• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.401-409
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• 2023

Nigrospora (Xylariales, Apiosporaceae) consists of species of terrestrial plant endophytes and pathogens. Nigrospora has also been reported in marine environments such as mangroves, sea fans, and macroalgae. However, limited research has been conducted on Nigrospora associated with macroalgae. Here, we isolated Nigrospora species from three types of algae (brown, green, and red algae) from Korean islands (Chuja, Jeju, and Ulleung) based on phylogenetic analyses of multigenetic markers: the internal transcribed spacers (ITS), beta-tubulin (BenA), and translation elongation factor 1 (TEF1-α). A total of 17 Nigrospora strains were isolated from macroalgae and identified as nine distinct species. The majority of Nigrospora species (seven) were found on brown algae, followed by red algae (three), and then green algae (two). To our understanding, this study represents the first account of N. cooperae, N. covidalis, N. guilinensis, N. lacticolonia, N. osmanthi, N. pyriformis, and N. rubi occurring in marine environments. Additionally, this study provides the first report of the occurrence of N. cooperae, N. covidalis, N. guilinensis, N. lacticolonia, and N. osmanthi in South Korea. This study will provide valuable insights for future research exploring the functions of fungi in macroalgal communities.

• ALGAE
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.231-241
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• 2016

We examined the genetic diversity and abundance of picocyanobacteria using barcoded amplicon sequencing approaches and flow cytometry in the East Sea and the East China Sea to determine the distribution patterns of diversity during spring in seas adjacent to the Korean Peninsula. Synechococcus clades I and IV, which have been known as cold-adapted ecotypes, dominated at most stations. However, the relative abundances of the two dominant clades differed in their spatial patterns. Clade I was exclusively dominant in the shelf area of the East China Sea and the north East Sea. However, the dominant genotypes belonging to clade I had different spatial distributions in the two areas and responded oppositely to seawater temperature. The dominance of distinct genotypes under the different ecological conditions suggests the presence of ecologically different ecotypes within the clade. Abundances of clade IV were greater than those of clade I at most stations in the southwest East Sea, showing an apparently different pattern from that of the other areas. A warm-water adapted clade II was observed at significant levels only at stations located in the eastern East China Sea affected by a branch of the warm Kuroshio Current. These results suggest that the physicochemical properties of influencing water masses play an important role in determining the distribution of Synechococcus genotypes.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.570-607
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• 2023

The subgenus Tricoma Cobb, 1894 comprises free-living marine nematodes encompassing a total of 83 validated taxa. Within this diversity, twenty-one taxa thrive in the deep sea, while twenty-three are found in coral reefs, flat areas, or green algae. Additionally, eleven taxa inhabit the sublittoral zone at depths exceeding 10 meters, and the remaining taxa are situated on beaches, coasts, or in habitats lacking detailed information. In the course of a survey focused on the East Sea free-living marine nematodes, we identified four new and two previously unrecorded species belonging to the subgenus Tricoma. Specifically, two new species, Tricoma (Tricoma) breviseta sp. nov. and T. (T.) donghaensis sp. nov., were discovered in mud-sandy sediment in deepsea environments below 2000 meters within the Ulleung Basin and Hupo Bank. Two previously unrecorded species [T. (T.) paralucida Decraemer, 1987 and T. (T.) similis Cobb, 1912] and the two newly found species [T. (T.) longicauda sp. nov. and T. (T.) ulleungensis sp. nov.] were obtained from subtidal coarse sand at a depth of 20 meters during a survey of the waters surrounding Ulleungdo Island. The distribution and information on validated taxa within the subgenus Tricoma were systematically collected, reviewed, and cataloged. Detailed morphological features and illustrations of Tricoma species from Korea were provided through the use of differential interference contrast microscopy.

• ALGAE
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.225-234
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• 2012

Zygnema is a conjugating filamentous green algal genus that is distributed in a broad range of freshwater habitats, from sea level to alpine summits. Although more than 150 species have been described worldwide, their taxonomy remains unclear, probably owing to their relatively simple morphology. We investigated the detailed morphology of Korean Zygnema species, combined with analysis of the plastid psbA gene from 22 specimens of the genus and putative relatives, in order to develope a key to their identification and isolation, and to determine their relationships. We recognized two species of Zygnema; Z. insigne and Z. leiospermum, based on morphological characters such as width of the vegetative cell, position of zygospores, dimensions and form of spores, shape of female gametangia, and color of mesospores. The analysis of psbA data was consistent with morphological comparison. The pairwise divergence between two species was 3.7-4.1% (34-38 bp) in psbA sequences. The phylogeny of psbA revealed the monophyly of Z. insigne and Z. leiospermum together with two isolates of Z. circumcarinatum from Germany and Scotland. This is the first report on the psbA gene phylogeny of Zygnema.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.361-363
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• 2012

We investigated ultraviolet (UV) absorption materials from Russian seaweeds. First, the UV absorptivities of five seaweeds Gloiopeltis fucatas, Mazzaella sp., Mastocarpus pacificus, Laminaria cichorioides, Saccharina japonica were evaluated by a UV spectrometer. Of these seaweeds, Gloiopeltis fucatas and Mazzaella sp. showed high levels of UV absorption. Column chromatography of active 50% aqueous ethanol extracts from Gloiopeltis fucatas and Mazzaella sp. resulted in the purification of two known compounds. Spectroscopic techniques identified their structures as shinorine and palythine. These materials exhibited UV absorptive capabilities at wavelengths of 333 and 320 nm, respectively. These results suggest that Gloiopeltis fucatas and Mazzaella sp. may be useful as natural cosmeceutical sources.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.275-280
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• 1998

