Screening of Taxol-producing fungi based on PCR amplification from Taxus.

Genes coding for 10-deacetylbaccatin III-10-O-acetyl transferase and C-13 phenylpropanoid side chain-CoA acyltransferase were used as molecular markers for screening of Taxol-producing endophytic fungi. Using PCR, three out of 90 endophytic fungi, isolated from Taxus x media and Taxus yunnanensis, gave positive results. These 3 strains, when grown in 300 ml potato/dextrose liquid medium at 25 degrees C for 10 days, contained 100-160 microg Taxol/g dry wt of mycelium.