Upon studying the diversity of fungal endophytes associated with pine trees in Korea, many species of Penicillium were encountered. In this study, we report two species of Penicillium isolated from the needles of Pinus rigida. Based on ID region analysis, cultural and morphological characteristics, the two species were identified as Penicillium fellutanum and P. toxicarium, both of which are new to Korea.
Endophytes ; Korea ; Needles ; Penicillium ; Pinus

This study aimed to investigate differences in ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities between disturbed sites and undisturbed old forest sites. ECM root tips of Pinus densiflora were collected from 4 sites disturbed by human activities and 3 undisturbed old forest sites adjacent to the disturbed sites. Results in this study showed that the number of ECM root tips, species diversity, and number of species were significantly higher in the disturbed sites than in the undisturbed sites, suggesting that the ECM fungal community structure was affected by the degree of disturbance.
Human Activities ; Meristem ; Pinus ; Seedlings

To understand Lophatherum gracile plant community's structural characteristics, a survey of community structure and species diversity was conducted through quadrat sampling in Yongchuan district of Chongqing. The results showed that there were 386 species vascular plants, belonging to 117 families and 229 genera. Based on habitat, community structure and species composition, L. gracile were found in three community types: Pinus massoniana community, banboo community, shurb community. Vertical structure was composed of three layers, including tree layer, shrub layer and herb layer. Species in shrub layer was the richness. P. massoniana is the only dominant species of the community, it can not regenerate naturally, the shrub layer has a greater effect on the community of L. gracile in the future. In addition, the banboo community and shurb community is not stable because of human's activity. Therefore, the community characters of L. gracile should be taken care of conservation when the resources are utilized.
China ; Ecosystem ; Pinus ; physiology ; Plants ; Poaceae ; physiology

During our studies on the diverse endophytic fungi resident on conifer needles, many species of Cladosporium previously unreported in Korea were encountered. In this paper, we report on two species of Cladosporium from the needles of pine trees (Pinus spp.). Based on analyses of internal transcribed spacer gene sequence, and cultural and micromorphological characteristics, they were identified as C. oxysporum and C. sphaerospermum. Both species have not been hitherto reported in Korea.
Cladosporium ; Coniferophyta ; Fungi ; Korea ; Needles ; Pinus

Detailed structures of ectomycorrhizae formed in Pinus roots were observed with various microscopes: light, fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopes. The mantles and Hartig nets commonly found in the structure of ectomycorrhiza were newly observed according to developmental stage by various staining. The mycelia were observed to be composed of coiled types on the surface of epidermal root during early stage and fused to form mantles of smooth fungal layers, loosing mycelia with some viscous liquid secreted. The ectomycorrhizal hyphae in anatomical roots penetrated the cortical layer and formed obviously mantle and Hartig net. The round spots of ectomycorrhizal mycelia were observed morphological distribution from the cortical layer to vascular bundle of stele in the ectomycorrhizal roots of Pinus species and especially scattered at the area of meristem at the root tip as longitudinal sections. Those mycelia penetrated seemed to move into other roots by means of vascular bundle of ectomycorrhizal roots and newly form ectomycorrhizal roots of dichotomous branches.
Fluorescence ; Fungi* ; Hyphae ; Meristem ; Mycorrhizae ; Pinus*

This study was conducted to investigate the different effects of ectomycorrhizal fungal (ECMF) species on the growth of seedlings of Pinus densiflora, and the effects of ECMF diversity on plant productivity. A total of five species of ECMF were isolated from root tips of pine seedlings collected from Mt. Songni and used as inocula. Pots containing pine seedlings were inoculated with either a single ECMF species or a mixture of five ECMF species. All of the seedlings formed ECM on their roots except for the control plants. The pine seedlings' growth responses varied by the different ECMF species. Also, pine seedlings inoculated with a mixture of five ECMF species showed the highest growth response. The results of the study suggest that the colonization of diverse species of ECMF will increase plant productivity, and the selection of suitable ECMF species could be an important factor for plant growth.
Colon ; Efficiency ; Fungi* ; Meristem ; Pinus* ; Plants ; Seedlings*

Species of Phoma and its allies were isolated during a survey on the diversity of endophytic fungi associated with pine trees in Korea. Based on the phylogenetic analyses of internal transcribed spacer and beta-tubulin gene sequences, two Phoma-like species from the needles of Pinus koraiensis were identified as Peyronellaea calorpreferens and P. glomerata. They were also morphologically identified based on the previous descriptions. Here, we report P. calorpreferens and P. glomerata being present in Korea as endophytic fungi in Pinus koraiensis.
Fungi ; Korea ; Needles ; Pinus ; Sequence Analysis ; Tubulin

The mycelia were directly isolated from eight species of fungal basidiocarps, confirmed to the ectomycorrhiza in the roots from the fields (forestry); Suillus bovinus, Paxillus involutus, Lactarius hysginus, Russula fragilis, Lepista nuda, Lyophyllum shimeji, Tricholoma matsutake, and Russula integra. The mycelia were pure-cultured with several transferring in various agars, and inoculated to the roots of pine (Pinus densiflora) seedling by in vitro method. After ten months growth under artificially aseptic conditions, all pine seedlings inoculated were stimulated at the growth-height, whereas those not inoculated were nearly dead. Also, the ramifications of ectomycorrhizal pine roots formed in the synthetic in vitro systems and were various according to the different mycelia. Synthesis of ectomycorrhiza were clearly confirmed in ten months growth, but not distinguished at this moment. It was clearly proved that the mycelia isolated caused the ectomycorrhizae in the roots of pine seedlings.
Agar ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal ; Fungi* ; Mycorrhizae ; Pinus* ; Seedlings* ; Tricholoma

In this study, the effect of soil ameliorators on ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities in coal mine spoils was investigated. Organic fertilizers and slaked lime were applied as soil ameliorators in 3 abandoned coal mine spoils. One year after the initial treatment, roots of Pinus densiflora seedlings were collected and the number of ECM species, colonization rate, and species diversity were assessed. The results showed that the soil ameliorators significantly increased ECM colonization on the roots of P. densiflora. The results suggest that soil ameliorators can have a positive effect on ECM fungi in terms of growth of host plants and show the potential use of soil ameliorator treatment for revegetation with ECM-colonized pine seedlings in the coal mine spoils.
Calcium Compounds ; Coal ; Colon ; Fertilizers ; Fungi ; Oxides ; Pinus ; Seedlings ; Soil

Fungal endophytes are microfungi that live in plants without causing apparent symptoms of infection. This study was conducted to identify endophytic fungi isolated from leaves of coniferous trees in Bohyeon Mountain of Korea. We collected leaves of two species of coniferous trees, Pinus densiflora and Pinus koraiensis, from 11 sites in the study area. A total 58 isolates were obtained and identified using molecular and morphological characteristics. Four species of endophytic fungi were isolated from P. densiflora: Lophodermium conigenum, Leotiomycetes sp., Septoria pini-thunbergii, and Polyporales sp., while two fungal species were isolated from P. koraiensis: Eurotiomycetes sp. and Rhytismataceae sp. The most frequently isolated species were L. conigenum and S. pini-thunbergii.
Coniferophyta ; Endophytes ; Fungi ; Korea ; Needles ; Pinus ; Polyporales ; Trees