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

In the present study, nine species of Aspergillus, viz., A. alliaceus, A. ochraceus, A. persii, A. leproris, A. parasiticus, A. fumigatiaffinis, A. sydowii, A. niger, A. tubingensis and Eurotium amstelodami 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, A. persii, A. fumigatiaffinis and A. leproris represent new records to the mycobiota of Iran. An identification key is also provided for Aspergillus species in soils of the National Park of Urmia Lake.