Penicillium fusisporum and P. zhuangii, Two New Monoverticillate Species with Apical-Swelling Stipes of Section Aspergilloides Isolated from Plant Leaves in China

Two new Penicillium species isolated from plant leaves are reported here, namely, P. fusisporum (type strain AS3.15338(T) = NRRL 62805(T) = CBS 137463(T)) and P. zhuangii (type strain AS3.15341(T) = NRRL 62806(T) = CBS 137464(T)). P. fusisporum is characterized by fast growth rate, apical-swelling monoverticillate penicilli, verrucose stipes, fusiform to oblong conidia about 3.5–4×2–2.5 µm and cinnamon-colored sclerotia. While P. zhuangii presents a moderate growth rate, it also bears apical-swelling monoverticillate penicilli but its stipes are smooth-walled, and produces ovoid to globose smooth-walled conidia about 3–3.5 µm. Both species belong to section Aspergilloides, and P. fusisporum is related to “P. thomii var. flavescens”, while P. zhuangii is morphologically similar to P. lividum. Phylogenetic analyses of sequences of calmodulin and beta-tubulin genes both show that the two new taxa form distinct monophyletic clades.