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In July 2021, symptoms of soft rot were observed on the stems of Ficus carica in Yeongam, Jeollanamdo, Korea. To accurately diagnose the cause, infected stem was collected and bacterial strain was isolated. Among these, the pathogenic strain KNUB-08-21 was identified as Pectobacterium aroidearum through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated sequences of the dnaX, leuS, and recA genes. The affiliation of the isolate with this bacterial species was also confirmed by its biochemical characteristics obtained using API ID 32 GN system. Artificial inoculation confirmed the strain's pathogenicity in figs, causing significant damage to both stems and fruits. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. aroidearum causing soft rot disease in F. carica in Korea.

In the Goesan region, located in Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea, a significant outbreak of soft rot infections was documented in August 2021, affecting fruits of Momordica charantia, commonly known as bitter melon or bitter gourd. The symptoms included a noticeable transition to yellowing in the affected fruits, eventually leading to their collapse. The bacterial strain KNUB-09-21 was isolated from the diseased fruits. Molecular analysis, using the sequences of the 16S rRNA region and three housekeeping genes (dnaX, recA, and leuS), along with the results of compound utilization in the API ID 32 GN system, provide strong evidence for the identification of the isolate KNUB-09-21 as Pectobacterium brasiliense. The pathogenicity of strain KNUB-09-21 on M. charantia was confirmed through a controlled inoculation test. Within two days, inoculated fruits displayed soft rot symptoms closely resembling those observed in naturally affected fruits. This is the first report of soft rot on M. charantia in Korea.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia is a popular indoor ornamental plant in Korea. In August 2021, a severe outbreak of soft rot disease affected Z. zamiifolia in Emseong, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea. Infected plants displayed wilting, water-soaked lesions, stem collapse, and green-brown discoloration. The bacterial strain KNUB-05-21 was isolated from infected stems and identified as Pectobacterium aroidearum using 16S rRNA nucleotide sequencing and multilocus sequence analysis based on partial sequences of dnaX, leuS, and recA genes. Confirmation of its affiliation with P. aroidearum was also obtained through biochemical and morphological characterization. To confirm the pathogenicity of strain KNUB-05-21, its suspension was injected into Z. zamiifolia stems. Within a week, soft rot developed on the stems, exhibiting symptoms similar to those observed in field-infected plants. The reisolated strain was identical to those of P. aroidearum. Before this study, P. aroidearum was not reported as a causative pathogen of Z. zamiifolia soft rot in Korea.

Wilted and water-soaked lesion symptoms were observed on cucumbers in greenhouses located in Daejeon, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea, in June 2021. A bacterial strain, designated KNUB-04-21, was isolated from the cucumbers, which was subsequently identified as Pectobacterium brasiliense through a phylogenetic analysis based on sequences of the 16S rRNA region, dnaX, leuS, and recA genes. The biochemical characteristics of KNUB-04-21 were also similar to those of P. brasiliense through investigation using the API ID 32 GN system. The pathogenicity of KNUB-04-21 was confirmed by inoculating it into healthy cucumber plants. The reisolated strains were also found to be same to the original strain. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. brasiliense being identified as the causative agent of cucumber soft rot in Korea.

In May 2021, characteristic soft rot symptoms, including soft, watery, slimy, black rot, wilting, and leaf collapse, were observed on melon plants (Cucumis melo) in Gokseong, Jeollanam-do, Korea. A bacterial strain, designated KNUB-06-21, was isolated from infected plant samples, taxonomically classified, and phylogeneti-cally analyzed using 16S rRNA and housekeeping gene sequencing. Strain KNUB-06-21 was also examined for compound utilization using the API ID 32 GN system and strain KNUB-06-21 was identified as Pectobacterium brasiliense. Subsequent melon stem inoculation studies using strain KNUB-06-21 showed soft rot symptoms similar to field plants. Re-isolated strains shared phenotypic and molecular characteristics with the original P. brasiliense KNUB-06-21 strain. To our knowledge, ours is the first report of P. brasiliense causing melon soft rot disease in Korea.

During an investigation of micro-fungi in soil, two fungal isolates belonging to the phylum Ascomycota, namely KNUF-20-NI011 and KNUF-20-NI006, were collected from Gyeongbuk Province and Dokdo Island in Korea and identified as Clonostachys divergens and Chrysosporium merdarium, respectively. The fungal isolates were confirmed through molecular phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer regions, 28S rDNA large subunit, and β-tubulin sequences. Cultural and morphological characteristics were observed and determined using different media. These species were identified based on phylogenetic relationships along with their cultural and morphological characteristics. To our knowledge, this is the first report on Clonostachys divergens and Chrysosporium merdarium in Korea.

