Revision of Aspergillus section Flavipedes: seven new species and proposal of section Jani sect. nov.

Abstract

Aspergillus section Flavipedes contains species found worldwide in soils and rhizospheres, indoor and cave environments, as endophytes, food contaminants and occasionally as human pathogens. They produce many extensively studied bioactive secondary metabolites and biotechnologically relevant enzymes. The taxa were revised based on phylogenetic analysis of sequences from four loci (β-tubulin, calmodulin, RPB2, ITS rDNA), two PCR fingerprinting methods, micro- and macromorphology and physiology. Section Flavipedes includes three known and seven new species: A. ardalensis, A. frequens, A. luppii, A. mangaliensis, A. movilensis, A. polyporicola and A. spelaeus. The name A. neoflavipes was proposed for Fennellia flavipes a distinct species from its supposed asexual state A. flavipes. Aspergillus iizukae, A. frequens and A. mangaliensis are the most common and widely distributed species, whereas A. flavipes s. str. is rare. A dichotomous key based on the combination of morphology and physiology is provided for all recognized species. Aspergillus section Jani is established to contain A. janus and A. brevijanus, species previously classified as members of sect. Versicolores, Terrei or Flavipedes. This new section is strongly supported by phylogenetic data and morphology. Section Jani species produce three types of conidiophores and conidia, and colonies have green and white sectors making them distinctive. Accessory conidia found in pathogenic A. terreus were found in all members of sects. Flavipedes and Jani. Our data indicated that A. frequens is a clinically relevant and produces accessory conidia during infection.

• Aspergillus flavipes
• cave mycobiota
• Fennellia
• multilocus phylogeny
• PCR fingerprinting
• soil fungi

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the GAČR projects (“Complex study of the endemic earthworm Allolobophora hrabei and its effects on soil and soil organisms in steppe ecosystems” and “Bat adaptations to the fungal disease geomycosis”) and the project RNM-5137 of the Junta de Andalucía, Spain. This study was also partially supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (CZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0055, CZ.1.07/2.3.00/30.0003 and SVV project). Molecular genetics analyses were supported by the projects GAUK 607812. The mention of firm names or trade products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the US Department of Agriculture over other firms or similar products not mentioned. Prof Karol Marhold’s consultation on nomenclatural issues is gratefully acknowledged. We thank Dr MJ Vaughan for providing several isolates from American caves, D Kozáková for the lyophilisation of the cultures, Dr A Kubátová for deposition of cultures into the CCF collection, Dr M Chudíčková and A Gabrielová for their invaluable assistance in laboratory.