• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.435-443
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• 2015

Sixty-one endophytic fungus strains with different colony morphologies were isolated from the leaves, stems and roots of Tephrosia purpurea with colonization rates of 66.95%, 37.50%, and 26.92%, respectively. Based on internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis, 61 isolates were classified into 16 genera belonging to 3 classes under the phylum Ascomycota. Of the 61 isolates, 6 (9.84%) exhibited antifungal activity against one or more indicator plant pathogenic fungi according to the dual culture test. Isolate TPL25 had the broadest antifungal spectrum of activity, and isolate TPL35 was active against 5 plant pathogenic fungi. Furthermore, culture filtrates of TPL25 and TPL35 exhibited greater than 80% growth inhibition against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. We conclude that the endophytic fungal strains TPL25 and TPL35 are promising sources of bioactive compounds.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2019

We investigated the biodiversity of endophytic fungi of Bolboschoenus planiculmis and Schoenoplectus triqueter in Korea. Twenty five of these host plants were collected from six sampling sites. Internal transcribed spacer analysis identified a total of eighty five isolates from the collected plants. The isolates comprised nineteen taxa; most of the isolates (92%) belonged to class Dothideomycetes, followed by Sordariomyetes (4.8%), Agaricomycetes (1.6%), and Eurotiomycetes (0.8%). The most prevalent fungus was Cladosporium perangustum in B. planiculmis and Macrospora scirpicola in S. triqueter. There are very few studies of endophytic fungi in halophytes and these have reported biodiversity patterns different from those of previous studies in Korea. Our results should provide useful information for future research in Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1744-1749
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• 2010

The role of endophytic fungi in plant growth and development is well documented. However, endophytic fungi with growth promotion capacity have never been isolated from weeds previously. In the current study, we isolated 8 fungal endophytes from the roots of Monochoria vaginalis, a serious weed of rice paddy in Korea. These isolates were screened on Waito-C, in order to identify plant growth promoting metabolites. Two fungal isolates (M5.A & M1.5) significantly promoted the plant height and shoot length of Waito-C during preliminary screening experiments. The culture filtrates (CFs) of M5.A and M1.5 also promoted the shoot length of Echinocloa crusgalli. Gibberellins (GAs) analysis of the CFs of M5.A and M1.5 showed that these endophytic fungi secrete higher quantities of GAs as compared with wild-type G. fujikuroi KCCM12329. The CF of M5.A contained bioactive GAs ($GA_3$, 2.8 ng/ml; $GA_4$, 2.6 ng/ml, and $GA_7$, 6.68 ng/ml) in conjunction with physiologically inactive $GA_9$ (1.61 ng/ml) and $GA_{24}$ (0.18 ng/ml). The CF of M1.5 contained physiologically active GAs ($GA_3$, 1.64 ng/ml; $GA_4$, 1.37 ng/ml and $GA_7$, 6.29 ng/ml) in conjunction with physiologically inactive $GA_9$ (3.44 ng/ml), $GA_{12}$ (0.3 ng/ml), and $GA_{24}$ (0.59 ng/ml). M5.A and M1.5 were identified as new strains of Penicillium sp. and Aspergillus sp., respectively, based on their 18S rDNA sequence homology and phylogenetic analysis.

• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.231-235
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• 2012

Fungal endophytes are microfungi that live in plants without causing apparent symptoms of infection. This study was conducted to identify endophytic fungi isolated from leaves of coniferous trees in Bohyeon Mountain of Korea. We collected leaves of two species of coniferous trees, Pinus densiflora and Pinus koraiensis, from 11 sites in the study area. A total 58 isolates were obtained and identified using molecular and morphological characteristics. Four species of endophytic fungi were isolated from P. densiflora: Lophodermium conigenum, Leotiomycetes sp., Septoria pini-thunbergii, and Polyporales sp., while two fungal species were isolated from P. koraiensis: Eurotiomycetes sp. and Rhytismataceae sp. The most frequently isolated species were L. conigenum and S. pini-thunbergii.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.10-27
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• 2020

Endophytes are defined as microorganisms that spend part of lifetime interior of plant tissues without causing negative effects. They have been used for agricultural purpose, biofuel production, bioremediation, medication, etc. In particular, endophytes have been emerged as a good source for bioactive secondary metabolites. A large number of secondary metabolites are currently being reported. In this report, we focus on the secondary metabolites that were originated from endophytic fungi inhabiting medicinal plants. They were classified into several groups such as nitrogenous compounds, steroids, sulfide-containing metabolites, terpenoids, polyketides, and miscellaneous for discussion of chemical structures and biological activities.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.174-177
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• 2014

We investigated the biodiversity of endophytic fungi isolated from leaves of three coniferous species (Pinus densiflora, P. koraiensis, Larix kaempferi) on Mt. Minjuji, Korea. A total of 39 isolates were discovered from 17 host plants and their homology with the ITS region was searched. They were then identified as 22 taxa; 64% of fungal isolates belong to Sordariomyetes, 33% of isolates to Leotiomycetes, and 3% isolates to Agaricomycetes.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.130-133
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• 2009

The endophytic fungi were isolated from red pine trees (Pinus densiflora) that were distributed in three sites of Chungbuk, Korea. Twenty fungal isolates were isolated from 16 trees and divided into 8 groups by morphological characters. The fungal isolates were identified using the sequences of ITS region of rDNA; Lophodermium complex, Sydowia polyspora, Hymenula sp., Sistotrema brinkmannii, Septoria pini-thunbergii, Earliella sp. Lophodermium spp. were the most frequently found fungal species the across sites and firstly detected from Pinus species in Korea by molecular work.

• Mycobiology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.82-85
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• 2013

The needled leaves of three conifer species were collected in Mt. Taehwa during different seasons of the year. Total 59 isolates and 19 species of endophytic fungi were isolated from the leaves and identified using morphological and molecular characteristics. As a result, Shannon index was different in its host plant; Larix kaempferi had a highest value of species diversity. According to the sampling season, 9 species of 19 species were isolated during fall season. The results suggest that the existing of host plant and sampling season are major factors of distribution of endophytic fungi.

• Mycobiology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.185-190
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• 2006

Endophytic fungi were isolated from healthy leaf and root samples of Taraxacum coreanum. Of the 72 isolates recovered, 39 were from leaves and 33 from roots with an isolation frequency of 54% and 46%, respectively. Based on ITS sequence analysis, 72 isolates were classified into 19 genera of which 17 were under the phylum Ascomycota and 2 were under Basidiomycota. Diverse genera were found and Alternaria, Cladosporium, Fusarium and Phoma were dominant. Out of 19 genera, Apodus, Ceriporia, Dothideales, Leptodontidium, Nemania, Neoplaconema, Phaeosphaeria, Plectosphaerella and Terfezia were new to Korea. Seventy two isolates were screened for antifungal activity, of which 10 isolates (14%) were found active at least against one of the tested fungi. Isolate 050603 had the widest antifungal spectra of activity, and isolates 050592 and 050611 were active against three plant pathogenic fungi.

• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2012

A species of Heterobasidion was encountered during a diversity study of endophytic fungi from healthy root tissues of chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in Korea. The fungal species (CNU081069) was identified as Heterobasidion araucariae based on phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer and translation elongation factor gene sequences. Morphological descriptions of the endophytic isolate matched well with the previous references and supported the molecular identification. The fungus Heterobasidion araucariae CNU081069 is new to Korea.