Phylogenetic analysis conducted using the NJ and MP
methods revealed the same tree topology. The NJ cladogram
of the partial b-tubulin gene produced by using bootstrap
analysis in Fig. 3 shows that the species of the genus
Penicillium examined generally resolved into well supported
clades. A clear separation emerged for the clade formed by
the two species belonging to the subgenus Furcatum
(Supplementary Table S1). The P. raistrickii strains A2a–8
and 3Ba–AP–1 clustered together in a clade that formed with
other conspecific taxa (Fig. 3). P. simile sp. nov. was most
closely related to P. raistrickii, but was clearly distinct from
the latter species (bootstrap value of 99 %; Fig. 3). P.
scabrosum appeared to be a sister species (bootstrap value of
51 %) in relation to the clade formed by P. simile and P.
raistrickii (Fig. 3). Bayesian analysis of the benA gene
sequences (data not shown) generally confirmed the results
yielded by the NJ phylogenetic analysis (Fig. 3), including
the observation that P. simile and P. raistrickii were two
distinct evolutionary entities (1.00 posterior probability)
and that P. scabrosum was recognized as their basal lineage
(posterior probability of 0.94).