Revision of Aspergillussection Flavipedes: seven new species and proposal of section Janisect. nov.

Aspergillussection Flavipedescontains species found worldwide in soils and rhizospheres, indoor and cave environments, as endophytes, food contaminants and occasionally as human pathogens. They produce many extensively studied bioactive secondary metabolites and biotechnologically relevant enzymes. The taxa were revised based on phylogenetic analysis of sequences from four loci (β-tubulin, calmodulin, RPB2, ITS rDNA), two PCR fingerprinting methods, micro- and macromorphology and physiology. Section Flavipedesincludes three known and seven new species: A. ardalensis, A. frequens, A. luppii, A. mangaliensis, A. movilensis, A. polyporicolaand A. spelaeus.The name A. neoflavipeswas proposed for Fennellia flavipesa distinct species from its supposed asexual state A. flavipes. Aspergillus iizukae, A. frequensand A. mangaliensisare the most common and widely distributed species, whereas A. flavipess. str. is rare. A dichotomous key based on the combination of morphology and physiology is provided for all recognized species. Aspergillussection Janiis established to contain A. janusand A. brevijanus, species previously classified as members of sect. Versicolores, Terreior Flavipedes. This new section is strongly supported by phylogenetic data and morphology. Section Janispecies produce three types of conidiophores and conidia, and colonies have green and white sectors making them distinctive. Accessory conidia found in pathogenic A. terreuswere found in all members of sects. Flavipedesand Jani. Our data indicated that A. frequensis a clinically relevant and produces accessory conidia during infection.