Polycephalomyces agaricus, a new hyperparasite of Ophiocordyceps sp. infecting melolonthid larvae in southwestern China

• DOI: 10.1007/s11557-015-1090-7
• Publication Date: 2015-08-12T23:11:45Z
• Authors: Yuan-Bing Wang; Hong Yu; Yong-Dong Dai; Chang-Kui Wu; Wen-Bo Zeng; Feng Yuan; Zong-Qi Liang
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences

A new species, Polycephalomyces agaricus, which is parasitic on Ophiocordyceps sp., a pathogen of melolonthid larvae in southwestern China, is described using morphological and phylogenetic evidence. This species differs morphologically from other species in the genus by its agaric-shaped synnemata, pileus-like slimy masses on short stipes, globose to subglobose α-conidia, and plenty of laterally or apically proliferating phialides. The phylogenetic analyses based on 5-locus (nrSSU, nrLSU, tef-1α, rpb1, and rpb2) data strongly support that this fungus is a distinct species in the genus.