Background: Species in the ascomycete fungal genus Cordyceps have been proposed to be the teleomorphs of Metarhizium species. The latter have been widely used as insect biocontrol agents. Cordyceps species are highly prized for use in traditional Chinese medicines, but the genes responsible for biosynthesis of bioactive components, insect pathogenicity and the control of sexuality and fruiting have not been determined. Results: Here, we report the genome sequence of the type species Cordyceps militaris. Phylogenomic analysis suggests that different species in the Cordyceps/Metarhizium genera have evolved into insect pathogens independently of each other, and that their similar large secretomes and gene family expansions are due to convergent evolution. However, relative to other fungi, including Metarhizium spp., many protein families are reduced in C. militaris, which suggests a more restricted ecology. Consistent with its long track record of safe usage as a medicine, the Cordyceps genome does not contain genes for known human mycotoxins. We establish that C. militaris is sexually heterothallic but, very unusually, fruiting can occur without an opposite mating-type partner. Transcriptional profiling indicates that fruiting involves induction of the Zn2Cys6-type transcription factors and MAPK pathway; unlike other fungi, however, the PKA pathway is not activated. Conclusions: The data offer a better understanding of Cordyceps biology and will facilitate the exploitation of medicinal compounds produced by the fungus.

The genus Diaporthe (Phomopsis) includes important plant pathogenic fungi with wide host ranges and geographic distributions. In the present study, phylogenetic species recognition in Diaporthe is re-evaluated using a multi-locus phylogeny based on a combined data matrix of rDNA ITS, and partial sequences from the translation elongation factor 1-α (EF 1-α), β tubulin (TUB) and calmodulin (CAL) molecular markers. DNA sequences of available ex-type cultures have been included, providing a multi-locus backbone tree for future studies on Diaporthe. Four utilizable loci were analyzed individually and in combination, and ITS, EF 1-α and multi-locus phylogenetic trees are presented. The phylogenetic tree inferred by combined analysis of four loci provided the best resolution for species as compared to single gene analysis. Notes are provided for nine species previously known in Phomopsis that are transferred to Diaporthe in the present study. The unraveling of cryptic species complexes of Diaporthe based on Genealogical Concordance Phylogenetic Species Recognition (GCPSR) is emphasized.

Fungicolous fungi are a very large, diverse, ecological and trophic group of organisms that are associated with other fungi. This association occurs with species of different lineages across the fungal kingdom. They are recognized as symbionts, mycoparasites, saprotrophs, and even neutrals. Wherever fungi have been found, fungicolous taxa have also been found. Homogeneous environments favour the development of highly adapted and coevolved fungicolous species, which could have led to host-specificity aspects. As a primary consumer, fungicolous fungi decrease the turnaround time of certain nutrients in food webs, due to their special often-rapid life cycles. They may also significantly affect population dynamics and population sizes of their hosts in aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems. As mycoparasites of pathogenic fungi, some fungicolous fungi have been explored as biocontrol agents. They may also cause serious diseases of cultivated edible and medicinal mushrooms, decreasing both yield and quality. Fungicolous fungi could be used as model organisms that may help determine better understanding of species interactions, fungal evolution and divergence, and fungicolous mechanisms. This review summarizes our current understanding of fungicolous fungi, with a particular focus on the terminology, diversity, global distribution, and interaction with their hosts. We also provide a checklist including 1552 fungicolous fungal taxa so far recorded following the updated classification schemes. There is a need for further investigations on this ecologically important group of fungi to better understand their biology, ecological aspects, origin and divergence, host-specificity and application in biocontrol. Accurate identification of these fungi as pathogens and their significance in quarantine purposes on the mushroom industry need further evaluations so that efficient control measures can be developed for better disease management purposes.

Species and generic recognition in the order Xylariales has been uncertain due to lack of molecular data from authentic cultures, as well as overlapping morphological characteristics. In this study, we revise the families Graphostromataceae, Hypoxylaceae, Lopadostomataceae and Xylariaceae in Xylariales. Our study is based on DNA sequence data derived from living cultures of fresh isolates, data from GenBank and morphological observation of type and worldwide herbarium specimens. We also collected new specimens from Germany, Italy and Thailand. Combined analyses of ITS, LSU, RPB2 and β-tubulin sequence data were used to reconstruct the molecular phylogeny of the above families. Generic and familiar boundaries between these families are revised and presented in an updated combined phylogenetic tree. We accept six genera in Graphostromataceae, 19 genera in Hypoxylaceae, four in Lopadostomataceae and 37 genera in Xylariaceae. Five genera previously treated in Xylariaceae are placed in Amphisphaeriales genera incertae sedis and seven genera are placed in Xylariales genera incertae sedis. Two genera are placed in Sordariomycetes genera incertae sedis, while four genera are placed as Xylariomycetidae genera incertae sedis. Three genera are considered as doubtful. Barrmaelia and Cannonia, presently included in Xylariaceae are transferred to Diatrypaceae and Coniochaetales respectively, based on their morphology and phylogeny. Areolospora and Myconeesia are excluded from Xylariaceae and synonymized with Phaeosporis and Anthostomella respectively. Updated descriptions and illustrations are provided for all taxa with notes provided on each genus. Excluded and doubtful genera are listed with notes on their taxonomy and phylogeny. Taxonomic keys are provided for all revised families with morphological details for genera within the families.

Species of Colletotrichum are associated with anthracnose of a wide range of host plants including cultivated and wild tropical fruits. The genetic and ecological diversity of species associated with wild fruits are poorly explored, as compared to those associated with pre and postharvest diseases of cultivated fruits. In the present study, isolates of Colletotrichum were obtained from commercially available cultivated fruits, wild fruits (from native trees in natural habitats) and a few herbaceous hosts collected in northern Thailand. These isolates were initially characterized based on analysis of complete sequences of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), into the genetically defined species complexes of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, C. acutatum, C. boninense and C. truncatum. The isolates were primarily identified in the C. gloeosporioides species complex, based on a strongly supported clade within the ITS gene tree and were further characterized using multi-gene phylogenetic analyses and morphology. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS, partial sequences of actin (ACT), calmodulin (CAL), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), glutamine synthetase (GS) and β-tubulin (TUB2) genetic markers were performed individually and in combination. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu stricto was identified from lime (Citrus aurantifolia) and rose apple (Syzygium samarangense). Colletotrichum fructicola was isolated from dragon fruit (Hylocerous undatus) and jujube (Ziziphus sp.). Colletotrichum endophytica was found only from an unknown wild fruit. We observed a considerable genetic and host diversity of species occurring on tropical fruits within the clade previously known as Colletotrichum siamense sensu lato. The clade consists of isolates identified as pre and postharvest pathogens on a wide range of fruits, including coffee (Coffea arabica), custard apple (Annona reticulata), Cerbera sp., figs (Ficus racemosa) mango (Mangifera indica), neem (Azadirachta indica) and papaya (Carica papaya) and was the dominant group of species among most wild fruits studied. With the exception of one isolate from banana, which grouped in the C. siamense clade, all the other isolates were identified as Colletotrichum musae. A new species, Colletotrichum syzygicola, associated with Syzygium samarangense in Thailand, is introduced with descriptions and illustrations. This study highlights the need to re-assess the evolutionary relationships of Colletotrichum species occurring on cultivated and wild fruits with emphasis on their ecology and cryptic diversification including sampling at regional and global scales.