title: DNA barcoding, MALDI-TOF, and AFLP data support Fusarium ficicrescens as a distinct species within the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex.
abstract: The Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC) is one of the most common groups of fusaria associated with plant diseases, mycotoxin production and traumatic and disseminated human infections. Here we present the description and taxonomy of a new taxon, Fusarium ficicrescens sp. nov., collected from contaminated fig fruits in Iran. Initially this species was identified as Fusarium andiyazi by morphology. In the present study the species was studied by multilocus sequence analysis, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and phenotypic characters. Multilocus analyses were based on translation elongation factor 1α (TEF1), RNA polymerase subunit (RPB2) and beta-tubulin (BT2) and proved F. ficicrescens as a member of the FFSC. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the fungus is closely related to Fusarium lactis, Fusarium ramigenum, and Fusarium napiforme; known plant pathogens, mycotoxin producers, and occasionally occurring multidrug resistant opportunists. The new species differed by being able to grow at 37 °C and by the absence of mycotoxin production. TEF1 was confirmed as an essential barcode for identifying Fusarium species. In addition to TEF1, we evaluated BT2 and RPB2 in order to provide sufficient genetic and species boundaries information for recognition of the novel species.
authors.affiliation: CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health, Ibri Hospital, Ibri, Oman. Electronic address: a.alhatmi@cbs.knaw.nl.
authors.forename: Abdullah M S
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Al-Hatmi
authors.affiliation: Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Tehran 1985813111, Iran.
authors.forename: Mansoureh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirabolfathy
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ferry
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHU Timone, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Anne-Cécile
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Normand
authors.affiliation: CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J Benjamin
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Stielow
authors.affiliation: Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Tehran 1985813111, Iran.
authors.forename: Rouhollah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karami-Osbo
authors.affiliation: CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anne D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: van Diepeningen
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jacques F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Meis
authors.affiliation: CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Basic Pathology Department, Federal University of Paraná State, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: G Sybren
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: de Hoog
mesh_terms: D054458:Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D030681:Ficus / Q000382:microbiology*; D005638:Fruit / Q000382:microbiology; D060585:Fusariosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods
keywords: Ecology; Fumonisin; Phylogeny; Taxonomy; Translation elongation factor 1α; β-tubulin