Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #97504
Title: PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF PIGMENTED AND NON-PIGMENTED ISOLATES OF MONOSPORASCUS CANNONBALLUS

Author
item JUAREZ, DAVID - EASTERN OK STATE COLLEGE
item Zhang, Jiuxu
item Bruton, Benny
item BILES, CHARLIE - EAST CENTRAL UNIV.

Submitted to: Oklahoma Academy of Science Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/14/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Monosporascus cannonballus (MC), a soilborne fungus causes a vine decline that significantly reduces muskmelon yields in hot, dry regions. Double stranded RNA (dsRNA) and pigmentation (PIG) are associated with some MC isolates. Pigmented isolates are often associated with reduced spore production and growth rate, and fungal degeneration. Enzyme production, dsRNA, and protein profiles from shake culture media, potato dextrose broth (PDB) and modified Fusarium nutrient solution (MFNS), were compared in (PIG) and non-pigmented (NP) isolates. Little pigment was produced in MFNS. NP isolates did not produce pigment in either media. SDS- and IEF-PAGE of proteins extracted from fungus grown in PDB showed different protein profiles between PIG and NP isolates. A 53 kDa protein was produced only from PIG isolates. The protein, with a pI of 4.0, was associated only with the PIG isolates in PDB. dsRNA bands, observed in all isolates, varied in number and size. Cellulase activity also varied among isolates. A protein with pI 4.0 appears to be associated with pigment production, but is only synthesized in PDB. Pigment production was not associated with the presence of dsRNA.