Evidence for the parasexual cycle in a strain of Aspergillus flavus containing virus-like particles.

Eight isolates of A. flavus and A. parasiticus were screened for the presence of virus-like-particles (VLP). Only A. flavus strain NRRL 5565 contained detectable VLP. Spore color and auxotrophic mutants were induced in this strain and evidence for the parasexual cycle was obtained. Attempts to form heterokaryons between 3 auxotrophs of the VLP-containing strain and 9 auxotrophs from two different aflatoxigenic strains were unsuccessful.