Phylogeny and Morphology of Sarcopodium terrigenum sp. nov., a Novel Fungal Species Isolated from Soil in Korea

Nabil Salah Elderiny1   Kallol Das1   Seung-Yeol Lee1,2   Hee-Young Jung1,2,*   

1School of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
2Institute of Plant Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea

Abstract

A fungal strain was isolated from a soil sample collected in Korea and designated as YW23-8. Based on a sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the isolate was assigned to the genus Sarcopodium. Moreover, a phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated nucleotide sequences of the ITS regions and the large subunit of the nuclear ribosomal RNA (LSU) gene showed that the strain YW23-8 occupies a distinct phylogenetic position within Sarcopodium. The isolate had significant differences from its closest neighbors, S. circinosetiferum, S. circinatum, S. macalpinei, and S. vanillae. Morphological features such as different conidial structures, the absence of septation in conidia, and the presence of milky white watery droplets along with the results of the phylogenetic analysis clearly distinguish YW23-8 from the closest Sarcopodium species. We therefore conclude that strain YW23-8 represents a novel species of the genus Sarcopodium for which we propose the name Sarcopodium terrigenum.

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1. Cultural and morphological characteristics of Sarcopodium terrigenum YW23- 8. A: Colony on potato dextrose agar. B: Colony on oatmeal agar. C: Colony on malt extract agar. D: Milky watery droplets on potato dextrose agar plate. E: Mycelia on potato dextrose agar. F: Setae. G: Conidiophores. H: Conidia. Scale bars: D, E=500 μm; F-H=10 μm.