A fungal strain designated KNUF-21-66Q1 was isolated from soil in Chungcheongbuk Province, Korea. Moderate growth of colonies was observed on potato dextrose agar, oatmeal agar (OA), malt extract agar, and cornmeal agar media at 25℃, and the detailed morphology was examined on OA medium. The colonies on OA medium were flat, had entire margin, hyaline, and yellow concentric rings in 3-4 weeks. Conidiomata were pycnidial, solitary or clustered, globose to subglobose, black-brown, and 300-500 µm in diameter. Conidiogenous cells were smooth, hyaline, globose to ampulliform, and 6.09.0×3.0-6.0 µm in size (n=15). Conidia were hyaline to pale brown, slightly golden, obovoid to slightly ellipsoidal, smooth, guttulate, and 3.0-4.7×2.1-3.3 µm in size (n=100). The strain was confirmed based on phylogenetic analysis using internal transcribed spacer regions, the partial 28S rDNA of large subunit, and β-tubulin gene sequences. The morphological observations and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the strain KNUF-21-66Q1 was similar to the previously described Paraconiothyrium kelleni. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. kelleni in Korea.

Three fungal strains designated as KNUF-23-MG32, KNUF-23-YC8, and KNUF-23-MJ82 were isolated from the abnormal symptomatic apple trees during screening fungal pathogens collected in Jeollanam-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. These fungal strains were found to have similar cultural and morphological characteristics close to the genus Botryosphaeria. Morphological characteristics were matched with B. kuwatsukai CBS 135219 but different with B. dothidea KACC 45481 and B. sinensis HMAS 246714T. Pathogenicity tests of strain KNUF-23-MG32 showed that this strain causes rot in Fuji apples. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1α), and partial β-tubulin (TUB2) showed that these strains are B. kuwatsukai. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an apple ring rot fungus Botryosphaeria kuwatsukai in Korea.

Three fungal strains belonging to the class Sordariomycetes were isolated from soil collected on Jeju Island and Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. They were identified as Diaporthe endophytica (KNU-JJ-1809), Faurelina indica (KNU-JJ-1830), and Trichoderma ivoriense (KNU-4-KH1). KNU-JJ-1809 produced beta conidia that were straight, curved, hyaline, smooth-walled, with a diameter of 16.5-25.0×0.6-1.7 μm. The conidia of strain KNU-JJ-1830 were hyaline to light green, thin, clavate, round, truncate base, had guttules at both ends, with a diameter of 2.5-5.2×1.7-3.8 μm. The conidia of strain KNU-4-KH1 were oblong or ellipsoidal, smooth-walled, greenish, with a diameter of 2.2-4.4×2.2-3.6 μm. Internal transcribed spacer regions, partial large subunit, translation elongation factor 1-alpha, β-tubulin, and calmodulin genes were used to confirm the strains, and their cultural and morphological characteristics. To our knowledge, this is the first report on D. endophytica, F. indica, and T. ivoriense in Korea.

In October 2021, soft rot disease seriously affected radish crop in Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. The infected radishes were stunted and turned dark green, with yellowish leaf foliage. A slimy, wet, and decayed pith region was observed in the infected roots. The bacterial strain KNUB-03-21 was isolated from infected roots. The biochemical and morphological characteristics of the isolate were similar to those of Pectobacterium brasiliense. Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of the 16S rRNA region and the concatenated DNA polymerase III subunit tau (dnaX), leucine-tRNA ligase (leuS), and recombinase subunit A (recA) genes confirmed that the isolate is a novel strain of P. brasiliense. Artificial inoculation of radish with P. brasiliense KNUB-03-21 resulted in soft rot symptoms similar to those observed in infected radish in the field; subsequently, P. brasiliense KNUB-03-21 was reisolated and reidentified. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. brasiliense as a causal pathogen of radish soft rot in Korea.

In September 2021, gray-to-brown discoloration and expanding water-soaked lesions were observed on the outer and inner layers and the core of kimchi cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis) in fields located in Samcheok, Gangwondo, Korea. A bacterial strain designated as KNUB-02-21 was isolated from infected cabbage samples. Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of the 16S rRNA region and the dnaX, leuS, and recA genes confirmed that the strain was affiliated with Pectobacterium versatile. Additionally, the biochemical and morphological profiles of the isolate were similar to those of P. versatile. Based on these results, the isolate was identified as a novel strain of P. versatile. Healthy kimchi cabbage slices developed soft rot upon inoculation with P. versatile KNUB-02-21 and exhibited symptoms similar to those observed in the diseased plants in fields. The re-isolated strains were similar to those of P. versatile. Prior to our study, P. versatile as the causative pathogen of kimchi cabbage soft rot had not been reported in Korea.

