• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.195-204
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• 2022

A fungal strain, designated KNUF-20-NI009, was isolated from soil collected from Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do, Korea. The isolate showed cultural features typical of the genus Xenoroussoella. Colonies cultivated on malt extract agar were olivaceous-brown to pale olivaceous-white at the margins, with undersides of dark olivaceous to olivaceous-brown and a white margin. The conidia, with a size range of 2.7-5.1×1.6-3.3 ㎛ ($\bar{x}=3.6\times2.6{\mu}m$, n=50), were globoid to ellipsoid in shape, hyaline when immature, becoming light brown to golden-brown when mature, and characterized by 1 or 2 guttules. Multi-locus sequence analysis based on a combined dataset of internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS), large subunit rDNA (LSU), small subunit rDNA (SSU), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1α), and RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB2) sequences revealed KNUF-20-NI009 to be a strain of Xenoroussoella triseptata. This is the first report of this species in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.477-486
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• 2021

A survey of insect-associated fungi in Korea revealed a novel fungal strain isolated from the bean bug Riptortus clavatus (Heteroptera: Alydidae). Culturally and morphologically, the fungal strain designated KNUF-20-INY03, shares features with members of the genus Acaulium. Phylogenetic analyses based on the concatenated nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) regions and partial sequences of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α), and β-tubulin (β-TUB), and large subunit of the nuclear ribosomal RNA (LSU) genes showed that the isolate is part of a clade that includes other Acaulium species, but it occupies a distinct phylogenetic position. Based on the shape, size, and color of its conidia and conidiogenous cells, strain KNUF-20-INY03 is readily distinguishable from the closely related A. acremonium, A. albonigrescens, A. caviariformis, A. pannemaniae, and A. retardatum. The conidial length-to-width ratio (1.6) of the novel isolate is significantly lower than that of A. acremonium (1.9), A. albonigrescens (2.4), and A. pannemaniae (2.4), and KNUF-20-INY03 produces hyaline conidia and elliptical conidiogenous cells while A. caviariformis forms brown conidia and A. retardatum produces flask-shaped conidiogenous cells. Thus, both phylogenetic and morphological analyses indicate that this strain is a novel species in the genus Acaulium, and we propose the name Acaulium microspora sp. nov.

• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.66-70
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• 2012

Two species, $Penicillium$ $adametzioides$ and $Purpureocillium$ $lilacinum$, were isolated from decayed grapes (cv. Cheongsoo) in Korea. Each species was initially identified by phylogenetic analysis of a combined dataset of two genes. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and ${\beta}$-tubulin (BT2) genes were used for identification of $Penicillium$ $adametzioides$, and ITS and partial translation elongation factor 1-${\alpha}$ (TEF) genes were used for identification of $Purpureocillium$ $lilacinum$. Morphologically, they were found to be identical to previous descriptions. The two species presented here have not been previously reported in Korea.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.464-475
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• 2020

Acervus (Pyronemataceae, Pezizales) is a saprobic genus in Pezizomycetes, characterized by colored apothecia, subcylindrical to cylindrical asci and guttulate ascospores. We collected four Acervus samples from China and Thailand. Descriptions and illustrations are introduced for all fresh samples. One new record of A. globulosus from Thailand, one new species, A. rufus, two known species, A. epispartius and A. stipitatus from China are reported. Phylogenetic analysis based on five genes, the large subunit rRNA (LSU), the translation elongation factor-1 alpha (tef1-α), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2), the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb1), and the small subunit rRNA (SSU), revealed the distinct position of the new species. The new species is set apart by its red apothecia. A key to Acervus species is also given.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2022

L-asparaginase (ASNase) is a therapeutic enzyme used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Currently, the most widely used ASNases are originated from bacteria. However, owing to the adverse effects of bacterial ASNases, new resources for ASNase production should be explored. Fungal enzymes are considered efficient and compatible resources of natural products for diverse applications. In particular, fungal species belonging to the genus Trichoderma are well-known producers of several commercial enzymes including cellulase, chitinase, and xylanase. However, enzyme production by marine-derived Trichoderma spp. remains to be elucidated. While screening for extracellular ASNase-producing fungi from marine environments, we found four strains showing extracellular ASNase activity. Based on the morphological and phylogenetic analyses using sequences of translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1α), the Trichoderma isolates were identified as T. afroharzianum, T. asperellem, T. citrinoviride, and Trichoderma sp. 1. All four strains showed different ASNase activities depending on the carbon sources. T. asperellem MABIK FU00000795 showed the highest ASNase value with lactose as a carbon source. Based on our findings, we propose that marine-derived Trichoderma spp. are potential candidates for novel ASNase production.

