170 A MANUAL OF THE ASPERGILLI 



soil and decaying organic matter. The question whether the non- 

 ascosporic members of the group have merely dropped the ascogenous 

 phase or constitute a separate species was answered when more complete 

 examination showed the sterile or spicule hyphae to be regularly produced 

 in the non-ascosporic, but never found in ascosporic series. 



Pathogenicity 



Aspergillus nidulans in some of its forms and variants has been demon- 

 strated as a parasite in human nails (onychomycosis), often enough to 

 establish its pathogenicity. A. nantae Pinoy (1927) probably belongs 

 here although the data are mainly pathological, hence not adequate for 

 definite identification of the organism. A. nidulans forme cesarii Pinoy 

 (1915) isolated from a mycetoma of the lung of a donkey, and A. nidulans 

 var. nicollei Pinoy (1906) isolated in Tunis from a case of mycetoma, or 

 madura foot, represent additional strains which were at least secondary 

 pathogens. The nearly related A. unguis is usually the more common 

 form isolated from human material. A. Brodeni (Mattlet) Dodge (1935) 

 from a bronchomycosis in Africa might have been close to A. unguis. A. 

 nidulans and A. unguis are both widely distributed as saprophytes; hence 

 are constantly encountered as components of dirt reaching the extremities 

 by contamination. Infection of the air passages is comparatively rare. 



Occurrence and Economic Importance 



In addition to their role as occasional disease producing agents, members 

 of the A. nidulans group are believed to be significant in decomposition 

 processes. They are among the molds most commonly isolated from soil, 

 and very frequently appear in considerable abundance upon vegetable ma- 

 terial undergoing slow decomposition. Aspergillus rugulosus, A. quadriline- 

 atus, and A . caespitosus occur most frequently in soils from the comparatively 

 dry, warm soil of Texas, Arizona, and adjoining areas. Aspergillus varie- 

 color has been isolated from olives in Italy, date fruit in California, and from 

 Arizona soil. Aspergillus nidulans is abundant and cosmopolitan in its 

 distribution. 



