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Newly Discovered Fungal Species from Black Pepper Marketed in Brazil: Penicillium pipericola sp. nov. and Syncephalastrum brasiliense sp. nov.

Summary

Researchers in Brazil discovered two new fungal species found on commercially sold black pepper. While one species can produce a toxic compound that concerns food safety experts, both species also produce molecules with potential medical benefits, including compounds that may help fight cancer and neurological diseases. This discovery highlights the importance of monitoring fungi in food products while also revealing unexpected pharmaceutical potential hidden in everyday spices.

Background

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is the most consumed spice globally, with Brazil being a major producer and exporter. During post-harvest handling, black pepper is exposed to microbial contamination, particularly from storage-associated fungi like Aspergillus and Penicillium species that can produce mycotoxins such as aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, posing food safety concerns.

Objective

This study aimed to describe two new fungal species associated with black pepper commercialized in Brazil using a polyphasic approach combining multilocus phylogenetic analyses, morphological characterization, and metabolomic profiling to understand fungal diversity in the black pepper production chain.

Results

Two new fungal species were identified and characterized: Penicillium pipericola sp. nov. (subgenus Penicillium, section Paradoxa, series Atramentosa) and Syncephalastrum brasiliense sp. nov. (order Mucorales, family Syncephalastraceae). Metabolomic analysis revealed P. pipericola produces altertoxin III and bioactive compounds including myriberine A and galangin, while S. brasiliense produces mandelic acid derivatives and 7,8-dihydroxyflavone with therapeutic potential.

Conclusion

The identification of these two new fungal species increases understanding of fungal diversity in black pepper production and has implications for microbiological quality, ecological interactions in the agroecosystem, and potential industrial applications. The metabolomic versatility of both species under different cultivation conditions highlights their biosynthetic potential for therapeutic and biotechnological applications.
  • Published in:Microorganisms,
  • Study Type:Descriptive Taxonomic Study,
  • Source: PMID: 41471896, DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13122691
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