Soft rot on banana fruit caused by Rhizopus oryzae was identified for the first time in Korea. Colonies were white to light brown and formed numerous sporangiospores. Optimum temperature for mycelial growth was 30degrees C. Sporangia were globose and 30~200 microm. Sporangiophores were usually straight, 8~20 microm, and rhizoids usually in groups of 3~5. Columella were globose to sub-globose and 90~110 microm. Sporangiospores were sub-globose or oval and 4~10 microm. Based on its mycological characteristics, molecular analysis, and pathogenicity to host plants, this fungus was identified as Rhizopus oryzae Went & Prisen Geerligs. This is the first report of soft rot on banana caused by Rhizopus oryzae in Korea.
Fruit ; Fungi ; Humans ; Korea ; Light ; Musa ; Oryza ; Rhizopus ; Sporangia

Phytophthora diseases have become a major impediment in the citrus production in Thailand. In this study, an isolate of Phytophthora denominated as PHY02 was proven to be causal pathogen of root rot of Pomelo (Citrus maxima) in Thailand. The isolate PHY02 was morphologically characterized and identified as Phytophthora palmivora based on molecular analysis of an internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequence. This work also presents in vitro evaluations of the capacities of Chaetomium spp. to control the P. palmivora PHY02. As antagonists, Chaetomium globosum CG05, Chaetomium cupreum CC3003, Chaetomium lucknowense CL01 inhibited 50~61% mycelial growth, degraded mycelia and reduced 92~99% sporangial production of P. palmivora PHY02 in bi-culture test after 30 days. Fungal metabolites from Chaetomium spp. were tested against PHY02. Results showed that, methanol extract of C. globosum CG05 expressed strongest inhibitory effects on mycelial growth and sporangium formation of P. palmivora PHY02 with effective dose ED50 values of 26.5 microg/mL and 2.3 microg/mL, respectively. It is interesting that C. lucknowense is reported for the first time as an effective antagonist against a species of Phytophthora.
Chaetomium* ; Citrus ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Methanol ; Phytophthora* ; Sporangia ; Thailand

In April 2002 and 2003, soft rot on fruit of eggplant (Solanum melongena) caused by Choanephora cucurbitarum was observed in the experimental fields at Gyeongnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services in Korea. The disease began with water-soaking and dark-green lesions, and then the infected tissues were rapidly rotten. Sporangium was subglobose in shape and sized 40~130 microm. Monosporous sporangiola were elliptic, fusiform or ovoid, brown in color, and measured as 12~20 x 6~14 microm. Sporangiospores having three or more appendages were elliptic, fusiform or ovoid in shape, dark brown or brown in color, and sized 14~20 x 7~16 microm. The fungus grew well on potato dextrose agar between 15 and 40degrees C and its optimum growth temperature was 30degrees C. Based on morphological characteristics, the causal fungus of the fruit soft rot of eggplant was identified as C. cucurbitarum. This is the first report on the soft rot of S. melongena caused by C. cucurbitarum in Korea.
Agar ; Fruit ; Fungi ; Glucose ; Korea* ; Solanum melongena* ; Solanum tuberosum ; Sporangia

Cutaneous protothecosis is a rare skin infection, caused by the genus prototheca, especially Prototheca wickerhamii. A 73-year-old woman had a painful, ulcerative patch and oozing plaque on left wrist and dorsum of hand for 2 months. Biopsy specimen revealed thick walled morula-like sporangia in the dermis. P. wickerhamii was isolated in the culture. Oral itraconazole therapy for 8 weeks is not satisfactory. New skin lesion is formed. After oral fluconazole therapy, patient's skin lesion is improved.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Dermis ; Female ; Fluconazole ; Hand ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Prototheca ; Skin ; Sporangia ; Ulcer ; Wrist

Protothecosis is an unusual cutaneous soft tissue infection caused by the Prototheca, which is a genus of the unicelluar, achloric algae. We report a case of cutaneous protothecosis in a 66-year-old female, who showed erythematous, purulent patches and plaques with ulcerations on the right forearm for 2 months. Biopsy specimen revealed the characteristic thick-walled morulalike sporangia in the dermis. Prototheca wickerhamii was isolated in the culture and the biochemical study. Electron microscopic examination showed the thick-walled spores containing dark dense bodies and amyloplasts. After two months of oral itraconazole 200mg/day, skin lesions were improved.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Dermis ; Female ; Forearm ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Plastids ; Prototheca ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Sporangia ; Spores ; Ulcer

