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Four Unrecorded Species of Endophytic Diaporthe (Sordariomycetes) in Korea

Summary

Researchers in Korea discovered four previously unknown species of Diaporthe fungi living inside plant tissues without causing visible damage. These fungi were identified using genetic analysis and compared to known species from around the world. The findings show that Korea has more fungal diversity than previously documented and suggest these fungi could potentially be used to develop new medicines or help control plant diseases.

Background

Diaporthe is a genus of fungi with roles ranging from plant pathogens to endophytes, containing over 1,200 registered taxa. Endophytic fungi reside within plant tissues without causing visible symptoms and represent high biodiversity with potential for bioactive compound discovery. The diversity and distribution of endophytic Diaporthe species in Korea remains understudied.

Objective

To isolate and characterize endophytic fungi associated with four plant species in Korea using morphological and molecular analyses. To identify and describe previously unrecorded Diaporthe species based on phylogenetic analysis of multiple gene regions.

Results

Four previously unrecorded endophytic Diaporthe species were identified in Korea: D. caryae, D. phoenicicola, D. stewartii, and D. unshiuensis. Each species showed high sequence similarity to reference strains (97-100%) and clustered together in phylogenetic analyses. Detailed morphological descriptions including colony characteristics and conidial measurements were provided for each species.

Conclusion

The discovery of four unrecorded endophytic Diaporthe species in Korea expands understanding of fungal biodiversity in the region and demonstrates the ecological adaptability of the genus. These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive endophytic fungi studies for taxonomic clarification and exploration of biotech applications including bioactive compound discovery and biocontrol strategies.
  • Published in:Mycobiology,
  • Study Type:Descriptive Study,
  • Source: 10.1080/12298093.2024.2435096, PMID: 39845180
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