MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA ANALYSIS OF PHIALOPHORA-VERRUCOSA

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of mitochondrial DNA ( mtDNA) was examined in 32 isolates of Phialophora verrucosa (eight iso lates from Japan, 10 from China, four from the USA, six from Venezuela and four from Colombia) and in three of Phialophora americana using f ive restriction enzymes. P. verrucosa isolates were divided into 10 mt DNA types based on RFLP patterns. Phylogeny constructed on sequence di vergence of mtDNA indicated that P. verrucosa is a single species and isolates are clustered into three groups. Japan and the USA contained Group A and Group B isolates, China Group B isolates and South America Group B and Group C isolates. RFLP patterns of P. americana mtDNA wer e identical to those of Type 1 or Type 4 of P. verrucosa mtDNA, sugges ting that both are identical. RFLP patterns of P. verrucosa were disti nct from those of other dematiaceous fungi including Exophiala jeansel mei, E. moniliae, E, dermatitidis, E, spinifera, Cladophialophora loph ora (Cladosporium) carrionii, Fonseceae pedrosoi, and Hortaea wernecki i. These results indicate that RFLP analysis of mtDNA is a useful meth od. for the identification, taxonomy, typing, epidemiology and phyloge ny of P. verrucosa.