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Mycobiology2025; 53(2); 200-213; doi: 10.1080/12298093.2025.2455214

Preussia jejuensis sp. nov., P. koreensis sp. nov., and P. isomera, Coprophilous Fungi Isolated from Horse Dung in Seopjikoji, Jeju Island in the Republic of Korea.

Abstract: The genus is widely distributed and includes species with ecological and biotechnological importance. In this study, morphological and phylogenetic analyses of the ITS and LSU rDNA sequences revealed two novel species, sp. nov. and sp. nov., as well as one previously unrecorded species in Korea, , from horse dung collected in Seopjikoji, Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. sp. nov. is unique in producing conidia from conidiomata instead of teleomorphic structures, a feature not observed in any other known species of the genus. sp. nov. is morphologically distinguished by the absence of a neck, a smaller ascocarp diameter, smaller asci, and larger ascospores. In the phylogenetic analysis, sp. nov. was closely related to and , while sp. nov. was closely related to , , and . However, sp. nov. and sp. nov. were clearly distinguished from their related species. This study expands the understanding of the biodiversity of coprophilous fungi and its distribution in Jeju Island, a region where horse breeding has been practiced for centuries, emphasizing the ecological importance of dung as a fungal habitat.
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of the Korean Society of Mycology.
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Publication Date: 2025-02-07 PubMed ID: 40098939PubMed Central: PMC11912246DOI: 10.1080/12298093.2025.2455214Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Overview

  • This research article reports the discovery and description of two new species of coprophilous fungi, Preussia jejuensis sp. nov. and Preussia koreensis sp. nov., as well as the first Korean record of Preussia isomera, all isolated from horse dung in Seopjikoji, Jeju Island, South Korea.
  • The study integrates morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses to distinguish these new species and expand knowledge on fungal biodiversity in this ecological niche.

Introduction and Background

  • The genus Preussia consists of fungi widely distributed in various environments, well known for their ecological roles and potential biotechnological applications.
  • Coprophilous fungi, which grow on animal dung, play important roles in nutrient cycling and ecosystem dynamics.
  • Jeju Island, with a long history of horse breeding, provides a unique habitat for coprophilous fungi, yet fungal biodiversity in this niche is still underexplored.

Objectives

  • To identify and describe new species of the genus Preussia isolated from horse dung on Jeju Island.
  • To perform morphological analyses and molecular phylogenetic studies using ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) and LSU (Large Subunit rDNA) gene sequences to clarify species delineations.
  • To document the presence of previously unrecorded Preussia species from Korea.

Materials and Methods

  • Sample Collection: Horse dung samples were collected from Seopjikoji region on Jeju Island.
  • Isolation and Cultivation: Fungi were isolated from dung samples and cultivated under controlled laboratory conditions.
  • Morphological Analysis: Key fungal structures such as conidiomata, ascocarps, asci, and ascospores were examined microscopically.
  • Molecular Phylogenetics: DNA was extracted, and ITS and LSU rDNA regions were sequenced.
  • Phylogenetic trees were constructed to assess relationships between isolated fungi and related species in the genus Preussia.

Key Findings

  • Two new species were identified and named Preussia jejuensis sp. nov. and Preussia koreensis sp. nov.
  • Preussia jejuensis is distinguished by producing conidia from conidiomata rather than teleomorphic (sexual) structures, a unique feature among Preussia species.
  • Preussia koreensis is characterized by:
    • Absence of a neck structure on the ascocarp
    • Smaller ascocarp diameter
    • Smaller asci (spore-containing sacs)
    • Larger ascospores compared to related species
  • Phylogenetic analyses:
    • Showed that Preussia jejuensis is closely related to Preussia terricola and Preussia aemulans but genetically distinct.
    • Indicated that Preussia koreensis clusters near Preussia persica, Preussia africana, and Preussia minima but is a separate species.
  • The previously unrecorded species Preussia isomera was also identified from the collected samples, marking its first report from Korea.

Significance and Implications

  • This study expands the taxonomic understanding of coprophilous fungi diversity, especially within the genus Preussia.
  • By highlighting novel species and previously unrecorded species in Korea, the research emphasizes the rich but understudied fungal biodiversity associated with herbivore dung in Jeju Island.
  • It underscores the ecological role of horse dung as a specialized habitat that supports unique fungal communities, contributing to decomposition and nutrient cycling.
  • Morphological and genetic characterization methods illustrated in this study provide a framework for future fungal biodiversity surveys in similar habitats.

Conclusions

  • The discovery of Preussia jejuensis sp. nov. and Preussia koreensis sp. nov., alongside Preussia isomera’s new record, reflects the hidden fungal diversity on Jeju Island.
  • Distinctive morphological traits combined with phylogenetic evidence reliably differentiated these new species from known relatives.
  • This research enhances the global and regional fungal taxonomy and ecology knowledge, particularly relating to coprophilous fungal species.

Cite This Article

APA
Noh H, Cho HU, Kim SH. (2025). Preussia jejuensis sp. nov., P. koreensis sp. nov., and P. isomera, Coprophilous Fungi Isolated from Horse Dung in Seopjikoji, Jeju Island in the Republic of Korea. Mycobiology, 53(2), 200-213. https://doi.org/10.1080/12298093.2025.2455214

Publication

Mycobiology
ISSN: 1229-8093
NlmUniqueID: 100960027
Country: Korea (South)
Language: English
Volume: 53
Issue: 2
Pages: 200-213

Researcher Affiliations

Noh, HyeongJin
  • Department of Microbiology, Dankook University, Cheonan, the Republic of Korea.
Cho, Hyun Uk
  • Department of Microbiology, Dankook University, Cheonan, the Republic of Korea.
Kim, Seong Hwan
  • Department of Microbiology, Dankook University, Cheonan, the Republic of Korea.

Conflict of Interest Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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