AUTHOR=Dong Quan-Ying , Wang Yao , Wang Zhi-Qin , Tang De-Xiang , Zhao Zhi-Yuan , Wu Hui-Juan , Yu Hong 

TITLE=Morphology and Phylogeny Reveal Five Novel Species in the Genus Cordyceps (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) From Yunnan, China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.846909

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.846909

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>The current study was aimed to introduce five new species of <italic>Cordyceps</italic> from Yunnan, with morphological descriptions, illustrations, color photographs, phylogenetic placement, associated host, and a comparison with allied taxa. The five new species were morphologically distinct from all other <italic>Cordyceps sensu lato</italic> species, and it was also suggested that they should differ from other species in the genus <italic>Cordyceps</italic> based on combined multigene analyses. Employing DNA nucleotide sequences of the nr<italic>LSU</italic>, nr<italic>SSU</italic>, <italic>tef-1</italic>α, <italic>rpb1</italic>, and <italic>rpb2</italic>, the five new species were recognized in the clade of <italic>Cordyceps</italic> by using molecular phylogenetic analyses, including five well-supported subclades: three new species, <italic>Cordyceps bullispora, Cordyceps longiphialis</italic>, and <italic>Cordyceps nabanheensis</italic>, were found in the subclade of <italic>C. pruinosa</italic>, and two new species, <italic>Cordyceps pseudotenuipes</italic> and <italic>Cordyceps simaoensis</italic>, were located in the subclade of <italic>C. tenuipes</italic>. The five novel species shared similar morphologies to other species in the genus <italic>Cordyceps</italic>, with fleshy and brightly pigmented stromata; perithecia superficial to completely immersed, ordinal in arrangement; and hyaline asci, with thickened cylindrical ascus apex. The morphological characteristics of 66 species in <italic>Cordyceps sensu stricto</italic>, namely, 5 novel species and 61 known taxa, were also compared.</p>