A defect in the pksP gene of Aspergillus fumigatus is associated with the l
oss of conidial pigmentation, a profound change of the conidial surface str
ucture, and reduced virulence. The structural change of the conidial surfac
e structure was not observed in similar A. nidulans wA mutants. Our data in
dicate that the pigment of both species is important for scavenging reactiv
e oxygen species and for protection of conidia against oxidative damage.