Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “FUNGI”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Examination of fungi in domestic interiors by using factor analysis: correlations and associations with home factors.

Factor analysis was utilized to investigate correlations among airborne microorganisms collected with Andersen samplers from homes in Topeka, Kans., during the winter of 1987 to 1988. The factors derived were used to relate microbial concentrations with categorical, questionnaire-derived descriptions of housing conditions. This approach successfully identified groups of common aboveground decay fungi including Cladosporium, Alternaria, Epicoccum, and Aureobasidium spp. The common soil fungi Aspergillus and Penicillium spp. were also separated as a group. These previously known ecological groupings were confirmed with air sampling data by a quantitative evaluation technique. The aboveground decay fungi sampled indoors in winter were present at relatively high concentrations in homes with gas stoves for cooking, suggesting a possible association between these fungi and increased humidity from the combustion process. Elevated concentrations of the soil fungi were significantly (P = 0.05) associated with the dirt floor, crawl-space type of basement. Elevated concentrations of water-requiring fungi, such as Fusarium spp., were shown to be associated with water collection in domestic interiors. Also, elevated mean concentrations for the group of fungi including Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Aureobasidium, and yeast spp. were found to be associated (P = 0.03) with symptoms reported on a health questionnaire. This finding was consistent with our previous study of associations between respiratory health and airborne microorganisms by univariate logistic regression analysis.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed1992

Cell surface redox potential as a mechanism of defense against photosensitizers in fungi.

The phytotoxin cercosporin, a singlet oxygen-generating photosensitizer, is toxic to plants, mice, and many fungi, yet the fungi that produce it, Cercospora spp., are resistant. We hypothesize that resistance to cercosporin may result from a reducing environment at the cell surface. Twenty tetrazolium dyes differing in redox potential were used as indicators of cell surface redox potential of seven fungal species differing in resistance to cercosporin. Resistant fungi were able to reduce significantly more dyes than were sensitive fungi. A correlation between dye reduction and cercosporin resistance was also observed when resistance levels of Cercospora species were manipulated by growth on different media. The addition of the reducing agents ascorbate, cysteine, and reduced glutathione (GSH) to growth media decreased cercosporin toxicity for sensitive fungi. None of these agents directly reduced cercosporin at the concentrations at which they protected fungi. Spectral and thin-layer chromatographic analyses of cercosporin solutions containing the different reducing agents indicated that GSH, but not cysteine or ascorbate, reacted with cercosporin. Resistant and sensitive fungi did not differ in endogenous levels of cysteine, GSH, or total thiols. On the basis of data from this and other studies, this report presents a model which proposes that cercosporin resistance results from the production of reducing power at the surfaces of resistant cells, leading to transient reduction and detoxification of the cercosporin molecule.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1999

Isolation, characterization, and avenacin sensitivity of a diverse collection of cereal-root-colonizing fungi.

A total of 161 fungal isolates were obtained from the surface-sterilized roots of field-grown oat and wheat plants in order to investigate the nature of the root-colonizing fungi supported by these two cereals. Fungi were initially grouped according to their colony morphologies and then were further characterized by ribosomal DNA sequence analysis. The collection contained a wide range of ascomycetes and also some basidiomycete fungi. The fungi were subsequently assessed for their abilities to tolerate and degrade the antifungal oat root saponin, avenacin A-1. Nearly all the fungi obtained from oat roots were avenacin A-1 resistant, while both avenacin-sensitive and avenacin-resistant fungi were isolated from the roots of the non-saponin-producing cereal, wheat. The majority of the avenacin-resistant fungi were able to degrade avenacin A-1. These experiments suggest that avenacin A-1 is likely to influence the development of fungal communities within (and possibly also around) oat roots.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1974

Acid protease production by fungi used in soybean food fermentation.

