4 research outputs found
Polyphasic taxonomy of Aspergillus section Fumigati and its teleomorph Neosartorya
The taxonomy of Aspergillus section Fumigati with its
teleomorph genus Neosartorya is revised. The species concept is based
on phenotypic (morphology and extrolite profiles) and molecular
(β-tubulin and calmodulin gene sequences) characters in a polyphasic
approach. Four new taxa are proposed: N. australensis N. ferenczii, N.
papuaensis and N. warcupii. All newly described and accepted
species are illustrated. The section consists of 33 taxa: 10 strictly
anamorphic Aspergillus species and 23 Neosartorya species.
Four other Neosartorya species described previously were not
available for this monograph, and consequently are relegated to the category
of doubtful species
The current status of species recognition and identification in Aspergillus
The species recognition and identification of aspergilli and their
teleomorphs is discussed. A historical overview of the taxonomic concepts
starting with the monograph of Raper & Fennell
(1965) is given. A list of
taxa described since 2000 is provided. Physiological characters, particularly
growth rates and the production of extrolites, often show differences that
reflect phylogenetic species boundaries and greater emphasis should be placed
on extrolite profiles and growth characteristics in species descriptions.
Multilocus sequence-based phylogenetic analyses have emerged as the primary
tool for inferring phylogenetic species boundaries and relationships within
subgenera and sections. A four locus DNA sequence study covering all major
lineages in Aspergillus using genealogical concordance theory
resulted in a species recognition system that agrees in part with phenotypic
studies and reveals the presence of many undescribed species not resolved by
phenotype. The use of as much data from as many sources as possible in making
taxonomic decisions is advocated. For species identification, DNA barcoding
uses a short genetic marker in an organism”s DNA to quickly and easily
identify it to a particular species. Partial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1
sequences, which are used for barcoding animal species, were found to have
limited value for species identification among black aspergilli. The various
possibilities are discussed and at present partial β-tubulin or
calmodulin are the most promising loci for Aspergillus
identification. For characterising Aspergillus species one
application would be to produce a multilocus phylogeny, with the goal of
having a firm understanding of the evolutionary relationships among species
across the entire genus. DNA chip technologies are discussed as possibilities
for an accurate multilocus barcoding tool for the genus
Aspergillus