• Mycobiology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.123-128
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• 2017

A severe leaf spot, turning to foliage blight, was observed on leaves of Maranta leuconeura growing in a garden in Brazil (state of Rio de Janeiro) in 2015. A dematiaceous hyphomycete bearing a morphology typical of a helminthosporoid fungi was regularly found in association with diseased tissues. The fungus was isolated and pathogenicity was demonstrated through the completion of Koch's postulates. A morphology and molecular analysis led to the conclusion that the fungus belonged to the genus Bipolaris, which is characterized by having fusiform conidia, externally thickened and truncate hila and a bipolar pattern of germination. Additionally, homology of internal transcribed spacer and GAPDH sequences with sequences of other Bipolaris species, confirmed its generic placement. A phylogenetic study also indicated clearly that the fungus on M. leuconeura is phylogenetically distinct from related species of this genus, leading to the proposal of the new species Bipolaris marantae.

• Mycobiology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2016

Ganoderma lucidum has a long history of use as a traditional medicine in Asian countries. However, the taxonomy of Ganoderma species remains controversial, since they were initially classified on the basis of their morphological characteristics. Recently, it was proposed that G. lucidum from China be renamed as G. sichuanense or G. lingzhi. In the present study, phylogenetic analysis using the internal transcribed spacer region rDNA sequences of the Ganoderma species indicated that all strains of the Korean 'G. lucidum' clustered into one group together with G. sichuanense and G. lingzhi from China. However, strains from Europe and North American, which were regarded as true G. lucidum, were positioned in a clearly different group. In addition, the average size of the basidiospores from the Korean cultivated Yeongji strains was similar to that of G. lingzhi. Based on these results, we propose that the Korean cultivated Yeongji strains of 'G. lucidum' should be renamed as G. lingzhi.

• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.384-391
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• 2015

In the course of survey of endophytic fungi from Bangladesh pumpkin seeds in 2011~2012, two strains (CNU111042 and CNU111043) with similar colony characteristics were isolated and characterized by their morphology and by molecular phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer, glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd), and Alternaria allergen a1 (Alt a1) sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of all three sequences and their combined dataset revealed that the fungus formed a subclade within the A. alternata clade, matching A. burnsii and showing differences with its other closely related Alternaria species, such as A. longipes, A. tomato, and A. tomaticola. Long ellipsoid, obclavate or ovoid beakless conidia, shorter and thinner conidial size ($16{\sim}60[90]{\times}6.5{\sim}14[{\sim}16]{\mu}m$) distinguish this fungus from other related species. These isolates showed more transverse septation (2~11) and less longitudinal septation (0~3) than did other related species. Moreover, the isolate did not produce any diffusible pigment on media. Therefore, our results reveal that the newly recorded fungus from a new host, Cucurbita maxima, is Alternaria burnsii Uppal, Patel & Kamat.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2020

A fungal strain designated KNU-WDM2A2 was isolated from mosquitoes in Gimcheon, Korea. The pure culture was transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA) and synthetic nutrient agar (SNA) media and attained a diameter of 90 mm after 10 days of incubation at 25℃. The colonies were whitish to light pink and cottony to wooly, with an abundant production of aerial mycelia. The strain produced hyaline to slightly yellowish conidiophores that were rough-walled and branched, with conidiogenous cells arising terminally or laterally. Conidia were unicellular, hyaline to light brown, smooth, and oval or ovoid to clavate, with a size of 4.1-6.9×2.5-3.3 ㎛ (n=65). A phylogenetic analysis was conducted using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and 28S rDNA of large subunit (LSU) sequences, to support the cultural and morphological characteristics. The KNU-WDM2A2 strain was identified here as Biscogniauxia petrensis, new to Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 2020

Two unreported fungal isolates, KNU-GW1901 and KNU-AP100C, were collected from soil sample in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. Their cultural and morphological characteristics were examined after 4 weeks of incubation at 25℃ on potato dextrose agar (PDA), malt extract agar (MEA), and oatmeal agar (OA). The conidial shape of KNU-GW1901 was aseptate, hyaline, globose to ellipsoidal, oblong, and reniform to pyriform and 2.61-4.97×1.93-3.61 ㎛ in size, whereas no conidial structures were observed in KNU-AP100C. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, large subunit (LSU), and small subunit (SSU) sequences were used to determine the taxonomic positions of the strains using the maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree. The isolate KNU-GW1901 was closely clustered with Plenodomus sinensis MFLUCC 17-0767, and KNU-AP100C was closely matched with P. collinsoniae CBS 120227. Based on the findings of morphological, cultural, and phylogenetic analysis, the isolates KNU-GW1901 and KNU-AP100C were identical to the previously described P. sinensis and P. collinsoniae isolates, respectively, which are first reported in Korea.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.183-189
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• 2014

