DETECTION OF VIRUS-LIKE PARTICLES IN THE COREMIA OFPENICILLIUM CLAVIFORME

Abstract
A double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) was isolated from coremial extracts of wild type P. claviforme, by methylated-albumin kieselguhr chromatography. Differential centrifugations of the coremial extracts from WT and Sh mutant strains yielded two classes of virus-like particles (VLP), of dimensions 25-30 nm, and 50-70 nm. The possible ecological significance of fungal viruses is discussed.