First Mexican Records of Seven Soil Penicillium and Talaromyces Species with Insights into Their Biotechnological Potential

Penicillium and Talaromyces are among the most diverse genera of filamentous fungi and play important ecological roles in soil ecosystems. Despite their ecological and biotechnological relevance, the diversity of these genera remains insufficiently documented in many tropical regions of Mexico. This study aimed to identify species of Penicillium and Talaromyces isolated from soils in Veracruz, Mexico, using an integrative taxonomic approach and to evaluate selected functional traits associated with their biotechnological potential. Species identification was achieved through an integrative framework combining morphology and multilocus phylogenetic analyses. Functional characterization included qualitative assessments of laccase, manganese peroxidase, lignin peroxidase, cellulolytic activity, and phosphate-solubilizing capacity. Seven species were identified, all of which are reported here for the first time from Mexico: Penicillium citreosulfuratum, P. citrinum, P. crustosum, P. mallochii, P. shanghaiense, Talaromyces albobiverticillius, and T. aculeatus. Several isolates exhibited ligninolytic, cellulolytic, and phosphate-solubilizing activities, indicating their potential roles in organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and sustainable agricultural applications. These findings expand the known distribution of Penicillium and Talaromyces in Mexico, contribute to the documentation of the country’s fungal diversity, and demonstrate the value of integrative taxonomy for revealing previously unrecorded fungal taxa in tropical soil ecosystems.