• 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.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.466-471
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• 2012

'Usul' is a traditional medicinal herb, which has anti-inflammatory activities is distributed in India, Nepal, China, Korea, Japan. Korea pharmacopeia listed 'Usul' as either a species of Achyranthes japonica (Miq.) Nakai or A. bidentata Blume. Recent taxonomic studies in China and Japan delimited these taxa as two varieties, A. bidentata Blume var. bidentata and var. japonica Miq. A multivariate morphometric study of Achyranthes bidentata complex was undertaken to assess the entities of taxa that usefully could be recognized. Five quantitative characters were reviewed and analyzed with 293 specimens from Korea. The univariate analysis of inflorescence length, interval between florets, angle between floret and floral axis indicated that ranges among all taxa were continuous. However, quantitative characters of membrane size and the number of hairs within 4 were useful to identify two varieties. In PCA, the first three principal components accounted for 89.4% of the total variance. PCA revealed that var. bidentata showed distinctions in morphological attributes from var. japonica entity. Therefore, continued recognition at the infraspecifc level for these taxa is supported.

• ALGAE
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.307-330
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• 2013

The genus Cryptomonas is easily recognized by having two flagella, green brownish color, and a swaying behavior. They have relatively simple morphology, and limited diagnostic characters, which present a major difficulty in differentiating between species of the genus. To understand species delineation and phylogenetic relationships among Cryptomonas species, the nuclear-encoded internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), partial large subunit (LSU) and small subunit ribosomal DNA (rDNA), and chloroplast-encoded psbA and LSU rDNA sequences were determined and used for phylogenetic analyses, using Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods. In addition, nuclear-encoded ITS2 sequences were predicted to secondary structures, and were used to determine nine species and four unidentified species from 47 strains. Sequences of helix I, II, and IIIb in ITS2 secondary structure were very useful for the identification of Cryptomonas species. However, the helix IV was the most variable region across species in alignment. The phylogenetic tree showed that fourteen species were monophyletic. However, some strains of C. obovata had chloroplasts with pyrenoid while others were without pyrenoid, which used as a key character in few species. Therefore, classification systems depending solely on morphological characters are inadequate, and require the use of molecular data.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.303-309
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• 2012

Keratinases are of particular interest because of their action on insoluble keratins and generally on a broad range of protein substrates. Alkalophilic and neutrophilic actinomycete strains isolated from different soil samples, rich in keratinaceous substances were screened for keratinolytic activity. An alkalophilic isolate, TBG-S13A5, was found to possess good keratinolytic activity and was able to utilize feather as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. TBG-S13A5 exhibited an off-white aerial mass color with a rectus-flexibilis type of spore chain. The morphological, microscopical and biochemical characters were comparable with that of Streptomyces albidoflavus. Fatty acid methyl ester profiling (FAME) and 16S rDNA sequence analysis confirmed its identity as a strain of S. albidoflavus. Under submerged fermentation conditions, maximum protease production was recorded on the $5^{th}$ day of incubation at $30^{\circ}C$, using basal broth of pH 9.0 with 0.25% (w/v) white chicken feather. This strain could affect feather degradation when the initial pH was 8 and above and maximum protease production was recorded when the initial pH was around 10.5. The effectiveness of the crude enzyme in destaining and leather dehairing were also demonstrated.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.109-127
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• 2006

A taxonomic study of Habenaria in Korea was carried out based on the extensive examinations of floral morphologies and distribution. As the results, we classified the genus in Korea into the following 5 species; H. linearifolia Maxim., H. cruciformis Ohwi, H. radiata Splengl., H. chejuensis Y.N. Lee & K.S. Lee and H. flagellifera Makino. H. cruciformis is recognized as a distinct species distinguished from H. linearifolia, H. sagittifera Rchb. f. and H. schindleri Schltr., and we clarified its morphological differences from the species. H. linearifolia f. integrilova Ohwi which has been seperated by shape of lateral lobe of lip was merged into f. linearifolia oin this study. Furthermore we investigated the distribution of Habenaria in Korea based on the herbarium specimens and field surveys. The result shows that H. radiata is rare in the middle part of the Korean Peninsula and H. chejuensis and H. flagellifera are restricted in Jeju Island, so the conservation on the habitats of these species is required.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 1991

