Phylogenetic analysis of Aspergillus section Circumdati based on sequencesof the internal transcribed spacer regions and the 5.8 S rRNA gene

Phenotypic features and sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and the 5.8 S rRNA gene of type or neotype strains and other isolat es of the 17 species currently assigned to Aspergillus section Circumdati a nd some potentially related species were analyzed. Parsimony analysis of se quence data indicated that Aspergillus section Circumdati is paraphyletic, Aspergillus campestris, A, lanosus, and A, dimorphicus with A, sepultus wer e found to be more closely related to Aspergillus sections Candidi, Flavi, and Cremei, respectively. These results were also supported by phenotypic d ata. A, robustus and A. ochraceoroseus were found not to be related to any of the species examined. Species of the proposed revised Aspergillus sectio n Circumdati formed two main clades, which could also be distinguished base d on phenotypic methods, Phylogenetic analysis of sequence data of other is olates assigned to species of the revised section indicates that either som e of these isolates were misidentified or species concepts of A. ochraceus, A, melleus, and A, petrakii should be reconsidered, (C) 2000 Academic Pres s.