Identification of Species inPenicilliumSubgenusPenicilliumby Enzyme Electrophoresis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The extracellular enzymes polygalacturonase, pectinesterase, amylase and ribonuclease from cultures of species belonging to Penicillium subg. Penicillium were examined by Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Isolates which gave similar pectic zymograms were grouped; amylase and ribonuclease zymograms produced groupings consistent with these. Groups corresponding to accepted species were: P. arenicola, P. atramentosum, P. brevicompactum, P. crustosum, P. digitatum, P. echinulatum, P. expansum (including P. resticulosum), P. fennelliae, P. granulatum, P. griseofulvum, P. griseoroseum (including P. chrysogenum), P. hirsutum, P. italicum, P. olsonii, P. roquefortii and P. verrucosum. Some closely related species including P. aurantiogriseum and P. viridicatum were divisible into several enzymatically distinct groups which did not correspond well with accepted morphological species. For example, a group typified by P. commune included many isolates regarded as P. aurantiogriseum; enzymic patterns indicated that P. camembertii is closely related to this group. The clear correlations shown between most currently accepted species and the enzyme patterns reported here reinforce current species concepts, and also show that enzyme patterns are a useful taxonomic tool. The poor correlations with a minority of species, especially P. aurantiogriseum and P. viridicatum, may indicate an overreliance on conidial colors in the traditional taxonomy of these species.