AUTHOR=Liang Li-Juan , Jeewon Rajesh , Dhandevi Pem , Durairajan Siva Sundara Kumar , Li Hongye , Lin Fu-Cheng , Wang Hong-Kai 

TITLE=A Novel Species of Penicillium With Inhibitory Effects Against Pyricularia oryzae and Fungal Pathogens Inducing Citrus Diseases

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2020.604504

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2020.604504

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p>A novel species of <italic>Penicillium</italic>, proposed as <italic>P</italic>. <italic>linzhiense</italic> sp.nov was isolated from soil collected in Linzhi Town, Linzhi County, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. DNA sequence analyses from eight different gene regions indicate that the isolate represents a novel species and most closely related to <italic>P</italic>. <italic>janczewskii</italic>. The phylogenetic analysis based on a concatenated dataset of three genes, ITS, <italic>CaM</italic>, and <italic>BenA</italic>, also confirmed the placement of the novel species within the <italic>Canescentia</italic> section of the genus <italic>Penicillium</italic>. Differences in morphology among similar species are detailed and single gene phylogenies based on ITS, <italic>CaM</italic> and <italic>BenA</italic> genes as well as a multi-loci gene phylogeny are presented. Cultural studies were performed to study inhibitory activities on plant pathogens. The results reveal a notable antifungal activity against <italic>Pyricularia oryzae</italic> causing rice blast with an inhibition rate up to 77%, while for other three citrus pathogens, <italic>Diaporthe citri</italic>, <italic>Phyllosticta citrichinaensis</italic>, and <italic>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</italic>, inhibition rate was 40, 50, and 55% respectively. No noticeable effects were observed for <italic>Fusarium graminearum</italic>, <italic>Botryosphaeria kuwatsukai</italic>, and <italic>Rhizoctonia solani</italic>. Interestingly, unlike other reported members of <italic>Canescentia</italic>, <italic>P</italic>. <italic>linzhiense</italic> showed no antagonistic effect on root rotting fungi. The new taxon isolated here has the potential to be used as a biocontrol agent especially for economically important phytopathogens or emerging pathogens on diseases occurring on citrus or rice.</p>