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

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.

Four new araneogenous species and a new genus in Hypocreales (Clavicipitaceae, Cordycipitaceae) from the karst region of China

The karst region in southwestern China is one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world with rich fungal diversity but under-studied. Four fungal species belonging to Chlorocillium (Clavicipitaceae) and Gamszarella (Cordycipitaceae) were isolated from dead spiders. Morphological comparisons, phylogenetic analyses and a PHI analysis based on multigene datasets support the establishment of these new species viz., Chlorocilliumguizhouense sp. nov., C.vallense sp. nov., Gamszarellasinensis sp. nov., and G.vallensis sp. nov. are introduced. A new genus, Neogamszarella, is proposed to accommodate Gamszarellaantillana, which is phylogenetically distinct from Gamszarella s. str. Our results revealed that further attention needs to be paid to the diversity of araneogenous fungi in the karst regions of southwestern China.

Two new Cordyceps-like species, Perennicordycepszongqii sp. nov. (Polycephalomycetaceae) and Purpureocilliumzongqii sp. nov. (Ophiocordycipitaceae), in Hypocreales from karst region of China

Two new Cordyceps-like species, Perennicordycepszongqii and Purpureocilliumzongqii, isolated from a larva and soil, are introduced. Morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analyses based on multigene datasets (ITS, LSU, RPB2 and TEF) support the establishment of the new species. Moreover, new species in the families Polycephalomycetaceae and Ophiocordycipitaceae were introduced into Tiankeng and the valley for the first time. Further attention needs to be paid to the diversity of other Cordyceps-like fungi in the special eco-environment of the karst region.

Defensive fungal symbiosis on insect hindlegs

Tympanal organs as "insect ears" have evolved repeatedly. Dinidorid stinkbugs were reported to possess a conspicuous tympanal organ on female's hindlegs. Here we report an unexpected discovery that the stinkbug's "tympanal organ" is actually a novel symbiotic organ. The stinkbug's "tympanum" is not membranous but a porous cuticle, where each pore connects to glandular secretory cells. In reproductive females, the hindleg organ is covered with fungal hyphae growing out of the pores. Upon oviposition, the females skillfully transfer the fungi from the organ to the eggs. The eggs are quickly covered with hyphae and physically protected against wasp parasitism. The fungi are mostly benign Cordycipitaceae entomopathogens and show considerable diversity among insect individuals and populations, indicating environmental acquisition of specific fungal associates. These results uncover a novel external fungal symbiosis in which host's elaborate morphological, physiological and behavioral specializations underpin the selective recruitment of benign entomopathogens for a defensive purpose.

Study on species diversity of Akanthomyces (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) in the Jinyun Mountains, Chongqing, China

Akanthomyces species have only been reported from Guizhou and Qinghai Province, with few reports from other regions in China. In this research, the species diversity of Akanthomyces in the Jinyun Mountains, Chongqing was investigated. Fourteen infected spider specimens were collected and two new species (A.bashanensis and A.beibeiensis) and a known species (A.tiankengensis) were established and described according to a multi-locus phylogenetic analysis and the morphological characteristics. Our results reveal abundant Akanthomyces specimens and three species were found at Jinyun Mountain. Due to its being an important kind of entomopathogenic fungi, further attention needs to be paid to the diversity of other entomopathogenic fungi in Chongqing, China.

Simplicillium sinense sp. nov., a novel potential pathogen of tinea faciei

Simplicillium species are widely distributed with a broad spectrum of hosts and substrates. Generally, these species are entomopathogenic or mycoparasitic. Notably, some isolates of Simplicillium lanosoniveum and Simplicillium obclavatum were obtained from human tissues. In this study, two fungi were isolated from the annular itchy patch of infected skin of a 46-year-old man with diabetes mellitus. Based on a combination of morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis, a novel species, Simplicillium sinense, was introduced herein. It morphologically differs from the remaining Simplicillium in the size of phialides and conidia. Additionally, it grows slowly on YPD at 37°C. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing presented that this fungus is resistant to most azole antifungals. Therefore, the diagnosis of tinea faciei was made, and after 2 weeks of being treated with oral terbinafine (250 mg, once a day) and topical terbinafine cream for 1 month, the rash was mainly resolved and no recurrence happened after 6 months of follow-up. Herein, Simplicillium sinense was introduced as a new fungal taxon. Meanwhile, a case of superficial infection caused by S. sinense was reported. So far, it is the third Simplicillium species obtained from human tissue. Meanwhile, terbinafine is recommended as the first-line antifungal treatment against Simplicillium infection.