Abstract
In this paper, we introduce three new species of Simplicillium, viz. S. cicadellidae, S. formicidae and S. lepidopterorum, which were isolated from an infected leafhopper, ant and carpenterworm, respectively. Morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analyses based on multigene datasets (LSU+RPB1+RPB2+TEF and ITS+LSU) support the establishment of the three new species. Simplicillium cicadellidae was distinguished from other species in morphological characteristics by having smaller phialides and ellipsoidal conidia, and lacking octahedral crystals. The reverse of colonies were yellowish (#FFBF00), especially in the middle, and radially sulcate. Simplicillium formicidae was morphologically distinguished from other by having longer phialides and filiform to fusoid conidia, and by lacking octahedral crystals. Simplicillium lepidopterorum was morphologically distinguished from other species by having smaller, ellipsoidal to fusiform conidia, and by lacking octahedral crystals. The reverse of the colony was pale white. The three new species are likely to be nourished by plant to animal (especially insect) nutrients based on the evolutionary pattern of the Hypocreales, and they are described herein as being clearly distinct from other species in Simplicillium.
Highlights
A phylogenetic tree of Simplicillium in Cordycipitaceae was generated from the maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) based on a combined data set of LSU, RNA polymerase II largest subunit 1 (RPB1), RNA polymerase II largest subunit 2 (RPB2) and Translation elongation factor alpha (TEF) sequence data
The tree is rooted with Purpureocillium lilacinum (Thom) Luangsa-ard, Houbraken, Hywel-Jones & Samson (CBS 284.36 and CBS 431.87)
A phylogenetic tree of Simplicillium species level was generated from the maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) analysis based on a combined data set of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and LSU sequence data set
Summary
The genus is characterized with its complete lack of verticillate branching; mostly solitary phialides, which are discrete, aculeate and narrow and arise from aerial hyphae; conidia short-ellipsoidal to suglobose or obclavate, and adhering in globose heads or imbricate chains (Zare and Gams 2001). Zare and Gams (2001) introduced three additional species, viz., S. lamellicola The typical characteristics of Simplicillium include mostly solitary phialides, conidia adhering in globose, slimy heads or imbricate chains, and commonly present crystals in the agar (Zare and Gams 2001). Zare and Gams (2008) transferred S. wallacei to Lecanicillium W. Gams & Zare based on the phylogenic analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and this transfer was confirmed by Sung et al (2007)
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