Penicillium and Talaromyces Communities of Sugarcane Soils (Saccharum officinarum L.): Ecological and Phylogenetic Aspects

Penicillium and Talaromyces are fungal genera with high ecological and biotechnological importance. However, studies on exploration and ecology of these fungi in soils are scarce. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the species diversity of these genera in soils of sugarcane and fallow. Identification of the isolates was performed by morphological examination and partial sequencing of Beta-tubulin. For ecological analyses, indexes were applied and principal component analysis (PCA) was performed. A total of 1,344 isolates were obtained- 1,108 of Penicillium (13 species) and 236 of Talaromyces (three species). Seven isolates did not cluster with any known species. The diversity and equitability indexes were similarly high for the two areas analyzed. Penicillium wotroi and Talaromyces murroi were more abundant. The PCA was significant and showed 2 groups- fallow and cultivated. Soils of sugarcane cultivation present distinct communities of Penicillium and Talaromyces species that are rare and/or not yet described by science.