The possibility of utilizing Porphyra yezoensis, Undaria pinnatifida and Laminaria religionsa into algae-tea having biological functionality was investigated by analysis of functional component, experimentation for low viscosity and various pretreatments. In water soluble fraction of powdered algae extracted for 3 minutes with 30 times of hot wate, major functinal components were composed of 1.53% porphyran and 170.04mg% taurine in P. yezoensis, 1.09% fucoidan and 1.18% sodium sodium alginate in U. pinnatifida, and 1.28% fucoidan, 1.99% soidum laginate and 371.25mg% iodine in L.religiosa, on dry basis. For lowering viscosity and masking off-flavor in each water soluble fraction, it was desirable that P. yezoensis was washed for 12 hours in sea water and 30 mimutes in fresh water, dried at 3 to 5$^{\circ}C$, powdered to size of 30 mesh nd then roasted for 3 minutes at 12$0^{\circ}C$, and that both U. pinnatifida and L. religiosa were washed, semidried to 40~50% moisture content, heated for 40 minutes at 12$0^{\circ}C$ by autoclave, dried, powdered to size of 30 mesh and then roasted for 5 minutes at 11$0^{\circ}C$.

• ALGAE
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.175-187
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• 2016

This study evaluated the effects of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-enriched fermented sea tangle (GFST), as a functional food, on brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-related muscle growth and lipolysis, in a sarcopenic obesity high-risk group. Twenty-one middle-aged women (53-63 y) participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study. Participants ingested either 1,000 mg of GFST (n = 10) or a sucrose placebo (CON) (n = 11) everyday, for 8 weeks. Subjects were asked to abstain from any regular exercise. Fasting venous blood samples, body composition and muscular strength were measured before and after supplementation period. Collectively, we demonstrated that GFST significantly decreased total fat mass and triglyceride in body composition, as well as significantly increasing serum BDNF (p < 0.001), angiotensin converting enzyme (p < 0.001), human growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively) accompanied by increased total lean mass (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the reported improvements in total work, knee extension and flexion at 60° s⁻¹ (p < 0.05), and peak torque normalized to body weight of knee flexion at 60° s⁻¹ (p < 0.05), support an ergogenic effect of GABA associated with increased growth factor levels. The use of GFST, as a functional food ingredient, to elicit anti-obesity effects and stimulate the release of muscle-related growth factors with increasing serum BDNF levels may provide a protective intervention for age-related degeneration such as sarcopenic obesity.

• ALGAE
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.201-205
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• 2004

An ectoparasitic din flagellate infesting plank tonic chaetognath, Sagitta crassa Tokioka was found, for the first time, from Korean coasts. In order to identify the species, we investigated detailed morphology of the din flagellate using Nomarski interference optics as well as epifluorescent microscopes. The parasitic din flagellate consists of an oval to rod-shaped cell with a peduncle, by which the organism attaches to the host. The cell is covered with polygonal thecal plates. The nucleus displays two different shapes according to cell cycle stages: in young trophont the nucleus is elongated and shows typical din flagellate nucleus (dinokaryon), while in matured trophont, the nucleus is dome-shaped and non-dinokaryotic. The peduncle is variable in length and is ornamented with the longitudinal striations. All these characteristics point to identity that the ectoparasitic din flagellate infecting Sagitta crassa in Korean coasts is Oodinium inlandicum Horiguchi et Ohtsuka, originally described from the Seto Inland Sea of Japan. Relationship between prevalence and host sizes differed from those in Japan.

• ALGAE
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.173-182
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• 2010

Four Rhizosolenia species of marine diatom were appeared at 30 sites in Korean coastal waters from September 2008 to February 2010. The cell shape, diameter, length of pervalvar axis, external process, segment and areolation characters of the species were examined. All four species were cylindrically shaped, but the external processes differed. Segment striations were regularly straight, and velum showed hexagonal, circular pore and narrow slit. Rhizosolenia formosa and R. hyalina were only occurred in September 2008 from the Yellow Sea, R. bergonii was appeared throughout the year from Korea Strait and Yangyang coasts, and R. setigera was abundantly showed in all seasons from all site. R. formosa is a newly recorded species in Korean coastal waters.

• ALGAE
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.175-187
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• 2012

Hainan is the second largest and southernmost island of China, and it harbors many species of the family Gracilariaceae. In this study, we conducted molecular and morphological analyses of gracilarian specimens collected from Hainan Island, to clarify their taxonomic identity and phylogenetic relationships. Five species of Gracilariaceae in Hainan were determined through maximum likelihood and Bayesian analysis of rbcL sequence data. Based on the phylogenetic trees and morphology, Hainan specimens were identified as three species of Gracilaria, one species of Gracilariopsis, and one species of Hydropuntia, namely, G. salicornia, G. tenuistipitata, Gracilaria sp., Gp. bailiniae and H. edulis. This is the first report of the molecular phylogeny of Gracilariaceae on Hainan Island, and it helps to clarify the taxonomy and distribution of gracilarian species in the Asia-Pacific region.