Description of two new species of Ophiocordyceps: O. sinocampes and O. cystidiata (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) from typical karst landform forests in Guizhou, China

By

Xu, Zhongshun
Deng, Liping
Hai Yan, Wang
Tian, Huiling
Jiaojiao, Qu
Dai, Yongdong
Zou, Xiao

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025

Original Publication

MycoKeys

Volume

114

Pages

1--27

Subjects

Cordycipitoid fungi , invalidation , karst landform , Nomenclature , Phylogeny

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers 2011-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.114.134323

 

Abstract

Karst habitats are hotspots of diversity and endemism. Their naturally fragmented distributions across broad geographic landscapes have led to a complex array of smaller evolutionary ecosystems. Comprehensive biodiversity assessments of karst habitats have revealed that these ecosystems contain a high level of endemism. During a survey of cordycipitoid fungi in the karst region of southwest Guizhou, China, we identified and proposed two new species, based on morphology and multi-locus (nrSSU, nrLSU, tef, rpb1, and rpb2) phylogenetic analyses. O. cystidiatasp. nov. is characterized by gray-white to yellow fertile part, verrucose phialides, and conidia enveloped in a cystic thickened mucus sheath, distinguishing it from other species. O. sinocampessp. nov. is distinguished by long tapering phialides with inflated bases. Phylogenetic analyses using five loci reveal that O. cystidiata shares a close relationship with O. fenggangensis, O. musicaudata, O. alboperitheciata, and Hirsutella kuankuoshuiensis, while O. sinocampes is closely related to O. multiperitheciata and H. strigosa. Herein, we completed the descriptions, illustrations and molecular phylogeny of these two new species. The host diversity of O. sinocampes has also been documented within the orders Lepidoptera and Coccoidea. Our research further enriches the diversity of cordycipitoid species in the typical karst landform areas of Guizhou, China.