• Mycobiology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.311-316
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• 2014

Lichen studies, including biodiversity, phylogenetic relationships, and conservation concerns require definitive species identification, however many lichens can be challenging to identify at the species level. Molecular techniques have shown efficacy in discriminating among lichen taxa, however, obtaining genomic DNA from herbarium and fresh lichen thalli by conventional methods has been difficult, because lichens contain high proteins, polysaccharides, and other complex compounds in their cell walls. Here we report a rapid, easy, and inexpensive protocol for extracting PCR-quality DNA from various lichen species. This method involves the following two steps: first, cell breakage using a beadbeater; and second, extraction, isolation, and precipitation of genomic DNA. The procedure requires approximately 10 mg of lichen thalli and can be completed within 20 min. The obtained DNAs were of sufficient quality and quantity to amplify the internal transcribed spacer region from the fungal and algal lichen components, as well as to sequence the amplified products. In addition, 26 different lichen taxa were tested, resulting in successful PCR products. The results of this study validated the experimental protocols, and clearly demonstrated the efficacy and value of our KCl extraction method applied in the fungal and algal samples.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.136-144
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• 2015

We reviewed the taxonomic identity and morphological characteristics of Cardamine manshurica (Kom.) Nakai based on its original description and type specimens. Cardamine manshurica, with its smaller flowers and siliques and earlier flowering season, is distinguished from the closely related species C. flexuosa With. This species-level difference is additionally supported in a phylogenetic tree constructed using nrDNA ITS sequences. Taken together, we therefore propose that C. manshurica is a distinct species. The scientific name 'Cardamine manshurica (Kom.) Nakai' is accepted.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 2020

Chrysosplenium grayanum Maxim. (Series Nepalensia), which had been known to be restricted to Japan, was newly discovered from Mt. Cheongtae in Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do, located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. Species identification was confirmed using morphological characteristics and DNA sequence data, while comparing with materials obtained from Japan and herbarium specimens. Chrysosplenium grayanum is clearly distinguished from the remaining taxa of the genus Chrysosplenium by having glabrous plant body, opposite leaves, cylindrical papillae with roundish head at the tip on the smooth seed surface, and four stamens. Molecular sequence data of the nuclear ribosomal ITS regions, chloroplast rbcL and matK genes strongly supported that this previously unknown Chrysosplenium species from Korea is C. grayanum. Taking the molecular and the morphological evidence into consideration, it is clear that newly discovered Chrysosplenium population in Korea is conspecific with the widely distributed C. grayanum in Japan. In this paper, we provide a description, illustration, and photo images of Chrysosplenium grayanum from Korea and also a key to the Chrysosplenium species in Korea.

• ALGAE
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.231-241
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• 2018

Genetic continuity of Digenea simplex outside the Atlantic waters remains less studied, despite its long exposure to oriental folk medicine and wide distribution in tropical waters. Mitochondrial COI-5P and plastid rbcL sequences and morphology were investigated for plants from Mexico and additional specimens from Japan. Two new species, Digenea mexicana and Digenea rafaelii, are described for plants that would previously have been recognized as D. simplex in Mexico. D. mexicana grows to 10.5 cm tall and has cylindrical axes, irregular or di-, trichotomous branches, simple to branched determinate branchlets with eight pericentral cells, and tetrasporangia on inflated upper parts of determinate branchlets. It occurs intertidally in Quintana Roo, Yucatan Peninsula. D. rafaelii grows to 5 cm tall and has cylindrical axes, irregular or di-, trichotomous branches, and simple determinate branchlets with ten pericentral cells. It occurs intertidally in the Gulf of California. Both COI-5P and rbcL sequences revealed the genetic discontinuity between D. mexicana and D. rafaelii.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.189-195
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• 2017

Aruncus L. is a small genus which is distributed in the circumpolar regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, Asia, and North America. In Korea, there are two taxa, A. dioicus var. kamtschaticus and A. aethusifolius. Aruncus aethusifolius is a species endemic to Korea, occurring only on Jeju Island. An important characteristic of Aruncus is dioecy. However, there is some controversy regarding the sexuality of this genus, and little is known about A. aethusifolius. To characterize the sexuality of A. aethusifolius and to provide insight into the evolution of its sexual system, we investigated natural populations and herbarium specimens of A. aethusifolius. The results indicate that the species has carpellate, staminate, and bisexual flowers. Carpellate flowers are always borne on separate individuals, and staminate flowers are borne either on separate individuals or mixed with bisexual flowers on the same individuals. The sexuality of A. aethusifolius is defined as polygamo-dioecious. The polygamo-dioecious type is also found in A. dioicus var. dioicus and A. dioicus var. kamtschaticus and thus may be a general condition in Aruncus.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.207-221
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• 2017

