AUTHOR=Liang Ruina , Yang Qiqi , Li Ying , Yin Guohua , Zhao Guozhu 

TITLE=Morphological and phylogenetic analyses reveal two new Penicillium species isolated from the ancient Great Wall loess in Beijing, China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1329299

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2024.1329299

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p><italic>Penicillium</italic> species exhibit a broad distribution in nature and play a crucial role in human and ecological environments.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Two <italic>Penicillium</italic> species isolated from the ancient Great Wall loess in the Mentougou District of Beijing, China, were identified and described as new species, namely, <italic>Penicillium acidogenicum</italic> and <italic>P. floccosum</italic>, based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of multiple genes including ITS, <italic>BenA</italic>, <italic>CaM,</italic> and <italic>RPB2</italic> genes.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Phylogenetic analyses showed that both novel species formed a distinctive lineage and that they were most closely related to <italic>P. chrzaszczii</italic> and <italic>P. osmophilum</italic>, respectively.</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p><italic>Penicillium acidogenicum</italic> is characterized by biverticillate conidiophores that produce globose conidia and is distinguished from similar species by its capacity to grow on CYA at 30°C. <italic>Penicillium floccosum</italic> is typically recognized by its restricted growth and floccose colony texture. The description of these two new species provided additional knowledge and new insights into the ecology and distribution of <italic>Penicillium</italic>.</p></sec>