A new species of Leptobacillim, L. symbioticum, isolated from mites and sori of soybean rust

New treasures in Cordycipitaceae: Fungicolous fungi associated with Pseudocercospora fijiensis and P. musae in Brazil, including Matutinistella gen. nov

Cordycipitaceae is a large family belonging to the order Hypocreales, including cosmopolitan species found on different substrates. This family includes species with different lifestyles such as entomopathogenic, endophytic, and mycoparasitic fungi. Some mycoparasitic species in this family attack phytopathogenic fungi. We identified species of Cordycipitaceae found during a survey of fungicolous fungi associated with Pseudocercospora fijiensis and P. musae in Brazil. Based on morphological characters combined with phylogenetic analysis of ITS, LSU, SSU, RPB1, RPB2, and TEF1-α, we propose a new genus in Cordycipitaceae, namely Matutinistella, with its type species M. brasiliensis, and a new species of the genus Simplicillium, namely S. pseudocercosporicola. Furthermore, we report P. fijiensis as a new host of the mycoparasitic fungus Simplicillium lanosoniveum. In this study we newly report fungicolous fungi of Cordycipitaceae associated with the causal agents of Black Sigatoka and Yellow Sigatoka on banana crops. We provide relevant information for future work involving control measures for these diseases that cause major losses in banana crops. Citation: Custódio FA, Pereira OL (2025). New treasures in Cordycipitaceae: Fungicolous fungi associated with Pseudocercospora fijiensis and P. musae in Brazil, including Matutinistella gen. nov. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 15: 133-152. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2025.15.06.

Morphology and phylogeny of two new species within Cordycipitaceae (Hypocreales) from China

Simplicillium and Leptobacillium, sister genera in the family Cordycipitaceae, exhibit a broad range of hosts or substrates. The identification of two novel species, from Simplicillium and Leptobacillium, was achieved by analysing morphological characteristics and phylogenetic data obtained from six molecular markers (ITS, nrSSU, nrLSU, tef-1α, rpb1 and rpb2). The two recently documented species are S.puwenense and L.longiphialidum. Morphologically, S.puwenense possessed slender solitary rod-shaped or columnar phialides with elliptical oval or cylindrical conidia forming small spherical heads at the apex of phialides. On the other hand, L.longiphialidum had solitary columnar phialides with elliptic or subspherical apical conidia while other conidia were narrow columnar or fusiform in shape. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that S.puwenense formed an independent branch as a sister species to S.formicae, whereas L.longiphialidum clustered with L.marksiae exhibiting stable topological structure. The Bayesian inference posterior probability and the maximum likelihood bootstrap-ratio provided robust statistical evidence, indicating the presence of two novel species within the genera of Simplicillium and Leptobacillium. The present study contributes to the discovery of species diversity in Simplicillium and Leptobacillium, while also providing a taxonomic foundation for their rational development and sustainable utilisation.

Isolation and characterization of a new Leptobacillium species promoting tomato plant growth

Endophytes can be a promising alternative for sustainable agronomic practices. In this study, we report for the first time a root-colonizing fungal strain (Sl27) of the genus Leptobacillium as a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) endophyte, with no clear homology to any known species. Performed analyses and assays, including morphological and physiological characterization of the fungal isolate, provided insights into the ecological niche and potential agronomical and industrial applications of the fungal isolate. The ability of Sl27 to establish a symbiotic relationship with the host plant was assessed through experiments under controlled conditions in the growth chamber and greenhouse. Seed-inoculation showed no detrimental effects in the three tomato genotypes studied (TH-30, ADX2, MO-10). The influence of Sl27 on growth parameters of the host plant was dependent on the tomato genotype, with TH-30 showing the most prominent improved phenotype. Moreover, chlorophyll and lycopene content in fruits were enhanced. These findings provide a basis for further studies on the potential application of this new isolate for improving crop performance.

Unearthing diverse culturable fungal communities associated with Ophiocordyceps indica sp. nov. from Indian Western Himalaya

Fungal communities colonizing Ophiocordyceps spp. plays a crucial ecological role in their natural habitat, contributing to infect the host larvae, and influencing their occurrence. Although associated fungi with the newly described Ophiocordyceps indica, from the Indian Western Himalaya remains unclear. Therefore, we untangled the culturable fungal communities associated with O. indica and soil adhered to it, collected from low-height areas of Himachal Pradesh, India. The study resulted in the identification of 111 fungal isolates representing 17 families, with maximum fungal isolates (36.03%) within Cordycipitaceae. Interestingly, a total of 24 genera were found associated with O. indica and adhered soil, of which 12 were common, 8 were exclusive to O. indica and 4 were only limited to soil. Additionally, the influence of soil physicochemical parameters on fungal diversity indices revealed a positive correlation with humidity and available nitrogen and a negative correlation with pH and available phosphorus. These findings provide insights into the culturable fungal diversity of O. indica and the soil adhering to it, thus can contribute to the understanding of host-microbial interactions. Furthermore, these associations can be explored as a source of bioactive metabolites to combat the unending industrial demands.

