Aspergillus bertholletius sp. nov. from Brazil nuts

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 7; no. 8; p. e42480
• Main Authors: Taniwaki, Marta H, Pitt, John I, Iamanaka, Beatriz T, Sartori, Daniele, Copetti, Marina V, Balajee, Arun, Fungaro, Maria Helena P, Frisvad, Jens C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 27.08.2012; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Acids; Aspergillus; Aspergillus - genetics; Aspergillus - physiology; Aspergillus flavus; Bertholletia - genetics; Bertholletia - microbiology; Bertholletia excelsa; Biology; Calcium-binding protein; Calmodulin; Calmodulin - metabolism; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cyclopiazonic acid; DNA, Fungal - genetics; DNA, Intergenic - genetics; Gene sequencing; Genes; Glycerol; Handbooks; Kojic acid; Models, Genetic; New species; Nucleotides - genetics; Nuts; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Rainforests; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Soil Microbiology; Species Specificity; Studies; Taxa; Tenuazonic acid; Tubulin; Tubulin - metabolism; Brazil
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042480

During a study on the mycobiota of brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa) in Brazil, a new Aspergillus species, A. bertholletius, was found, and is described here. A polyphasic approach was applied using morphological characters, extrolite data as well as partial β-tubulin, calmodulin and ITS sequences to characterize this taxon. A. bertholletius is represented by nineteen isolates from samples of brazil nuts at various stages of production and soil close to Bertholletia excelsa trees. The following extrolites were produced by this species: aflavinin, cyclopiazonic acid, kojic acid, tenuazonic acid and ustilaginoidin C. Phylogenetic analysis using partial β-tubulin and camodulin gene sequences showed that A. bertholletius represents a new phylogenetic clade in Aspergillus section Flavi. The type strain of A. bertholletius is CCT 7615 ( = ITAL 270/06 = IBT 29228).