Perennicordyceps prolifica Matocec & I. Kusan

Information from the abstract

Perennicordyceps prolifica (Kobayasi) Matočec & I. Kušan, in Matočec, Kušan & Ozimec, Ascomycete. org 6 (5): 129 (2014) Fig. 4 Description. Parasitic on a lepidopteran cocoon, on leaf litter. Host 4–5 cm long, elongate, pale brown, smooth, attached to substrate. Sexual morph: Undetermined. Asexual morph: Synnemata 5–6 cm long, solitary, arising from the anterior part of the host, cylindrical, straight, white, with a slightly tapering apex. Fertile region not differentiated from the stipe, the surface appearing slightly roughened. Conidiophores hyaline, sparse, arising from the surface, simple. Phialides 18.5–29.8 × 0.8–1.8 μm (x ̄ = 16.5 × 2.3 µm, n = 40), hirsutella-like, hyaline, slender, tapering gradually towards the apex. Conidia 2.2–3.6 × 1.2–2.3 μm (x ̄ = 16.5 × 2.3 µm, n = 40), one-celled, hyaline, smooth-walled, ellipsoidal. Material examined. China • Guizhou Province, Zunyi City, Xishui County, parasitic on a cocoon of Lepidoptera, buried in the soil, 28°30'1.31"N, 106°23'44.76"E, 967 m elev., 10 April 2023, Yu Yang, XS 2304 (HKAS 132166). Culture characters. Not observed. Repeated isolation attempts were made from specimens; however, no stable culture was obtained. Notes. Phylogenetic analyses place the present strain (HKAS 132166) within Perennicordyceps prolifica, where it forms a strongly supported lineage with strain NBRC 101750 (96 % MLBP, 1.00 PP; Fig. 1). Morphologically, the specimen agrees well with the description of Pe. prolifica, particularly in producing slender, cylindrical synnemata and hirsutella-like phialides, as well as comparable conidial size and shape (Matočec et al. 2014). Perennicordyceps prolifica was originally described from underground-dwelling nymphs of Cicadidae (Hemiptera) (Kobayasi and Shimizu 1963; Matočec et al. 2014). In contrast, the present specimen was collected from a lepidopteran cocoon, representing a new host record for the species. Furthermore, Pe. prolifica has previously been reported from Japan (Kobayasi and Shimizu 1963; Matočec et al. 2014), whereas the present collection from China represents a new geographic record. These results suggest that Pe. prolifica has a broader host range and wider distribution than previously recognized.

Why this record is monitored

This record has an Impact Signal of 70/100 based on recency, source, collaboration, and bibliographic signals. It prioritizes monitoring and is not a judgment of research quality.

Related topics: Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control · Fungal Biology and Applications · Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases