Biotin Induces Sporulation of Mulberry Anthracnose Fungus, Colletotrichum dematium

Compounds in mulberry leaves inducing sporulation of C. dematium, mulberry anthracnose fungus, were detected. Dissolved or suspended aqueous solutions (1%) of 16 amino acids and 10 vitamins occurring in mulberry leaves were applied individually at the margin of the fungal colony growing on PSA plate. Sporulation was induced only where a biotin solution was applied on the mycelium at a concentration of at least 0.01 ppm. This result suggests that biotin, which occurs in mulberry leaves (ca. 0.6 mg/kg of dried leaves), has a role in inducing sporulation of C. dematium. Received 20 August 1999/ Accepted in revised form 16 November 1999