Aspergillus is a large genus and, as with fungi in general, its taxonomy is complex
and ever evolving. Section Flavi is one of the most significant sections of the
genus, for it comprises two distinct groups of species with great interest to food
industry: one group includes the aflatoxigenic species, which cause serious problems
in agricultural commodities, and the other includes the non-aflatoxigenic species
traditionally used in food fermentation and biotechnological processes.
Because of the significant phenotypic and genetic similarity between species, taxonomy
and species identification within this section has always been subject of great
interest for scientists who struggle to clarify the species concept and delimitations
within the section, and to find a consistent and stable taxonomic scheme.
Throughout the last decades, the taxonomy of Aspergillus has evolved from a simple
morphological species concept to a more complex scheme also integrating biochemical,
ecological, genetic and molecular traits. Also, as methods become more sensitive,
accurate and widespread, species are constantly being added or re-classified
or even repositioned within the genus.
We are here in presenting a comprehensive work on the identification of large numbers
of Portuguese isolates from Section Flavi through the combination of various
methods, including morphological, biochemical and molecular ones, as well as the
novel approach based on spectral analysis by MALDI-TOF-ICMS. By applying this
polyphasic scheme of identification, we were able to identify and characterise three
new aflatoxigenic species within this section