Growth conditions for maximum protease production by Rhizopus oligosporus, Mucor dispersus, and Actinomucor elegans, used in Oriental food fermentations, were investigated. Enzyme yields by all three fungi were higher in solid substrate fermentations than in submerged culture. The level of moisture in solid substrate must be at about 50 to 60%. Very little growth of these fungi was noted when the moisture of substrate was below 35%, whereas many fungi including most storage fungi generally grow well on solid substrate with that level of moisture. Among the three substrates tested-wheat bran, wheat, and soybeans-wheat bran was the most satisfactory one for enzyme production. The optimal conditions for maximum enzyme production of the three fungi grown on wheat bran were: R. oligosporus, 50% moisture at 25 C for 3 to 4 days; M. dispersus, 50 to 63% moisture at 25 C for 3 to 4 days; A. elegans, 50 to 63% moisture at 20 C for 3 days. Because these fungi are fast growing and require high moisture for growth and for enzyme synthesis, the danger of contamination by toxin-producing fungi would be minimal.

Endopeptidases↗
PubMed2026

Phytohormones in fungi: inter-kingdom modulators or fungal self-controlling elements?

SUMMARYLeveraging data from innovative experimental approaches, omics technologies, and bioinformatics, we offer new insights into how fungi communicate with and perceive their environment to achieve ecological success. By integrating comparative data from both the fungal and plant kingdoms, we critically reassessed the evolutionary, biochemical, and functional landscape of phytohormones in fungi, challenging the conventional notion that these molecules serve exclusively as plant regulators or as means of communication with them. Our analysis demonstrates that fungi not only synthesize a diverse array of phytohormones-including auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid, ethylene, brassinosteroids, salicylic acid, and oxylipins-but also possess hormone-sensing and signal transduction mechanisms architecturally distinct from those of plants. Employing genomics, phylogenetics, and structural analyses, the review uncovers that many hormone biosynthetic and sensing pathways in fungi are evolutionarily ancient, sometimes predating their roles in plant-fungus interactions, and that some pathways show convergence rather than direct gene homology. Fungal phytohormones regulate development, growth, and metabolism, thereby playing key functions in their ecological context. The review emphasizes that, while biosynthetic pathways tend to be highly conserved, perception and signaling mechanisms in fungi are more varied and often remain poorly understood. We conclude that fungi have an intrinsic and autonomous hormonal physiology that underpins their ecological adaptability and success. Collectively, this analysis reframes fungal biology, highlighting the need for deeper investigation into the signaling and regulatory roles of phytohormones in fungi beyond their interactions with plants.

cell signaling↗
PubMed2002

Comparative degradation of oomycete, ascomycete, and basidiomycete cell walls by mycoparasitic and biocontrol fungi.

Fourteen fungi (primarily representing mycoparasitic and biocontrol fungi) were tested for their ability to grow on and degrade cell walls (CWs) of an oomycete (Pythium ultimum), ascomycete (Fusarium equisetii), and basidiomycete (Rhizoctonia solani), and their hydrolytic enzymes were characterized. Protein was detected in the cultural medium of eleven of the test isolates, and these fungi significantly degraded CWs over the 14-day duration of the experiment. In general, a greater level of CW degradation occurred for F. equisetii and P. ultimum than for R. solani. Fungi that degraded F. equisetii CWs were Coniothyrium minitans, Gliocladium roseum, Myrothecium verrucaria, Talaromyces flavus, and Trichoderma harzianum. Taxa degrading P ultimum CWs included Chaetomium globosum, Coniothyrium minitans, M. verrucaria, Seimatosporium sp., Talaromyces flavus, Trichoderma hamatum, Trichoderma harzianum, and Trichoderma viride. Production of extracellular protein was highly correlated with CW degradation. Considerable variation in the molecular weights of CW-degrading enzymes were detected among the test fungi and the CW substrates in zymogram electrophoresis. Multivariate analysis between CW degradation and hydrolysis of barley beta-glucan (beta1,3- and beta1,4-glucanases), laminarin (beta1,3- and beta1,6-glucanases), carboxymethyl cellulose (endo-beta1,4-glucanases), colloidal chitin (chitinases), and chitosan (chitosanases) was conducted. For F. equisetii CWs, the regression model accounted for 80% of the variability, and carboxymethyl cellulases acting together with beta-glucanases contributed an R2 of 0.52, whereas chitinases and beta-glucanases alone contributed an R2 of 0.11 and 0.12, respectively. Only 61% of the variability observed in the degradation of P. ultimum CWs was explained by the enzyme classes tested, and primarily beta-glucanases (R2 of 0.53) and carboxymethyl cellulases (R2 of 0.08) alone contributed to CW break down. Too few of the test fungi degraded R. solani CWs to perform multivariate analysis effectively. This study identified several fungi that degraded ascomyceteous and oomyceteous, and to a lesser extent, basidiomycetous CWs. An array of enzymes were implicated in CW degradation.

