%0 Journal Article %A Bridge, Paul D. %T An Evaluation of Some Physiological and Biochemical Methods as an Aid to the Characterization of Species of Penicillium Subsection Fasciculata %D 1985 %J Microbiology, %V 131 %N 8 %P 1887-1895 %@ 1465-2080 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-131-8-1887 %I Microbiology Society, %X Summary: Physiological and biochemical test methods have been evaluated for use in the taxonomy of filamentous microfungi, with specific reference to isolates of Penicillium subsection Fasciculata. Physiological and enzymic tests such as growth in the presence of inhibitory substances, pH limits of growth and the hydrolysis of a variety of substrates proved to be relatively easy to perform and showed promise as differential characters. Carbon and nitrogen source assimilations were technically difficult to perform and few substrates gave differential results. In the few cases where assimilation tests were successful they often involved substrates that may otherwise be inhibitory, such as organic acids and sodium nitrite. Results from assimilation tests appeared to be differential at around species level and positive results were often associated with a significant rise in growth medium pH. Many of the tests described have not previously been applied to filamentous fungi and may have applications in the study of other genera. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-131-8-1887