Mycobiology最新文献

Macrofungi play vital roles in forest ecosystems as decomposers, mycorrhizal symbionts, pathogens, and bioindicators of biodiversity. However, research on macrofungal diversity remains limited, particularly in ecologically preserved regions where long-term monitoring is crucial. Kyodong Island, located near the Military Demarcation Line in the Republic of Korea, has remained relatively isolated, making it a valuable site for studying fungal biodiversity. This study aimed to assess the macrofungal diversity of Kyodong Island, marking the first large-scale and comprehensive fungal survey. Between March and September 2024, 226 fungal specimens were collected and identified into 99 species based on morphological and molecular analyses. Six previously unrecorded species from Korea were confirmed in this study: Hypoxylon ticinense from the Ascomycota and five species from Basidiomycota (Amanita subovalispora, Collybiopsis hirtella, Hohenbuehelia grisea, Pseudosperma yunnanense, and Russula pseudojaponica). The results revealed a high diversity of saprotrophic fungi (79.8%) followed by ectomycorrhizal (19.19%) and parasitic (1.01%) species, with dominant genera including Amanita and Collybiopsis. Notably, the presence of fungal species previously documented in tropical climates suggests a possible northward shift in fungal distribution, likely influenced by climate change. These findings highlight the ecological importance of Kyodong Island as a reservoir of fungal diversity and emphasize the necessity of continued biodiversity monitoring. Future research should focus on long-term ecological monitoring, the effects of climate change and human impact on fungal distribution, and the functional roles of newly recorded species in sustaining forest ecosystems.

This study reports a new record of the white-rot mushroom species Phlebiopsis friesii (MFLUCC 24-0323) from Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The specimen is described based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the combination of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) regions. After identification of the fungus, its culture was used to develop pure mycelial mats in broth media and for preliminary characterization. Thermogravimetric properties, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy profiles, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and water contact angle (CA) measurements were investigated to determine the potential of mycelium-based leather (MBL). These findings provide new insights into Thai P. friesii, focusing on its morphology, genetics, and the potential use of mushroom mycelium mats for developing mycelium-biomaterial.

During a project investigating the diversity of fungi associated with lichens, numerous strains of Sesquicillium and Trichoderma were isolated. Among these, several species were suspected to be unrecorded, prompting further study. In this study, the objective is to describe the taxonomic information of fungal species novel and previously unrecorded in South Korea. Through comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis and detailed morphological examination, seven fungal species were identified: Sesquicillium lasiacidis, Sesquicillium essexcoheniae, Trichoderma asperellum, Trichoderma paraobovatum sp. nov., Trichoderma rifaii, Trichoderma sparsum, and Trichoderma texanum. Molecular identification was conducted using ITS and LSU regions for Sesquicillium and ITS, EF1a, and RPB2 loci for Trichoderma, with phylogenetic analysis confirming their placement alongside type strains. These findings expand the known geographic distributions of these species and highlight the potential of lichen-associated fungi as reservoirs of bioactive compounds and enzymes with industrial and pharmaceutical applications.

Foliicolous lichens, such as Strigula depressa, are increasingly recognized as potential indicators of subtropical ecosystem dynamics due to their sensitivity to climatic conditions, with climate change likely to expand their distribution in the South Korea. Despite their ecological importance, studies on the distribution and genetic structure of S. depressa in South Korea remain limited. This study aims to examine this knowledge gap by analyzing the ecological preferences, genetic diversity, and distribution change of S. depressa under future climate scenarios. Field surveys were conducted across 96 sites, including 66 sites on Jeju Island and 30 islands, revealing a highly restricted distribution with the species present at only 12 sites in four islands. Analysis of bioclimate variables indicated that warmer temperatures and lower temperature seasonality significantly influence the distribution of S. depressa. Population genetic analyses, based on ITS sequences from 45 samples, identified 17 haplotypes and revealed moderate regional differentiation, with significant isolation-by-distance but no isolation-by-environment effect. Species distribution modeling predicts potential range expansion under future climate scenarios. These findings highlight the ecological sensitivity of S. depressa to temperature gradients and its potential as a bioindicator for subtropical ecosystem shifts, emphasizing the need to conserve genetically diverse populations to enhance resilience against climate change.

The order Agaricales is one of the diverse mushroom-forming fungi, with approximately 40,000 identified species worldwide. They contribute to forest ecosystems as decomposers, symbionts, or pathogens. Mudeungsan National Park is one of the biggest National Park in Southwestern Korea. However, the diversity of macrofungi has been less studied than the diversity of flora and fauna. Thus, we collected macrofungal specimens through surveys in Mudeungsan National Park from 2020 to 2023. The specimens were identified based on the morphological characteristics, and phylogenetic analysis using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (nLSU) regions. As a result, six unrecorded Agaricales species were identified: Agaricus parvibicolor, Clitopilus subscyphoides, Deconica cokeriana, Hohenbuehelia tristis, Mycena heteracantha, and M. silvae-nigrae. In this study, we provide detailed figures and phylogenetic trees to support six unrecorded Agaricales species in Mudeungsan National Park.

