ARS | Publication request: A PHYLOGENY OF ASPERGILLUS BASED ON RDNA SEQUENCES

Submitted to: International Workshop on Penicillium and Aspergillus
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 30, 1997
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Aspergillus taxonomy has long been based on morphological and physiological similarities. To test the current classification systems based on those phenotypic characters, I have sequenced portions of the ribosomal RNA genes from more than 250 named taxa in Aspergillus. Data were analyzed by parsimony and distance methods. Apical regions of the trees were well supported in bootstrap analysis of the ITS and D1-D2 regions of rDNA, but basal regions of the resulting trees are not. Strong bootstrap support shows that section Fumigati and Clavati are sister groups, in contrast to their current placement in separate subgenera. Hemicarpenteles acanthosporus (section Ornati) belongs in section Clavati. Sections Restricti and Aspergillus are artificial distinctions between anamorphic and teleomorphic species. Sections Flavi, Nigri,and Circumdati are each well supported by the data, but the relationships of the sections are not clearly seen. Subgenus Nidulantes is divided between two well supported clades, one includes section Terrei and Flavipedes, while the other includes sections Nidulantes, Versicolores and Usti. Some species synonymies are suggested by identical DNA sequences.