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Aspergillus section Versicolores: nine new species and multilocus DNA sequence based phylogeny
Zeljko Jurjevic1, Stephen W Peterson, Bruce W Horn
1EMSL Analytical, Inc., 200 Route 130 North, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077.
IMA Fungus
|November 17, 2012
Summary
This study details new species within Aspergillus section versicolor using molecular data. Some PCR primers for detecting Aspergillus versicolor also identify these newly discovered species.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Molecular Biology
- Systematics
Background:
- Aspergillus section versicolor is a group of fungi with implications in indoor environments.
- Accurate species identification is crucial for understanding fungal ecology and health impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To delineate species boundaries within Aspergillus section versicolor using multi-locus sequence data.
- To describe new species and re-evaluate existing ones within this section.
Main Methods:
- Amplification and sequencing of multiple genetic markers (β-tubulin, calmodulin, ITS, LSU-rDNA, RNA polymerase 2, Mcm7, Tsr1).
- Phylogenetic analysis using the concordance model to establish species relationships.
- Phenotypic characterization to support molecular findings.
Main Results:
- Nine new species are described: Aspergillus austroafricanus, A. creber, A. cvjetkovicii, A. fructus, A. jensenii, A. puulaauensis, A. subversicolor, A. tennesseensis, and A. venenatus.
- Five species are accepted as distinct: A. amoenus, A. protuberus, A. sydowii, A. tabacinus, and A. versicolor.
- Commonly used PCR primers for A. versicolor detection react positively with most new species, except A. subversicolor.
Conclusions:
- Molecular phylogenetic analyses have resolved complex species boundaries within Aspergillus section versicolor.
- The description of new species expands the known diversity of this fungal group.
- Current PCR detection methods for A. versicolor may lead to overestimation in environmental studies due to cross-reactivity with related species.
Keywords:
Aspergillus amoenusAspergillus austroafricanusAspergillus creberAspergillus cvjetkoviciiAspergillus fructusAspergillus jenseniiAspergillus protuberusAspergillus puulaauensisAspergillus subversicolorAspergillus sydowiiAspergillus tabacinusAspergillus tennesseensisAspergillus venenatusAspergillus versicolorconcordance analysisphylogenysystematics
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