This study investigated the diversity of endophytic fungi isolated from the brown seaweed, collected from six coastal regions in Korea: Gangneung, Pohang, Buan, Taean, Tongyeong and Yeosu. A total of 154 fungal strains were isolated using ITS rDNA sequence analysis, resulting in 84 species across 43 genera. Species diversity, assessed based on the Shannon index, was highest in Tongyeong (H'=3.273), followed by Pohang (H'=3.209), Buan (H'=2.691), Yeosu (H'=2.649), Gangneung (H'=2.342), and Taean (H'=2.025). Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) revealed that water temperature and dissolved oxygen are the primary environmental factors influencing the regional variation in fungal community structure. This study underscores the significance of environmental conditions in shaping the diversity and community composition of endophytic fungi in .

It is well known that the number of true truffles in the wild is decreasing. The aim of the study was to develop an effective, simple and affordable method of asci disruption to release black truffle spores. It was shown that the spore release can be achieved by different ways, such as mechanical or biological destruction. Mechanical homogenization of fruiting bodies using an immersion blender in tandem with a ball mill was shown to be effective and led to destruction of at least 85% of asci and release of spores. Also, the first approach we applied was the biological method of spore activation performed by African and grape snails. As a result of digestion of truffle fruiting bodies, the spores not only lost their protective shells, but also changed their morphology, which promoted their germination . The spores obtained using these two methods are capable of forming mycelial hyphae on nutrient media. The results of our study can be used to prepare inoculum of spp. and to obtain their pure cultures in agriculture.

is a significant phytopathogen causing downy mildew disease in cucurbit crops. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between and its host is essential for developing effective disease management strategies. RxLR effectors, secreted by pathogens, play a crucial role in modulating host immunity. In this study, we sequenced the genome of the isolate CNU-OTH and identified RxLR effector genes using bioinformatics tools. A total of 45 RxLR effector genes were identified from the genome of . Cloning and functional characterization of these effectors were performed through transient expression assays in leaves. Subcellular localization of selected effectors was determined using GFP-tagged constructs. Functional characterization revealed that while most effectors did not induce a hypersensitive response (HR), a subset showed either weak or strong necrosis. Furthermore, several effectors demonstrated the ability to suppress cell death induced by BAX and INF1. Subcellular localization analysis indicated that RxLR effectors exhibited fluorescence in the nucleus and plasma membrane of cells, suggesting diverse roles in host-pathogen interactions. This study provides insights into the genetic diversity and functional characterization of RxLR effectors in . Understanding the role of these effectors in manipulating host immunity is critical for developing strategies to combat downy mildew disease in cucurbit crops. The findings contribute to the broader understanding of plant-pathogen interactions and may facilitate the development of disease-resistant crop varieties.

The Korean fir (), a native coniferous species of Korea, predominantly inhabits the subalpine zone. Recently, this species has experienced a significant population decline, primarily attributed to environmental changes in the subalpine zone driven by global warming. Efforts to prevent the extinction of the Korean fir are underway, with a predominant focus on abiotic factors contributing to its decline. However, there is a notable lack of research on the complex interactions between microbial communities and Korean fir, particularly concerning how these interactions vary with the health status of the trees and their impact on population sustainability. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the rhizosphere fungal community structure associated with Korean fir trees in Jirisan National Park. We examined different habitat types, including the rhizospheres of native, cultivated, and dead Korean fir and bulk soil. Our findings revealed that the rhizosphere fungal community in the natural habitat of Korean fir predominantly comprises Agaricomycetes. Furthermore, the fungal community structure was more responsive to habitat type variations than seasonal changes. These findings provide basic information for conserving this endangered species and developing alternative habitats for the Korean fir.

Microbes are critical contributors in main areas of biotechnology, including green, red, and white biotechnology. This is why the importance of the preservation of microbial resources cannot be emphasized enough. Culture collections are repositories not only for the preservation and maintenance of a large variety of microbial resources and the associated data but also for their distribution in a quality-controlled manner. The mission of culture collections facilitates and supports utilization of microbial resources for research, education, and industrial purposes. Led by the World Federation for Culture Collections, an international organization committed to fostering the activities of culture collections of microorganisms and cell lines, more than 850 culture collections from 80 countries and regions work together to ensure the perpetuation of microbial resources. In addition, domestic networks, such as Japan Society for Culture Collections and United States Culture Collection Network along with regional networks for Europe, Latin America, and Asia thrive to ensure the long-term viability of microbial resources. The Republic of Korea recently took the first step in networking through the coordination of six ministries which house nine national microbial culture collections. With an explosion in microbiome research and a dramatic increase in the number of microbiome samples, the considerable challenge of culture collections will therefore be implementing the biobanking infrastructure of microbiome samples. Creating a domestic network of national culture collections is a key factor in efficiently and comprehensively managing nation-led microbiome research projects, particularly resulting microbiome samples. In this context, this review aims to provide an overview of microbial culture collection network and their future role to address the challenge in the microbiome era.

