Cloning and Sequence Analysis of the Eburicol 14 α‐Demethylase Encoding Gene (CYP51) from the Japanese Pear Scab Fungus Venturia nashicola

The slow growth of many filamentous fungi in vitro prevents rapid isolation of large quantities of genomic DNA, thereby hampering molecular studies. Using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based adapter ligation cloning technique that requires only nanogram quantities of genomic DNA we have successfully cloned the complete CYP51 gene encoding the eburicol 14α‐demethylase, the target for DMI (Demethylation‐inhibiting) fungicides, from the Japanese pear scab fungus, Venturia nashicola. Analysis of predictedamino acid sequences of CYP51s from strains less sensitive to DMIs revealed no alterations when compared to the sensitive reference strain.