Investigation of the role of the L-DOPA pathway in the production of melanin in Monilinia spp. and its relationship with fungal development

Abstract Monilinia spp., the causal agent of brown rot in stone fruits, relies on melanin biosynthesis for development, survival, and longevity. In this study, we identified for the first time the presence of the L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) pathway in Monilinia spp. ( M. laxa , M. fructicola , and M. fructigena ) through BLAST analysis, and detected L-DOPA-derived pigments using UHPLC-MS/MS. The pathway was evaluated under control conditions, upon inhibition of the dihydroxynaphthalene