Characterization of antifungal metabolites produced by Penicillium speciesisolated from seeds of Picea glehnii

We screened the microorganisms that are present on the surface of Picea gle hnii seeds and produced antifungal compounds against Pythium vexans, a fung us that causes damping-off. Four isolates of Penicillium species that produ ced patulin, citrinin, palitantin, and arthrographol, respectively, were id entified from 149 different microorganisms screened. This study is the firs t step in an examination of the ecological interaction between host conifer s and fungi located on the surface of their seeds.