Classification of terverticillate Penicillia by electrospray mass spectrometric profiling

429 isolates of 58 species belonging to Penicillium subgenus Penicillium are classified from direct infusion electrospray mass spectrometry (diMS) analysis of crude extracts by automated data processing. The study shows that about 70% of the species can be classified correctly into species using only the analysis of metabolites produced on one growth medium. This classification is in concurrence with the taxonomic delimitation of the accepted species obtained by a polyphasic approach. Other relations between species can be read from the dendrograms and the efficient classification shows the potential of this semi-automated identification system.