Endangered native plant habitats and populations are rapidly disappearing because of climate and environmental changes. As a representative, the abundance of the first-class endangered wild plant, Cypripedium japonicum, has been rapidly decreasing in Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the distribution of rhizosphere and endophytic fungi on C. japonicum in its native habitat. A total of 440 rhizosphere and 79 endosphere fungi isolates were isolated and identified on the basis of their molecular characteristics. Sixty-five genera and 119 fungi species were identified in this study. The genus Trichoderma showed the highest abundance among both rhizosphere and endosphere fungi. Mortierella, Hypocrea, and Penicillium spp. were also relatively dominant species on C. japonicum. The community structures of rhizosphere and endosphere fungi were similar, but endosphere fungi showed greater diversity.
Climate ; Ecosystem ; Fungi* ; Hypocrea ; Korea ; Mortierella ; Penicillium ; Plants* ; Rhizosphere* ; Trichoderma

In order to find an environment-friendly method to suppress astragal stem rot caused by the isolates of Rhizoctonia solani AG 1 and AG 4, we tested an antagonistic fungus Gliocladium virens G1 was evaluated as a biocontrol agent and estimated inorganic compounds and organic materials were tested for their effect of the disease suppression. G. virens G1 effectively inhibited mycelial growth in a dual culture and caused mycelial lysis in the culture filtrate. No adverse effect was observed when examined for seed germination and seedling growth. Promoted seedling growth was observed with the seed treatment. Seeds of astragal plant were germinated higher in the sterile soil than the natural soil. Of 14 inorganics tested, alum, aluminum sulfate and calcium oxide significantly suppressed the mycelial growth and sclerotial germination. Milled pine bark and oak sawdust also suppressed the mycelial growth. Soil amended with 1% of G. virens G1 composted with pine bark (w/v) significantly controlled astragal stem rot in the glasshouse experiments.
Aluminum ; Calcium ; Fungi ; Germination ; Gliocladium* ; Hypocrea* ; Plants ; Rhizoctonia* ; Seedlings ; Soil*

A green mold species that has not previously been reported in Korea was isolated from oak log beds used for shiitake (Lentinula edodes) cultivation that were infested by mushroom flies. In this study, we identify the mold species as Gliocladium viride (an anamorph of Hypocrea lutea) and describe its mycological properties. The fungus was cottony on both potato dextrose agar (PDA) and Czapek yeast extract agar (CYA), but was colored white on PDA and became yellowish green and brown on CYA. Mycelial growth on PDA attained a diameter of 73 mm at 30degrees C after 5 days. The fungus grew faster on malt extract agar (> 80 mm, 5 days at 25degrees C) compared to CYA and PDA (< 68 mm, 5 days at 25degrees C). Penicillate conidiophores of the fungus are hyaline, smooth walled, branching above typically in four stages, and 120~240 microm in length. Club-shaped or slender phialides are formed on the metulae. Conidia of the fungus were ovate and elliptic, yellowish brown and green, and 2.5~3.0 microm x 1.8~2.3 microm in size. Typically, slimy conidia are formed in a mass and colored brown to dark green to almost black. The internal transcribed spacer rDNA and translation elongation factor 1 alpha gene sequences of the fungus isolated here show 99% identity with previously identified G. viride strains.
Agar ; Agaricales ; Diptera ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Fungi ; Gliocladium ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Hypocrea ; Korea ; Peptide Elongation Factor 1 ; Shiitake Mushrooms ; Solanum tuberosum ; Spores, Fungal ; Yeasts

Trichoderma/Hypocrea is a genus of soil-borne or wood-decaying fungi containing members important to mankind as producers of industrial enzymes and biocontrol agents against plant pathogens, but also as opportunistic pathogens of immunocompromised humans. Species identification, while essential in view of the controversial properties of taxa of this genus, has been problematic by traditional methods. Here we will present a critical survey of the various identification methods in use. In addition, we will present an update on the taxonomy and phylogeny of the 88 taxa (which occur as 14 holomorphs, 49 teleomorphs and 25 anamorphs in nature) of Trichoderma/Hypocrea that have been confirmed by a combination of morphological, physiological and genetic approaches.
Chromosome Mapping ; methods ; Conserved Sequence ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Fungal ; Hypocrea ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; methods ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; Species Specificity ; Trichoderma ; classification ; genetics