A numerical taxonomy was studied on a group of heterophyid trematodes and analysis was made on the following species: Metagonimus yokogawai (3 OTU, Operational Taxonomic Unit) , Metagcnimus Miyata Type (3 OTU), Metagonimus takahashii (2 OTU), Heterophyes dispar (2 OTU), Heterephyes heterophyes (1 OTU), Heterophyes nocens (2 OTV), Heterophyopsis continua (1 OTU), Pygidiopsis summa (3 OTU), Stellantchasmus falcatus (2 OTU) and Stictodora sari (2 OTU). Twenty-six morphological characters were measured and their values were expressed as relative ratios. Similarity and correlation matrix among each individuals were calculated. Clustering analysis by Ward's method and factor analysis were performed using the SAS (Statistical Analysis System) package. As a results, the groups belonging to the genus of Metegenimus were divided into three phonons (Awetegonimus yokogawai, Metegcnimus Miyata Type, M. takahashii) , and Metagonimus Miyata Type was classified as the level of subspecies of M. takahashii. The groups belonging to the genus Heterophyes were clearly divided into three phonons (Heterophyes dispar, H. heterephyes, H. nocens), and H. nccens was classified as not a subspecies level of H. heterophyes but a distinct species. Other species were classified as distinct phonons. From these results, the appllcr lion of numerical taxonomy on trematode classification is considered to be a great aid to determine the limit of taxa.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.392-404
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• 2016

The anatomical characters of the 19 taxa of Korean Juncus were reviewed in order to examine their significance in taxonomy. Cross-section analyses were conducted on the stem, leaf, and capsule. Descriptions, line drawings, tables, and a species key of Korean Juncus are provided for species identification based on anatomical characters. The results of this study showed that the arrangements of the vascular bundle, fiber, and air-space structure in the stems as well as the arrangements of the vascular bundle and parenchyma in the leaves and the development of placenta in capsules are the key characters to be used when classifying each species of Juncus. It was revealed that the studied anatomical features were more useful for identification at the subgenera and section levels than at the species level. Therefore, these anatomical characters used in conjunction with external morphological features will make a valuable contribution to establishing a natural classification system for Juncus.

• ALGAE
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.299-310
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• 2014

Dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium are known as zooxanthellae and exist as either symbiotic or free-living forms. Among this genus, two species, Symbiodinium minutum and Symbiodinium psygmophilum, were recently established based on genetic characters. However, some critical morphological characters of these species, such as plate formulae and related diagnoses have not been provided yet. In this study, we analyzed the morphology of S. minutum and S. psygmophilum by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The S. minutum had the Kofoidian plate formula consisting of a small plate (x), elongated amphiesmal vesicle (EAV), 4', 5a, 8", 7s, two cingulum rows, 18-20c, 6''', and 2'''', while S. psygmophilum had x, EAV, 4', 5a, 8", 7-10s, two cingulum rows, 20-22c, 5-6''', and 1''''. These plate formulae are different from any other reported Symbiodinium species. In addition, both species had a pentagonal 1a plate and a hexagonal 2a plate, while other known Symbiodinium species had a hexagonal 1a plate and a pentagonal 2a plate. Thus, we confirm the species status of S. minutum and S. psygmophilum based on morphological and genetic characters and report the detailed morphological characteristics of these two species.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.503-512
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• 1999

The morphological variations and habitat environment of the Zostera asiatica Miki (Zosteraceae) were examined in the waters off the eastern coast of Korea and Akkeshi Bay of Japan. In this study, we report new habitat of Z. asiatica along the eastern coast of south Korea； Gonghunjin, Donghori, Youngdong and Chilpo. Z. asiatica is found at the depth of 8∼15 m in these areas. However, Z. asiatica grows at the depth of 3 m in Akkeshi Bay of Japan. The sediment of habitats in the eastern coast of Korea were principally composed of sand. The stems were 64.0∼75.7 cm long in mature plants with flowering shoots and the leaves were 11.0∼15.0 mm wide for Korean populations. Plants from Akkeshi Bay of Japan had stems of 187.0∼234.0 cm in length. The difference in size are considered to be due to the depth of habitats. In spite of the significant morphological difference between Korea and Japan population of Z. asiatica, there was no difference in ITS sequences.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2012

To clarify the morphological variations of Galium, its morphological characteristics were examined using maximum parsimony analysis. The key characteristics as well as the range of variation in each characteristic were investigated at the species level and were employed to elucidate the relationships between the taxa. This study confirmed that species belonging to genus Galium formed a monophyletic group and comprised two main clades. Sect. Cymogaliae and sect. Leptogalium are polyphyly groups, and other sections are monophyletic group. This study also suggests that the fruit hairs, the types of petal apexes, and the colors of the petals are the most valuable taxonomic characteristics for differentiating different sections. The numbers of the leaves and leaf shape provide useful taxonomic characteristics for the identification of different species.