The cultivation period of shiitake () is approximately 120-150 d, which is longer than that of other edible mushrooms. The development of fruiting bodies in shiitake is affected by light exposure. In this study, we investigated the effects of blue light on the production and ergothioneine contents of shiitake mushrooms. Fruiting body production (yield) on the medium irradiated with blue light increased in both cultivars (L808, 555 ± 60 g/3 kg medium; Sanbackhyang, 1090 ± 106 g/3 kg medium). Additionally, blue light increased the ergothioneine contents and antioxidative activities, and the ergothioneine content of L808 (about 2.8 mg/g) was higher than that of Sanbackhyang (about 1.2 mg/g). These results suggest that blue light is effective in shortening the cultivation period and increasing ergothioneine contents during shiitake cultivation.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) are crucial for the formation of fruiting bodies, including the newly discovered , in Korea. This study explores the diversity and distribution of EMF communities associated with across various regions in Korea and assesses the effects of soil physicochemical properties on these communities. Soil analysis indicated that habitats have a lower pH compared to habitats documented in other studies, with sandy loam texture being optimal for fruiting body development. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis revealed significant positive correlations between the relative abundances of certain EMF genera and exchangeable potassium and calcium. These findings offer valuable insights into the ecological requirements of and support future conservation and cultivation strategies for truffle species in Korea.

A fungal strain designated KNUF-22-014, belonging to the family , was isolated from a soil sample collected in Sobaeksan National Park, South Korea. Phylogenetic trees based on the combined sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and the large subunit of 28S rRNA () gene, as well as on five concatenated loci (, ITS, translation elongation factor 1α, β-tubulin, and subunit 1 of RNA polymerase II), revealed that the isolate falls within the clade containing the genus but occupies a distinct phylogenetic position. Its closest relative is . Morphologically, strain KNUF-22-014 can be distinguished from by the shape of its phialides (subcylindrical vs. lageniform), its conidiophore type (arborescent or unbranched vs. trichodermatoid), and its larger conidia size (2.1 ± 0.1 µm vs. 1.5 ± 0.1 µm). Phylogenetic analysis and morphological observations indicate that KNUF-22-014 represents a novel species in the genus , for which the name sp. nov. is proposed.

A survey of fungal diversity in soil and freshwater habitats in Korea isolated several species of the class . Morphological characteristics and multigene phylogenetic analyses showed that these species represented new records for Korea. Herein, we report the descriptions, illustrations, and molecular phylogeny of 19 species previously undescribed in Korea, including , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and

Fungi and their natural products, like secondary metabolites, have gained a huge demand in the last decade due to their increasing applications in healthcare, environmental cleanup, and biotechnology-based industries. The fungi produce these secondary metabolites (SMs) during the different phases of their growth, which are categorized into terpenoids, alkaloids, polyketides, and non-ribosomal peptides. These SMs exhibit significant biological activity, which contributes to the formulation of novel pharmaceuticals, biopesticides, and environmental bioremediation agents. Nowadays, these fungal-derived SMs are widely used in food and beverages, for fermentation, preservatives, protein sources, and in dairy industries. In healthcare, it is being used as an antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and immunosuppressive drug. The usage of modern tools of biotechnology can achieve an increase in demand for these SMs and large-scale production. The present review comprehensively analyses the diversity of fungal SMs along with their emerging applications in healthcare, agriculture, environmental sustainability, and nutraceuticals. Here, the authors have reviewed the recent advancements in genetic engineering, metabolic pathway manipulation, and synthetic biology to improve the production and yield of these SMs. Advancement in fermentation techniques, bioprocessing, and co-cultivation approaches for large-scale production of SMs. Investigators further highlighted the importance of omics technologies in understanding the regulation and biosynthesis of SMs, which offers an understanding of novel applications in drug discovery and sustainable agriculture. Finally, the authors have addressed the potential for genetic manipulation and biotechnological innovations for further exploitation of fungal SMs for commercial and environmental benefits.

