Two new recorded species in Cordyceps sensu lato

Abstract:

[Background] Cordyceps sensu lato was an important entomopathogenic fungus. [Objective] The entomopathogenic fungi and its allies from Southwest China were investigated. [Methods] Specimens were collected from Xishui and Huaxi in Guizhou province, and the target strains were isolated on PDA media with antibiotics in the laboratory. Then these strains were identified by the morphological characters and phylogenetic analysis of ITS rDNA sequences. [Results] Five target strains were obtained. Strains GY1113, GY90809 and GY90810 were very similar to the original description of Beauveria malawiensis in morphology and clustered into a subclade with the sequences of B. malawiensis in phylogenetic tree; strain A1997 was consistent with Cordyceps lepidopterorum in morphology and it was closely related with the type sequence of C. lepidopterorum in phylogenetic tree; strain A1972 was very similar to the original description of B. caledonica in the morphology and clustered into a subclade with the sequences of B. caledonica in phylogenetic tree. Therefore, these strains were identified to three species, B. malawiensis, C. lepidopterorum and B. caledonica, respectively. [Conclusion] B. malawiensis and C. lepidopterorum are new to China.