First Report of Penicillium brasilianum and P. daleae Isolated from Soil in Korea

In this study, a total of 300 isolates of Penicillium and related teleomorphic genera were collected from soils of 17 locations in Korea from April to May, 2004. Ninety four isolates were identified as the species of Penicillium subgenus Furcatum based on cultural and morphological characteristics and beta-tubulin gene sequences. Among the species, Korean isolates of P. brasilianum Bat. and P. daleae K. M. Zalessky were phylogenetically identical to the reference species based on DNA sequence of the beta-tubulin gene. Here we described and illustrated P. brasilianum and P. daleae that are new in Korea.

DNA Profiles of Trichoderma spp. in Korea

Molecular approaches, internal transcribed spacer(ITS) sequences of ribosomal DNA, and Universal Rice Primer Polymerase Chain Reaction(URP-PCR) were used to investigate the genetic diversity, taxonomic complexity, and relationships of Trichoderma species in mushroom farms. Forty-one isolates of 13 Trichoderma spp. were used in this study and clustered into eight groups. The DNA fingerprint patterns and ITS1 region sequence alignment data showed similar results, but not in some species, such as T. virens, T. atroviride, T. harzianum, and T. aureoviride. Results of this study have proven that the morphology-based taxonomic system has some limitations in terms of classification. The data obtained in this study would be a good index for classifying indistinguishable Trichoderma strains.

DNA Fingerprinting Analysis of the Genus Phytophthora in Korea

In order to investigate biodiversity and establish identification system for Phytophthora spp. in Korea, a variety of band pattern was produced by using the URP (universal rice primer). The fingerprint patterns of Phytophthora spp. showed many common and variable fragments according to their isolates in distinct genotypes. In particular, P. drechsleri was classified into four distinct types (I to IV). P. drechsleri (KACC 40498 and KACC 40499) and P. cryptogea (KACC 40413) appeared to have almost equal bands despite their being different species. Ninety isolates of Phytophthora spp. were clustered into 13 groups based on UPGMA (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic means) analysis. These DNA fingerprinting data would be helpful for inter- and intra-species identification of Phytophthora species.

PCR Based Detection of Phellinus linteus using Specific Primers Generated from Universal Rice Primer (URP) Derived PCR Polymorphic Band

This study was carried out to develop specific primers for PCR detection of Phellinus linteus. Diverse genomes of 15 Phellinus spp. including five Phellinus linteus isolates were fingerprinted by Primer Universal rice primer (URP)1F. The URP-PCR pattern differentiated P. linteus isolates from other phellinus spp. A polymorphic band (2.8 kb), which is unique for P. linteus isolates, was isolated and sequenced. Twenty four-oligonucleotide primer pairs were designed based on information of DNA sequence. The primer set (PLSPF2/PLSPR1) amplified single band (2.2 kb) of expected size with genomic DNA from seven Phellinus linteus, but not with that of other Phellinus species tested. The primers could be used identically in both DNA samples from mycelium and fruit bodies. This specific primers could offer a useful tool for detecting and identifying P. linteus rapidly.

PCR-Based Sensitive Detection of Wood-Decaying Fungus Phellinus linteus by Specific Primer from rDNA ITS Regions

Based on the rDNA ITS sequences data, specific primer set for PCR detection of wood-decaying fungus Phellinus linteus was designed. The length of PCR products using designed primer set(SHF and SHR) was about 540 bp. Among 11 species, 17 isolates of Phellinus spp. including Phellinus linteus, P. pomaceus, P. spiculosus, P. baumi, P. pini, P. igniarius, P. gilvus, P. biscuspidatus, P. weirii, P. johnsonianus, P. robutus, and P. igniarius, seven isolates of Phellinus linteus showed about 540 bp-sized single band. This molecular technique could offer a useful tool for detecting and identifying Phellinus linteus.

PCR Assays for Detection of Pseudomonas tolaasii and Pseudomonas agarici

PCR assays were developed to detect Pseudomonas tolaasii and Pseudomonas agarici using primer sets, PTOF/PTOR and PAGF/R23-1R. The primer set, PTOF and PTOR, was designed from the nucleotide sequence of pPTOF2 that showed specificity for P. tolaasii in dot blot previously. For development of primers specific for P. agarici, ITS I regions of seven P. agarici strains were analyzed. P. agarici strains contained from one up to three putative ITS I regions, which were different in size and nucleotide sequence from each other. From the sequence of the band (PaI-III) common to all P. agarici strains, primer PAGF was designed. PAGF was used for forward primer, and R23-1R as reverse primer to detect P. agarici. Multiplex PCR with two primer sets, PTOF/PTOR and PAGF/R23-lR, successfully produced two fragments (PTSF and PASF) specific for P. tolaasii and P. agarici with the mixture of DNA of P. tolaasii and P. agarici.

A Polyphialidic Hyphomycete Gonytrichum macrocladum New to Korea from the Arable Soil in Jinju-shi

During the study of soil mycoflora in Jinju-shi in 1997, a dematiaceous hyphomycete, Gonytrichum macrocladum , was isolated using the soil dilute plating method. The isolate was recovered with very low frequencies and recorded for the first time in Korea. illustrated descriptions are presented for the isolate examined in the present study.

Erratum: PCR Assays for Detection of Pseudomonas tolasii and Pseudomonas agarici

Volume 28, No. 2, pp.89-92, Table 1 is missing.