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Issue: Vol. 784 No. 1: 10 Nov. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-11-10
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.784.1.4
Page range: 51-63
Abstract views: 95
PDF downloaded: 1

Taxonomic delimitation of a termite gut-associated lineage in Penicillium section Aspergilloides: introduction of a new series and new species from India

Biodiversity and Palaeobiology (Fungi) Group; MACS Agharkar Research Institute; G. G. Agarkar Road; Pune; Maharashtra 411004; India; Faculty of Science; Savitribai Phule Pune University; Pune; 411007; Maharashtra; India
National Centre for Cell Science; University of Pune Campus; Ganeshkhind; Pune; Maharashtra 411007; India; Department of Zoology; Prof. Ramkrishna More Arts; Commerce and Science College; Akurdi; Pune; Maharashtra 411044; India
National Centre for Cell Science; University of Pune Campus; Ganeshkhind; Pune; Maharashtra 411007; India
Biodiversity and Palaeobiology (Fungi) Group; MACS Agharkar Research Institute; G. G. Agarkar Road; Pune; Maharashtra 411004; India
Department of Zoology; Prof. Ramkrishna More Arts; Commerce and Science College; Akurdi; Pune; Maharashtra 411044; India
Department of Botany; Dyal Singh College; University of Delhi; Delhi 110003; India
Bioenergy Group; MACS Agharkar Research Institute; G. G. Agarkar Road; Pune; Maharashtra 411004; India
Department of Biochemistry; Genetics and Microbiology; Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI); University of Pretoria; Pretoria; South Africa
Fungi Eurotiales NFCCI Phylogeny Taxonomy Western Ghats 1 new series 1 new taxon

Abstract

We describe Penicillium termitintestinicola sp. nov., isolated from the gut of an Odontotermes termite species collected from the Satara district of Maharashtra, India. Its taxonomic placement was assessed using an integrative approach combining morphology with multilocus phylogenetic analyses of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, partial beta-tubulin (BenA), calmodulin (CaM), and RNA polymerase II second-largest subunit (RPB2) genes. The new species formed a well-supported lineage sister to the series Thiersiorum within the section Aspergilloides, distinct from all currently recognised series. Consequently, we propose the series Termitintestinicolarum ser. nov. to accommodate this lineage. Penicillium termitintestinicola is characterised by non-vesiculate, monoverticillate conidiophores with short stipes, predominantly ellipsoidal, smooth conidia, greyish brown sclerotia on Malt Extract Agar (MEA) and Oatmeal Agar (OA), and colonies that produce a strong acid on Creatine Sucrose Agar (CREA). These findings highlight termite gut microhabitats as an underexplored niche for fungal discovery in India.

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How to Cite

Rajeshkumar, K.C., Mane, G., Avchar, R., Harikrishnan, K., Morey, R., Anand, G., Dagar, S.S. & Visagie, C.M. (2026) Taxonomic delimitation of a termite gut-associated lineage in Penicillium section Aspergilloides: introduction of a new series and new species from India. Phytotaxa 784 (1): 51–63. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.784.1.4