• Mycobiology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2010

A green mold species that has not previously been reported in Korea was isolated from oak log beds used for shiitake (Lentinula edodes) cultivation that were infested by mushroom flies. In this study, we identify the mold species as Gliocladium viride (an anamorph of Hypocrea lutea) and describe its mycological properties. The fungus was cottony on both potato dextrose agar (PDA) and Czapek yeast extract agar (CYA), but was colored white on PDA and became yellowish green and brown on CYA. Mycelial growth on PDA attained a diameter of 73 mm at $30^{\circ}C$ after 5 days. The fungus grew faster on malt extract agar (> 80 mm, 5 days at $25^{\circ}C$) compared to CYA and PDA (< 68 mm, 5 days at $25^{\circ}C$). Penicillate conidiophores of the fungus are hyaline, smooth walled, branching above typically in four stages, and $120\sim240\;{\mu}m$ in length. Club-shaped or slender phialides are formed on the metulae. Conidia of the fungus were ovate and elliptic, yellowish brown and green, and $2.5\sim3.0\;{\mu}m\times1.8\sim2.3\;{\mu}m$ in size. Typically, slimy conidia are formed in a mass and colored brown to dark green to almost black. The internal transcribed spacer rDNA and translation elongation factor 1 alpha gene sequences of the fungus isolated here show 99% identity with previously identified G. viride strains.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.48-52
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• 2020

In July 2019, typical rot symptom was observed on peach fruits harvested from the fields at Andong, Korea. As the disease progressed, white and purple colored mycelial mat developed on the surface of the infected fruits. A causal pathogen was isolated from the infected fruit and cultured on potato dextrose agar media for identification. Fungal colonies on potato dextrose agar produced 3 pigments, including purple, yellow, and white colors. The isolate incited fruit rot symptoms on artificially inoculated peach fruits, from which the same fungus was isolated, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Based on the morphological characteristics and sequence analysis of rDNA internal transcribed spacer, translation elongation factor 1-alpha, and β-tubulin, the causal agent of the disease was identified as Fusarium avenaceum. This study is the first report of fruit rot of peach fruits caused by Fusarium avenaceum in Korea.

• Mycobiology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.319-324
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• 2016

Dieback in strawberry (Seolhyang cultivar) was first observed during the nursery season (June to September) in the Nonsan area of Korea in the years 2012 and 2013. Initial disease symptoms included dieback on runners, as well as black rot on roots, followed by wilting and eventually blackened, necrotic discoloration in the crowns of daughter plants. A fungus isolated from the diseased roots, runners, and crowns is close to Lasiodiplodia theobromae based on morphological characteristics. Analysis of a combined dataset assembled from sequences of the internal transcribed spacer and translation elongation factor 1- alpha genes grouped nine fungal isolates with the type strain of L. theobromae. The isolates showed strong pathogenicity on strawberry cultivars Kumhyang, Seolhyang, and Akihimae, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Based on these results, the pathogen responsible for dieback on strawberry plants in Korea was identified as L. theobromae.

• Mycobiology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.66-75
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• 2019

A new species of Alternaria causing leaf spots on the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) in Yunnan, China, was isolated, examined, and illustrated. Morphologically, it belongs to the section Porri of Alternaria, which produces relatively large conidia and a simple or branched, filamentous long beak. It is, however, characterized by conidiophores gradually enlarging near the apex into a clavate conidiogenous cell and long ellipsoid to obclavate, smoothwalled conidia with a long filamentous beak. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on ITS rDNA, GAPDH, and TEF1-alpha sequences demonstrate that the phytopathogen falls in the clade of the section Porri, being most closely related to A. sidae, A. sennae, A. deseriticola, A. cyamopsidis, A. rostellata, A. nitrimali, A. crassa, and A. thunbergiae.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.111-120
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• 2023

Three fungal strains designated as KNUF-23-MG32, KNUF-23-YC8, and KNUF-23-MJ82 were isolated from the abnormal symptomatic apple trees during screening fungal pathogens collected in Jeollanam-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. These fungal strains were found to have similar cultural and morphological characteristics close to the genus Botryosphaeria. Morphological characteristics were matched with B. kuwatsukai CBS 135219 but different with B. dothidea KACC 45481 and B. sinensis HMAS 246714^T. Pathogenicity tests of strain KNUF-23-MG32 showed that this strain causes rot in Fuji apples. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1α), and partial β-tubulin (TUB2) showed that these strains are B. kuwatsukai. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an apple ring rot fungus Botryosphaeria kuwatsukai in Korea.