The genus Echinochloa (L.) P. Beauv. comprised of approximately 30-40 species in the tropical and warm temperate regions of the world, including numerous interspecific and intraspecific types which make the genus difficult to identify. As an attempt to identify the species within the genus easier, the taxonomy of the genus Echinochloa, Poaceae in Korea was reviewed on the basis of sequencing data derived from nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and external transcribe spacer and chloroplast DNA trnL intron, trnL-F intergenic spacer and matK regions using a total of 46 accessions representing all the species in Korea. The results of maximum parsimony found separate lineage comprised of E. colona and E. frumentaceae which are not Korean species, but no resolution within Korean Echinochloa species, supporting the suggestion of Yamaguchi group that E. crus-galli, E. oryzoides, and E. esculenta should be considered to belong to the same species. However, the relationship between these three species and the other species, i.e. E. oryzicola should be better understood with more detail studies.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.181-188
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• 2003

A new species of Acanthamoeba was isolated from a freshwater fish in Korea and tentatively named Acanthamoeba sp. YM-4 (Korean isolate YM-4). The trophozoites were $11.0-23.0{\;}{\mu\textrm{m}}$ in length and had hyaline filamentous projections. Cysts were similar to those of A. culbertsoni and A. royreba, which were previously designated as Acanthamoeba group III. Acanthamoeba YM-4 can survive at $40^{\circ}C$, and its generation time was 19.6 hr, which was longer than that of A. culbertsoni. In terms of the in vitro cytotoxicity of lysates, Acanthamoeba YM-4 was weaker than A. culbertsoni, but stronger than A. polyphaga. On the basis of the mortality of experimentally infected mice, Acanthamoeba YM-4 was found to be highly virulent. The isoenzymes profile of Acanthamoeba YM-4 was similar to that of A. royreba. An anti-Acanthamoeba YM-4 monoclonal antibody, McAY7, was found to react only with Acanthamoeba YM-4, and not with A. culbertsoni. Random amplified polymorphic DNA marker analysis and RFLP analysis of mitochondrial DNA and of 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA, placed Acanthamoeba YM-4 in a separate cluster on the basis of phylogenetic distances. Thus the Acanthamoeba Korean isolate YM-4 was identified as a new species, and assigned as Acanthamoeba sohi.

• 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.

• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.439-453
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• 2021

During the rainy season in Thailand, specimens of Phallus chiangmaiensis sp. nov. and P. merulinus were collected from Chiang Mai and Samut Sakhon Provinces, respectively. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of the nuclear ribosomal large subunit (LSU), nuclear ribosomal 5.8S gene including the internal transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2 (ITS), and the protein-coding gene atp6 (mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate [ATP] synthase subunit 6) support the placement of the new species within Phallus. Phallus chiangmaiensis has a well-developed white indusium and campanulated caps with reticulate surfaces. It differs morphologically from the related species, as supported by the phylogenetic data. Phallus merulinus is reported here as a species that was re-encountered in Thailand. The descriptions of the species are accompanied by illustrations of macro- and micro- morphological features, and a discussion of the related taxa is presented.

• ALGAE
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.155-163
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• 2021

The crustose brown algal genus Endoplura has been known as a monotypic genus characterized by its intercalary plurangial reproductive structures composed of 2-4 separate parallel filaments terminated by 2-5 sterile cells and by containing several to many chloroplasts per cell. In this study, Endoplura jejuensis sp. nov. and E. koreana sp. nov. from Korea are newly described based on molecular and morphological analyses. Our phylogenetic analyses of the rbcL gene reveal that E. jejuensis sp. nov. and E. koreana sp. nov. are placed in the same clade with "E. aurea" from Japan with a strong bootstrap supporting value. E. jejuensis is characterized by small and light to dark brown crustose thalli of less than 1 cm diameter, tufts of hairs arising from the basal disc, plurangia composed mostly of two separate parallel reproductive filaments terminated by 2-4 sterile cells, and sessile unangia each with a single paraphysis. E. koreana is distinguished by olive or yellowish-brown crustose thalli of up to 3 cm diameter, tufts of hairs arising from the basal disc, and apical parts of erect filaments, plurangia with 2-5 separate reproductive filaments terminated by 2-8 sterile cells, and sessile unangia with 1-2 paraphyses. Our studies also show that "E. aurea" specimens from Japan may be recognized to be a different species from other Endoplura species.