New teleomorph combinations in the entomopathogenic genus Metacordyceps

The genus Metacordyceps contains arthropod pathogens in Clavicipitaceae (Hypocreales) that formerly were classified in Cordyceps sensu Kobayasi et Mains. Of the current arthropod pathogenic genera of Hypocreales, the genus Metacordyceps remains one of the most poorly understood and contains a number...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Mycologia 2012-01, Vol.104 (1), p.182-197
Main Authors: Kepler, R.M., Sung, G.-H., Ban, S., Nakagiri, A., Chen, M.-J., Huang, B., Li, Z., Spatafora, J.W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
anamorph-teleomorph connection
Anamorphs
Animals
arthropod pathogen
Arthropoda
Ascospores
Biological taxonomies
Clavicipitaceae
Cordyceps
DNA, Fungal - analysis
DNA, Fungal - genetics
Far East
Fungi
Genera
Hypocreales - classification
Hypocreales - genetics
Insecta - microbiology
Metarhizium
morphological plasticity
Phylogenetics
Phylogeny
Pochonia
SYSTEMATICS
Taxa
Teleomorphs
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Summary:The genus Metacordyceps contains arthropod pathogens in Clavicipitaceae (Hypocreales) that formerly were classified in Cordyceps sensu Kobayasi et Mains. Of the current arthropod pathogenic genera of Hypocreales, the genus Metacordyceps remains one of the most poorly understood and contains a number of teleomorphic morphologies convergent with species of Cordyceps s.s. (Cordycipitaceae) and Ophiocordyceps (Ophiocordycipitaceae). Of note, the anamorph genera Metarhizium and Pochonia were found to be associated only with Metacordyceps and demonstrated to be phylogenetically informative for the clade. Several species of Cordyceps considered to have uncertain placements (incertae sedis) in the current taxonomic framework of clavicipitoid fungi were collected during field expeditions mostly in eastern Asia. Species reclassified here in Metacordyceps include Cordyceps atrovirens Kobayasi & Shimizu, Cordyceps indigotica Kobayasi & Shimizu, Cordyceps khaoyaiensis Hywel-Jones, Cordyceps kusanagiensis Kobayasi & Shimizu, Cordyceps martialis Speg., Ophiocordyceps owariensis Kobayasi, Cordyceps pseudoatrovirens Kobayasi & Shimizu and Ophicordyceps owariensis f. viridescens (Uchiy. & Udagawa) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora. Incorporation of these species in a multigene phylogenetic framework of the major clades of clavicipitoid fungi more than doubled the number of species in Metacordyceps and allowed for refinement of morphological concepts for the genus consistent with the phylogenetic structure. Based on these findings we then discuss evolution of this genus, subgeneric relationships, anamorph connections, and suggest additional species that should be confirmed for possible inclusion in Metacordyceps.
ISSN:0027-5514
1557-2536
DOI:10.3852/11-070