• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.152-158
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• 2003

Stromata of the white root rot fungus, Rosellinia necatrix, were produced on diseased roots although they were reported to develop rarely in nature. Forty-two (42) out of 47 samples produced synnemata while 23 developed stromata. Forty-seven (47) isolates obtained from diseased root samples were divided into 24 mycelium compatibility groups (MCGs). Sixteen (16) out of 24 MCGs produced stromata. Single ascospore isolates from 10 stroma samples produced dsRNA-containing isolates from diseased tissue beneath stromata. The frequency of synnema production on axenic culture varied among isolates with different origin. The dsRNA was not transmitted vertically to the ascospore offspring despite the infection of various dsRNA in the parental isolates. The dsRNA was absent in 35 ascospore isolates in two stroma samples that originated from the isolates, in which dsRNA was not eliminated by hyphal tip isolation. Consequently, sexual reproduction in the white root rot fungus was suggested to produce propagules as a new infection source and to have the function to eliminate infectious factors such as mycoviruses.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2020

A disease causing leaf blight and vine rot was recognized on kudzu plants (Pueraria lobata) in Korea since 1991. A species of Phytophthora has been repeatedly isolated from the infected leaves. Identification in species level of the Phytophthora sp. remained unsolved. An isolate, KACC 47616 originally collected from Manchon Park in Daegu, has been kept in our laboratory. In 2013, three new isolates, KACC 47617 and KACC 47618 from Yeongyang and KACC 47619 from Gunwi in Gyeongbuk province, were collected and examined to classify up to species level by characterizing morphology, response to temperature and phylogenetic relationship. On the basis of morphological characters such as the nature of hyphal swelling, sporangia and sex organs, absence of chlamydospore production, optimum temperature for mycelial growth, and internal transcribed spacer rDNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 sequence analysis of the pathogen, the causal fungus of kudzu plant was identified as Phytophthora asiatica.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.43-46
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• 2007

It was investigated that systemic acquired resistance (SAR) was induced in plant treated with a elicitor, which was derived from a non-virulent fungus. The elicitor, a hyphal cell wall component derived from fungus, induced a production of phytoalexin and a generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in potato treated with its low level concentrations. The effect of the fungus-derived elicitor was better than that of virulent pathogen-derived elicitor, which was well known in potato. These results, therefore, suggested potentcial use of fungus-derived elicitor as a new plant protector for commercial development.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.145-154
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• 2006

Heterotrimeric G proteins (G proteins) are conserved in all eukaryotes and are crucial components sensing and relaying external cues into the cells to elicit appropriate physiological and biochemical responses. Basic units of the heterotrimeric G protein signaling system include a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), a G protein composed of ${\alpha},\;{\beta},\;and\;{\gamma}$ subunits, and variety of effectors. Sequential sensitization and activation of these G protein elements translates external signals into gene expression changes, resulting in appropriate cellular behaviors. Regulators of G protein signaling (RGSs) constitute a crucial element of appropriate control of the intensity and duration of G protein signaling. For the past decade, G protein signaling and its regulation have been intensively studied in a number of model and/or pathogenic fungi and outcomes of the studies provided better understanding on the upstream regulation of vegetative growth, mating, development, virulence/pathogenicity establishment, and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in fungi. This review focuses on the characteristics of the basic upstream G protein components and RGS proteins, and their roles controlling various aspects of biological processes in the model filamentous ascomycete fungus Aspergillus nidulans. In particular, their functions in controlling hyphal proliferation, asexual spore formation, sexual fruiting, and the mycotoxin sterigmatocystin production are discussed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1865-1875
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• 2018

Enhanced application of solid-state fermentation (SSF) in industrial production and the influence of SSF of Rhizopus K1 on glucoamylase productivity were analyzed using the flat band method. A growth model was implemented through SSF of Rhizopus K1 in this experiment, and spectrophotometric method was used to determine glucoamylase activity. Results showed that in bran and potato culture medium with 70% moisture in a loose state, ${\mu}$ of mycelium reached to $0.15h^{-1}$ after 45 h of culture in a thermostatic water bath incubator at $30^{\circ}C$. Under a low-magnification microscope, mycelial cells appeared uniform, bulky with numerous branches, and were not easily ruptured. The generated glucoamylase activity reached to 55 U/g (dry basis). This study has good utilization value for glucoamylase production by Rhizopus in SSF.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.393-400
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• 2016