Carbohydrate Metabolism↗
PubMed2005

Comparative analysis of programmed cell death pathways in filamentous fungi.

BACKGROUND: Fungi can undergo autophagic- or apoptotic-type programmed cell death (PCD) on exposure to antifungal agents, developmental signals, and stress factors. Filamentous fungi can also exhibit a form of cell death called heterokaryon incompatibility (HI) triggered by fusion between two genetically incompatible individuals. With the availability of recently sequenced genomes of Aspergillus fumigatus and several related species, we were able to define putative components of fungi-specific death pathways and the ancestral core apoptotic machinery shared by all fungi and metazoa. RESULTS: Phylogenetic profiling of HI-associated proteins from four Aspergilli and seven other fungal species revealed lineage-specific protein families, orphan genes, and core genes conserved across all fungi and metazoa. The Aspergilli-specific domain architectures include NACHT family NTPases, which may function as key integrators of stress and nutrient availability signals. They are often found fused to putative effector domains such as Pfs, SesB/LipA, and a newly identified domain, HET-s/LopB. Many putative HI inducers and mediators are specific to filamentous fungi and not found in unicellular yeasts. In addition to their role in HI, several of them appear to be involved in regulation of cell cycle, development and sexual differentiation. Finally, the Aspergilli possess many putative downstream components of the mammalian apoptotic machinery including several proteins not found in the model yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. CONCLUSION: Our analysis identified more than 100 putative PCD associated genes in the Aspergilli, which may help expand the range of currently available treatments for aspergillosis and other invasive fungal diseases. The list includes species-specific protein families as well as conserved core components of the ancestral PCD machinery shared by fungi and metazoa.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Fungi in Porites lutea: association with healthy and diseased corals.

Healthy and diseased scleractinian corals have been reported to harbour fungi. However, the species of fungi occurring in them and their prevalence in terms of biomass have not been determined and their role in coral diseases is not clear. We have found fungi to occur regularly in healthy, partially dead, bleached and pink-line syndrome (PLS)-affected scleractinian coral, Porites lutea, in the reefs of Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea. Mostly terrestrial species of fungi were isolated in culture from these corals. Hyaline and dark, non-sporulating fungi were the most dominant forms. Fungal hyphae extended up to 3 cm within the corals. Immunofluorescence detection using polyclonal immunological probes for a dark, initially non-sporulating isolate (isolate # 98-N28) and for a hyaline, non-sporulating fungus (isolate # 98-N18) revealed high frequencies of these in PLS-affected, dead and healthy colonies of P. lutea. Total fungal biomass accounted for 0.04 to 0.05% of the weight of corals in bleached corals and was higher than in PLS-affected and healthy colonies. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of fungi within the carbonate skeleton and around polyps. Fungi appear to be a regular component of healthy, partially dead and diseased coral skeleton.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Dehydrated gelatin drops: a good method for fungi maintenance and preservation.

Some techniques have been proposed to maintain fungi culture collection. However, any choice must ensure the cultural stability and its phenotypic characteristics. This work proposes an adaptation of a preservation method considered by few literature reports: the dehydrated gelatin drops method (DGD). A total of 27 strains of fungi of clinical interest, including four dermatophyte fungi isolates, six filamentous non-dermatophyte fungi, five environment isolated filamentous fungi, six dimorphic fungi and six yeasts were maintained by this method for a seven year period at room temperature. After that time, the macro and micro characteristics of each fungus were studied, allowing the evaluation of the DGD method. In our experience, none of the strains maintained by DGD were found to be contaminated by bacteria or other fungi and no apparent changes were observed in morphology or macroscopic features.

Fungi↗
PubMed2003

[Biodegradation of herbicide pendimethalin by fungi and its characteristics].

