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Three new species of Talaromyces sect. Talaromyces discovered in China

Summary

Scientists discovered three new species of Talaromyces fungi in Chinese soil samples. These fungi are important because they can break down plant material, produce useful enzymes for industries, and create compounds with medical potential. However, some species in this group can cause infections in people with weakened immune systems. The new species were identified by examining their physical characteristics and comparing their genetic sequences.

Background

Talaromyces species are common fungi that play important roles in nutrient cycling, plant biomass degradation, and have medical implications. However, species diversity in this genus remains incompletely understood. The genus currently includes approximately 208 reported species organized into eight sections.

Objective

To discover and characterize new Talaromyces species from soil samples collected in China using polyphasic taxonomic approaches integrating morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses based on BenA, CaM, Rpb2, and ITS sequences.

Results

Three new species were proposed: T. disparis (AS3.26221) characterized by low growth rate and polymorphic conidia; T. funiformis (AS3.26220) belonging to the T. pinophilus complex with mycelial funicles; and T. jianfengicus (AS3.26253) from the T. verruculosus complex with verrucose-walled conidia. All three species were supported by phylogenetic analyses of concatenated and individual sequence matrices.

Conclusion

The proposal of three new Talaromyces species is supported by both morphological distinctiveness and phylogenetic analyses of multiple genetic markers. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of polyphasic taxonomy in establishing new fungal species and contributes to understanding the species diversity of Talaromyces in China.
  • Published in:PeerJ,
  • Study Type:Taxonomic Study,
  • Source: DOI: 10.7717/peerj.18253, PMID: 39403189
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