ARS | Publication request: Three new species of Aspergillus section Flavi isolated from almonds and maize in Portugal

Submitted to: Mycologia
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: November 3, 2011
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
Citation: Soares, C., Peterson, S.W., Rodrigues, P., Lima, N., Venancio, A. 2012. Three new species of Aspergillus section Flavi isolated from almonds and maize in Portugal. Mycologia. 104(3):682-697.

Interpretive Summary: Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus are the major makers of the carcinogenic mold-toxin, aflatoxin, in commodities. During the study of almond and maize molds in Portugal, unusual isolates first placed in the above species were encountered. A detailed study showed that the unusual isolates represent hitherto unrecognized aflatoxin producers in these two commodities. Future studies will be established on the commodities affected, the hosts of the species, geographic range, and how common these species are in commodities.

Technical Abstract: Three new aflatoxin-producing species belonging to Aspergillus section Flavi are described, Aspergillus mottae, Aspergillus sergii and Aspergillus transmontanensis. These species were isolated from Portuguese almonds and maize. An investigation examining morphology, extrolites and molecular data was used to characterize these isolates in the new species. Phylogenetic analysis showed that A. transmontanensis and A. sergii form a clade with Aspergillus parasiticus whereas A. mottae shares a most recent common ancestor with the combined Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus clade.