Phylogenetic analysis of newly described Neosartorya species

Isolates representing newly described Neosartorya species, and isolates wit h abnormal morphologies from Aspergillus section Fumigati were examined by phylogenetic analysis of sequences of part of their beta-tubulin gene. Phyl ogenetic analyses supported the earlier suggestions that heterothallism is a derived character, and that sexuality was lost several times during the e volution of Aspergillus section Fumigati. The heterothallic N. fennelliae a nd N. udagawae strains were found to be closely related to the homothallic Neosartorya sp. NRRL 4179 and N. aureola, respectively. Aspergillus sp. FRR 1266, which was earlier described as a variant of A. fumigatus, was found to be closely related to A. viridinutans. Another abnormal asexual isolate was found to be closely related to A. fumigatus and N. fischeri. Phylogenet ic relationships among newly described Neosartorya species and other taxa w ere successfully established based on phylogenetic analysis of beta-tubulin sequences.