Morphological and Molecular Phylogenetic Data of the Chinese Medicinal Fungus Cordyceps liangshanensis Reveal Its New Systematic Position in the Family Ophiocordycipitaceae

A cordycipitoid fungus infecting Hepialidae sp. in Nepal was supposed to be identical to Cordyceps liangshanensis, originally described from southwestern China, and thus, transferred to the genus Metacordyceps or Papiliomyces in previous studies. However, our multi-gene (nrSSU-nrLSU-tef-1α-rpb1-rpb2) phylogenetic and morphological studies based on the type specimen and additional collections of C. liangshanensis revealed that the fungus belongs to the genus Ophiocordyceps (Ophiocordycipitaceae). Therefore, a new combination O. liangshanensis was made, and a detailed description of this species was provided.

Multigene Phylogeny and Morphology of Ophiocordyceps alboperitheciata sp. nov., A New Entomopathogenic Fungus Attacking Lepidopteran Larva from Yunnan, China

A new fungus, Ophiocordyceps alboperitheciata, parasitic on the larva of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) was identified from a survey of entomopathogenic fungi in Kunming Wild Duck Forest Park, Yunnan Province, China. It can be primarily distinguished from relatives by its longer fertile parts, sterile tips, superficial perithecia, narrower asci, and smaller septa of ascospores. As revealed from phylogenetic analyses inferred from nrSSU, nrLSU, tef-1α, rpb1, and rpb2 sequence data, O. alboperitheciata belongs to the Hirsutella citriformis clade in the genus Ophiocordyceps of Ophiocordycipitaceae, and forms a separated clade from other related species. The uniqueness of the taxon is significantly evidenced by both molecular phylogeny and morphology. Furthermore, the interspecific relationships in the H. citriformis clade are discussed.

Morphological and Molecular Phylogenetic Data of the Chinese Medicinal Fungus Cordyceps liangshanensis Reveal Its New Systematic Position in the Family Ophiocordycipitaceae

A cordycipitoid fungus infecting Hepialidae sp. in Nepal was supposed to be identical to Cordyceps liangshanensis, originally described from southwestern China, and thus, transferred to the genus Metacordyceps or Papiliomyces in previous studies. However, our multi-gene (nrSSU-nrLSU-tef-1α-rpb1-rpb2) phylogenetic and morphological studies based on the type specimen and additional collections of C. liangshanensis revealed that the fungus belongs to the genus Ophiocordyceps (Ophiocordycipitaceae). Therefore, a new combination O. liangshanensis was made, and a detailed description of this species was provided.

Multigene Phylogeny and Morphology of Ophiocordyceps alboperitheciata sp. nov., A New Entomopathogenic Fungus Attacking Lepidopteran Larva from Yunnan, China

A new fungus, Ophiocordyceps alboperitheciata, parasitic on the larva of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) was identified from a survey of entomopathogenic fungi in Kunming Wild Duck Forest Park, Yunnan Province, China. It can be primarily distinguished from relatives by its longer fertile parts, sterile tips, superficial perithecia, narrower asci, and smaller septa of ascospores. As revealed from phylogenetic analyses inferred from nrSSU, nrLSU, tef-1α, rpb1, and rpb2 sequence data, O. alboperitheciata belongs to the Hirsutella citriformis clade in the genus Ophiocordyceps of Ophiocordycipitaceae, and forms a separated clade from other related species. The uniqueness of the taxon is significantly evidenced by both molecular phylogeny and morphology. Furthermore, the interspecific relationships in the H. citriformis clade are discussed.