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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #357807
Research Project: Genomic and Metabolomic Approaches for Detection and Control of Fusarium, Fumonisins and Other Mycotoxins on Corn

Location: Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research

Title: The Talaromyces pinophilus species complex

Author
item Peterson, Stephen
item ZELJKO, JURJEVIC - Emsl Analytical, Inc

Submitted to: Fungal Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/19/2019
Publication Date: 6/26/2019
Citation: Peterson, S.W., Zeljko, J. 2018. The Talaromyces pinophilus species complex. Fungal Biology. 123(10):745-762. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2019.06.007.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2019.06.007

Interpretive Summary: Molds are difficult to identify on the basis of their appearance and because of differences in ability to make pharmaceuticals, protect plants, cause plant disease or cause human disease among similar appearing molds, it is important to have a method to clearly identify molds. We assembled a group of these difficult molds to study. We examined the appearance of each mold and extracted and sequenced DNA from four areas of each mold. We found that these molds could all fit the mold technically called Talaromyces pinophilus on the basis of appearance, but there is significant genetic difference between the molds that occur on different continents and different habitats. Because of the importance of these molds we described eight new species to give appropriate status to each of the species in the group. This research will be of interest to plant pathologists, drug discovery programs, environmental testing companies, medical researchers, and academic researchers.

Technical Abstract: A sample of isolates from T. pinophilus (55 isolates) and closely related species (76 isolates) was sequenced at four loci, the data were analyzed using the GCPSR paradigm and the isolates were subjected to growth studies on the recommended media for description of Talaromyces species. On the basis of the combined data, five new species were segregated out of T. pinophilus and placed in newly described species. The three other new species, Talaromyces argentinensis, T. californicus and T. louisianensis were not a part of the T. pinophilus species complex but occurred in Talaromyces sect. Talaromyces. Talaromyces argentinesis produces a teleomorphic state and is phylogenetically and morphologically distinct from other Talaromyces species.