Morphology, phylogeny and host specificity of two new Ophiocordyceps species belonging to the "zombie-ant fungi" clade (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales).

ABSTRACT: Species of the genus Ophiocordyceps, which include species able to manipulate the behaviour of ants, are known as the "zombie-ant fungi" and have attracted much attention over the last decade. They are widespread within tropical, subtropical and even temperate forests worldwide, with relatively few reports from subtropical monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest. Fungal specimens have been collected from China, occurring on ants and producing hirsutella-like anamorphs. Based on a combination of morphological characters, phylogenetic analyses (LSU, SSU, TEF1a, RPB1 and RPB2) and ecological data, two new species, Ophiocordycepstortuosa and O.ansiformis, are identified and proposed herein. Ophiocordycepstortuosa and O.ansiformis are record

SUBMITTER: Tang D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10594121 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature