A team of scientists from the MACS–Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, has discovered two previously unknown fungal species from soil in the Western Ghats, one of the world’s richest biodiversity hotspots. The new fungi, Aspergillus dhakephalkarii and Aspergillus patriciawiltshireae, belong to the black-aspergilli group (Aspergillus section Nigri), which includes species of ecological and industrial importance.
The discovery marks the first Indian study on black aspergilli to employ polyphasic taxonomy, a modern integrative approach combining morphological, genetic and chemical analyses to accurately identify species. Alongside the two new species, the researchers also reported the first records in India of Aspergillus aculeatinus and Aspergillus brunneoviolaceus, further underlining the hidden fungal diversity of the Western Ghats.
According to the authors, A. dhakephalkarii is distinguished by rapid growth, brown pigmentation and orange sclerotia, while A. patriciawiltshireae shows spiny conidia and abundant sclerotia. Both were confirmed as genetically distinct lineages within section Nigri series Japonici. “This discovery highlights the Western Ghats as an underexplored reservoir of fungal biodiversity,” the team noted, adding that such fungi could hold ecological significance and potential industrial applications.