Three novel insect-associated species of Simplicillium (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) from Southwest China

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce three new species of Simplicillium, viz. S. cicadellidae, S. formicidae and S. lepidopterorum, which were isolated from an infected leafhopper, ant and carpenterworm, respectively. Morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analyses based on multigene datasets (LSU+RPB1+RPB2+TEF and ITS+LSU) support the establishment of the three new species. Simplicillium cicadellidae was distinguished from other species in morphological characteristics by having smaller phialides and ellipsoidal conidia, and lacking octahedral crystals. The reverse of colonies were yellowish (#FFBF00), especially in the middle, and radially sulcate. Simplicillium formicidae was morphologically distinguished from other by having longer phialides and filiform to fusoid conidia, and by lacking octahedral crystals. Simplicillium lepidopterorum was morphologically distinguished from other species by having smaller, ellipsoidal to fusiform conidia, and by lacking octahedral crystals. The reverse of the colony was pale white. The three new species are likely to be nourished by plant to animal (especially insect) nutrients based on the evolutionary pattern of the Hypocreales, and they are described herein as being clearly distinct from other species in Simplicillium.

Taxonomic and phylogenetic characterizations reveal four new species of Simplicillium (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) from Guizhou, China

“…In the present study, S. chinense , S. coffeanum and S. filiform were clustered into an independent clade (Fig. 2 ), and supported by Crous et al 7 , Chen et al 20 and Wei et al 28 . Thus, L. filiform is proposed as a new combination.…”

“…Four infected insect specimens (DY10139, DY10169, DY10175 and DY10179) were collected from Duyun City (26°21′24.71″ N, 107°22′48.22″ E), Guizhou Province, on 1 October, 2019. Isolation of strains was conducted as described by Chen et al 20 . Fungal colonies emerging from specimens were isolated and cultured at 25 °C for 14 days under 12 h light/12 h dark conditions following protocols described by Zou et al 21 .…”

“…Lasergene software (version 6.0, DNASTAR) was applied for the assembling and editing of DNA sequence in this study. The ITS , LSU , SSU , RPB1 and TEF sequences were downloaded from GenBank, based on Nonaka et al 5 , Zhang et al 8 , Gomes et al 6 , Crous et al 7 , Mongkolsamrit et al 27 , Chen et al 20 , Wei et al 28 , Kondo et al 29 and others selected on the basis of BLAST algorithm-based searches in GenBank (Table 2 ). The Multiple datasets of ITS , LSU , SSU , RPB1 and TEF were aligned and edited by MAFFT v7.037b 30 and MEGA6 31 .…”

Multi-gene phylogenetic evidence indicates that Pleurodesmospora belongs in Cordycipitaceae (Hypocreales, Hypocreomycetidae) and Pleurodesmospora lepidopterorum sp. nov. on pupa from China

“…An infected pupa of Lepidoptera specimen (DY1050) was collected from Duyun City ( 26°21'24.71"N, 107°22'48.22"E ), Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province, on 1 October 2019. Isolation of strains was conducted as described by Chen et al (2019) . Fungal colonies emerging from specimens were isolated and cultured at 25 °C for 14 days under 12 h light/12 h dark conditions following protocols described by Zou et al (2010) .…”

<p><strong><em>Cordyceps yinjiangensis</em></strong><strong>, a new ant-pathogenic fungus</strong></p>

“…Three infected insect specimens were collected from a pinewood in Yinjiang, Tongren city (N 26°21′27.96″, E 107°22′48.22″), in October 2019. Isolation of strains was done as described by Chen et al (2019). The surface of the specimens was rinsed with sterile water, followed by surface sterilization with 75% ethanol for 3-5 s. A part of the insect body was cut off and inoculated with haemocoel on potato dextrose agar (PDA), to which 1% w/v peptone (PDAP) had been added.…”