Fungi, which can grow on and degrade pendimethalin, were isolated from activated sludge and soil. The biodegradation characterization in vitro was studied. The results showed that pendimethalin could be degraded by fungi, 16 fungi were isolated by enrichment culture, among which, 10 fungi could degrade more than 60% pendimethalin in 5 days in culture fluid. According to the physiological resistance and the capacity to degrade pendimethalin, three fungi were considered as efficiently degrading strains identified as Aspergillus terreus, Monilochaetes and Aspergillus furnigatus. The efficiency of degradation was affected by culture conditions such as pH, temperature, and concentration of cane sugar and pendimethanlin. The results showed that when the additional carbon source was 0.5%-1.0%, pH value was 6-8, and cultivated temperature was 20-30 degrees C, the growth amount of fungi and the degradation rate were enhanced. The fungi grew quickly, and the biodegradation rate was high under pendimethalin concentration being 100 mg.L-1. The removed amount of pendimethalin increased with increasing pendimethalin concentration. The optimal conditions were proposed, which could provide theoretic basis for prevention and control of pesticides pollution.

Aniline Compounds↗
PubMed2004

Assessment of human exposure to airborne fungi in agricultural confinements: personal inhalable sampling versus stationary sampling.

Accurate exposure assessment to airborne fungi in agricultural environments is essential for estimating the associated occupational health hazards of workers. The objective of this pilot study was to compare personal and stationary sampling for assessing farmers' exposure to airborne fungi in 3 different agricultural confinements located in Ohio, USA (hog farm, dairy farm, and grain farm), using Button Personal Inhalable Samplers. Personal exposures were measured with samplers worn by 3 subjects (each carrying 2 samplers) during 3 types of activities, including animal feeding in the hog farm, cleaning and animal handling in the dairy farm, and soybean unloading and handling in the grain farm. Simultaneously, the stationary measurements were performed using 5 static Button Samplers and 1 revolving Button Sampler. The study showed that the total concentration of airborne fungi ranged from 1.4 x 10(4)-1.2 x 10(5) spores m(-3) in 3 confinements. Grain unloading and handling activity generated highest concentrations of airborne fungi compared to the other 2 activities. Prevalent airborne fungi belonged to Cladosporium, Aspergillus/Penicillium, Ascospores, smut spores, Epicoccum, Alternaria, and Basidiospores. Lower coefficients of variations were observed for the fungal concentrations measured by personal samplers (7-12%) compared to the concentrations measured by stationary samplers (27-37%). No statistically significant difference was observed between the stationary and personal measurement data for the total concentrations of airborne fungi (p > 0.05). Revolving stationary and static stationary Button Samplers demonstrated similar performance characteristics for the collection of airborne fungi. This reflects the low sensitivity of the sampler's efficiency to the wind speed and direction. The results indicate that personal exposure of agricultural workers in confinements may be adequately assessed by placing several Button Samplers simultaneously operating in a static stationary mode throughout the work site.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1989

Aquatic fungi associated with seven species of Nile fishes (Egypt).

Ten identified species in addition to 2 unidentified species of Achlya and Pythium which belong to seven zoosporic fungal genera (aquatic freshwater fungi) were recovered during this investigation. The fish species with most zoosporic fungi (5 species and 3 genera) was Tilapia nilotica. The fish species with least fungi were Bagrus bayad and Syndontis schall (yielded only one species each). Mormyrus kannum did not give any zoosporic fungal species. Some aquatic fungi emerged only from internal organs of some fish species. 46 species belonging to 22 terrestrial fungal genera were also recovered during this work. The broadest spectrum (15 species) was recorded in the second external wash water (WE2) of Mormyrus kannum and the narrowest spectrum (2 species) in the second internal wash water (WI2) of Schilbe mystus and with the scales of Labeo niloticus. First wash water of internal organs (WI1) of Tilapia nilotica yielded the highest total count (6.95% of total count) and the second wash water of internal organs (WI2) of Schilbe mystus yielded the lowest total count (0.34% of total count). Nile water sample (NW) yielded 3.67% of total fungi and eight species which belong to seven genera. Aspergillus was the most common (31 out of 31 samples) and yielded 52.40% of total fungi. It was represented by 12 species and one variety of A. flavus var. columnaris (broadest spectrum). Penicillium was represented by 7 species and found in 19 out of 31 samples yielding 11.02% of total fungi.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Fungi can be a useful forensic tool.

