Penicillium tibetense R. N. Liang & G. Z. Zhao 2025, sp. nov.

Penicillium tibetense R. N. Liang & G. Z. Zhao sp. nov. Fig. 6 Infrageneric classification. Subgenus Aspergilloides, section Lanata-Divaricata, series Rolfsiorum. Etymology. The specific epithet “ tibetense ” denotes the geographical origin of the species, indicating its discovery in Tibet. Type. China • Tibet, Changdu City, Basu County, Kangyu Tunnel, 30°33'53"N, 96°15'25"E, from rhizosphere soil of grasses, 19 July 2023, collected by X. W. Peng, XZ 5-3 (holotype HMAS 353386, dried culture; culture ex-type CGMCC 3.28597). Colony diameter after 7 d (mm). CYA 42–50; CYA 30 ° C 42–52; CYA 37 ° C 21–27; MEA 48–52; YES 46–52; DG 18 20–26; CREA 24–26. Colony characteristics (7 d). CYA at 25 ° C: Colonies low to moderately deep, radially sulcate, margins low, narrow, entire; mycelium white; texture floccose; sporulation moderate, conidia livid pink (R. Pl. XXVII); exudate clear; reverse light purple-drab (R. Pl. XLV) to avellaneous (R. Pl. XL); soluble pigment absent. CYA at 30 ° C: Colonies low to moderately deep, radially sulcate, margins low, narrow, entire; mycelium white; texture floccose; sporulation moderate, conidia livid pink (R. Pl. XXVII); exudate clear; reverse brownish vinaceous (R. Pl. XXXIX); soluble pigment absent. CYA at 37 ° C: Colonies moderately deep, radially sulcate, margins low, narrow, entire; mycelium white; texture floccose; sporulation sparse, conidia livid pink (R. Pl. XXVII); exudate clear; reverse light buff (R. Pl. XV); soluble pigment absent. MEA at 25 ° C: Colonies low to moderately deep, radially sulcate, margins low, narrow, entire; mycelium white; texture floccose; sporulation sparse to moderate, conidia pale brownish vinaceous (R. Pl. XXXIX); exudate clear; reverse antimony yellow (R. Pl. XV); soluble pigment absent. YES at 25 ° C: Colonies moderately deep, randomly sulcate, margins low, wide, entire; mycelium white; texture floccose; sporulation moderate, conidia antique green (R. Pl. VI); exudate clear; reverse antimony yellow (R. Pl. XV); soluble pigment absent. DG 18 at 25 ° C: Colonies low, radially sulcate, margins low, wide, entire; mycelium white; texture floccose; sporulation sparse, conidia ecru-drab (R. Pl. XLVI); exudate absent; reverse orange-pink (R. Pl. II); soluble pigment absent. CREA at 25 ° C: Strong growth, no acid production. Ehrlich reaction negative. Micromorphology. Conidiophores biverticillate; stipes finely rough-walled, 27–364.5 × 2–3 μm; metulae appressed to divergent, 2–4 per stipe, 8–15 × 1.5–3 μm; phialides ampulliform to cylindrical, 2–6 per metula, 5–10.5 × 1.5–3 μm; conidia globose to subglobose, finely rough-walled, 1.5–3 μm diam. Notes. Penicillium tibetense is classified in section Lanata-Divaricata and exhibits a close phylogenetic relationship to P. excelsum (Fig. 3). This novel species generates globose to subglobose, finely rough-walled conidia that distinguish it from P. excelsum (Table 3). Additionally, P. tibetense demonstrates more robust growth on CYA at 37 ° C compared to P. excelsum (21–27 mm vs. 8–22 mm) (Taniwaki et al. 2016).