Distinction Between Penicillium canescens and Penicillium janczewskii by Means of Polygalacturonase and Esterase Isozyme Analysis

ABSTRACT

Classification of many Penicillium species has been recently revised through the application of several biochemical and molecular methods. The distinction between the species Penicillium canescens and Penicillium janczewskii is problematic due to the existence of isolates with intermediate morphological features forming an interface between the two taxa. Electrophoretic analysis of polygalacturonase and esterase isozymes carried out on 20 isolates belonging to these species yielded two well-defined zymograms that supported their identity as separated species. The method also allowed ascription to P. janczewskii of some intermediate isolates that could not be unequivocally classified according to their morphological features. The use of zymography as a practical tool for the classification of isolates belonging to these closely related species is discussed.

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