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A New Species and a New Record of Graphium from Freshwater Environment in Korea

Summary

Researchers in Korea discovered a new fungal species called Graphium aquaticum and found another species, Graphium carbonarium, living in freshwater environments for the first time. These fungi were previously known only from wood and insects. This discovery expands our understanding of where these fungi can live and highlights the rich fungal diversity in Korean freshwater habitats.

Background

The genus Graphium belongs to order Microascales and comprises known wood pathogens causing sapstain in timbers. However, this genus has been scarcely studied in Korea, and its presence in freshwater environments has not been previously documented.

Objective

To investigate the genus Graphium in freshwater environments as a new habitat in Korea and to identify and characterize isolates from freshwater samples based on morphological and phylogenetic analysis.

Results

Strain CNUFC PYW4-15 was identified as Graphium carbonarium, a species previously unrecorded in Korea. Strains CNUFC BCW49 and CNUFC BCW48 were identified as a new species named Graphium aquaticum sp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS and TEF-1α sequences confirmed these identifications.

Conclusion

This study represents the first report of Graphium species from freshwater environments, expanding the known habitat range of this genus beyond its traditional association with wood and bark beetles. These findings increase understanding of fungal biodiversity in Korea and may have implications for quarantine measures in timber trade.
  • Published in:Mycobiology,
  • Study Type:Descriptive Study, Taxonomic Analysis,
  • Source: 10.1080/12298093.2025.2450892, PMID: 40321623
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