Distribution and New Species of Dictyostelids in Subalpine Zone of Mt. Paektu, Korea

Distribution and New Species of Dictyostelids in Subalpine Zone of Mt. Paektu, Korea

Fourteen different taxa of dictyostelid cellular slime molds were recovered from the alpine and subalpine zone in Mt. Paektu. In subalpine zone, six species were recovered : Dictyostelium minutum, D. brefeldianum, D. crassicaule, D. capitatum, Polysphondylium solitarium and P. pallidum. One of these species which were isolated from the soils of Larix olgensis community exhibited several distinctive features which differed from the published species. This species was designated as a new species, Polysphondylium solitarium Kang et Chang, sp. nov. When cultivated at 22~24$^{\circ}C$ on low-nutrient agar media with Escherichia coli, Polysphondylium solitarium is distinguishable from other species by the following combination of features: (ⅰ) the sorocarps with vinaceous pigmentation; (ⅱ) pseudoplasmodia radial. usually centralized and rarely subdivided; (ⅲ) the various number of whorls; (ⅳ) the spores with unconsolidated and nonconspicuous polar granules. Also, we confirmed this new species by analyzing ribosomal DNA (ITS1, ITS2 and 5.8s DNA) sequences of P. solitarium and P. violaceum.