Protothecosis is an unusual human infection caused by the achlorophyllic algae Prototheca, and most commonly by Prototheca wickerhamii. A 65-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of a painful, erythematous, non-healing, ulcerative plaque on the extensor surface of his left forearm. He was previously diagnosed with diabetes and iatrogenic Cushing syndrome. A skin biopsy specimen revealed characteristic morula-like sporangia in the dermis by PAS positive staining. Prototheca wickerhamii was identified by culture and biochemical studies. Initially, itraconazole was administered for 8 weeks, followed by fluconazole, and the patient's condition was greatly improved.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Cushing Syndrome ; Dermis ; Fluconazole ; Forearm ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Prototheca ; Skin ; Sporangia ; Ulcer

Protothecosis is an unusual human infection, caused by the genus prototheca, especially Prototheca wickerhamii. A 80-year-old immunocompetent man presented with a 1-month history of multiple reddish brown lobulated plaques on the scalp and face. He denied any history of trauma and had no evidence of underlying diseases such as diabetes mellitus or malignancy. On histopathological examination, characteristic morula-like sporangia in the dermis was revealed. After treatment with oral itraconazole for 8 weeks, the patient's skin lesions are almost healed.
Aged, 80 and over ; Dermis ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Prototheca ; Scalp* ; Skin ; Sporangia

Protothecosis is an infection caused by achloric algae of the genus Prototheca. It is found ubiquitously in nature, particularly in the slime flux of trees and sewage. Only two species including Prototheca wickerhamii and Prototheca zopfii have been known to be pathogenic in humans. A 64-year-old man presented intermittent pruritic erythematous confluent grouped papules and nodules on the left upper arm. Histopathologic study revealed some sporangia of morula-like appearance and chronic granulomatous inflammation. The PAS stain demonstrated the characteristic spores showing multiple internal septations and some unicellular endospore. P. wickerhamii was isolated from culture and identified by the biochemical studies. Oral itraconazole 200 mg/day administration resulted in marked regression of the skin lesion after 8 weeks.
Arm ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Itraconazole ; Middle Aged ; Prototheca ; Sewage ; Skin ; Sporangia ; Spores

Rhizopus soft rot caused by Rhizopus stolonifer occurred on pears (Pyrus serotina) in the Jinju City Agricultural Products Wholesale Market in Korea from 2004 to 2005. The infection usually started from wounds due to cracking at harvest time. The lesions started as water-soaked, rapidly softened, then gradually expanded. The mycelia grew vigorously on the surface of the fruits and formed stolons. Colonies on potato dextrose agar at 25degrees C were white cottony to brownish black. Sporangia were globose, black and 90~120 microm in size. Sporangiophores were light brown and 480~2600 x 12~18 microm in size. Sporangiospores were globose to oval, brownish, streaked, and 8~14 x 6~10 microm in size. Columella were light brownish gray, hemispherical and 70~80 microm in size. On the basis of these symptoms, mycological characteristics and pathogenicity tests on host plants, the fungus was identified as Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb.) Vuill. This is the first report of rhizopus soft rot on pear (P. serotina) caused by R. stolonifer in Korea.
Agar ; Fruit ; Fungi ; Glucose ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Korea* ; Pyrus* ; Rhizopus* ; Solanum tuberosum ; Sporangia ; Virulence ; Wounds and Injuries

A soft rot of fruits caused by Mucor racemosus occurred on cherry tomato collected in Agricultural Products Wholesale Market in Jinju, Korea. The disease infection usually occurred wounded areas after cracking of fruits. At first, the lesions started with water soaked and rapidly softened and diseased lesion gradually expanded. Colonies were white to brownish to gray in color. Sporangia were 32~54 microm in size and globose in shape. Sporangiophores were 8~14 microm in width. Sporangiospores were 5~12 x 4~8 microm in size, ellipsoidal to subglobose in shape. Columella was 27~42 microm in size, obovoid, ellipsoidal, cylindrical-ellipsoidal, slightly pyriform in shape. Chlamydospores were numerous in sporangiophores and barrelshaped when young, subglobose in old cultures. Optimum growth temperature was about 25degrees C. The fungus was identified as M. racemosus Fres. This is the first report of soft rot on cherry tomato caused by M. racemosus in Korea.
Fruit ; Fungi ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Korea* ; Lycopersicon esculentum* ; Mucor* ; Prunus ; Sporangia ; Water ; Wounds and Injuries