To breed high-yield triterpene strains of Sanghuangporus baumii, the strain collected from the Heilongjiang Liangshui National Nature Reserve (DL101) was used as the starting strain. Protoplasts were mutated using ultraviolet light to screen for fast-growing mutant strains. Antagonistic experiments were conducted to observe the interactions between the mutant strains and DL101 and determine the triterpenes' yield. Genetic differences between the strains were analyzed through Inter-simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) molecular markers, and the antioxidant capacity of total triterpene extracts from the mutant strains was assessed in vitro. Results indicated that 340 regenerated mutant strains were obtained, among which 9 mutant strains were identified through antagonistic experiments. The mutant strains U-208, U-157, and U-275 showed total triterpene contents increased by 29.3%, 5.2%, and 1.3%, respectively, compared to DL101. ISSR analysis revealed genetic differences between mutant strain U-208 and DL101. in vitro antioxidant experiments indicated that the mutant strain U-208 exhibited higher antioxidant activity, and that there was a certain correlation between antioxidant activity and total triterpene content. This study utilized protoplast UV mutagenesis technology to obtain high-yield triterpene strains of S. baumii, providing excellent strains for the development and application of triterpene-related products.

This investigation involved the addition of Trametes versicolor mycelium to Pleurotus ostreatus extract, which was subsequently fermented using Lactobacillus plantarum to improve the quality of the fermented beverage. The concentration of total dissolved solids (^oBrix) generally diminishes with prolonged fermentation time, whereas it increases with the addition of T. versicolor mycelium. The pH values markedly decreased after 12 h, thereafter stabilizing after 24 and 48 h of fermentation, oscillating between 3.04 and 3.32. The total acid content (TAC) escalated in direct correlation with the mycelium ratio and fermentation length, with TAC values spanning from 6.617 to 10.678 g/L at a 1.0% mycelium addition. The ABTS+ antioxidant capacity ascended in direct correlation with the quantity of T. versicolor mycelium incorporated, attaining values of 58.13%, 49.63%, and 48.44% after 12, 24, and 48 h in CT6, respectively. Nonetheless, this ability exhibited a progressive decline over the fermenting period. The addition of T. versicolor mycelium effectively stimulated the proliferation of L. plantarum WCFS1, achieving a high cell density in the treatment supplemented 0.6% T. versicolor mycelium (CT4) after 12, 24, and 48 h of fermentation. The capacity of inhibiting harmful bacteria was maximized with the addition of 1.0% mycelium, resulting in an inhibition zone width of 13.42 mm for Escherichia coli ATCC 85922 after 48 h and 16.65 mm for Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25023 after 24 h of fermentation. The fermented beverage had the greatest sensory score with the addition of 0.6% mycelium after 24 h of fermentation. The findings revealed significant potential for the manufacture of natural-based functional beverage industry.

The Aspergillus section Fumigati comprises economically significant fungi, with its teleomorphic species classified under the genus Neosartorya. Several species within this genus produce a variety of secondary metabolites, offering significant potential for applications in agriculture, medicine, and pharmaceuticals. In this study, 69 strains from the section Fumigati, originating from Korea were taxonomically re-assessed using a combined analysis of their partial β-tubulin and Calmodulin gene sequences, supported along with morphological characteristics. The 69 strains were found to be distributed among 15 species which are now confirmed to be originally isolated from Korea. Of them, 13 species have been previously reported in Korea (A. assulatus, A. coreanus, A. fennelliae, A. fischeri, A. fumigatus, A. hiratsukae, A. laciniosus, A. lentulus, A. neoglaber, A. quadricinctus, A. spinosus, A. turcosus, and A. udagawae), and two species (A. solicola and A. thermomutatus) represent new findings for this region. This study presents a detailed characterization of these two previously unexplored species, highlighting their distinct morphological traits, gene sequence variations, and occurrence in ecological niches in Korea.

A new species of Morchella was described from Mount Rinjani National Park (MRNP), Indonesia, by combining comprehensive morphological characters and molecular data from four genes (ITS, LSU, Tef1, and RPB2). The species is characterized by having large ascomata, with irregular or not parallel pits shaped and ridges; enlarged based stipe; large and spheroidal to broadly spheroidal basidiospores, corrugated or maze-like with a few striations of spore surface. Comparisons with similar taxa were also carried out using morpho-molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses showed the position of Morchella from Mt. Rinjani was confirmed as a new species, and closely related to Morchella galilaea. The descriptions included macro- and micro-characters supplemented by photographs of fresh specimens, SEM images of spore ornamentations, and phylogenetic tree analysis.

This study aimed to establish a fungal symbiont culture collection for coastal dune conservation and determine the diversity and distribution of endophytic fungi in rocky coastal dunes at Gimnyeong and Woljeong in the Jeju Islands. Endophytic fungi can promote plant growth and induce systemic resistance to environmental stress and infections in host plants. The native plant species thriving in these habitats play a crucial role in preventing coastal erosion. A total of 138 fungal endophytes were isolated from two plant groups: basalt-dwelling lithophytes (83 isolates) and sandy soil-dwelling halophytes (55 isolates). The host plants belonged to nine orders, 11 families, 14 genera, and 14 species. Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions classified the isolates into six fungal classes, 11 orders, 15 families, and 22 genera. The dominant classes were Sordariomycetes (51.45%), Eurotiomycetes (26.09%), Dothideomycetes (18.84%). The dominant genera were Penicillium (33.58%), Fusarium (16.79%), Aspergillus (15.33%), and Talaromyces (10.22%). Endophyte diversity, as measured by Shannon's diversity index (2.131), was higher in basalt-habitat lithophytes than in sandy soil-dwelling halophytes. However, no distinct pattern was observed in the variation of endophyte diversity or richness across plant life cycles (annual, perennial, or biennial species).