Ophiocordyceps xifengensis G.X. Fei & X. Zou

Fei, Gang-Xiang, Guan, Jing-Qiang, Tian, Hui-Ling, Zhou, Ye-Ming, Qu, Jiao-Jiao, Xu, Zhongshun & Zou, Xiao, 2024, A new entomopathogenic fungus, Ophiocordyceps xifengensis sp. nov., from Liaoning, China, Phytotaxa 642 (3), pp. 211-224 : 216

Ophiocordyceps xifengensis G.X. Fei & X. Zou , sp. nov.

MycoBank No: 571609

Etymology. Referring to the locality of the specimen collected, Xifeng (Lat.‘Xifengensis’).

Holotype. China, Liaoning Province, Tieling City , Xifeng County, at 42°63′ N, 124°87′ E, 05 November 2022. on a Lepidoptera pupa buried in fallen leaves, (holotype, GZUIRF 2022–Z11; ex–type, GZUIR–Z11).

Teleomorph: The locule emerging from pupal thorax, single dark, either unbranched or branched, clavate, woody, and ranges in color from yellow to dark brown, with a length of 9.0 cm. The stalk is cylindrical, measuring 7.5 cm in length and 0.28–1.76 mm in width, with tip of infertile portion, measuring 2.2 mm in length and 0.3 mm in width. Fertile portion possessing slightly protruding Perithecia, 0.38–0.43 (x̄ = 0.40) mm long, 0.16–0.19 mm wide. The fertile part possesses a slightly protruding Perithecia, 0.38–0.43 mm long, 0.16–0.19 mm wide, which are inclined and semi–submerged, conical, yellow in color, and densely covered in the upper and middle part of the locule and sparsely arranged in the lower part of the locule. Asci hyaline, cylindrical, septum inconspicuous, 164.8–178.9 × 7.4–10.2 μm, apical cap prominent, orange–valved, 6.36–10.7 × 5.1–7.5 μm. Ascospores filiform, complete, multi–septate, 99.1–164.2 × 2.1–2.8 μm.

Anamorph: The colony grows slowly on PDA, incubated at constant temperature at 18°C in about 6 weeks, the diameter of the colony was 32–54 mm, warts in the middle of the colony, slightly protruding, powdery, hard texture, brownish–yellow to light–white color from the center to the edge of the colony. Reverse side light brown to grayish white. Mycelium hyaline, septate, 3.6–4.4 μm wide, Conidiogenous cells were present on single pedicels, pedicels of two types A and B: type A pedicels columnar, base not markedly expanded, 16.0–35.7 × 1.6–4.2 μm, type B pedicels basally expanded, 16.0–35.7 × 1.6–4.2 μm, and type B pedicels basally expanded. Conidiophores, hyaline, long fusiform or long ellipsoid, 8.0–18.7 × 3.8–6.7 (x̄ = 2.4) μm. 10.7 × 3.8–6.7 μm, individual conidia encapsulated in lemon–shaped mucilaginous sheaths 2–3 μm thick.

Host. Lepidoptera pupae

Distribution. China.