Verticillium
Members of this genus are often isolated from the environment. It has been reported as a rare agent of mycotic keratitis.
RG-1 organism.
Conidiophores, phialides and conidia of Verticillium spp.
Morphological description:
Colonies are fast growing, suede-like to downy, white to pale yellow in colour, becoming pinkish-brown, red, green or yellow with a colourless, yellow or reddish-brown reverse. Conidiophores are usually well differentiated and erect, verticillately branched over most of their length, bearing whorls of slender awl-shaped divergent phialides. Conidia are hyaline or brightly-coloured, mostly one-celled, and are usually borne in slimy heads (glioconidia).
Molecular identification:
ITS, actin, EF-1α, GPDH and tryptophan synthase genes have been used to identify all recognised Verticillium species (Inderbitzin et al. 2013).
Key features:
Hyphomycete, verticillate branched conidiophores bearing whorls of awl-shaped, divergent phialides.
References:
Domsch et al. (1980), McGinnis (1980), Rippon (1988), Samson et al. (1995), de Hoog et al. (2000, 2015).