Two rare ophiocordycipitaceous fungi newly recorded in Taiwan

Botanical Studies
Yi-Hong Ke, Yu-Ming Ju

Abstract

Ophiocordycipitaceae is a highly diverse fungal family parasitizing a wide range of arthropods and hypogeous fungi. We collected two ophiocordycipitaceous species previously unknown in Taiwan: one emerged from hypogeous fruiting bodies of an Elaphomyces fungus and the other was associated with dragonflies. Based on gross morphology, microscopic features, ITS sequences, and hosts, the two ophiocordycipitaceous fungi were identified as Tolypocladium japonicum and Ophiocordyceps odonatae. We isolated axenic cultures of these two fungi, and their anamorphs were obtained. The simplicillium-like anamorph of T. japonicum is described herein for the first time. The anamorph of O. odonatae produce conidia holoblastically in sympodial sequence and is assignable to Hymenostilbe. A dichotomous key to the species of Ophiocordycipitaceae reported in Taiwan is provided. A thorough literature study indicates that the two fungi reported herein have rarely been collected. Our identifications of T. japonicum and O. odonatae agree well with descriptions in the literature and are highly supported by DNA sequence analysis.

Datasets Mentioned

BETA
FU30561
KT873533
OSC
110991
AB027366
EU039882
FU30560
KT873534

Methods Mentioned

BETA
nucleic acid extraction

Software Mentioned

MEGABLAST

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