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Abstract
Penicillium brocae is a new monoverticillate species isolated from coffee berry borers collected at coffee plantations in Mexico near Cacahoatán, Chiapas, and from borers reared on artificial diets at ECOSUR laboratory facilities in Tapachula, Chiapas. Phenotypically, it is in Penicillium series Implicatum, but because it does not conform to known species we have described it as new. ITS and large subunit rDNA were sequenced and compared to determine the phylogenetic position of this species. It is most closely related to Penicillium adametzii. Penicillium brocae has only been found in association with the coffee berry borer and is one of several fungi that grow in coffee berry borer galleries. Penicillium brocae may provide the exogenous sterols necessary for the coffee berry borer's development and thus be mutualistically associated with the insect.
We thank several people who assisted in this project. Jennifer J. Scoby provided skillful technical assistance in DNA sequencing and fungal culture work. Guadalupe “Lupita” Nieto gave technical assistance with SEM photography. Alfredo Castillo, Julio Cesar Espinoza and Victor Hugo Galindo provided valuable assistance during the fieldwork. Mr. Michael Hertwig translated the English description into Latin. One of the authors (JP) received support for her studies at ECOSUR from the Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores (Mexico).
