• Mycobiology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.191-201
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• 2013

Distinguishing individual Russula species has been difficult due to extensive phenotypic plasticity and obscure morphological and anatomical discontinuities. Due to highly similar macroscopic features, such as the presence of a red-cap, species identification within the Russula subgenus Amoenula is particularly difficult. Three species of the subgenus Amoneula have been reported in Korea. We used a combination of morphology and three molecular markers, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 28S nuclear ribosomal large subunit (LSU), and RNA polymerase II gene (RPB2), for identification and study of the genetic diversity of Russula subgenus Amoenula in Korea. We identified only two species in Korea (R. mariae and R. violeipes); these two species were indistinguishable according to morphology and LSU, but were found to be reciprocally monophyletic species using ITS and RPB2. The markers, ITS, LSU, and RPB2, have been tested in the past for use as DNA barcoding markers, and findings of our study suggest that ITS and RPB2 had the best performance for the Russula subgenus Amoneula.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.657-679
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• 2010

Mushroom fruiting was investigated in pine and oak dominated forest stands in Songni National Park located in central Korea for six years from 2003 to 2008, in order to understand the relationship between mushroom diversity and the environmental factors, precipitation, temperature, soil moisture and vegetation. The most frequent fruiting families were those of ectomycorrhizal mushrooms, Tricholomataceae, Amanitaceae, Russulaceae, Cortinariaceae, and Boletaceae. The frequency of mushroom fruiting varied from 94 to 167 species per year, with July and August having the highest(13~90 species). Mushroom fruiting was positively correlated to precipitation(r=0.897), using Palmer Drought Severity Index for the long term period and Standard Precipitation Index for short term period. Soil moisture content also affected mushroom fruiting, with Lactarius chrysorrheus and Russula virescens fruiting only at soil moisture content higher than 20%. Positive correlation between mushroom fruiting and temperature was also noted(r=0.77), with optimum rates at $21{\sim}25^{\circ}C$. Tricholoma flayayirens, Amanita gymnopus, Lactarius piperatus, Inocybe asteropora and Xerocomus chrysenteron were able to fruit at temperatures higher than $25^{\circ}C$. However, Laccaria amethystea, Amanita virosa and Russula mariae fruited at relatively wide temperature range. The influence of vegetation on mushroom fruiting was likewise noted, with 38 species, including Suillus bovinus and Boletopsis leucomelas being specific to pine dominated stands, while 42 species, including Polyporus arcularius and Hericium erinaceum were specific to oak dominated stands. On the other hand, around 50 species, including Laccaria laccata and Lycoperdon parlatum, were able to fruit in both types of vegetation. In conclusion, mushroom fruiting greatly varies with changes in precipitation, soil moisture, temperature and vegetation.