Three new additions to the genus Talaromyces isolated from Atlantis sandveld fynbos soils

During a survey of Penicillium spp. in soils from the diverse fynbos region in the Western Cape, South Africa, a number of previously undescribed species were isolated. Three of these belong to subg. Biverticillium sensu Pitt, recently incorporated into its previously associated teleomorph genus, Talaromyces s.str. These species displayed symmetrical biverticillate penicilli, acerose phialides and poor growth at reduced water activity, typical of this group. Morphological characters of the new species were compared to known Talaromyces species. The ITS and beta-tubulin gene regions were used for phylogenetic comparisons, which confirmed the distinct nature of the three fynbos soil species described here as Talaromyces chloroloma sp. nov., T. ptychoconidium sp. nov. and T. solicola sp. nov., respectively. Talaromyces chloroloma is typically recognised by its strongly funiculose colony texture and after prolonged incubation, synnemata can be observed on CYA. Talaromyces ptychoconidium is characterised by closely appressed conidiophores that produce spirally rough-walled conidia, while T. solicola typically struggle to grow on CYA and is distinguished from similar species by its prominently rough-walled, spheroid conidia.