Purpureocillium lilacinum is commonly isolated from soil, decaying vegetation, insects, nematodes and as a laboratory contaminant. It is also a causative agent of infection in human and other vertebrates (Luangsa-ard et al. 2011).
Colonies are fast growing, suede-like to floccose, vinaceous to violet-coloured. Conidiophores are erect 400-600 µm in length, bearing branches with densely clustered phialides. Conidiophore stipes are 3-4 µm wide, yellow to purple and rough-walled. Phialides are swollen at their bases, gradually tapering into a slender neck. Conidia are ellipsoidal to fusiform, smooth-walled to slightly roughened, hyaline to purple in mass, 2.5-3.0 x 2-2.2 µm, and are produced in divergent chains. Chlamydospores are absent. Growth at 38C.
ITS sequencing is recommended (Atkins et al. 2005, Luangsa-ard et al. 2011).
Colony pigmentation, phialides with swollen bases, pigmented and rough-walled conidiophore stipes, absence of chlamydospores and growth at 37C. Note: Paecilomyces marquandii differs by having a yellow reverse pigment, smooth conidiophore stipes, presence of chlamydospores, and no growth at 37C.
Samson (1974), Domsch et al. (1980), McGinnis (1980), Onions et al. (1981), Rippon (1988), de Hoog et al. (2000, 2015), Perdomo et al. (2013).
Antifungal Susceptibility: Purpureocillium lilacinum (Australian National data); MIC µg/mL.