Aspergillus pseudotamarii, a new aflatoxin producing species in Aspergillus section Flavi

A recent report of an aflatoxin producing isolate of Aspergillus tamarii pr ompted a taxonomic re-examination of aflatoxigenic and non-aflatoxigenic is olates identified as A. tamarii as well as the closely related A. caelatus. Representatives of each species, including atypical isolates, were compare d morphologically. for mycotoxin production, and for divergence in ITS, 28S , beta -tubulin and calmodulin gene sequences. Because of genetic, morpholo gical, and mycotoxin differences, the aflatoxin producing isolates of A. ta marii are given species rank as Aspergillus pseudotamarii sp. nov.