Fusarium graminearum is the main cause of substantial economic loss in wheat production. The aim of this study is to investigate biocontrol potential of Lysobacter antibioticus HS124 against F. graminearum and to purify an antifungal compound. In preliminary study, n-butanol crude extract revealed destructive alterations in the hyphal morphology of F. graminearum and almost degraded with $1,000{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ concentration. For further study, the antifungal compound extracted from the n-butanol crude extract of L. antibioticus HS124 was identified as N-Butyl-tetrahydro-5-oxofuran-2-carboxamide ($C_9H_{16}NO_3$) using NMR ($^1H-NMR$, $^{13}C-NMR$, $^1H-^1H\;COSY$, HMBC, and HMQC), and HR-ESI-MS analysis. To our knowledge, N-Butyl-tetrahydro-5-oxofuran-2-carboxamide may be a novel compound with molecular weight of 186.1130. The minimum inhibitory concentration value of antifungal compound was $62.5{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ against F. graminearum. In an in vivo pot experiment, crown rot disease from F. graminearum was inhibited when wheat seeds were treated with both HS124 culture and F. graminearum. Growth of wheat seedling was enhanced by treatment of HS124 compared to control. Our results suggest that L. antibioticus HS124 characterized in this study could be successfully used to control F. graminearum and could be used as an alternative to chemical fungicides in modern agriculture.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.317-324
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• 2000

Candida albicans is one of the most frequently isolated fungal pathogens in human. Recently, the prevalence of candida infection has markedly increased, partially due to the increase of immunocompromised hosts. Proposed virulence factors of the pathogenic Candida are the ability to form hyphae to adhere to epithelial cell surfaces, and to secrete acid proteinases and phospholipases. We measured the relative cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) and the ability of proteinase production (PROT), phospholipase production (PLase), adherence to host epithelium (ADH), and hyphal transition (Germ). The relative risk of virulence factors was analyzed by lethality test in murine model of hematogeneously disseminated candidal infection. According to Cox's proportional hazard analysis, the statistically significant virulence factors were PROT, ADH, and CSH. PROT was the highest risk factor of them. To evaluate the applicability for the diagnosis and treatment of Candidiasis, we examined the protective effect of the active and passive immunizations with the materials purified from virulence factors and antibodies to them in Candia-infected mice model. The mean survival times of active and passive immunized groups were slightly longer than those of non-immunized groups.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.637-649
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• 2011

Soil microorganisms play a major role in improving soil fertility and plant health. Symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a key component of the soil microbial populations. AMF form a mutualistic association with the host plant and exert a positive influence on its growth and nutrient uptake. The establishment of mycorrhizal symbioses with the host plant can positively be influenced by plant growth promoting rhizobacteria through various mechanisms such as increased spore germination and hyphal permeability in plant roots. Though there are evidences that combined interactions between AMF and PGPR can promote the plant growth however mechanisms of these interactions are poorly understood. Better understanding of the interactions between AMF and other microorganisms is necessary for maintaining soil fertility and enhancing crop production. This paper reviews current knowledge concerning the interactions between AMF and PGPR with plants and discusses on enhanced nutrient availability, biocontrol, abiotic stress tolerance and phytoremediation in sustainable agriculture.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2014.10a
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• pp.15-15
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• 2014

