Surveys of indigenous fungi were conducted in Songnisan National Park, Korea, from 2024 to 2025 to investigate the local mycoflora. All collected specimens were identified using a polyphasic approach combining morphological characterization with molecular phylogenetic analysis based on ribosomal DNA sequences. Consequently, six species—Aureoboletus miniatoaurantiacus, Boletus bainiugan, Lactarius mirus, Phaeotremella yunnanensis, Ramaria rubella, and Xerocomus galbanus—were identified for the first time in Korea. This study provides detailed morphological descriptions and phylogenetic evidence for these six newly recorded macromycetes, contributing to the documented fungal biodiversity of the Korean Peninsula.
The fungal strain KNUF-25-YP1 was isolated from the root collar of wilted red pepper in Gyeongbuk Province, Korea. The strain was characterized by the production of Phialophora-like conidiophores and Humicola-like aleuriospores. Its initial classification was based on its observable characteristics, including morphological and cultural characteristics. To confirm its identification and elucidate its evolutionary relationships, molecular phylogenetic analyses were conducted using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and partial sequences of the large subunit 28S rRNA (LSU) gene. The results revealed that the strain belongs to the genus Humicola. Its ITS regions and LSU gene exhibited 99.81% and 99.75% similarities, respectively, to Humicola phialophoroides CBS 125784T. Integrated analysis of morphological and phylogenetic data led to the identification of strain KNUF-25-YP1 as Humicola phialophoroides. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first report of H. phialophoroides, a previously unrecorded species in Korea, thereby enhancing our understanding of its taxonomy.
The Korea National Arboretum (KNA) in Pocheon, Korea has diverse plant species including Rosaceae species of high ecological and landscape significance; however, no fungal disease surveys have been conducted. Thus, we investigated rust occurrence and identification across diverse plant species of the subtribe Malinae (Rosaceae) and examined host diversity (or specificity) of rusts in this study, as well as in the literature and databases. We collected rust (aecial stages) samples from the leaves of nine Malinae species on June 20, July 7, July 21, or August 8, 2025. We also identified rust samples by analyzing the sequences of internal transcribed spacer and large subunit rDNA regions, as well as aeciospore characteristics. We revealed that Gymnosporangium asiaticum occurred in six host species of five genera (Aria, Chaenomeles, Crataegus, Pseudocydonia, and Pyrus) in subtribe Malinae; Gymnosporangium yamadae occurred in three species of the genus Malus in the subtribe. Literature and databases further revealed that G. asiaticum occurred in plant species of nine genera (Aria, Chaenomeles, Crataegus, Cydonia, Malus, Photinia, Pourthiaea, Pseudocydonia, and Pyrus); G. yamadae occurred in plant species of only the genus Malus in Malinae. This is the first comparative study of rusts caused by G. asiaticum and G. yamadae at KNA; it provides basic information on the occurrence of two different rusts and may facilitate the development of appropriate rust management strategies.
There is an urgent need to systematically manage fungal resources due to the increase in unrecorded and new species. Therefore, this study proposes standardized Korean names for 396 mushroom species, including approximately 300 species that previously lacked domestic nomenclature. Generic names were established based on the 1978 naming principles and the type of species. Family‒genus names were also unified. The proposed names reflect the etymological meanings of the Latin scientific names and their unique morphological characteristics. Previously misapplied nomenclature has been rectified and seven families, 12 genera, and 396 species out of 70 families and 150 genera have been given new or revised Korean names. This study will facilitate academic communication and minimize confusion regarding the nomenclature of domestic fungal resources.
The fungal strain, designated KNUF-25-GA222, was collected from Miryang-si, Gyeongnam province, Korea and was identified as a previously unreported species within the genus Acaromyces. When cultivated on potato dextrose agar and yeast extract peptone glucose agar, blastoconidial production was observed, and the strain KNUF-25-GA222 was determined to be a yeast-like fungus based on its morphological characteristics. Molecular phylogenetic analyses were performed using concatenated nucleotide sequences from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and 28S rRNA (LSU) gene to determine its taxonomic position and evolutionary relationships. The results revealed that the strain belonged to the genus Acaromyces, with high sequence similarities of 99.6% and 100% to A. ingoldii CBS 10536 in the ITS region and the LSU gene, respectively. Phylogenetic and morphological evidence collectively supports the identification of KNUF-25-GA222 as the asexual morph of A. ingoldii. To the best of our knowledge, A. ingoldii was confirmed as a previously unreported species in Korea.
