Penicillium macrosclerotiorum, a new species producing large sclerotia discovered in south China

A distinctive new penicillium species, Penicillium macrosclerotiorum, isolated from soil in south China is reported. Morphologically, it resembles P. thomii, but is distinguished from the latter by its large, white to ivory coloured sclerotia, smooth-walled stipes, and globose, smooth-walled conidia. Although its rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequence is identical with that of P. thomii, the partial calmodulin gene sequence data show that it is a unique taxon and has no closely related relatives in penicillia.