In this study, the fungal strain KNUF-21-F39 was isolated from a declined apple tree (Malus domestica) in the Chungcheongbuk province in Korea. The strain KNUF-21-F39 presented a slow growth rate and a variety of macroconidia shapes and sizes ranging from ovoid to fusoid and 1- to 5-septate, primarily showing 3- and 4-septate, with “S” -shaped macroconidia rarely observed. The strain was identified based on morphological characteristics along with phylogenetic analysis performed using the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and partial sequences of translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1), RNA polymerase largest subunit (rpb1), and calmodulin (cal) genes. The fungal strain KNUF-21-F39 was identified as Fusarium diversisporum, which has not been previously reported in Korea. The ice nucleation activity (INA) of the strain was also evaluated, identifying the strain as positive for INA. This is the first report characterizing F. diversisporum as an IN-active fungal species.

Two fungal strains, designated KNUF-21-006 and KNUF-21-028, were isolated from soil samples collected from Gyeongbuk Province, Korea. The strain KNUF-21-006 was similar to other Pestalotiopsis species in terms of morphological characteristics, including whitish to pale brown mycelium, conidial shape, and size. The isolate had aerial hyphae that produced black fruiting bodies on the mycelium. The conidia were fusoid to ellipsoid, four-septate, and appendage-bearing. Phylogenetic analysis using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF), and β-tubulin (TUB) gene sequences confirmed that the closest relationship of the isolate at the species level was with Pestalotiopsis clavata . The strain KNUF-21-028 exhibits similar morphological characteristics to other Botryotrichum species, including white aerial mycelium with sulcate and irregular margins, conidial shape, and size. The conidia were globose, single, and hyaline. Upon molecular analysis—using the ITS region, large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene, and TUB gene sequences—the fungus was identified as Botryotrichum iranicum. This is the first record of these fungal species in Korea.

A fungal strain, designated KNUF-20-NI009, was isolated from soil collected from Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do, Korea. The isolate showed cultural features typical of the genus Xenoroussoella. Colonies cultivated on malt extract agar were olivaceous-brown to pale olivaceous-white at the margins, with undersides of dark olivaceous to olivaceous-brown and a white margin. The conidia, with a size range of 2.7-5.1×1.6-3.3 µm (x̅=3.6×2.6 µm, n=50), were globoid to ellipsoid in shape, hyaline when immature, becoming light brown to golden-brown when mature, and characterized by 1 or 2 guttules. Multi-locus sequence analysis based on a combined dataset of internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS), large subunit rDNA (LSU), small subunit rDNA (SSU), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1α), and RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB2) sequences revealed KNUF-20-NI009 to be a strain of Xenoroussoella triseptata. This is the first report of this species in Korea.

The graft cactus (Gymnocalycium mihanovichii) continues to be exported to more than 20 countries worldwide. In April 2021, typical bacterial symptoms of soft rot were observed in the graft cactus (cv. Yeonbit) in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, resulting in economic losses in cactus production. The stems turned dark brown and the flowers were covered with black rot. The bacterial strain designated as KNUB-01-21 was isolated from infected stems and flowers. The results of the morphological and biochemical tests of the isolate were similar to those of Pectobacterium brasiliense. For molecular analysis, the 16S rRNA region and three housekeeping genes (dnaX, leuS, and recA) of the strain KNUB-01-21 were amplified. Based on t he results of the molecular analysis and morphological and biochemical tests, KNUB-01-21 was identified as P. brasiliense. The pathogenicity of KNUB-01-21 on graft cactus was confirmed by an inoculation test. Artificial inoculation using P. brasiliense KNUB-01-21 produced soft rot symptoms on the grafted cactus, and the same bacterium was re-isolated and re-identified. This is the first report of P. brasiliense causing soft rot in graft cactus in Korea.

In this study, the fungal strains KNU-Gunwi 2B and KNU-SOT5 were isolated from root-soil in a hillside and the cherry tree bark (Prunus serrulata), respectively from Gyeongbuk province in Korea. The strain KNU-SOT5 produced dark brown chlamydospores that were smooth to lightly rough-walled, globose to ellipsoidal, and the conidia were aseptate, guttulate, mostly fusiform with a diameter of 5.3-17.6×4.2-7.0 μm. Strain KNU-Gunwi 2B produced phialides that were smooth-walled, cylindrical with semi-papillate apices and the conidia were pale-green, broadly ellipsoid, and sometimes cylindrical with a diameter of 4.4-8.0×2.3-4.0 μm. The strain KNU-SOT5 and KNU-Gunwi 2B were resolved based on cultural and morphological characteristics, along with the phylogenetic analysis using the small subunit (SSU), large subunit (LSU), and internal transcribed spacers (ITS) regions. The fungal strains KNU-SOT5 and KNU-Gunwi 2B were identified as Dothidea insculpta and Metarhizium rileyi, which have not been reported in Korea.

