Physiological Aspects of Pigment Production in Relation to Morphogenesis in Panus Tigrinus

SUMMARY

Correlations between purple pigment production and lack of fruiting in Panus tigrinus provide a means for studying possible factors controlling basidiocarp morphogenesis. Among 31 single-basidiospore isolates, all produced purple pigment when grown on basal liquid medium but when grown on basal agar medium they could be divided into purple-pigmenting and nonpigmenting groups. Dikaryons grown on basal agar medium synthesized melanin and fruited but when grown on basal liquid medium they failed to produce melanin, failed to fruit but produced a purple pigment. Phenylthiocarbamide, a melanin-synthesis inhibitor, blocked fruiting as well as inhibiting melanin synthesis and induced the accumulation of purple pigment.