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Multigene Phylogenetics of Polycephalomyces with Two New Species from Thailand

Summary

This research discovered and described two new species of fungi from Thailand that parasitize insects and other fungi. The study helps us better understand fungal diversity and the complex relationships between different organisms in nature. Impact on everyday life: – Contributes to our knowledge of biodiversity and ecosystem relationships – May lead to discoveries of new natural compounds for medicine or agriculture – Helps understand parasitic relationships that could be relevant for pest control – Advances our understanding of fungal evolution and classification – Could have implications for conservation and environmental management

Background

Polycephalomyces species are found in subtropical regions and are parasitic or hyperparasitic on insects. The genus was introduced by Kobayasi to accommodate P. formosus and is presently accommodated in Ophiocordycipitaceae. The taxonomic placement has been debated within clavicipitoid fungi as hypotheses based on host substrate and sexual morph affinities were controversial.

Objective

To analyze and describe two new species of Polycephalomyces from Thailand through morphological comparison with existing species and DNA-based phylogenetic analyses using multigene datasets.

Results

Two new species, Polycephalomyces aurantiacus and P. marginaliradians, were identified and described. P. aurantiacus exhibits a hyperparasitic lifestyle on Ophiocordyceps barnesii and produces orange conidia in mass with longer β-phialides in culture. P. marginaliradians differs by producing single stromata with a stipe, smaller perithecia, branched α-phialides and catenate α-conidia, and is parasitic on Cossidae. Multigene phylogenetic analyses confirmed these as distinct new species within Polycephalomyces.

Conclusion

The study successfully identified and characterized two new species of Polycephalomyces from Thailand through both morphological and molecular methods. The findings expand our understanding of fungal diversity within this genus and provide new insights into their parasitic relationships with insects and other fungi.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:Taxonomic Study,
  • Source: 10.1038/s41598-018-36792-4
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