Epistatic relationships and linkage among colour markers of the imperfect entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae

Abstract
Diploid strains of the imperfect entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae were obtained by forced matings of complementary auxotrophic and spore-colour marked mutants. Genetic analysis of diploid and haploid mitotic recombinants suggests the existence of two metabolic pathways for spore pigmentation biosynthesis in Metarhizium anisopliae. Ten markers (two new and eight previously identified) were assigned to five linkage groups.