• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.200-204
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• 2013

Dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) melanin is known to be present in some ascomycete fungi. To verify the type of melanin in Venturia nashicola that cause scab on pear, we investigated scytalone dehydratase (SD) gene, one of DHN melanin genes, from 11 isolates of V. nashicola from different provinces in Korea and Japan. Through PCR approach, 429 bp amplicon was produced from the 11 isolates and sequenced. All of the PCR-amplified sequences were determined as SD gene through GenBank database search. All the determined sequences were composed of an intron and two exons coding for 122 amino acids of SD. The homology of SD gene was 100% among the 11 isolates. Sequence identity of the predicted SD protein of 122 amino acids ranged 69 to 73% with other fungi. Our results proved that V. nashicola operates DHN melanin pathway.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2005

During last decade there has been noticeable progress in the research of the biology of sapstaining fungi that cause considerable economic losses to forest product industry. The researches generated broad ranges of knowledge on sapstaining fungi regarding their occurrence on conifer wood, taxonomy, nutrient physiology, pigmentation biochemistry and molecular biology, and biological control. Major problematic groups in the sapstain production are Ophiostoma, Ceratocystis, and Leptographium genera. With Ophiostoma as a model, it is found that the type of carbon source is important in the growth and pigment production of sapstaining fungi. The operation of dihydroxy naphthalene (DHN) melanin pathway for black to bluish pigment production has been confirmed in those cosmetic fungi both at biochemical and molecular levels. The development of albino technology using nutrition competition has been shown to be promising as an environmentally friendly biological control method for sapstain control.