Phylogenetic-based nomenclatural proposals for Ophiocordycipitaceae (Hypocreales) with new combinations in Tolypocladium.

C Alisha Quandt,Joseph W Spatafora,Richard Humber,Zengzhi Li,Tatiana Sanjuan,Stephen A Rehner,Ryan M Kepler,Harry C Evans,João P M Araújo,J Jennifer Luangsa-Ard,Nigel Hywel-Jones,Bhushan Shrestha,Walter Gams,Gi-Ho Sung,Hiroki Sato,Sayaka Ban,Rasoul Zare,David Hughes,Yi-Jian Yao

doi:10.5598/imafungus.2014.05.01.12

Abstract

Ophiocordycipitaceae is a diverse family comprising ecologically, economically, medicinally, and culturally important fungi. The family was recognized due to the polyphyly of the genus Cordyceps and the broad diversity of the mostly arthropod-pathogenic lineages of Hypocreales. The other two cordyceps-like families, Cordycipitaceae and Clavicipitaceae, will be revised taxonomically elsewhere. Historically, many species were placed in Cordyceps, but other genera have been described in this family as well, including several based on anamorphic features. Currently there are 24 generic names in use across both asexual and sexual life stages for species of Ophiocordycipitaceae. To reflect changes in Art. 59 in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), we propose to protect and to suppress names within Ophiocordycipitaceae, and to present taxonomic revisions in the genus Tolypocladium, based on rigorous and extensively sampled molecular phylogenetic analyses. When approaching this task, we considered the principles of priority, monophyly, minimizing taxonomic revisions, and the practical utility of these fungi within the wider biological research community.

Highlights

The revision of Art. 59 in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN; McNeill et al 2012) has created a major task for mycologists, who must reconcile under one name various possible names existing for different morphs of the same species of fungus (Hibbett & Taylor 2013)
The Hirsutella morphology is observed in other clades (e.g. Harposporium, Polycephalomyces, Clavicipitaceae), and while it is difficult to place the type species based on morphology alone, it appears from its original description to be morphologically and ecologically similar to species of Hymenostilbe found in the ‘O. sphecocephala’ clade and not Hirsutella of the ‘O. unilateralis group’ (Patouillard 1892)
Our results suggest the restriction of Hymenostilbe to the ‘O. sphecocephala clade’ (Fig. 1, Node 6) which occupies a long branch and has strong support (MLBP=100), because the other internal nodes of the clade do not receive support, we refrain from making this distinction as it would result in a paraphyletic Ophiocordyceps

Summary

Introduction

The revision of Art. 59 in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN; McNeill et al 2012) has created a major task for mycologists, who must reconcile under one name various possible names existing for different morphs of the same species of fungus (Hibbett & Taylor 2013). Verticillium is a common asexual morph of many species in several hypocrealean families, including Ophiocordycipitaceae, Cordycipitaceae and Clavicipitaceae (see Zare et al 2000, Sung et al 2001, 2007, and Gams & Zare 2001). Kobayasi (1941) later used Ophiocordyceps as a subgeneric classification of the genus Cordyceps, but Sung et al (2007) restored Ophiocordyceps to the rank of genus to include those Cordyceps species within Ophiocordycipitaceae forming a sister clade with the genus Elaphocordyceps (see below). Asexual generic names associated with Ophiocordyceps include Sorosporella, the oldest name still in use for species in the clade, Hirsutella, Hymenostilbe, Stilbella, Syngliocladium, and Paraisaria.

Results

Conclusion