During the collection of macrofungi resources in Son Tra Nature Reserve, Danang, Vietnam, two fungal specimens of the genus , designated as M34295 and M3457, living on dead still-attached branches of L. at an elevation around 360 m above the sea level were recorded. The morphological characteristics of the specimens shared some common characteristics with spp. However, the specimens possessed some distinct characteristics from other species. The phylogenetic analyses based on the combined internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and Large Subunit (LSU) molecular markers of ribosomal genes revealed that the two specimens clustered in a single clade at species level with all tested species with strong bootstrap support of 99%. Among genus, our specimens seemed closest to in morphological and genetic characteristics. Based on the combination of morphological approaches and multilocus phylogenetic analyses, we introduced sp. nov. as a new species. was characterized by its skewed bell-like basidiome with the color of dark blue to midnight blue, 1.0 - 1.5 cm diam, stipeless, light pink lamellae, sparse, occasionally branching. Basidiospores broadly ovoid to subglobose, 6-7 × 5.5-6 µm. To our knowledge, this is the first record of fungus in Vietnam.

During an investigation of fungi of the orders and in Korea, a new species, sp. nov., and three new records, , , and , were found in soil and freshwater samples. All species are described based on morphological and molecular evidence. is characterized by globose or subglobose sporangiospores, a variable (globose, subglobose, oval, or oblong) columellae, chlamydospore production, and a maximum growth temperature of 34 °C. The distinct characteristics of the new species and their closely related species are discussed. An identification key to the species of Korea is also presented.

Endophytic fungi associated with four plant species in Korea were isolated and characterized using morphological and molecular analyses. Phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, β-tubulin (TUB) gene, and translation elongation factor 1-α (EF1-α) gene revealed four previously unrecorded species of in Korea: , , , and . Detailed descriptions of colony morphology and conidial characteristics are provided for each species. This study expands our knowledge of the diversity and distribution of endophytic in Korea and highlights the importance of these fungi in the ecosystem.

Mitigation of the environment from hazardous pesticides is clamant for all living things. The behavior of the fungicide Fuberidazole was investigated toward biodegradation. Biotransformation experiments were conducted by bacterial strains isolated from soils including, (XC), and (PS), and fungal strains including, (AF), (AN) and (PC). Analysis and quantification of Fuberidazole degradation and its metabolites were performed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry and UV-visible spectrophotometry. and displayed great bioremedial potential and degraded 91 and 86% of Fuberidazole after 35 days. Significant metabolites such as Benzimidazole 2-carboxylic acid, Benzimidazole, and 1-(1H-benzimidazole-2-yl)ethanone were produced in the current experiment. The increasing order of half-life for all strains was obtained as, PS (10.3) < PC (10.6) < AN (11) < AF (11.9) = XC (11.9) days. Experimental results demonstrated the capability of bacterial cells to efficiently utilize Fuberidazole as a nutrition source and the significance of favorable environmental conditions for its dissipation.

Food insecurity and malnutrition are among the major problems in most developing nations recently. Mushroom cultivation is one of the promising strategies to overcome these challenges. The growth and productivity of mushrooms differ because of their wide range of cultivation substrates. Cultivating on suitable substrates is one of the key factors affecting its growth and productivity. This study was, therefore, conducted to investigate the effect of cultivation substrates, namely straws of (Trt1), barley (Trt2), and wheat (Trt3), husks of faba bean (Trt4) and field pea (Trt5), and sawdust (Trt6) alone, and their mixture (1:1, w/w) (Trt7) on the growth and yield of . Mycelial colonization, primordial formation, and days to first harvest were faster (13.00, 19.67, and 22.67 days) for the cultivated on Trt7 whereas those grown on Trt6 were delayed (18.00, 27.00, and 29.67 days), respectively. Trt7 gave a higher (67.33) fruiting body/bunch and total yield (2001.70 g/bag). Biological efficiency was also significantly ( < 0.05) higher for Trt7 (238.64%). Strong relationships between cap diameter and mushroom yield ( = 0.84***), number of bunches ( = 0.76***), number of fruiting bodies ( = 0.80***), stipe length ( = 0.83***), and total yield ( = 0.84***) were among significant positive correlations observed. In conclusion, cultivating on the Trt7 (mixed substrate) is recommended rather than using either of the residues alone.

Potato ( L.) is one of the most important food crops in Korea. In July 2021 and 2022, dark black-rot symptoms with pink tinges were observed on field-grown potato tubers in Hongsung and Chuncheon, Korea, respectively. We obtained four isolates (HSv05 and HSv10 from Hongsung, and CCp03 and CCp05 from Chuncheon) from diseased tubers and identified these isolates as by analyzing the sequences of internal transcribed spacer rDNA region and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit II () mtDNA gene. Additionally, we compared the cultural and morphological characteristics of these four isolates with those of the reference isolate KACC 48066 of and the literature. Further, we tested the pathogenicity of all these isolates against potato tubers. The cultural and morphological characteristics of the four test isolates were similar to those of the reference isolate and the literature; all four test isolates proved pathogenic to potato tubers. Therefore, we concluded that is the causal agent of potato leak and this is the first report of the disease on potato in Korea.

