Mycological Research 2009-04-01

Hopane triterpenes as chemotaxonomic markers for the scale insect pathogens Hypocrella s. lat. and Aschersonia.

Masahiko Isaka, Nigel L Hywel-Jones, Malipan Sappan, Suchada Mongkolsamrit, Sarawut Saidaengkham

Index: Mycol. Res. 113(Pt 4) , 491-7, (2009)

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Abstract

The scale insect pathogens Hypocrella s. lat. and their Aschersonia anamorphs, collected at various locations in Thailand, were surveyed for their productivity of three hopane triterpenes, zeorin (6alpha,22-dihydroxyhopane), dustanin (15alpha,22-dihydroxyhopane), and 3beta-acetoxy-15alpha,22-dihydroxyhopane, when cultured in a liquid medium (potato-dextrose broth) under static conditions. Among 53 strains of Aschersonia species, 48 strains (91 %) produced at least one of these compounds. Hypocrella and Moelleriella species (43 strains) also frequently produced these triterpenoids; only two strains lacked all of these triterpenes. The results demonstrate that hopane triterpenes may be suitable for use as chemotaxonomic markers for Hypocrella and Moelleriella species and their Aschersonia anamorphs.