Hypocrea/Trichoderma is a genus of soil-borne or wood-decaying fungi containing members important to mankind as producers of industrial enzymes and biocontrol agents against plant pathogens, but also as opportunistic pathogens of immunocompromised humans and animals, while others can cause damage to cultivated mushroom. With the recent advent of a reliable, BarCode-aided identification system for all known taxa of Trichoderma and Hypocrea, it became now possible to study some of the biological fundamentals of the diversity in this fungal genus in more detail. In this article, we will therefore review recent progress in (1) the understanding of the geographic distribution of individual taxa; (2) mechanisms of speciation leading to development of mushroom diseases and facultative human mycoses; and (3) the possible correlation of specific traits of secondary metabolism and molecular phylogeny.
Agaricales ; Animals ; Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; Hypocrea ; classification ; pathogenicity ; Mycoses ; microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plants ; microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Trichoderma ; classification ; pathogenicity ; Virulence

Pine tree death caused by pine wood nematode (PWN) involves phoretic relationships between PWN and its vector Japanese pine sawyer beetle (JPS). In an effort to understand the diversity of fungi involved in PWN life cycle, a total of 176 fungal isolates were collected from PWNs, adults and larvae of JPS, PWN-diseased Japanese black pine that was cut down in 2005 at Jinju, Korea. Based on microscopic observation and colony morphology, and sequence analysis of the ITS rDNA, the fungal isolates were identified at the level of genus. Three genera including Mucor, Ophiostoma, and Penicillium were identified from PWN. Two genera of Ophiostoma and Penicillium were discovered from JPS larvae. From JPS adult beetles, nine genera of Aspergillus, Gibberella, Hypocrea, Irpex, Leptosphaeria, Ophiostoma, Penicillium, and Plectosphaerella and unknown basidiomycetes were found. Ten genera from PWN-infected wood were confirmed as Bionectria, Botrytis, Camarops, Fusarium, Hypocrea, Nectrtia, Mucor, Ophiostoma, Penicillium, and Trichoderma. Penicillium and Ophiostoma were commonly distributed on PWN and its vector and host. This is first report of the fungi associated with PWN and its vector and host in Korea.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Aspergillus ; Basidiomycota ; Beetles ; Botrytis ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Fungi* ; Fusarium ; Gibberella ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Hypocrea ; Korea* ; Larva ; Life Cycle Stages ; Mucor ; Ophiostoma ; Penicillium ; Pinus ; Sequence Analysis ; Trichoderma ; Wood*

AIM: Mangrove is one of the oldest living tree species and its leaves are among the most extensively studied botanicals in use today. Scientific research throughout the world has found evidence to support the fact that its foliar extracts have great potential against human microbial pathogens. This study highlights the isolation of foliar fungi from Rhizophora mucronata, Avicenna officialis and Avicenna marina. METHOD: It was isolated in Sabouroud's Dextrose Agar and mass cultivation was done in Sabouroud's Dextrose broth. RESULTS: The ethyl acetate extract showed maximum antibacterial activity which inturn checked for different concentration against bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for Hep2 and MCF7 cell line in vitro. The DNA was isolated from the fungi and the ITS region of 5.8 s RNA was sequenced and assigned to new species as they are separated from the type strains phylogenetic neighbors by sequence similarities. CONCLUSION This preliminary screening of fungal endophytes revealed their potential to yield potent bioactive compounds for drug discovery programmes.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Avicennia ; microbiology ; Base Sequence ; Biological Products ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA, Fungal ; Endophytes ; Humans ; Hypocrea ; genetics ; MCF-7 Cells ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Phylogeny ; Phytotherapy ; RNA, Satellite ; Rhizophoraceae ; microbiology ; Species Specificity