We present a practical case in which the fungi have contributed to the estimation of postmortem interval of the cadaver. A 71-year-old man wearing a shirt and pants was found dead at the bottom of an open well about 6m below the ground in his garden. Externally the face was dotted with colonies of white fungi, which was devoid of dipteran larvae and other insects. The fungi were identified as Penicillium sp. and Aspergillus terrous. These fungi, widely inhabit in the life circumstances, can generally colonize 3-7 days after attaching on the subjects. The appearance of the body surface, the state of decomposition of various organs, police information describing that the man had last been seen 12 days before discovery and the fungal evidence indicated that the man had been dead for about 10 days. We suggest that fungi can provide an useful means of estimating the minimum interval since death when forensic entomology is not applicable. Although, no data about growth rates of the fungi on human cadavers have been available, further researches should be needed to clarify the successive colonization of fungi on human cadavers.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Respiratory allergies in Venezuela: are fungi responsible?

Exposure to fungi in the indoor environment may trigger hypersensitivity to a variety of fungi and is known to be an influencing factor in allergic rhinitis and asthma. A wide list of airborne fungal spores and dust containing fungi have been described for different environments; however, their clinical relevance is seldom clear. In this survey we measure levels of fungi indoor and outdoor of domestic dwellings of 10 patients with known chronic allergic respiratory disease to fungi. To measure hypersensitivity to fungi, Prick (sensitivity to fungi), RAST (specific serum IgE levels) and PAR (persistent allergic rhinitis) severity are assessed in relation to fungal load in the environment. Only association of PAR and indoor fungal load were found to be significant (P = 0.1648). No direct causality with sensitivity to the amount of exposure, or a hypersensitivity to a specific fungal genus could be established. There is still no consensus on the most relevant methods for measuring personal exposure and 'no safe levels' have been established yet.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Ectomycorrhizal ecology under primary succession on coastal sand dunes: interactions involving Pinus contorta, suilloid fungi and deer.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) are critical for pine establishment under primary succession. The species of EMF supporting primary successional pine seedlings on coastal sand dunes and mechanisms for their establishment were investigated. Fungi were identified from ectomycorrhizal roots using molecular techniques. Field seedlings were collected from forested and nonforested zones. Laboratory seedlings were grown in soils collected from the same zones, and in sterile soils inoculated with fresh and 1-yr-old dry deer fecal pellets. Suilloid fungi were frequently observed on all seedlings. A diverse group of fungi was available to seedlings in forested zones. A less diverse group of fungi was available to field seedlings in nonforested zones and all laboratory bioassay seedlings. Deer fecal inoculant yielded an average of two EMF per seedling. Both Suillus and Rhizopogon species dominated seedlings inoculated with fresh deer feces, but only Rhizopogon species dominated seedlings inoculated with 1-yr-old feces. Suilloid fungi are dispersed by deer, produce resistant spore banks and are the principle fungi supporting seedlings on the sand dunes.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Rumen fungi and forage fiber degradation.

The role of anaerobic rumen fungi in in vitro forage fiber degradation was determined in a two forage x two inoculum source x five treatment factorial design. Forages used as substrates for rumen microorganisms were Coastal bermuda grass and alfalfa; inoculum sources were rumen fluid samples from a steer fed Coastal bermuda grass hay or alfalfa hay; treatments were whole rumen fluid (WRF), WRF plus streptomycin (0.2 mg/ml of rumen fluid) and penicillin (1.25 mg/ml of fluid), WRF plus cycloheximide (0.5 mg/ml of fluid), WRF plus streptomycin, penicillin, and cycloheximide, and McDougall buffer. Populations of fungi as shown by sporangial development were greater on bermuda grass leaves than on alfalfa leaflets regardless of inoculum source. However, endogenous fungal populations were greater from the alfalfa hay inoculum. Cycloheximide inhibited the fungi, whereas streptomycin and penicillin, which inhibit bacterial populations, resulted in an increase in numbers of sporangia in the alfalfa inoculum, suggesting an interaction between bacteria and fungi. Bacteria (i.e., WRF plus cycloheximide) were equal to the total population in degrading dry matter, neutral-detergent fiber (NDF), acid-detergent fiber (ADF), and cellulose for both inocula and both forages. Degradation of dry matter, NDF, ADF, and cellulose by anaerobic fungi (i.e., WRF plus streptomycin and penicillin) was less than that due to the total population or bacteria alone. However, NDF, ADF, and cellulose digestion was 1.3, 2.4, and 7.9 percentage units higher, respectively, for bermuda grass substrate with the alfalfa versus bermuda grass inoculum, suggesting a slight benefit by rumen fungi. No substantial loss of lignin (72% H(2)SO(4) method) occurred due to fungal degradation. The most active fiber-digesting population in the rumen was the bacteria, even when streptomycin and penicillin treatment resulted in an increase in rumen fungi over untreated WRF. The development of large numbers of sporangia on fiber may not indicate a substantial role as digesters of forage.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1989

