Predictive models as means of measuring the relatedness of some Aspergillus species

Growth data from three isolates of each of four species belonging to Aspergillus sect. Flavi (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus nomius) were modelled to describe the effect of a(w) on colony growth rate for each species. The model coefficients were used in a novel way to quantify the 'relatedness' of the four species in terms of how their growth rate varies with a(w). This 'relatedness' can be described by a linear model where A. oryzae and A, parasiticus are very close to each other, placed between A. nomius and A. flavus and closer to the latter species. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited.