Articles by Taxonomic Group

Two different coelomycetous fungi were screened for the production of taxol, an anticancer drug. Taxol production was confirmed by following methods Ultra Violet (UV) spectroscopic analysis, Infra Red analysis (IR), High performance liquid chromatography analysis (HPLC) and Liquid chromatography mass spectrum (LC-MASS), and the taxol compared with authentic taxol. The fungal taxol was identical to authentic taxol. The taxol produced by the above fungi were tested against cancer A549 cell line.

This study has clarified the conidiomatal development of Pestalotiopsis cruenta by using light and transmission electron microscopes. Based on light microscopic studies of the isolated fungus, it was shown that this species forms non-ostiolate pycnidial conidiomata in culture, whereas it is known to produce only acervular conidiomata on leaves. One of the interesting observations is the ultrastructure of the conidial wall in the pigmented cells as well as the basal and apical hyaline cells with the appendages. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first ultrastrucural examination of conidiomata and conidia of Pestalotiopsis cruenta.