English
Hypomyces sinicus (Hypocreaceae), a fungicolous species originally described from China, is reported for the first time from Korea. Five specimens were collected from several localities and identified based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of ITS rDNA sequences. A culture was successfully isolated from specimen KA25-0622. In the ITS-based phylogeny, the Korean collections formed a well-supported clade with reference sequences of H. sinicus. Morphologically, the specimens agree well with the original description of the species, including reddish-orange perithecia immersed to partially immersed in a thin subiculum, fusiform warted ascospores with short apiculi at both ends, and a characteristic purple reaction of the subiculum in KOH. The species was originally described from the fruiting bodies of Schizophyllum sp. in China. In contrast, the Korean collections were found on fruiting bodies of Trametes versicolor and on an unidentified corticioid basidiomycete. These findings suggest that the host association of H. sinicus may be broader than previously recognized. This study expands the known geographic distribution of H. sinicus and provides additional information on its host range and cultural characteristics.
*This research was supported by the Korea National Arboretum (Project No. KNA 1-1-28-24-1).
