Mycopathologia (2009) 168, 193-201

Mark A. Doster, Peter J. Cotty and Themis J. Michailides (2009)
Description of a distinctive aflatoxin-producing strain of Aspergillus nomius that produces submerged sclerotia
Mycopathologia 168 (4), 193-201
Abstract: A new distinctive strain of Aspergillus nomius that produces the potent mycotoxins, aflatoxins, is described from pistachio, pecan, and fig orchards in California. Similar to the typical strain of A. nomius (as represented by the ex-type), the O strain produced both B and G aflatoxins but not cyclopiazonic acid, had similar conidial ornamentation, and grew poorly at 42°C. Furthermore, previous published DNA sequence supports that the new strain is very closely related to the ex-type of A. nomius. However, the O strain differs from the ex-type in several morphological characters. The ex-type was initially described as producing 'indeterminate sclerotia' that appear as large (up to 3 mm long) elongated sclerotia on surfaces of media. The O strain produces only small spherical sclerotia (mean diameter <0.3 mm) submerged in the medium. In addition, the O strain has predominantly uniseriate conidial heads, whereas the typical strain of A. nomius has predominantly biseriate heads. The O strain colony color on both Czapek solution agar and Czapek yeast extract agar was more yellowish than the ex-type of A. nomius and other common aflatoxin-producing fungi. Isolates of the O strain reported here from several orchards represent the first report of A. nomius in California.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Peter J. Cotty, Themis J. Michailides

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aspergillus nomius	Ficus (crop)	U.S.A. (SW)
	Aspergillus nomius	Pistachio nut and relatives (Pistacia)	U.S.A. (SW)
	Aspergillus nomius	Pecan/hickory (Carya)	U.S.A. (SW)