This study aims to identify and characterize the fungus associated with leaf spot symptoms on Heracleum moellendorffii (Apiaceae) in Korea. Diseased leaf samples were collected from three locations in Korea, and fungal isolates were obtained and examined. Its morphological characteristics were consistent with those of the genus Septoria. In multilocus phylogenetic analyses using the internal transcribed spacer region, the large subunit rDNA, translation elongation factor 1-alpha, and β-tubulin gene sequences, the isolates formed a distinct lineage within the Septoria dearnessii clade, indicating that they are closely related to S. dearnessii but genetically differentiated. This study provides the first report of a Septoria species associated with leaf spot on H. moellendorffii.
During surveys of Eurotiales fungi from soil habitats, a fungal strain, CNUFC U8-51, was isolated. Based on the morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of a combined dataset of four loci (β-tubulin, calmodulin, internal transcribed spacer, and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit), the isolate was identified as Penicillago mirabilis. To our knowledge, this is the first record of the genus Penicillago in Korea, as well as the first record of P. mirabilis in the country. Herein, descriptions, illustrations, and results of the phylogenetic analyses of this species are provided.
In this study, fungal strain ARI-25-A13 was isolated from an ambrosia beetle collected using beetle traps deployed in an apple orchard. To achieve species-level identification, cultural and morphological characteristics, as well as molecular phylogenetic analyses, were conducted. On potato dextrose agar (PDA), colonies were initially salmon-colored and gradually transitioned to olive to brown with age, whereas colonies on malt extract agar (MEA) retained a salmon coloration throughout incubation. Morphologically, adelophialides were short, thin-walled, and inconspicuous, and neither collarettes nor discrete phialides were observed. Conidia were hyaline, ellipsoidal to cylindrical, frequently slightly curved, and measured 3.7‒5.9 × 1.4‒2.6 μm. Chlamydospores were hyaline, globose to ellipsoidal, formed terminally or intercalarily, occurring singly or in short chains, and measured 4.0‒8.0 × 3.3‒4.5 μm. Phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU), β-tubulin (TUB), and actin (ACT) gene sequences placed ARI-25-A13 in the same clade as Coniochaeta luteoviridis. Collectively, the morphological traits and multilocus phylogenetic evidence support the identification of ARI-25-A13 as C. luteoviridis. This study provides the first mycological characterization of C. luteoviridis isolated from an ambrosia beetle.
We investigated Cortinarius specimens collected from major Pung-hyeol-ji sites and Mt. Odaesan in Gangwon-do, Korea, in 2024, and identified them using internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-based phylogenetic analyses and morphological observations. Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS sequences produced congruent tree topologies using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. The specimens were assigned to Cortinarius alpinus, C. falsosus, C. fulvopaludosus, C. lepidopus, and C. scotoides, all of which have recently emerged in South Korea. Morphological findings generally agreed with the characteristics of each species, and minor differences were interpreted as intraspecific variation. Four of the five Cortinarius species were collected from Pung-hyeol-ji habitats, suggesting a preference for the cool, humid microclimate of wind-hole ecosystems. This study expands the established distribution of Cortinarius species in South Korea and highlights the ecological significance of Pung-hyeol-ji habitats as potential microrefugia for ectomycorrhizal fungi.
In this study, two endophytic fungal species were isolated from the marine green macroalga Codium fragile collected from the intertidal zones of Korea. The endophytic strains were isolated from asymptomatic, healthy algal tissues after surface sterilization. Based on morphological characteristics and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses using internal transcribed spacer regions, nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA, nuclear small subunit ribosomal DNA, translation elongation factor 1-alpha, and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit genes, these isolates were identified as Paradendryphiella arenariae KNUE25A105 and Diaporthe novem KNUE25A206. This study provides the first detailed morphological and molecular phylogenetic descriptions of these two endophytic species from macroalgae in Korea, thereby expanding our understanding of the biodiversity of marine-derived endophytic fungi in temperate coastal environments.
Erysiphe zelkovae is one of the main pathogens causing significant damage to Zelkova serrata in East Asia. Despite the global diversity of Zelkova spp., E. zelkovae has been reported only on Z. serrata from East Asian countries (Japan, China, and Korea). Mycological information regarding this fungus is insufficient in terms of sequenced nucleotides and detailed morphological characteristics. This study presents a detailed characterization of the holomorph of E. zelkovae and its taxonomic placement through molecular phylogenetic analyses using the internal transcribed spacer region and large subunit gene sequences from three representative Korean specimens. This study confirmed the identity of E. zelkovae as a distinct species among the Erysiphe section Uncinula species on host plants belonging to the family Ulmaceae.
