Emericella nidulans (Anamorph: Aspergillus nidulans)

A moderately rapid growing fungus that produces a dark greenish colony within seven days, when incubated at 25oC (77oF). Cleistothecia (a round fruiting body without an opening that contains randomly placed asci containing ascospores) are produced. Ascospores are purple-red, smooth and have two equatorial ridges. Specialized thick-walled cells (Hülle cells) are present. In culture, the anamorph form is also present. It has worldwide distribution and can be isolated from air, soil, desert soil, sand dunes, peat, garden compost, garden soil, salt marshes, mangrove mud, sewage sludge, sugar cane, rice, cotton, potatoes, citrus, alfalfa, bird feathers, grain seeds, groundnuts, and animals. Rarely, it can be an opportunistic pathogen causing mycetomas in man, pulmonary lesions in horses, and aspergillosis in chickens.

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