Diversity of wood decay fungi and investigation of heart-rot fungi in Hongneung forest

Ye-Yeong Kim*, Aruna Jo, Mi-Jeong Park, Kang-Hyeon Ka and Yeongseon Jang

(Forest Microbiology and Application Division, National Institute of Forest Science)

Abstract: Urban forests play a crucial role in environmental improvement, recreation, and education, but development has led to decreased biodiversity and forest simplification. Reduced biodiversity increases vulnerability to pathogens - especially heart-rot fungi, which decompose tree tissues, weakening and ultimately toppling trees. In this study, we investigated the diversity of wood decay fungi including heart-rot fungi in Hongneung Forest, an urban forest. A total of 97 samples were collected from the Hongneung Forest. Fruit bodies were collected and identified through morphological and molecular analyses using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of DNA sequences. A total of 32 species, 25 genera, 18 families, and 11 orders were identified. Most species belonged to Polyporales, accounting for 56% (19 species) of the total. At the genus level, Perenniporia, Neohypochnicium, Coniophora, Ceratobasidium, and Scytinostroma were prevalent. Heart-rot fungi, which decay living trees, constituted 23% of the total species observed, including Bjerkandera adusta, Coniophora arida, Fuscoporia gilva, Perenniporia fraxinea, and Somion delectans. These fungi were primarily distributed on the lower parts or trunks of trees. Nucleotide-level ITS sequence analysis identified genetic differences between C. arida (NIFoS20210825-06, NIFoS20210825-13, NIFoS20210826-09, and NIFoS20210826-19) and P. fraxinea (NIFoS-XIIG-0423, NIFoS-XIIG-0458, NIFoS20210826-16, NIFoS20210826-34, and NIFoS20210826-39). C. arida differed at the 52nd nucleotide in 'NIFoS20210825-13.' P. fraxinea showed one nucleotide difference in 'NIFoS20210826-16,' and two nucleotide differences in both 'NIFoS20210826-34' and 'NIFoS20210826-39'. This study provides baseline data on the diversity of wood decay fungi in Hongneung Forest, which can be utilized for future research on heart-rot fungi in urban forests in Korea.

Keywords: Diversity, Urban forests, Heart-rot fungi, Internal transcribed spacer