Novel and interesting Ophiocordyceps spp. (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) with superficial perithecia from Thailand

Ophiocordyceps is a heterogeneous, species-rich genus in the order Hypocreales (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota) that includes invertebrate-pathogenic taxa. In this study, seven new species in Ophiocordyceps producing superficial perithecia infecting various insect hosts (Lepidoptera, Hemiptera) are des...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: J. Luangsa-ard, K. Tasanathai, D. Thanakitpipattana, A. Khonsanit, M. Stadler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2018-03-01
Series:Studies in Mycology
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166061618300046
Description
Summary:Ophiocordyceps is a heterogeneous, species-rich genus in the order Hypocreales (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota) that includes invertebrate-pathogenic taxa. In this study, seven new species in Ophiocordyceps producing superficial perithecia infecting various insect hosts (Lepidoptera, Hemiptera) are described from Thailand – Ophiocordyceps brunneinigra, O. brunneiperitheciata, O. geometridicola, O. multiperitheciata, O. pauciovoperitheciata, O. pseudoacicularis and O. spataforae. Phylogenetic analyses based on multigene loci comprising the large subunit of the ribosomal DNA (LSU), partial sequences of elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF) and the largest and second largest subunit of the RNA polymerase (RPB1, PRB2) strongly support these new species of Ophiocordyceps in the Ophiocordycipitaceae. They differ from species previously described species Ophiocordyceps acicularis, O. atewensis, O. cochlidiicola, and O. crinalis, in the shape and sizes of distinguishing characters such as perithecia, ascospores and conidia. We also report a new record of O. macroacicularis in Thailand. Key words: Cryptic species, 7 new taxa, Ophiocordyceps, Taxonomy, Taxonomic novelties: New species: Ophiocordyceps brunneinigra Tasanathai, Thanakitpipattana, Khonsanit & Luangsa-ard, O. brunneiperitheciata Tasanathai, Thanakitpipattana, Khonsanit & Luangsa-ard, O. geometridicola Tasanathai, Thanakitpipattana, Khonsanit & Luangsa-ard, O. multiperitheciata Tasanathai, Thanakitpipattana, Khonsanit & Luangsa-ard, O. pauciovoperitheciata Tasanathai, Thanakitpipattana, Khonsanit & Luangsa-ard, O. pseudoacicularis Tasanathai, Thanakitpipattana, Khonsanit & Luangsa-ard, O. spataforae Tasanathai, Thanakitpipattana, Khonsanit & Luangsa-ard
ISSN:0166-0616