Eight novel cave fungi in Thailand's Satun Geopark

Karst caves are unique oligotrophic ecosystems characterised by the scarcity of organic litter, darkness, low to moderate temperatures, and high humidity, supporting diverse fungal communities. Despite their importance, little is known about the fungi in karst caves in Thailand. In 2019, we explored the culturable mycobiota associated with three selected types of substrates (air, soil/sediment and organic litter samples) from two karst caves, the Le Stegodon and Phu Pha Phet Caves, in the Satun UNESCO Global Geopark in southern Thailand. Based on morphological characters and multilocus phylogenetic analyses, eight new species (Actinomortierella caverna, Hypoxylon phuphaphetense, Leptobacillium latisporum, Malbranchea phuphaphetensis, Scedosporium satunense, Sesquicillium cavernum, Thelonectria satunensis and Umbelopsis satunensis) were described, illustrated, and compared to closely related species. These new fungal taxa form independent lineages distinct from other previously described species and classified into eight different families across six orders and two phyla (Ascomycota and Mucoromycota). This paper provides additional evidence that the karst caves located within the Satun UNESCO Global Geopark, situated in the southern region of Thailand, harbour a diverse range of newly discovered species. Citation: Preedanon S, Suetrong S, Srihom C, Somrithipol S, Kobmoo N, Saengkaewsuk S, Srikitikulchai P, Klaysuban A, Nuankaew S, Chuaseeharonnachai C, Chainuwong B, Muangsong C, Zhang ZF, Cai L, Boonyuen N (2023). Eight novel cave fungi in Thailand's Satun Geopark. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 12: 1-30. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2023.12.01.

Multigene phylogeny, phylogenetic network, and morphological characterizations reveal four new arthropod-associated Simplicillium species and their evolutional relationship

Simplicillium species are widely distributed and commonly found on various substrates. A minority of species are associated with arthropods. A spider-associated species Simplicillium araneae, and three insect-associated species, Simplicillium coleopterorum, Simplicillium guizhouense, and Simplicillium larvatum, are proposed as novel species based on a multi-locus phylogenetic analysis and morphological characteristics. These Simplicillium species completely fit the nutritional model of Hypocreales fungi and could be used as a model to study their evolutionary relationship. A phylogenetic network analysis based on ITS sequences suggests that a host jump was common among Simplicillium species, and S. araneae may have originally come from an insect host and then jumped to a spider host. However, the evolutionary relationship of S. coleopterorum, S. guizhouense, and S. larvatum was not clear in the phylogenetic network and more sequencing information should be added to the network. In addition, strain CBS 101267 was identified as Simplicillium subtropicum.

Taxonomic and phylogenetic characterizations reveal four new species of Simplicillium (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) from Guizhou, China

Simplicillium species are commonly found from soil, seawater, rock surface, decayed wood, air and as symbiotic, endophytic, entomopathogenic and mycoparasitic fungi. Minority insect-associated species was reported. Simplicillium coccinellidae, S. hymenopterorum, S. neolepidopterorum and S. scarabaeoidea were introduced as the newly insect-associated species. The phylogenetic analyses of two combined datasets (LSU + RPB1 + TEF and SSU + ITS + LSU) revealed that S. coccinellidae and S. hymenopterorum were both nested in an independent clade. S. neolepidopterorum and S. scarabaeoidea have a close relationship with S. formicidae and S. lepidopterorum, respectively. S. neolepidopterorum can be easily distinguished from S. formicidae by ellipsoidal to cylindrical, solitary conidia which occasionally gather in short imbricate chains. S. scarabaeoidea could be easily distinguished from S. lepodopterorum by having longer phialides and larger conidia. Based on the morphological and phylogenetic conclusion, we determine the four newly generated isolates as new species of Simplicillium and a new combination is proposed in the genus Leptobacillium.

Airborne Fungi in Show Caves from Southern Spain

The aerobiology of caves in Southern Spain possesses special characteristics, different from caves located in Northern Spain. Previous studies demonstrated the influence of outdoor air on caves in the north and the existence of two different patterns, depending on the season. In summer there is an abundance of Ascomycota, whereas in winter Basidiomycota predominates, which are related to the periods of stagnation and ventilation, respectively. In caves in Southern Spain the presence of airborne Basidiomycota is scarce and Ascomycota represents the main group of fungi widely distributed across the caves in all seasons. The most characteristic features were the abundant presence of entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria bassiana, Parengyodontium album, Pochonia chlamydosporia, Leptobacillium symbioticum, Leptobacillium leptobactrum) and Cladosporium cladosporioides in Cueva del Tesoro, Cueva de Ardales and Gruta de las Maravillas. However, the presence of yeasts of the genera Cutaneotrichosporon, Trichosporon, Cryptococcus, Naganishia, Cystobasidium, Microstroma and Phragmotaenium was exclusive to Gruta de las Maravillas. Fungal hazard in the three show caves were determined using an ecological indicator based on the concentration of spores in cave air.