Strain KNUF-20-NI020 was recovered from soil collected during a survey of soil fungi in Korea in Gunwi-eup, Gunwi-gun, Daegu. The strain formed pale luteous colonies with rust-colored reverses on potato dextrose agar, reaching a diameter of 25.2 ± 1.0 mm after incubation for 14 days. Mycelial growth was most pronounced at 25°C and was relatively higher at pH values ranging from 6 to 8. For molecular identification, multiple gene regions were analyzed. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region showed 99.8% sequence similarity to Keissleriella quadriseptata, and the large subunit ribosomal RNA (LSU), small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α) gene sequences were also most similar to those of K. quadriseptata. Phylogenetic analysis based on concatenated ITS, LSU, SSU, and TEF1-α sequences placed the KNUF-20-NI020 strain in the same clade as K. quadriseptata, clearly separated from other related species. Based on the combined cultural characteristics and multilocus molecular phylogenetic analyses, the KNUF-20-NI020 strain was identified as K. quadriseptata. This study represents the first report of K. quadriseptata from Korea and the first record of the genus Keissleriella in Korea.
Korean fir (Abies koreana), an endangered alpine conifer native to Korea, has recently experienced severe dieback on Mount Deogyu owing to climate change–induced thermal and water stress. As rhizosphere microbial communities play a vital role in tree health and stress resistance, this study aimed to isolate and identify previously unrecorded fungal species from the rhizosphere of A. koreana. Soil samples were collected from natural stands on Mt. Deogyu, and fungi were isolated using the dilution plating method on Potato Dextrose Agar medium. The isolates were identified based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of internal transcribed spacer regions and large-subunit ribosomal DNA sequences. Three fungal species—Mucor fusiformisporus, Mortierella turficola, and Entomortierella sugadairana—were identified for the first time in Korea. These species are saprotrophic members of Mucoromycota and Mortierellomycota, which participate in organic matter decomposition, phosphorus solubilization, and nutrient cycling in cold forest soils. Members of the Mortierellaceae family are plant growth–promoting fungi that maintain high enzymatic activity in subalpine environments, contributing to nutrient availability through mechanisms such as phosphate solubilization and siderophore production. This study provides baseline taxonomic information on the fungal diversity associated with A. koreana. Furthermore, the identification of cold-adapted and phosphorus-solubilizing fungi suggests their potential as valuable microbial resources for future conservation and restoration strategies for this endangered species.
Roses (Rosa spp.) are widely cultivated as ornamental plants in both Korea and worldwide. However, black spot disease caused by Diplocarpon rosae (= Marssonina rosae) continues to result in considerable damage in commercial production. While investigating black spot disease of roses collected from 27 regions across Korea, fungal strains were isolated from abnormal leaves exhibiting black spot symptoms to examine their distribution and characteristics. Regardless of region or cultivar, all isolates exhibited similar morphology, characterized by dark brown to black acervuli on symptomatic rose leaves and hyaline, two-celled conidia. The morphological characteristics of the representative strain KNUF-24-DG, including conidial size (16.5–25.8 × 4.7–6.5 µm) and cultural characteristics on potato dextrose agar, were similar to those previously described for D. rosae. For phylogenetic analyses of the 27 fungal strains, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene were amplified. The ITS region showed 97.7–100% similarity to D. rosae strains CBS 163.31, CFCC 6814, KACC 42437, and DKU017, and the LSU gene sequences exhibited 99.6% and 100% similarities with D. rosae CBS 163.31 and CBS 829.72, respectively, indicating high sequence similarity to D. rosae strains in both molecular markers. Based on cultural, morphological, and phylogenetic analyses, 27 fungal strains were identified as D. rosae.
Powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe alphitoides is a persistent constraint on European oaks, yet the host responses in pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) that determine susceptibility or resistance remain poorly understood. We profiled transcriptomic changes at 30 hours post-inoculation in detached Q. robur leaves using RNA-seq, identifying 195 up- and 40 down-regulated genes. Up-regulated transcripts included receptor-like kinases (RLKs), ethylene-responsive factor (ERF)/ethylene components, calmodulin-like (CML) sensors, germin-like proteins, peroxidases, and phenylpropanoid pathway enzymes. Gene Ontology enrichment highlighted defense response and response to biotic stimulus, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes indicated plant–pathogen interaction. RT-qPCR experiments confirmed ERF017, mUCP5, CML37-like, and one of two CML19 prime targets. These data indicate the induction of RLK-linked, Ca2+/CML- and ethylene-associated defense response during early powdery mildew infection and suggest targeted time-course and functional tests of RLK/CML candidates.
