A MORPHOLOGICALLY DISTINCT STRAIN OF ASPERGILLUS-NOMIUS

DNA polymorphisms were used to infer relationships of a morphologicall y distinct new strain of aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus to other memb ers of Aspergillus sect. Flavi. The new strain produced both B and G a flatoxins, and differed both morphologically and physiologically from other aflatoxin producers. Three isolates of the new fungus were compa red with representatives of three known aflatoxin-producing species. R egions of the Taka-amylase A, beta-tubulin, calmodulin, and nitrate re ductase genes were amplified using PCR and digested with restriction e nzymes. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of all four gene regions indicated that the new Aspergillus isolates are closely r elated to A. nomius, but are diverged from other aflatoxin-producing s pecies.