A new Paecilomyces from wooden utility poles in South Africa

During a survey of fungi on electricity utility poles in South Africa, a diverse range of fungi were discovered. <i>Paecilomyces</i> was frequently isolated, with five species identified using ITS and β-tubulin (<i>BenA</i>) sequences. These were <i>P. brunneolus</i>, <i>P. dactylethromorphus</i>, <i>P. lecythidis</i>, <i>P. paravariotii</i> and a potential new species. The genomes of 30 of these strains were subsequently sequenced and used in a phylogenomic analysis with 45 previously published genomes of the genus. Phylogenetic analyses were also conducted using ITS, <i>BenA</i>, calmodulin (<i>CaM</i>), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (<i>RPB2</i>), RNA polymerase II largest subunit (<i>RPB1</i>), the genes coding for the theta subunit of the TCP-1 chaperonin complex (<i>Cct8</i>), and for a putative ribosome biogenesis protein (<i>Tsr1</i>). Both phylogenomic and phylogenetic analyses supported the 15 <i>Paecilomyces</i> species currently accepted and confirmed the novelty of the new species, which we describe as <i>P. lignorum</i>. The latter is the sister species of <i>P. brunneolus</i> and belongs to a clade also containing <i>P. variotii</i> and <i>P. paravariotii</i>. Morphologically, the new species produces longer ellipsoidal conidia and grows more restricted on malt extract agar at 30 °C compared to its closest relatives. <b>Citation:</b> Visagie CM, Cruywagen EM, Duong TA (2024). A new <i>Paecilomyces</i> from wooden utility poles in South Africa. <i>Fungal Systematics and Evolution</i> <b>13</b>: 163-181. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2024.13.10.