Bioproduction of Cinchona alkaloids by the endophytic fungus Diaporthe sp. associated with Cinchona ledgeriana.

We report that an endophytic filamentous fungus species of the genus Diaporthe isolated from Cinchona ledgeriana (Rubiaceae) produces Cinchona alkaloids (quinine, quinidine, cinchonidine, and cinchonine) upon cultivation in a synthetic liquid medium. This study provides evidence that Cinchona alkaloids are produced not only in Cinchona plant cells, but also in the endophytic microbe cells, and will help to elucidate the relationship between endophytic microbes and their host plants.