Six Species of Penicillium Associated with Blue Mold of Grape

ABSTRACT

Grape fruits with blue mold symptoms were collected from house storages in different locations in Korea and were investigated for their association with Penicillium species. A total of 12 isolates of Penicillium were isolated from the collected fruits. Based on morphological and cultural characteristics and beta-tublin gene sequence data analysis, they were identified as P. bialowiezense, P. citrinum, P. echinulatum, P. expansum, P. solitum and unidentified Penicillium species. P. solitum was the predominant followed by P. expansum. P. bialowiezense and P. echinulatum were newly recorded in Korea. beta-Tubulin gene sequences could be used to distinguish each species of Penicillium and the molecular groups were correlated well with the morphological species. The unidentified species was supposed to be a new species, not previously reported in literature.