Fusarium graminearum (teleomorph Gibberella zeae) is an important plant pathogen that causes head blight of major cereal crops such as wheat, barley, and rice, as well as causing ear and stalk rot on maize worldwide. Plant diseases caused by this fungus lead to severe yield losses and accumulation of harmful mycotoxins in infected cereals [1]. Fungi utilize spore production as a mean to rapidly avoid unfavorable environmental conditions and to amplify their population. Spores are produced sexually and asexually and their production is precisely controlled. Upstream developmental activators consist of fluffy genes have been known to orchestrate early induction of condiogenesis in a model filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying conidiogenesis in F. graminearum, we characterized functions of the F. graminearum fluffy gene homologs [2]. We found that FlbD is conserved regulatory function for conidiogenesis in both A. nidulans and F. graminearum among five fluffy gene homologs. flbD deletion abolished conidia and perithecia production, suggesting that FlbD have global roles in hyphal differentiation processes in F. graminearum. We further identified and functionally characterized the ortholog of AbaA, which is involved in differentiation from vegetative hyphae to conidia and known to be absent in F. graminearum [3]. Deletion of abaA did not affect vegetative growth, sexual development, or virulence, but conidium production was completely abolished and thin hyphae grew from abnormally shaped phialides in abaA deletion mutants. Overexpression of abaA resulted in pleiotropic defects such as impaired sexual and asexual development, retarded conidium germination, and reduced trichothecene production. AbaA localized to the nuclei of phialides and terminal cells of mature conidia. Successful interspecies complementation using A. nidulans AbaA and the conserved AbaA-WetA pathway demonstrated that the molecular mechanisms responsible for AbaA activity are conserved in F. graminearum as they are in A. nidulans. F. graminearum ortholog of Aspergillus nidulans wetA has been shown to be involved in conidiogenesis and conidium maturation [4]. Deletion of F. graminearum wetA did not alter mycelial growth, sexual development, or virulence, but the wetA deletion mutants produced longer conidia with fewer septa, and the conidia were sensitive to acute stresses, such as oxidative stress and heat stress. Furthermore, the survival rate of aged conidia from the F. graminearum wetA deletion mutants was reduced. The wetA deletion resulted in vigorous generation of single-celled conidia through autophagy-dependent microcycle conidiation, indicating that WetA functions to maintain conidia dormancy by suppressing microcycle conidiation in F. graminearum. In A. nidulans, FlbB physically interacts with FlbD and FlbE, and the resulting FlbB/FlbE and FlbB/FlbD complexes induce the expression of flbD and brlA, respectively. BrlA is an activator of the AbaA-WetA pathway. AbaA and WetA are required for phialide formation and conidia maturation, respectively [5]. In F. graminearum, the AbaA-WetA pathway is similar to that of A. nidulans, except a brlA ortholog does not exist. Amongst the fluffy genes, only fgflbD has a conserved role for regulation of the AbaA-WetA pathway.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2008

This experiment was carried out to examine physiological and cultural characteristics of two strains ASI 19003, 'Poplar field-cap mushroom' Agrocybe cylindracea, and ASI 19016, 'Chaxingo' A. chaxingu, at the bottle cultivation which have very similar morphological characteristics in genus Agrocybe. There was significant difference between the physiological and cultural characteristics of ASI19003 and ASI19016. The optimal temperature for the hyphal growth was $28^{\circ}C$ in the strain ASI19003 and $30^{\circ}C$ in ASI19016. The optimal pH was not different in two strains and these strains grew well at pH 5.5~7.0. But the optimal pH in the submerged culture was 5.5 in ASI19003 and 5.0 in ASI19016. Especially, hyphal growth of the strain ASI19016 was very poor at pH 6.0~7.3. The optimal carbon source for the growth was lactose in the strain ASI19003 and fructose in ASI19016, and nitrate sources were asparagine, alanine, and glycine in the strain ASI19003, and ammonium tartrate, asparagine, glycine, and alanine in ASI19016, respectively. The periods of incubation and fruiting body formation in the bottle cultivation during the spring were 27 and 13 days in the strain ASI19003, 29 and 17 days in ASI19016. The yields of fruit body were 114 g per bottle (850 $m{\ell}$ volume) in the strain ASI19003 and 100 g in ASI19016. In the summer, the periods of hyphal incubation and fruiting body formation were 29 and 11 days in the strain ASI19003, 30 and 12 days in ASI19016. The color of the cap in the ASI19003 strain according to temperature increase during the fruit body development become more pale, but the strain ASI19016 kept dark color relative to ASI19003. The fruiting body formation of the strain ASI19016 was faster than that of ASI19003. Accordingly, the cultivation of A. cylindracea ASI19003 during the spring, fall and winter, and A. chaxingu ASI19016 during the summer can keep high quality and stable supply all year round of these mushrooms.