Thymelaeaceae in Korea includes ten species in five genera (Daphne, Diarthron, Edgeworthia, Stellera, and Wikstroemia). This study investigated the morphology of these species using herbarium specimens and fresh materials obtained during fieldwork to understand the variation level and to delineate each taxon in the family. Our comparative morphological analysis showed that the Korean taxa in Thymelaeaceae were easily distinguished based on their morphologies. It is easy to distinguish Daphne from Wikstroemia when the Korean taxa are considered. However, Daphne genkwa is morphologically similar to Wikstroemia based on the leaf arrangement, pubescence of the leaves, and the ovary shape. The results here suggest that further systematic studies of the Daphne group using more data are necessary.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2020.08a
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• pp.26-26
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• 2020

Daphne L. (Thymelaceae) comprises about 95 species distributing worldwide from N Africa, N India, SE Asia to E Asia and the coast of the Mediterranean of Europe. In Korea, five species of this genus have been described. In this study, we included four species (D. genkwa, D. pseudomezereum, D. kiusiana, D. jejudoensis) from Korea, excluding cultivated D. odora. The morphological characters through local surveys and the re-classification of the specimens collected in the Korea National Herbarium (KH) were carried out and distribution maps for each taxon were also prepared. The major characters include habit, trichomes in winter bud, leaf, and twig, phyllotaxis, inflorescence, size of calyx lobe and trichomes in the calyx tube, etc. The distribution map showed that D. genkwa is mainly distributed in the coastal area of Hwanghaenam-do, Pyeongannam-do, Jeollabuk-do and Jeollanam-do, whereas D. pseudomezereum is distributed in the limestone zone of Gangwon-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Gyeongsangbuk-do. Similarly, D. kiusiana is mostly found in Jeollanam-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Jeju-do. In addition, D. jejudoensis is known to be distributed in forests of Murueng, Andeok, and Seonheul-ri in Jeju-do, but recently, new habitat is discovered in the island forest areas of Jeollanam-do. However, some of these individuals showed the characteristics of D. kiusiana, thus before come to any conclusion detailed taxonomic review of D. jejudoensis and D. kiusiana is required.

• Mycobiology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.274-281
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• 2010

Cordyceps cardinalis was reported in Japan and the USA in 2004, and its fruiting bodies have recently been cultured in Korea. Herbarium specimens preserved at the Cordyceps Research Institute, Mushtech, Korea were revised and identified as C. cardinalis, based on morphological characters and conidial structures. Most of the C. cardinalis specimens were collected from Mt. Halla in Jeju-do. The effects of various nutritional sources and environmental conditions such as temperature and pH on mycelial growth of C. cardinalis were studied. Oatmeal agar, Martin's peptone dextrose agar, and Schizophyllum (mushroom) genetics complete medium plus yeast extract resulted in the best mycelial growth. Among carbon sources, cereals, and nitrogen sources, maltose, oatmeal, and peptone resulted in the best mycelial growth respectively. Mineral salts helped to increase growth rate but only resulted in thin mycelial density, similar to water agar. A temperature of $25^{\circ}C$ and a pH of 7 resulted in the highest mycelial growth. Based on these results, a Cordyceps cardinalis composite medium (CCM) was formulated with 1% maltose, 2% oatmeal, 1% peptone, and 2% agar. Use of the CCM resulted in slightly better mycelial growth than that of other commonly used agar media. Only organic nitrogen sources imparted a reddish pigmentation to the agar media, but this character diminished after several subcultures. A 7 day culture duration resulted in the best mycelial growth.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.224-230
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• 2015

A re-study was conducted based on morphological characters of 39 specimens known as Mycena stylobates, collected from 33 areas, Mt. Chiack, Kangwon-do, etc. from 1988 to 2015 and deposited in the Herbarium Conservation Center of the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences (HCCN). All specimens cited here were confirmed as a new to science, and designated as "Mycena yangsupensiae" which was described and illustrated in detail. Mycelial growth of four cultures from the fruiting bodies of Mycena sp. (KACC54181, KACC54182, KACC54183, and KACC54184) was high on the potato dextrose agar (PDA), at $25^{\circ}C$. These four taxa were confirmed as the same species, Mycena yangsupensiae, by the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing analysis. All collections cited here are deposited in HCCN, Suwon.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.216-223
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• 2015

Amanita subgenus Lepidella is a well-known group that includes lethal amanitas. However, the taxonomic investigation of Korean Amanita species is still in progress. In this study, we collected Amanita specimens in Korea from 2009 to 2015 and classified 22 of them as subgenus Lepidella based on the morphology. Phylogenetic analysis of the 22 Amanita specimens based on the internal transcribed spacers sequences identified 16 phylogenetic species which included three undescribed Amanita species (A. sepiacea, A. modesta and A. kotohiraensis). Microscopic features of newly recorded Amanita species were photographed and line drawings were made. All collections cited here are deposited in the Herbarium Conservation Center of the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences.