Catalog of Penicillium spp. causing blue mold of bulbs, roots, and tubers

Abstract

Accuracy in assigning specific epithets to Penicillium isolates documented as agents of blue mold of edible and ornamental bulb, root, and tuber crops is highly variable-with methods ranging from appropriate (recent morpho-cultural criteria, metabolite production, DNA sequences), to plausible (older morpho-cultural criteria from monographs), to suspect (unspecified methods, identification via inappropriate literature). We provide a catalogue appropriate for plausibly assigned names accompanied by authorities, references, host distribution, and identification methodology. Names are categorized according to (i) segregates of P. corymbiferum (i.e., names in P. subg. Penicillium) and taxa in P. ser. Corymbifera associated with Liliaceae s.l.; (ii) taxa in P. subg. Penicillium other than P. ser. Corymbifera associated with Liliaceae s.l.; (iii) taxa other than P. subg. Penicillium associated with Liliaceae s.l.; (iv) associates of Beta vulgaris (beets and sugar beets); and (v) associates of mostly tropical or subtropical roots and tubers. Ambiguities or deficiencies in assignment of certain specific epithets are noted.