Effects of ozone and sulfur dioxide on phyllosphere fungi from three tree species.

Short-term effects of ozone (O(3)) on phyllosphere fungi were studied by examining fungal populations from leaves of giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl.) Buchholz) and California black oak (Quercus kelloggii Newb.). Chronic effects of both O(3) and sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) were studied by isolating fungi from leaves of mature Valencia orange (Citrus sinensis L.) trees. In this chronic-exposure experiment, mature orange trees were fumigated in open-top chambers at the University of California, Riverside, for 4 years with filtered air, ambient air plus filtered air (1:1), ambient air, or filtered air plus SO(2) at 9.3 parts per hundred million. Populations of Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler and Cladosporium cladosporioides (Fres.) de Vries, two of the four most common fungi isolated from orange leaves, were significantly reduced by chronic exposure to ambient air. In the short-term experiments, seedlings of giant sequoia or California black oak were fumigated in open-top chambers in Sequoia National Park for 9 to 11 weeks with filtered air, ambient air, or ambient air plus O(3). These short-term fumigations did not significantly affect the numbers of phyllosphere fungi. Exposure of Valencia orange trees to SO(2) at 9.3 parts per hundred million for 4 years reduced the number of phyllosphere fungi isolated by 75% compared with the number from the filtered-air treatment and reduced the Simpson diversity index value from 3.3 to 2.5. A significant chamber effect was evident since leaves of giant sequoia and California black oak located outside of chambers had more phyllosphere fungi than did seedlings within chambers. Results suggest that chronic exposure to ambient ozone or SO(2) in polluted areas can affect phyllosphere fungal communities, while short-term exposures may not significantly disturb phyllosphere fungi.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Nuclear ribosomal DNA variation and pathogenic specialization in alternaria fungi known to produce host-specific toxins.

A total of 99 strains of 11 Alternaria species, including 68 strains of seven fungi known to produce host-specific toxins, were subjected to analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA). Total DNA was digested with XbaI, and the Southern blots were probed with a nuclear rDNA clone of Alternaria kikuchiana. The hybridization gave 17 different RFLPs from the 99 strains. On the basis of these RFLPs, populations of host-specific toxin-producing fungi could not be differentiated from one another nor from nonpathogenic A. alternata. Each population of the toxin-producing fungi carried rDNA variants. Nine different types, named A1 to A6 and B1 to B3, were detected among the toxin-producing fungi and nonpathogenic A. alternata. All of the populations contained the type A4 variant, and the other rDNA types were also shared by different toxin-producing fungi and A. alternata. In contrast, Alternaria species that are morphologically distinguishable from A. alternata could be differentiated from A. alternata on the basis of the rDNA RFLPs. Polymorphisms in rDNA digested with HaeIII and MspI were also evaluated in 61 Alternaria strains. These restriction enzymes produced 31 variations among all of the samples. The seven toxin-producing fungi and nonpathogenic A. alternata could not be resolved by phylogenetic analysis based on the RFLPs, although they could be differentiated from the other Alternaria species studied. These results provide support for the hypothesis that Alternaria fungi known to produce host-specific toxins are intraspecific variants of A. alternata specialized in pathogenicity.

Journal Article↗