Simplicillium lepidopterorum W.H. Chen, C. Liu, Y.F. Han, J.D. Liang & Z.Q. Liang

Chen, Wan-Hao, Liu, Chang, Han, Yan-Feng, Liang, Jian-Dong, Tian, Wei-Yi & Liang, Zong-Qi, 2019, Three novel insect-associated species of Simplicillium (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) from Southwest China, MycoKeys 58, pp. 83-102 : 83

Simplicillium lepidopterorum W.H. Chen, C. Liu, Y.F. Han, J.D. Liang & Z.Q. Liang sp. nov. Figure 5

Etymology.

The epithet lepidopterorum refers to an insect host in order Lepidoptera .

Diagnosis.

Characterized by phialides always being solitary and rather long and narrow, 15.3-26.2 × 0.7-1.4 μm, Conidia adhering in globose slimy heads, mostly ellipsoidal, 1.6-2.4 × 1.4-1.7 μm. Octahedral crystals absent. The reverse of colony was pale white.

Type.

CHINA, Guizhou Province, Huaxi District (26°23'25.92"N, 106°41'3.35"E), 31 July 2018, Wanhao Chen, holotype GZAC GY2913, ex-type culture GZAC GY29131, sequences from isolated strain GY29131 has been deposited in GenBank with accession numbers: ITS = MN006246, LSU = MN006251, RPB1 = MN022273 and TEF = MN022265.

Description.

Colonies reaching 48-51 mm in diameter in 14 d on PDA; white; reverse pale white. Hyphae septate, hyaline, smooth-walled, 1.1-2.2 μm wide. Phialides arising from aerial hyphae, gradually tapering towards the apex, without basal septa, always solitary and rather long and narrow, 15.3-26.2 × 0.7-1.4 μm. Conidia adhering in globose slimy heads, ellipsoidal to fusiform, hyaline, smooth-walled, 1.6-2.4 × 1.4-1.7 μm. Octahedral crystals absent.

Host.

Carpenter worm ( Lepidoptera )

Distribution.

Huaxi District, Guizhou Province, China

Remarks.

Simplicillium lepidopterorum was easily identified as belonging to Simplicillium because of its solitary phialides, conidia adhering in globose slimy heads, and lack of octahedral crystals. Comparing with the typical characteristics of 12 species (Table 2 ), S. lepidopterorum could easily distinguished from other species by having the phialides always solitary and rather long and narrow, 15.3-26.2 × 0.7-1.4 μm. Conidia ellipsoidal (1.6-2.4 × 1.4-1.7 μm), adhering in globose slimy heads, and in having the octahedral crystals absent. Based on ITS and LSU rDNA, S. lepidopterorum is phylogenetically close to S. cicadellidae and S. formicidae . However, S. lepidopterorum has ellipsoidal conidia, longer phialides (15.3-26.2 × 0.7-1.4 μm), and the reverse of colony was pale white.

Key

Figures

Figure 5. Simplicillium formicidae A isolated substrate an infected ant (Hymenoptera) B-C culture plate, showing the front (B) and the reverse (C) of the colony, cultured on PDA medium D, E phialides solitary, conidia adhering globose slimy head and conidia F conidia. Scale bars: 10 mm (B, C), 10 μm (D, E, F).