedlings inoculated were stimulated at the growth-height, whereas those not inoculated were nearly dead. Also, the ramifications of ectomycorrhizal pine roots formed in the synthetic in vitro systems and were various according to the different mycelia. Synthesis of ectomycorrhiza were clearly confirmed in ten months growth, but not distinguished at this moment. It was clearly proved that the mycelia isolated caused the ectomycorrhizae in the roots of pine seedlings.

• Mycobiology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.388-395
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• 2018

Radionuclides were deposited at forest areas in eastern parts of Japan following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant incident in March 2011. Ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi have important effects on radiocaesium dynamics in forest ecosystems. We examined the effect of colonization by the EM fungus Astraeus hygrometricus on the uptake of cesium (Cs) and potassium (K) by Pinus densiflora seedlings. Pine seedlings exhibited enhanced growth after the EM formation due to the colonization by A. hygrometricus. Additionally, the shoot Cs concentration increased after the EM formation when Cs was not added to the medium. This suggests that A. hygrometricus might be able to solubilize Cs fixed to soil particles. Moreover, the shoot K concentration increased significantly after the EM formation when Cs was added. However, there were no significant differences in the root K concentration between EM and non-EM seedlings. These results suggest that different mechanisms control the transfer of Cs and K from the root to the shoot of pine seedlings.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.40-50
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• 2022

The Périgord black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) is an edible fungus and among the most expensive foods worldwide. It is the basis of a multimillion-dollar bio-business. Truffle farming does not exist in Mexico, and no formal studies have been conducted on its culture. This report describes the mycorrhizal synthesis (i.e., artificial union of fungus with host) of T. melanosporum with oak species native to Mexico (Quercus polymorpha, Q. fusiformis, and Q. canbyi). The mycorrhizal association was successful in Q. polymorpha and Q. fusiformis, as confirmed morphologically and using T. melanosporum molecular primers (ITSML/ITS4LNG). The effect of the ectomycorrhizal fungus on host growth (stem diameter) was statistically significant. Illustrations of the study are presented.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.312-321
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• 2014

Tricholoma bakamatsutake is one of the edible ectomycorrhizal mushrooms as an allied species of Tricholoma matsutake. This is the first report on physical characteristics of T. bakamatsutake strains collected from Quercus mongolica forests in Korea. The pure cultures of these strains were isolated from the tissues of fruit bodies and the culture characteristics were investigated under different conditions (media, temperatures, nitrogen sources). Most strains showed the highest mycelial growth on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 20 or $25^{\circ}C$. Two strains of T. bakamatsutake preferred the ammonium-form rather than the nitrate-form as an inorganic nitrogen source. T. bakamatsutake showed significantly slower mycelial growth when compared with T. matsutake from a Korean forest, although the optimum culture conditions for the two allied species were similar. We also tested the ability to form mycorrhizae as well as cellulase activity of T. bakamatsutake. All strains showed cellulase activity on a carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) agar plate. The mycorrhizae on axenic Pinus densiflora seedlings were formed by two strains of T. bakamatsutake after 3 or 8 months of inoculation. P. densiflora seedlings inoculated with T. bakamatsutake had a much higher biomass than un-inoculated seedlings.

• Mycobiology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.179-182
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• 2001

Chitin synthases(UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine: chitin 4-$\beta$-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminyl transferase, EC 2.4.1.16) catalyze the synthesis of chitin from UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. Two zymogenic type of chitin synthase gene(TmCHS1 and TmCHS2) were amplified and its nucleotide sequences were determined. By the amino acid comparison and UPGMA tree grouping, TmChs1 and TmChs2 were classified as class II and class IV chitin synthases respectively. The class II type TmChs1 was grouped with others of Agaricales ectomycorrhizal mushroom. Additionally the phylogenetic tree was well adapted to Hymenomycete previously classified by morphological and physiological characteristics.

• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.327-332
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• 2015

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) gene is known to be expressed in plants, and is involved in the differentiation, growth and synthesis of secondary metabolites. However, its expression in fungi remains to be explored. To understand its expression in mushroom fungi, the PAL gene of the edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes (Fvpal) was cloned and characterized. The cloned Fvpal consists of 2,175 bp, coding for a polypeptide containing 724 amino acids and having 11 introns. The translated amino acid sequence of Fvpal shares a high identity (66%) with that of ectomycorrhizal fungus Tricholoma matsutake. Distinctively, the Fvpal expression in the mycelium was higher in minimal medium supplemented with L-tyrosine than with other aromatic amino acids. During cultivation of the mushroom on sawdust medium, Fvpal expression in the fruit body correspondingly increased as the mushroom grew. In the fruiting body, Fvpal was expressed more in the stipe than in the pileus. These results suggest that F. velutipes PAL activity differs in the different organs of the mushroom. Overall, this is first report to show that the PAL gene expression is associated with mushroom growth in fungi.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.77-88
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• 1999

This experiment was carried out to compare the cultural characteristics of mycorrizal fungi associated with Pinus species, and to form mycorrhizal association with Pinus thunbergii by artificial inoculation of these fungi. Mycorrhizal fungi tested showed great variations in cultural characteristics. Most fungal isolates was best grown on MP medium, except PDA for Lepista sp.(Ln73/92). Hagem for Rhizopogon rubescens(FRI91017), and FDA for Paxillus sp.(Pa60/92). Optimum temperature for these fungi was $25^{\circ}C$, except $30^{\circ}C$ for Pisolithus tinctorius(FRI91004 and Pt1). The range of pH conditions favorable for these fungal isolates were also variable from weak acidic(pH5) to weak alkalic(pH8). Utilization of the carbon sources for these mycorrhizal fungi was different. Fructose, glucose, and maltose were all utilized well, while xylose was not utilized generally. Mycelial growth on the media supplemented with potassium nitrate was better than those on other media with urea, asparagine, or peptone as a nitrogen source, and the poor growth was observed on the media with urea. Pisolithus tinctorius(Pt1) among 7 mycorrhizal fungi artificially inoculated for the mycorrhizal synthesis on pinus thunbergii seedlings in the test tube containing a mixture of peat moss-vermiculite(2:1, v/v) formed mycorrhizae successfully after 3 months. P. tinctorius formed branched and unbranched roots covered with thick fungal mantle and radiating extemal hyphae. Mycorrhizal root cross-sectioned by hand, stained, and observed by Nomarski interference microscope showed typical characteristics of ectomycorrhizae: fungal mantle on epidermal cells and thick Hartig net hyphae around cortex cells.