• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.147-153
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• 2023

Dark brown leaf molds growing in a vein-limited pattern have been continuously observed on the lower leaf surface of Fatoua villosa in Korea. Fifteen samples deposited in the Korea University herbarium were examined for fungal morphological characterization. Two monoconidial isolates were obtained in 2022, and molecular analysis was performed based on a combined multigene dataset of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and partial actin (actA), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), and DNA-directed RNA polymerase II second-largest subunit (rpb2). Based on morphological features and molecular phylogenetic analysis, the fungus Pseudocercospora fatouae was identified. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first study reporting the presence of P. fatouae on F. villosa in Korea.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.304-312
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• 2020

Over the past 15 years, downy mildew became the most destructive foliar disease in cultivated Impatiens species (Balsaminaceae) worldwide. A previous study had revealed that the causal agent was not Plasmopara obducens (Oomycota, Peronosporales) but Plasmopara destructor on Impatiens walleriana, and Plasmopara velutina on Impatiens balsamina. This hints to a relatively high degree of specialization of Plasmopara on Balsaminaceae. Therefore, it was the aim of the present study to perform multigene phylogenetic analysis and detailed morphological investigation for several Korean downy mildew samples parasitic to cultivated I. walleriana, and I. balsamina, but also to a northeast Asian wild plant, Impatiens textori. It was revealed that I. textori harbors a new species, which is introduced and described here as Plasmopara elegantissima.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.239-243
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• 2023

The Golovinomyces biocellatus complex is known to consist of powdery mildew from the Golovinomyces genus, associated with host plants from the Lamiaceae family. Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses have resolved the taxonomic composition of this complex, and Golovinomyces biocellatus sensu stricto is considered to be a pathogen of Glechoma species, globally. However, this paper presents a new finding of Golovinomyces salviae on Glechoma longituba, besides its original host species of Salvia. This information was inferred by molecular phylogenetic analyses from the multi-locus nucleotide sequence dataset of intergeneric spacer (IGS), internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit (LSU) of rDNA, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene. Further, the asexual morphology of this fungus is described and illustrated.

• Mycobiology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.340-345
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• 2019

An 82-year-old man with diabetes was admitted to the emergency department with a third-degree burn on his left leg. The deep swab specimen from his left leg was cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar without cycloheximide and incubated at $25^{\circ}C$ for 5 days. On the basis of morphological characteristics and multigene phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA and partial fragments of beta-tubulin and translation elongation factor 1-alpha, the causal agent of fungal skin infection was identified as Bisifusarium delphinoides, which was newly introduced by accommodating a Fusarium dimerum species complex. Thus, we describe here the first case of skin infection caused by B. delphinoides on a burn patient with diabetes mellitus based on morphological observation and molecular analysis.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.495-500
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• 2020

Leaf spot on lemon balm is frequently observed in Korea, causing considerable damage to crops. In 2014 and 2015, the occurrence of leaf spot was observed in several production greenhouses at Suwon, Gongju, and Namwon in Korea. Symptoms on lower leaves initially developed as small, distinct, discolored lesions, which enlarged progressively turning into dark brown, angular spots surrounded by purplish-brown margins. Based on the morphological characteristics and sequence analysis of actin (ACT), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1α), internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 28S nrDNA (LSU), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), the fungus associated with the lemon balm leaf spot was determined as Septoria melissae. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of lemon balm leaf spot caused by S. melissae in Asia as well as in Korea.

• Mycobiology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2017

Leaf spot disease on black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) was observed at several locations in Korea during 2014-2015. Leaf spots were distinct, scattered over the leaf surface and along the leaf border, subcircular to irregular and brown surrounded by a distinct dark color, and were expanded and coalesced into irregularly shaped lesions. Severely infected leaves became dry and fell off eventually. The causative agent was identified as Pseudocercospora pyricola. Morphological observations and phylogenetic analyses of multiple genes, including internal transcribed spacer, translation elongation factor 1-alpha, actin, and the large subunit ribosomal DNA were conducted. The pathogenicity test was conducted twice yielding similar results, fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report on P. pyricola infection of A. melanocarpa globally.

• Mycobiology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.114-118
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• 2017

In September 2013 and 2014, a significant number of kenaf plants showing symptoms of leaf spots with approximately 50% incidence were found in experimental plots in Iksan and Namwon, Korea. Leaf spots were circular to irregular, more or less vein-limited, reaching to 10 mm in diameter. The spots were initially uniformly brown to reddish brown, turning pale brown with a purplish margin and showing grayish patches on the lesion due to heavy fructification. The causative agent of the leaf spot disease was identified as Cercospora malayensis. The pathogenicity test was conducted with similar results, which fulfilled Koch's postulates. This is the first report of C. malayensis infection of kenaf in Korea.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.210-218
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• 2020

Peach (Prunus persica L.) is one of the major fruit crops in South Korea, along with apple, persimmon, and Asian pears. Peach anthracnose is a continuing threat to growers and is accountable for enormous economic loss. In July 2018, anthracnose of peach appeared at different peach orchards in Gyeongsangbuk-do region, Korea. The typical anthracnose symptoms (brown, circular, and necrotic lesions) were observed on the fruits. Anthracnose of peach was surveyed in different peach orchards of Gyeongsangbuk-do, and 20 fungal isolates from 19 diseased fruits were collected. Multigene phylogenetic analyses coupled with morphological characteristic analysis approaches were used for identifying the fungal species isolated from diseased fruits. This study confirmed three Colletotrichum species. Based on the results, Colletotrichum siamense are reported for the first time as causal agents of peach anthracnose alongside C. fructicola and C. fioriniae, which has been reported previously. Pathogenicity assays were performed for the three isolates representing all the species identified, and Koch's postulates on detached healthy peach fruits were verified. All the identified species were pathogenic on peach fruits as the typical anthracnose symptoms were reproduced. Significant variations in the virulence were observed among fungal species on peach fruit.

• Mycobiology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.50-58
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• 2019

Agarum clathratum, a brown macroalgae species, has recently become a serious environmental problem on the coasts of Korea. In an effort to solve this problem, fungal diversity associated with decaying A. clathratum was investigated and related ${\beta}$-glucosidase and endoglucanase activities were described. A total of 233 fungal strains were isolated from A. clathratum at 15 sites and identified 89 species based on morphology and a multigene analysis using the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and protein-coding genes including actin (act), ${\beta}$-tubulin (benA), calmodulin (CaM), and translation elongation factor (tef1). Acremonium, Corollospora, and Penicillium were the dominant genera, and Acremonium fuci and Corollospora gracilis were the dominant species. Fifty-one species exhibited cellulase activity, with A. fuci, Alfaria terrestris, Hypoxylon perforatum, P. madriti, and Pleosporales sp. Five showing the highest enzyme activities. Further enzyme quantification confirmed that these species had higher cellulase activity than P. crysogenum, a fungal species described in previous studies. This study lays the groundwork for bioremediation using fungi to remove decaying seaweed from populated areas and provides important background for potential industrial applications of environmentally friendly processes.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.347-355
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• 2022

A fungal isolate belonging to the phylum Ascomycota was isolated and identified as Talaromyces veerkampii in 2017 during a survey of fungal diversity in field soils in Korea. This fungal isolate was identified and described based on macro- and micromorphological and molecular characterization. The identification was also based on partial 18S-ITS1-5.8S-ITS2-28S rDNA and calmodulin (CaM)-encoding gene sequencing data. Talaromyces veerkampii has not been previously reported in Korea. Thus, we report here a newly discovered species from soil in Korea along with its morphological and molecular characteristics.