Owing to the production of lignin-modifying enzymes (LMEs), white-rot fungi (WRF) such as polypores are potent organisms in the biodegradation of xenobiotic pollutants. The nonspecific function of LMEs including laccase and manganese peroxidase (MnP), has enabled the use of WRF in biotechnological applications, particularly in bioremediation. In this study, 12 strains from nine white-rot basidiomycete genera viz., , , , , , , , , and were isolated from Iran and identified using morphological and molecular tools. The enzyme activity of laccase and manganese peroxidase that directly correlated with the biodegradation were determined, and the strains with the highest enzyme activities were evaluated for their ability to degrade 400 mg/L of anthracene over 28 days. Gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) revealed that four polypores viz., v21te, v22da, , and sp. degraded 64%, 52%, 34%, and 20% of the anthracene, respectively. According to our analysis, the examined indigenous WRF are potentially useful candidates for the development of new mycoremediation techniques to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Nucleolus is the most conspicuous sub-nuclear compartment that is well known as the site of RNA polymerase I-mediated rDNA transcription and assembly of ribosome subunits in eukaryotes. Recent studies on mammalian cells suggest that functions of nucleolus are not limited to ribosome biogenesis, and that nucleolus is involved in a diverse array of nuclear and cellular processes such as DNA repair, stress responses, and protein sequestration. In fungi, knowledge of nucleolus and its functions was primarily gleaned from the budding yeast. However, little is known about nucleolus of the filamentous fungi. Considering that the filamentous fungi are multi-cellular eukaryotes and thus distinct from the yeast in many aspects, researches on nucleoli of filamentous fungi would have the potential to uncover the evolution of nucleolus and its roles in the diverse cellular processes. Here we provide a brief up-to-date overview of nucleolus in general, and evidence suggesting their roles in fungal physiology and development.

The section includes xerophilic fungi that are economically significant and broadly distributed in natural settings as well as human habitats and are recognized for their sustenance on substrates with low water activity. Accurate identification of fungal species is essential for any reliable advances in mycological research. In this study, 108 strains from the section , originating from Korea and conserved at the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection, were subjected to re-identification using a combined dataset that included partial sequences of β-tubulin (), Calmodulin (), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit () genes, along with their morphological characteristics. We confirmed the presence of 12 species among the 108 strains originally isolated from Korea. Of them, nine species have been formerly reported in Korea (, , , , , , , , and ), and 3 species (, , and ) were found to be previously unreported to be isolated from Korea. Here, the detailed characteristic features of these three unexplored species are presented, including specific morphological traits, genetic variations, and ecological niches in Korea.

The order Chaetothyriales encompasses black yeasts and related fungi known for their diverse morphologies, asexual reproduction, and habitat preferences. In this study, we isolated two fungal strains belonging to Chaetothyriales, designated KNUF-23-13A and KNUF-22-020, from a longhorn beetle () and soil sample, respectively, in Korea. Phylogenetic analyses based on the concatenated nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer regions and partial sequences of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA, β-tubulin (TUB2), and actin (ACT) genes revealed that the strains were grouped with strains of and , respectively. For strain KNUF-23-13A, cultural and morphological differences were observed in the shape and size of mycelium between it and its phylogenetically closest species, CGMCC 3.17311, supporting the novelty of this isolated species. In the case of strain KNUF-22-020, the cultural and morphological characteristics were similar to those previously reported for P2854. Based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses, we revealed KNUF-23-13A as a novel species, which we describe and name sp. nov., and KNUF-22-020 as , a previously unreported species in Korea.

During disease surveys in 2021 and 2022, outbreaks of leaf spot were observed in East Asian hogweed () plants in fields located in Pyeongchang and Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, Korea. The disease incidence in the fields ranged from 2% to 50%. Based on the morphological and cultural characteristics, four single-conidium fungal isolates from the leaf spot symptoms were identified as sp. The phylogenetic analyses based on the combined sequences from the four genes (LSU, ITS, , and ) indicated that the isolates clustered very closely with However, the morphological and cultural characteristics of the isolates exhibited somewhat distinct differences from those of , suggesting that the isolates correspond to a novel subspecies. Pathogenicity tests revealed that the isolates caused leaf spot in East Asian hogweed plants. This is the first report of subsp. subsp. nov. causing leaf spot in East Asian hogweed.