Apple decline symptoms were frequently observed on cv. Fuji apple orchards located in Gyeonggi, Gyeongbuk, and Gangwon provinces during surveys conducted from May until the end of September 2020. Three fungal strains were isolated from the margins of internal lesions of diseased apple trees, and their morphological characteristics were considered similar to Botryosphaeria sinensis. Phylogenetic analysis using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), beta-tubulin (tub2), and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2) gene sequences confirmed the closest relationship of isolates with B. sinensis at the species level. According to a pathogenicity test, the appearance of dark-brown discolorations and vascular necrosis on apple branches inoculated with the isolated strain KNUF-20-014 was observed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of B. sinensis as the causal agent of apple disease in Korea.

The abnormal brown sunken lesions were observed on cv. RubyS apple fruits in an orchard located in Gunwi, Gyeongbuk province, Korea. The primary observed symptoms such as small round sunken lesions and small black dots on the symptomatic area were different from the reported apple diseases. The affected apple fruits were sampled and subjected to isolation of the causal agent. Cultural and morphological characteristics of isolated fungal strain, designated KNUF-20GWA4, were similar to that of Colletotrichum spp. Based on multilocus sequence analyses using internal transcribed spacer regions and partial sequences of β-tubulin, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, chitin synthase, and actin genes, strain KNUF-20GWA4 showed 99.2-100% similarities with C. aenigma ICMP 18608 and the isolate clustered together with several other strains of this species in the phylogenetic tree. To our knowledge, this is the first report of bitter rot on apple fruits caused by C. aenigma.

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.

This study was conducted to isolate and identify the fungal pathogen caused unreported post-harvest disease on apples (cv. Fuji) fruit in Korea. The disease symptoms on apples appeared as irregular, light to dark brown, slightly sunken spots. The three fungal strains were isolated from infected tissues of apple fruits and their cultural and morphological characteristics were completely consistent with those of Plenodomus collinsoniae. The phylogenetic analysis using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, beta-tubulin (TUB), and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) sequences revealed the closest relationship of the isolates with Plenodomus collinsoniae at the species level. The pathogenicity test showed the same dark brown spots on Fuji apple cultivar. Therefore, P. collinsoniae is a newly reported fungal agent causing post-harvest disease on apples in Korea.

Two unreported fungal isolates, KNU-GW1901 and KNU-AP100C, were collected from soil sample in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. Their cultural and morphological characteristics were examined after 4 weeks of incubation at 25℃ on potato dextrose agar (PDA), malt extract agar (MEA), and oatmeal agar (OA). The conidial shape of KNU-GW1901 was aseptate, hyaline, globose to ellipsoidal, oblong, and reniform to pyriform and 2.61-4.97×1.93-3.61 µm in size, whereas no conidial structures were observed in KNU-AP100C. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, large subunit (LSU), and small subunit (SSU) sequences were used to determine the taxonomic positions of the strains using the maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree. The isolate KNU-GW1901 was closely clustered with Plenodomus sinensis MFLUCC 17-0767, and KNU-AP100C was closely matched with P. collinsoniae CBS 120227. Based on the findings of morphological, cultural, and phylogenetic analysis, the isolates KNU-GW1901 and KNU-AP100C were identical to the previously described P. sinensis and P. collinsoniae isolates, respectively, which are first reported in Korea.

In the screening of fungal diversity, two strains were collected from the soil of Yeongcheon and dissected guts from the bodies of Chinese rice grasshopper (Oxya chinensis), Chinese grasshopper (Acrida cinerea), and Far eastern devil grasshopper (Oedaleus infernalis) from Daejeon in Korea. They were identified as Umbelopsis vinacea (KNU-YC-1801B) and Mucor hiemalis f. corticola (KNU-20F7, KNU-20F8, KNU-20F9). Multigene phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, and large subunit (LSU) sequence data confirmed two unreported taxa along with their morphology. The results of molecular phylogeny firmly supported the detailed description and illustration for each taxon. As far as we know, both Umbelopsis vinacea and Mucor hiemalis f. corticola are the first reported taxa in Korea.

