A morphologically distinct strain of Aspergillus nomius

Abstract

DNA polymorphisms were used to infer relationships of a morphologically distinct new strain of aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus to other members of Aspergillus sect. Flavi. The new strain produced both B and G aflatoxins, and differed both morphologically and physiologically from other aflatoxin producers. Three isolates of the new fungus were compared with representatives of three known aflatoxin-producing species. Regions of the Taka-amylase A, β-tubulin, calmodulin, and nitrate reductase genes were amplified using PCR and digested with restriction enzymes. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of all four gene regions indicated that the new Aspergillus isolates are closely related to A. nomius, but are diverged from other aflatoxin-producing species.

Key Words:

• β-tubulin
• calmodulin
• nitrate reductase
• phylogeny
• systematics
• Taka-amylase A