Endophytic fungi inhabit healthy plant tissues without causing apparent disease symptoms and contribute to host fitness through diverse ecological functions. In this study, two endophytic fungal isolates obtained from asymptomatic leaves of Stephanandra incisa and Celtis sinensis in Korea were identified based on their morphological characteristics and multilocus phylogenetic analyses. The isolates were confirmed to be Microascus brunneosporus and Colletotrichum camelliae-japonicae, which are unrecorded fungal species in Korea. Their cultural, morphological, and phylogenetic characteristics are described. These findings expand our understanding of the endophytic fungal diversity in Korea.
Fungal isolate ARI-25-A10 was obtained from an ambrosia beetle collected in an apple orchard in Korea. The isolate was identified through an integrative taxonomic framework incorporating cultural and morphological characterization, growth responses under different temperature and pH conditions, and multilocus phylogenetic analyses. When cultured on potato dextrose agar at 25°C for 5 days, colonies reached 65.3–67.3 mm in diameter. Colony morphology transitioned from white to pale smoke grey to light olivaceous as incubation progressed, and sclerotia developed during extended culture. In temperature-dependent growth assays, colony development was minimal at 10°C and 30°C, whereas optimal growth was observed between 15°C and 25°C. In pH-response assays, optimal growth occurred at pH 5, with stable growth also observed between pH 4 and 6, indicating an optimal pH range of 4–5. Hyphae were hyaline, irregularly septate, and averaged 2.2 μm in width. BLAST analyses of the internal transcribed spacer, actin, RNA polymerase II second largest subunit, translation elongation factor 1-α, and β-tubulin gene sequences revealed high sequence similarity between ARI-25-A10 and Cytospora ceratosperma. In addition, multilocus phylogenetic reconstruction using concatenated datasets placed ARI-25-A10 within a strongly supported clade comprising previously reported and characterized C. ceratosperma strains. This study represents the first report of C. ceratosperma associated with an ambrosia beetle collected from an apple orchard in Korea.
During crop disease surveys in October 2022, we encountered leaf spot symptoms in coastal hogfennel (Peucedanum japonicum) grown in a field in Buyeo, Korea. Disease symptom outbreaks in the field ranged from 5 to 10%. The three fungal isolates obtained from leaf lesions were morphologically identified as Didymella sp. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed a close relationship between the isolates and Didymella acutilobae, and the mycological characteristics were generally consistent with those of D. acutilobae. Pathogenicity of the isolates on leaves of coastal hogfennel was confirmed via artificial inoculation test. To date, this is the first report on the onset of D. acutilobae-induced leaf spot in coastal hogfennel.
Fungal taxonomy provides a fundamental framework for understanding the biodiversity, ecology, medical relevance, and industrial applications of fungi. In recent years, on the basis of development in high-resolution phylogenomic and molecular systematic studies, the classification of fungi has undergone considerable advances. Contrastingly, in Korea, the traditional 4–7 phylum model still prevails, although fails to adequately reflect recent trends. In this review, we summarize advances over the past decade in the study of Mucoromycota, Zoopagomycota, Entorrhizomycota, and Aphelidiomycota. In addition, we describe the 19-phyla, 9-subkingdom classification system now registered in international databases, such as MycoBank and Index Fungorum. Finally, we highlight the need to adopt an updated classification system in Korean academia, education, biodiversity research, and pathogen diagnostics, and outline practical strategies and a roadmap for its implementation.
Recently added new species and taxonomic re-evaluations of previously recorded ones have warranted a revision of Scutellinia specimens deposited in Korea. By applying an integrative taxonomic framework to Scutellinia specimens curated at the Korea National Arboretum (KH), we recorded two species previously unreported in Korea, namely Scutellinia sinosetosa and S. subhirtella. Morphological assessment covered the macroscopic traits of apothecia as well as microscopic characteristics, including asci, paraphyses, marginal hairs, ascospore size, and ornamentation. Molecular evidence was obtained from internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequences; phylogenetic analyses placed the Korean specimens in strongly supported clades alongside authenticated reference material, confirming their identities. S. sinosetosa is distinguished by small apothecia and low, reticulate ascospore ornamentation, whereas S. subhirtella is characterized by medium-sized, ellipsoid ascospores densely covered with discrete, fine verrucae. These findings represent the first confirmed records of both species in Korea, extend the known distribution of Scutellinia on the Korean Peninsula, and provide ITS/LSU barcode data to facilitate reliable molecular identification in future studies.
