Editing Penicillium (section)

== Ecology ==
Species of ''Penicillium'' are ubiquitous soil fungi preferring cool and moderate climates, commonly present wherever organic material is available. [[Saprophytic]] species of ''Penicillium'' and ''[[Aspergillus]]'' are among the best-known representatives of the [[Eurotiales]] and live mainly on organic biodegradable substances. Commonly known in America as [[Mold (fungus)|mold]]s, they are among the main causes of [[food spoilage]], especially species of [[subgenus]] ''Penicillium''.<ref>{{Cite journal | vauthors = Samson RA, Seifert KA, Kuijpers AF, Houbraken JA, Frisvad JC |date=2004 |title=Phylogenetic analysis of Penicillium subgenus Penicillium using partial β-tubulin sequences |url=https://www.studiesinmycology.org/sim/Sim49/Sim49Article2.pdf |journal=Studies in Mycology |volume=49 |pages=175–200}}</ref> Many species produce highly toxic [[mycotoxin]]s. The ability of these ''Penicillium'' species to grow on seeds and other stored foods depends on their propensity to thrive in low humidity and to colonize rapidly by aerial dispersion while the seeds are sufficiently moist.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Pitt JI, Basílico JC, Abarca ML, López C | title = Mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi | journal = Medical Mycology | volume = 38 | pages = 41–46 | date = 2000 | issue = Suppl 1 | doi = 10.1080/mmy.38.s1.41.46 | pmid = 11204163 }}</ref> Some species have a blue color, commonly growing on old bread and giving it a blue fuzzy texture.

Some ''Penicillium'' species affect the fruits and bulbs of plants, including ''[[Penicillium expansum|P.&nbsp;expansum]]'', apples and pears; ''[[Penicillium digitatum|P.&nbsp;digitatum]]'', citrus fruits;<ref>{{Cite book | vauthors = Baigrie B  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xDcNCY31oQ4C&pg=PA134 |title=Taints and Off-Flavours in Foods |date=2003-04-02 |publisher=Elsevier Science |isbn=978-1-85573-449-4 |pages=134 |language=en}}</ref> and ''[[Penicillium allii|P.&nbsp;allii]]'', garlic.<ref>{{Cite journal | vauthors = Valdez JG, Makuch MA, Ordovini AF, Masuelli RW, Overy DP, Piccolo RJ |date=2006 |title=First report of Penicillium allii as a field pathogen of garlic ( Allium sativum ) |journal=Plant Pathology |language=en |volume=55 |issue=4 |pages=583 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-3059.2006.01411.x |bibcode=2006PPath..55..583V |issn=0032-0862|hdl=11336/147639 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Some species are known to be pathogenic to animals; ''[[Penicillium corylophilum|P.&nbsp;corylophilum]]'', ''[[Penicillium fellutanum|P.&nbsp;fellutanum]]'', ''[[Penicillium implicatum|P.&nbsp;implicatum]]'', ''[[Penicillium janthinellum|P.&nbsp;janthinellum]]'', ''[[Penicillium viridicatum|P.&nbsp;viridicatum]]'', and ''[[Penicillium waksmanii|P.&nbsp;waksmanii]]'' are potential pathogens of [[mosquitoes]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = da Costa GL, de Moraes AM, de Oliveira PC | title = Pathogenic action of Penicillium species on mosquito vectors of human tropical diseases | journal = Journal of Basic Microbiology | volume = 38 | issue = 5–6 | pages = 337–341 | date = 1998 | pmid = 9871331 | doi = 10.1002/(sici)1521-4028(199811)38:5/6<337::aid-jobm337>3.3.co;2-e }}</ref>

''Penicillium'' species are present in the air and dust of indoor environments, such as homes and public buildings. The fungus can be readily transported from the outdoors, and grow indoors using building material or accumulated soil to obtain nutrients for growth. ''Penicillium'' growth can still occur indoors even if the relative humidity is low, as long as there is sufficient moisture available on a given surface. A British study determined that ''Aspergillus''- and ''Penicillium''-type spores were the most prevalent in the indoor air of residential properties, and exceeded outdoor levels.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Fairs A, Wardlaw AJ, Pashley CH | title = Guidelines on ambient intramural airborne fungal spores | journal = Journal of Investigational Allergology & Clinical Immunology | volume = 20 | issue = 6 | pages = 490–498 | date = 2010 | pmid = 21243933 }}</ref> Even [[Tile#Ceiling tiles|ceiling tile]]s can support the growth of ''Penicillium''—as one study demonstrated—if the [[relative humidity]] is 85% and the moisture content of the tiles is greater than 2.2%.<ref>{{Cite journal | vauthors = Chang JC, Foarde KK, Vanosdell DW |date=1995-01-01 |title=Growth evaluation of fungi ( Penicillium and Aspergillus spp.) on ceiling tiles |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1995AtmEn..29.2331C |journal=Atmospheric Environment |volume=29 |issue=17 |pages=2331–2337 |doi=10.1016/1352-2310(95)00062-4 |bibcode=1995AtmEn..29.2331C |issn=1352-2310}}</ref>

Some ''Penicillium'' species cause damage to machinery and the combustible materials and lubricants used to run and maintain them. For example, ''[[Penicillium chrysogenum|P.&nbsp;chrysogenum]] (formerly [[P. chrysogenum|P. notatum]])'', ''[[Penicillium steckii|P.&nbsp;steckii]]'', ''[[Penicillium notatum|&nbsp;]][[Penicillium cyclopium|P.&nbsp;cyclopium]]'', and ''[[Penicillium nalgiovensis|P.&nbsp;nalgiovensis]]'' affect fuels; ''P.&nbsp;chrysogenum'', ''[[Penicillium rubrum|P.&nbsp;rubrum]]'', and ''[[Penicillium verrucosum|P.&nbsp;verrucosum]]'' cause damage to oils and lubricants; ''[[Penicillium regulosum|P.&nbsp;regulosum]]'' damages optical and protective glass.<ref>{{Cite book | vauthors = Semenov SA, Gumargalieva KZ, Zaikov GE |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kj89NRHHqPMC&pg=PA35 |title=Biodegradation and Durability of Materials Under the Effect of Microorganisms  |date=2003-09-24 |publisher=VSP |isbn=978-90-6764-388-7 |pages=34–35 |language=en}}</ref>