AUTHOR=Liang Li-Juan , Jeewon Rajesh , Dhandevi Pem , Durairajan Siva Sundara Kumar , Li Hongye , Lin Fu-Cheng , Wang Hong-Kai 

TITLE=A Novel Species of Penicillium With Inhibitory Effects Against Pyricularia oryzae and Fungal Pathogens Inducing Citrus Diseases

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2020

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2020.604504

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2020.604504

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=A novel species of Penicillium was isolated from soil collected in Linzhi Town, Linzhi County, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. DNA sequence analyses from 8 different gene regions indicate that the isolate represent a novel species and most closely related to P. janczewskii. The phylogenetic analysis based on a concatenated dataset of three genes, ITS, CaM and BenA also confirmed the placement of the novel species within the Canescentia section of the genus Penicillium. Differences in morphology among similar species are detailed and a multi-loci gene based phylogeny is presented. This new species is proposed as Penicillium linzhium sp. nov. Cultural studies were performed to study inhibitory activities on plant pathogens. The results reveal a notable antifungal activity against Pyricularia oryae causing rice blast with an inhibition rate up to 77%, while for other three citrus pathogens, Diaporthe citri, Phyllosticta citrichinaensis and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, inhibition rate was 40%, 50%, and 55% respectively. No noticeable effects were observed for Fusarium graminearum, Botryosphaeria kuwatsukai and Rhizoctonia solani. Interestingly, unlike other reported members of Canescentia, P. linzhium showed no antagonistic effect on root rotting fungi. The new taxon isolated here has the potential to be used as a biocontrol agent especially for economically important phytopathogens or emerging pathogens on diseases occurring on citrus or rice.