Simplicillium cicadellidae W.H. Chen, C. Liu, Y.F. Han, J.D. Liang, Z.Q. Liang

Chen, Wan-Hao, Liu, Chang, Han, Yan-Feng, Liang, Jian-Dong, Tian, Wei-Yi & Liang, Zong-Qi, 2019, Three novel insect-associated species of Simplicillium (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) from Southwest China, MycoKeys 58, pp. 83-102 : 83

Simplicillium cicadellidae W.H. Chen, C. Liu, Y.F. Han, J.D. Liang, Z.Q. Liang sp. nov. Figure 3

Etymology.

The epithet cicadellidae refers to an insect host in family Cicadellidea.

Diagnosis.

Characterized by phialides always solitary and rather long and narrow, 12.9-18.3 × 0.8-1.1 μm. Conidia adhering in globose slimy heads, mostly ellipsoidal, 1.8-2.8 × 1.4-1.8 μm. Octahedral crystals absent. Reverse of colony yellowish, especially in the middle, and radially sulcate.

Type.

CHINA, Guizhou Province, Huaxi District (26°23'25.92"N, 106°41'3.35"E), 9 November 2018, Wanhao Chen, holotype GZAC GY1101, ex-type culture GZAC GY11011. Sequences from isolated strain GY11011 has been deposited in GenBank with accession numbers: ITS = MN006243, LSU = MN006249, RPB1 = MN022271 and TEF = MN022263.

Description.

Colonies reaching 45-47 mm in diameter in 14 d on PDA; white; reverse yellowish, especially in the middle, and radially sulcate. Hyphae septate, hyaline, smooth-walled, 0.9-1.9 μm wide. Phialides arising from aerial hyphae, gradually tapering towards apex, without basal septa, always solitary and rather long and narrow, 12.9-18.3 × 0.8-1.1 μm. Conidia adhering in ellipsoidal slimy heads, mostly ellipsoidal, hyaline, smooth-walled, 1.8-2.8 × 1.4-1.8 μm. Octahedral crystals absent.

Host.

Leafhopper ( Hemiptera )

Distribution.

Huaxi District, Guizhou Province, China

Remarks.

Zare and Gams (2001) summarized the typical characteristics of Simplicillium as having mostly solitary phialides arising from aerial hyphae, conidia adhering in globose slimy heads or imbricate chains, crystals commonly present, fungicolous and on various other substrata. Simplicillium cicadellidae was easily identified as belonging to Simplicillium because of its solitary phialides, conidia adhering in ellipsoidal slimy heads, and lack of octahedral crystals. Comparing with the typical characteristics of 12 species (Table 2 ), it was easily distinguished from other species in having the phialides always solitary and rather long and narrow (12.9-18.3 × 0.8-1.1 μm), the conidia adhering in globose slimy heads, which are mostly ellipsoidal (1.8-2.8 × 1.4-1.8 μm), and the octahedral crystals absent. The reverse of colony was yellowish, especially in the middle, and radially sulcate. Based on ITS and LSU rDNA, S. cicadellidae is phylogenetically close to S. formicidae and S. lepidopterorum . However, S. cicadellidae has ellipsoidal conidia and shorter phialides (12.9-18.3 × 0.8-1.1 μm), and the reverse of colony was yellowish.

Figures

Figure 3. Simplicillium cicadellidae A infected leafhopper (Hemiptera) B-C culture plate, showing the front (B) and the reverse (C) of the colony, cultured on PDA medium D-F phialides solitary, conidia adhering ellipsoidal slimy head and conidia G conidia. Scale bars: 10 mm (B, C), 10 μm (D, E, F, G).