Biodiversity of Aspergillus species in soils of the National Park of Urmia Lake (NW Iran)

Abstract

In the present study, nine species of <em>Aspergillus</em>, viz., <em>A. alliaceus</em>, <em>A. ochraceus</em>, <em>A. persii</em>, <em>A. leproris</em>, <em>A. parasiticus</em>, <em>A. fumigatiaffinis</em>, <em>A. sydowii</em>, <em>A. niger</em>, <em>A. tubingensis </em>and <em>Eurotium amstelodami</em> were obtained and identified from soils of the National Park of Urmia Lake, based on cultural and morphological characteristics. All of the species are newly recorded from hypersaline soils in Iran. Three species, namely, <em>A.</em> <em>persii</em>, <em>A. fumigatiaffinis</em> and <em>A. leproris</em> represent new records to the mycobiota of Iran. An identification key is also provided for <em>Aspergillus</em> species in soils of the National Park of Urmia Lake.