Morphological Characteristics of Pseudosclerotia of Grifola umbellata in In Vitro

The present study was carried out to investigate morphological characteristics of pseudosclerotia of Grifola umbellata formed by artificial cultures. Isolate G. umbellata DUM GUS-01 was obtained from sclerotium cultivated in field. The fungal isolate was cultured on PDYM broth, PDYMA(potato dextrose yeast malt agar) and oak sawdust media at 20degrees C under the dark condition. G. umbellata DUM GUS-01 showed a volumetric increment of fungal lumps rather than mycelial growth. Particularly, G. umbellata DUM GUS-01 produced a large amount of melanin pigments in all culture treatments. The color of the fungal mass has been changed into grey gradually, and then formed melanized rind-like structure on its superficial part. The fungal structures which were covered with melanized rind-like layer were named as pseudosclerotia of G. umbellata. The pseudosclerotia of G. umbellata DUM GUS-01 formed a new white mycelial mass, which was swollen out of the melanized rind structure for its volumetric increment. When the pseudosclerotia were sectioned, their structure was discriminated from two structures such as a melanized rind-like structure layer formed by aggregation of aged mycelia and a white mycelial mass with high density. As results of scanning electron microscopic examination, the pseudosclerotia of G. umbellata DUM GUS-01 which were formed in in vitro conditions were similar to the sclerotia of G. umbellata cultivated in natural conditions except for the crystals formed in medula layer of natural sclerotia. Although size, solidity of rind structure and mycelial compactness of pseudosclerotia were more poor than those of natural sclerotia, the morphological structure and growth pattern of pseudosclerotia were very similar to those of natural sclerotia. Therefore, it is probable to induce pseudosclerotia to sclerotia of G. umbellata in in vitro conditions. Consequently, it seems that the induced pseudosclerotia can be used as inoculum sources to substitute natural sclerotia in field cultivation.

Sawdust Media Affecting the Mycelial Growth and the Fruiting Body Formation of Sparassis crispa

Six strains of Sparassis crispa such as S. crispa DUM-01, DUM-02, DUM-03, DUM-04, DUM-05, and DUM-06 were tested for their mycelial growth on 6 different kinds of sawdust media and primordial formation on 10 different compositions of larch sawdust media. The highest mycelial growth was recorded on the larch sawdust. Of the 6 strains of S. crispa, S. crispa DUM-04 recorded the favorable formation of primordia. The primordial formation of S. crispa DUM-04 was more favorable on L-3 medium than 9 kinds of larch sawdust media. When S. crispa DUM-04 was cultured on the media of larch sawdust+pine sawdust, the formation of its fruiting bodies was more outstanding on the media of larch sawdust+pine sawdust than those of larch sawdust.

A New Method for Cultivation of Sclerotium of Grifola umbellata

Sclerotia of Grifola umbellata were cultivated by two methods such as burying and root inoculation methods. The sclerotia of G. umbellata produced by the burying method were 6.0~6.8 x 3.4~4.6 x 1.8~1.9 cm (Width x Length x Thickness) in size and 17.3~19.6 g in weight, respectively. Their increase rate was 1.10~1.12 times. On the other hand, the sclerotia cultivated by the root inoculation method were 18.3~31.5 x 12.5~26.4 x 3.1~3.7 cm (Wx L x T) in size and 219.1~576.6 g in weight, respectively. Their growth increment was 11.18~39.77 times. The rhizomorphs of Armillaria mellea were developed with a high density under fallen leaves layer covering cultivation site, and distributed mainly between soil surface and soil depth of about 10 cm as well as colonized prominently on the inoculated wood logs. Fungal interaction between G. umbellata and A. mellea were observed mainly in the stage of white sclerotium of G. umbellata. The sclerotia of G. umbellata which were developed newly and harvested in the root inoculation method were twined with root hairs of host tree and rhizomorphs of A. mellea. The sclerotia of G. umbellata decomposing root hairs of host tree were confirmed through SEM examination. Physiochemical characteristics of soil in all cultivation sites had no significant differences. Soil pH were in the range of pH 3.98~4.40. Organic matters were the range of 17.97~23.86% and moisture contents of soil were 12.00~18.20%. Soil temperatures showed 12.9~13.8degrees C in November and 22.0~23.9degrees C in August, respectively. In conclusion, the root inoculation method seems to be a practical method for cultivating sclerotia of G. umbellata due to its many advantages such as simplicity of inoculation process, shortening of cultivation periods and facility of harvest.

Blue Mold of Pear Caused by Penicillium aurantiogriseum in Korea

The isolation of a causal pathogen from pear fruits showing lesions of blue mold was carried out, which were preserved in the packinghouse of Anseong for the export to the United States. When the lesion of pears (Pyrus pyrifolia Niitaka) was checked in packinghouse, their fruit epidermis over decayed parts varied from light tan to dark brown. Also, the decayed flesh was soft and watery, and separated easily from the healthy tissue. Based on the cultural and morphological characteristics, the fungus (IL-12 isolate) was identified as Penicillium aurantiogriseum. This is the first report associated with blue mold of pear caused by P. aurantiogriseum in Korea.

Sclerotial Development of Grifola umbellata

Sclerotial development of Grifola umbellata (Pers. : Fr.) Donk was investigated through microscopic examinations. The sclerotium of G. umbellata was bumpy and rugged, multi-branched, and dark-brown to black in color. The sclerotial development of G. umbellata was categorized into three stages such as sclerotial initial, development and maturation. Sclerotium development was initiated as the white fungal mass. The superficial part of white sclerotium changed into gray, light brown and then black as its development proceeded further. As a distinctive characteristic of this fungus, a large number of crystals were observed in the medulla layer of sclerotium during its maturation. For development of new sclerotium, G. umbellata formed a white sclerotial primordium on the matured sclerotium. Development of sclerotium in G. umbellata was intimately associated with rhizomorphs of Armillariella mellea and the developing sclerotia were often penetrated by rhizomorphs of A. mellea into medulla layer.

Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Paekryung and Daecheong Islands

Twenty species representing five genera of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were isolated from twenty-four soil samples of the rhizosphere of the family Gramineae in Paekryung and Daecheong islands. A few species such as Glomus invermaius, G. marcrocapus var. marcrocarpus and Scutellospora coralloidea were recorded for the first time in Korea. The number of spores per 10g of soil was in the range of 8~337 in Paekryung and 16~349 in Daecheong island, respectively. The number of species per 10g of soil was 2~8 species in Paekryung and 2~7 species in Daecheong, respectively. Among them, G. macrocarpus var. macrocarpus was the most abundant species in both islands. The species diversity and evenness were almost similar in Paekryung and Daecheong Islands. Based on the host plants in two islands, the species diversity showed the highest value of 1.63 in Ischaemum crassipes, whereas the eveuness of species showed the lowest value of 0.35 in Eragrostis ferraginea.

Treatment of Fistula in ano by Kshara Sutra

PURPOSE: Sushrutra (BC 5th century) advocated a conservative management by applying Kshara Sutra (phyto-chemically processed thread) for the treatment of anal fistulas in India. In 1965, this technique was introduced by Deshpande and 40 cases were treated on an "outpatient" ambulatory basis. The purpose of this study is to determine the result of Kshara Sutra (KS) in treatment of fistula in ano. METHODS: One hundred and five patients with anal fistula were treated with KS. Excision of the primary lesion and fistula tract was done externally and KS was passed around the tract. Tissue gripped within the thread was the anoderm, mucosa, and sphincter. Finally, the thread encircled the part of the anal wall that needed excision and an additional clamp for loose tying. RESULTS: The range of age was from 21 to 59 years while the sex ratio was 6.5:1 (M:F). In 94 patients, the average cutting time was about two weeks, and the other were three to four weeks. KS thread was applied only once for primary operation in 98 cases, and a successive change was required in 7 cases. The mean hospital stay after operation was 4.2 days. In 76 cases, the mean period of follow up was 23 (range 7~32) months. There were no recurrences, but there were 4 mild deformities of the anus, 2 mild soilings, 1 delayed cutting, and 5 delayed healings. CONCLUSIONS: Kshara Sutra is a technically easy, safe, and simple method and does not require a long hospitalization.

In the View of the Private Practitioner

No abstract available.

Takano's plication method for complete rectal prolapse in the aged

No abstract available.

Nine cases of rectocele

No abstract available.