Species/Subspecies: Penicillium verrucosum subsp. verrucosum
Categories: Toxic for animals; toxic for humans; spoilage organism
Etymology: Genus name: paint brush.
Species epithet: scaly/warty.
Subspecies epithet: see Species epithet.
Significance:  [Very important]   
Geographic distribution: Occurs in temperate and colder climates in e.g. northern Europe, North America and southern South America.
Taxonomy:
PhylumClassOrderFamilyGenus
AscomycotaEurotiomycetesEurotialesTrichocomaceaePenicillium
 
Macromorphology (smell):
Penicillium verrucosum Penicillium verrucosum 
Slow-growing. It may take a week for a colony to grow about 20 mm in diameter. The mycelium is white and the conidia are gray-green to dull green. Has a pungent earthy odour.
Micromorphology:
Penicillium verrucosum
The conidia have smooth walls and a diameter of 2.5-3.0 μm. The conidia have first an ellipsoidal shape, which later changes to globular.
Reproduction:
Spec. Char.: Psychrophilic. Optimal temperature for germination is 21-23°C.
Disease/effect:
Virulence Factors: The organism produces ochratoxin A (OTA), which is a very poisonous mycotoxin, and citrine. Ochratoxin A is probably both carcinogenic and neurotoxic.
Genome Sequence:
ACC-No GenBankStrain/Isolate# of chromSize (Mbp)Ref
GCA_000970515 BFE808  30.2 # 36

18S rRNA Seq:
ACC-No GenBankStrain/IsolateNumber of NT
JN938976 DAOM 221128 1075 

ITS regions:
ACC-No GenBankStrain/IsolateNumber of NTGenes
NR_119495 FRR 965TM 609 18S rRNA, ITS 1, 5.8S rRNA, ITS 2, 28S rRNA 

Taxonomy/phylogeny: Six variants (or subspecies) of P. verrucosum has been described: album, corymbiferum, cyclopium, melanochlorum, ochraceum and verrucosum. These varieties differ in their different colony colours.
Comment:If grain is stored improperly, this mold can grow and produce OTA. OTA is not produced at a humidity below 18% and temperatures above 28°C.
Reference(s): No. 4, 37
Updated:2022-06-22

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences