Purification and partial characterization of an extracellular melanoprotein from the fungus Venturia inaequalis.

The fungus Venturia inaequalis clone No. 36 isolated from Malus domestica cv. Gloster excretes a melanoprotein of 36 kDa in relatively high amounts during growth in liquid culture.

Investigations on epiphytic living Pseudomonas species from Malus domestica with an antagonistic effect to Venturia inaequalis on isolated plant cuticle membranes.

In order to understand better the survival and mutual interaction of epiphytic bacteria and fungi on apple plants, bacteria collected from these plants were cultivated on intact adaxial, stoma free cuticle membranes originally obtained from apple. The bacteria were labelled with luciferase genes from Vibrio harveyi in order to follow up their development and activity on the isolated cuticles. Our finding was that the epiphytic bacteria can have access to nutrients below the cuticle without causing damage to these cuticular membranes.