One hundred representative species of fungi in Korea were selected and their Korean names were proposed to increase interest in fungi among Korean people. This task was performed under the supervision of the Committee of Mycological Terms, under the Korean Society of Mycology. First, the committee established the criteria for selecting 100 representative species of fungi in Korea and then selected the candidate fungal species accordingly. To ensure the uniformity and stability of Korean fungal names, the principle of naming fungi in Korean was established, and the candidate Korean fungal names were presented accordingly. Finally, the candidate Korean fungal names were posted online to collect opinions of the members of the Korean Society of Mycology. The candidate Korean names of the plant pathogenic fungi and mushrooms were reviewed by the Korean Society of Plant Pathology and the Korean Society of Mushroom Science, respectively. After their opinions were considered, the Korean names for 100 representative fungi in Korea were finally determined. The 100 fungi comprised 41 common molds and yeasts, 28 plant pathogenic fungi, and 31 mushrooms.

A fungal strain designated KNU-WDM2A2 was isolated from mosquitoes in Gimcheon, Korea. The pure culture was transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA) and synthetic nutrient agar (SNA) media and attained a diameter of 90 mm after 10 days of incubation at 25℃. The colonies were whitish to light pink and cottony to wooly, with an abundant production of aerial mycelia. The strain produced hyaline to slightly yellowish conidiophores that were rough-walled and branched, with conidiogenous cells arising terminally or laterally. Conidia were unicellular, hyaline to light brown, smooth, and oval or ovoid to clavate, with a size of 4.1-6.9×2.5-3.3 μm (n=65). A phylogenetic analysis was conducted using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and 28S rDNA of large subunit (LSU) sequences, to support the cultural and morphological characteristics. The KNU-WDM2A2 strain was identified here as Biscogniauxia petrensis, new to Korea.

Red spots symptoms were observed on the leaves of Rumex japonicus Houtt. in Goesan, Korea, in May 2019. Diseased leaf showing red spot and white-colored sori were found behind of diseased leaves. Aeciospores were confirmed and observed using a stereomicroscope, light microscope, and scanning electron microscope. They were globose or ovoid and measured 19.0–24.4×19.0–24.5 μm, with verrucae ornamentation. For the phylogenetic analysis, partial of large subunit rDNA region and cytochrome c oxidase subunit III were sequenced. As a result, the isolated fungus species showed high similarities with Puccinia prizeliana. Based on the previous report, morphological characters, phylogenetic analysis, it was confirmed as Puccinia phragmitis which have not been reported in Korea, and we firstly report this fungal agent on R. japonicus as P. phragmitis in Korea.

In December 2016, stem rot symptoms were observed on Persian buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus) plants in Chilgok, Gyeongbuk, Korea. In the early stage of the disease, several black spots appeared on the stem of infected plants. As the disease progressed, the infected stem cleaved and wilted. The causal agent was isolated from a lesion and incubated on Reasoner's 2A (R2A) agar at 25°C. Total genomic DNA was extracted for phylogenetic analysis. Based on the 16S rRNA gene analysis, the isolated strain was found to belong to the genus Pseudomonas. To identify the isolated bacterial strain at the species level, the nucleotide sequences of the gyrase B (gyrB) and RNA polymerase D (rpoD) genes were obtained and compared with the sequences in the GenBank database. As the result, the causal agent of the stem rot disease was identified as Pseudomonas marginalis. To determine the pathogenicity of the isolated bacterial strain, it was inoculated into the stem of healthy R. asiaticus plant, the inoculated plant showed a lesion with the same characteristics as the naturally infected plant. Based on these results, this is the first report of bacterial stem rot on R. asiaticus caused by P. marginalis in Korea.

Incidence of virus diseases in red pepper of open field in Yeongyang-Gun, Gyeongbuk Province was investigated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in 2012-2016. The infection rate of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Broad bean wilt virus 2 (BBWV2), Pepper mottle virus, Potato virus Y, Pepper mild mottle virus and Tomato spotted wilt virus was 46.1%, 41.5%, 2.0%, 2.0%, 4.4% and 0.1% respectively. Incidence rate of single and mixed infection was 31.2% and 62.6%. Most of single infections were CMV and BBWV2. Among mixed infections, the incidence rate of CMV+BBWV2 mixed infection was the highest as 49.3% and most of mixed infections of triplex and tetraplex included CMV+BBWV2 mixed infection. CMV single infection caused mosaic, chlorosis, yellowing and vein necrosis and BBWV2 single infection induced cholosis and mosaic. CMV+BBWV2 mixed infection caused severe mosaic with chlorosis or malformation.