PENICILLIUM KANANASKENSE, A NEW SPECIES FROM ALBERTA SOIL

The new species Penicillium kananaskense is described based on an isol ate from soil in a Pinus contorta forest from Alberta, Canada. Colonie s are characterized by their relatively rapid growth, velutinous textu re, white to slightly pink conidial masses, growth at 5 degrees C, and absence of growth at 37 degrees C. The conidiophores are monoverticil late or have one metula, are up to 300 mu m tall, smooth walled or wit h slightly roughened walls, vesiculate, and bear ampulliform phialides , 8-11.5(-14.5) x 2.5-4 mu m, that produce disordered chains of ellips oidal conidia, 3-5 x 2.5-4 mu m, with smooth or finely roughened walls . The species is compared with previously described taxa and its subge neric affinities are discussed. Preliminary data on the many secondary metabolites produced by the ex-type culture are presented.