Aspergillus patriciawiltshireae Rajeshk., Harik. & Visagie, 2025

Harikrishnan, Kuniyil, Rajeshkumar, Kunhiraman C., Patil, Ravindra M., Jeewon, Rajesh & Visagie, Cobus M., 2025, Aspergillus dhakephalkarii and A. patriciawiltshireae spp. nov., two new species in Aspergillus sect. Nigri ser. Japonici (Eurotiales, Aspergillaceae) from India, Phytotaxa 695 (1), pp. 57-79 : 64-71

Aspergillus patriciawiltshireae Rajeshk., Harik. & Visagie , sp. nov. ( Figures 5 , 6 )

MycoBank No. MB857273

Etymology: Named after Prof. Patricia E. J. Wiltshire, “the queen of forensic science” who first started to use fungal spores in solving crimes, and was formerly based at Kings College London, then University College London, United Kingdom, and now The University of Southampton.

Holotype: INDIA, Maharashtra, Pune, Mulshi , 18.462444°N, 73.442778°E, from soil, 28 July 2023, Harikrishnan K & Rajeshkumar KC (holotype AMH 10778 [dried culture], ex-holotype NFCCI 5959 [living culture].

Diagnosis: Aspergillus patriciawiltshireae is morphologically distinct from its sister species, A. indologenus , A. japonicus and A. uvarum . Aspergillus patriciawiltshireae produces colonies with poor sporulation and abundant sclerotia in CYA and MEA at 25 ºC. In contrast, A. japonicus and A. uvarum produce colonies with dense sporulation and fewer sclerotia (Klich 2002, Perrone et al. 2008). Sclerotial production is not observed in A. indologenus ( Varga et al. 2011) . Aspergillus patriciawiltshireae conidiophores have larger vesicles (30–55 × 30–50 µm) than those of A. indologenus , A. japonicus and A. uvarum (15–45 µm). However, they have comparable conidial shape, size and ornamentation viz. globose, echinulate and 3–4 µm wide ( Table 2).

Classification: Aspergillus subgen. Circumdati sect. Nigri ser. Japonici .

Description: Colony diam (25 ˚C, 7 d, in mm): CREA 20–25; CYA>70; CYA 30 ˚C>70; CYA 37 ˚C 3; CY20S 35–40; CZ 45–50; DG18 10–15; MEA 55–60; MEA 30 ˚C 65–70; MEA 37 ˚C 3; MEAbl 50–55; M20S 65–70; OA 55; YES 50–55.

Colony characters (25 ˚C, 7 d): CYA: Colony surface velutinous, sulcate, margins irregular; mycelia white (1A1); sporulation sparse, brown (7E4); exudates and soluble pigments absent; reverse white (1A1); sclerotia present, yellowish white (4A2) to yellowish orange (4B7). CYA20S: Colony surface velutinous, margins irregular; mycelia white (1A1); sporulation sparse; exudates and soluble pigments absent; reverse white (1A1). CZ: Colony surface velutinous, plain, margins irregular; mycelia white (1A1); sporulation absent; exudates and soluble pigments absent; reverse hyaline. DG18: Colony surface velutinous, margins irregular; mycelium white (1A1); sporulation sparse; exudates and soluble pigments absent; reverse white (1A1). MEA : Colony surface velutinous, margins irregular; mycelia white (1A1); sporulation sparse, brown (7E4); exudates and soluble pigments absent; reverse yellowish white (4A2); sclerotia present, yellowish white (4A2) to yellowish orange (4A6–B7). MEAbl: Colony surface velutinous, sulcate, margins irregular; mycelia white (1A1); sporulation absent; exudates and soluble pigments absent; reverse yellowish white (4A2); sclerotia present, yellowish white (4A2). M20S: Colony velutinous, margins irregular; mycelia white (1A1); sporulation sparse, greyish brown (8E3); exudates and soluble pigments absent; reverse yellowish white (4A2); sclerotia present, yellowish white (4A2). OA: Colony surface velutinous; margins irregular; mycelia white (1A1); sporulation moderate, dark brown (8F4); reverse white (1A1); sclerotia present, yellowish white (4A2). YES: Colony surface velutinous, irregularly sulcate, margins irregular; mycelia white (1A1); sporulation sparse, greyish brown (5E5); reverse orange-white (5A2). CREA : Colonies are slow-growing, and acid production is present.

Conidiophores uniseriate, radiate, splitting into more than 5 columns. Stipes 400–600 × 11–15 μm, hyaline, smooth. Vesicles 30–55 × 30–50 μm wide, globose to subglobose. Phialides 7–9 × 2.5–4 μm, flask-shaped, covering the entire surface of the vesicle. Conidia 3–4 × 3–3.5 μm, brown, globose, echinulate. Ascomata not observed. Sclerotia 400–600 μm diam, yellowish white (4A2) when young, yellowish orange (4A6–B7) when mature.

Additional material examined: INDIA, Maharashtra, Velhe-Mangaon, 18.31861°N, 73.505000°E, from the soil, 10 August 2023, Harikrishnan K & Rajeshkumar KC ( AMH 10779, NFCCI 5960).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Aspergillus patriciawiltshireae (NFCCI 5959T): A. Colonies on CYA after 7 days at 25± 2 °C, B. Colonies on MEA after 3 days at 25± 2 °C, C. CREA obverse, D. CZ obverse, E. DG18 obverse, F. M20S obverse, G. OA (natural) obverse, H. YES obverse, I–L. Conidial heads (MEA), K–O. Splitting of Conidial head, P–U. Sclerotia (OA). Scale bars: R = 1 mm. I, J, P, Q, T = 500 µm. S,U = 200 µm. K–N = 100 µm. O = 50 µm.

FIGURE 6. Aspergillus patriciawiltshireae (NFCCI 5959T): A–B. Young conidiophore, C. Foot cell, D, E. Conidiophores, F. Phialides, G. Conidia, H. Sclerotia. Scale bars: A–E = 20 µm. F, G = 10 µm. H = 100 µm.