Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 741 No. 1: 12 Feb. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-02-12
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.741.1.7
Page range: 71-84
Abstract views: 66
PDF downloaded: 1

New insights into Clonostachys: description of a novel species and expanded host range

Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Natural Medicines, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China; School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand; Department of Science and Technology–Center for Research in Science and Technology (CReST), Philippine Science High School Eastern Visayas Campus in Leyte, Palo, Leyte 6501 Philippines
Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand
Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Natural Medicines, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand
School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand
Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Natural Medicines, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China; Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand
Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia; Nantgaredig, 33B St Edwards Road, Southsea, Hants., UK PO5 3DH
Bionectriaceae mangroves marine fungi Sonneratia Swietenia Thailand Fungi

Abstract

Clonostachys (Bionectriaceae, Hypocreales) comprises fungi with diverse ecological roles and widespread distribution. We describe a novel species, Clonostachys mangrovei. Both sexual and asexual morphs are characterized, with the sexual morph being particularly significant, as most Clonostachys species are known only from their asexual states, which are often difficult to distinguish. Phylogenetic analysis based on a combined dataset of ITS, LSU, RPB-2, TEF, and TUB sequences places C. mangrovei in a well-supported clade, closely related to C. viticola. Although these two species share similar asexual characteristics, a common feature within the genus, this overlap underscores the morphological importance of the sexual morph and of molecular data for reliable species delimitation. Ecologically, C. mangrovei represents the first confirmed member of the genus adapted to mangrove environments, highlighting the ability of Clonostachys to extend beyond its predominantly terrestrial range and contributing to the growing recognition of fungal diversity in marine-influenced ecosystems. In addition, we report a new host and geographic record for C. farinosa, its first occurrence on Swietenia mahagoni in Thailand.

References

  1. Apurillo, C.C.S., Phukhamsakda, C., Hyde, K.D., Thiyagaraja, V. & Jones, E.B.G. (2025) New fungal genus, three novel species and one new record from mangroves, with reclassification of Melanconiella (Melanconiellaceae) species. MycoKeys 116: 25–52. https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.116.137351
  2. Apurillo, C.C.S., Phukhamsakda, C., Mukhopadhyay, S., Gunarathne, A. & Jones, E.B.G. (2024) Nemania hydei sp. nov. (Xylariaceae) from Avicennia marina in Central Thailand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 62: 103–118. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2023.2289420
  3. Corda, A. (1839) Pracht-Flora Europaeischer Schimmelbildungen. A. C. J. Corda. Leipzic and Dresden, 1839. Folio. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 4: 200–201. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933909512494
  4. Dias, A., Ruiz, N., Couzinet-Mossion, A., Bertrand, S., Duflos, M., Pouchus, Y.F., Barnathan, G., Nazih, H. & Wielgosz-Collin, G. (2015) The marine-derived fungus Clonostachys rosea, source of a rare conjugated 4-Me-6E,8E-hexadecadienoic acid reducing viability of MCF-7 breast cancer cells and gene expression of lipogenic enzymes. Marine Drugs 13: 4934–4948. https://doi.org/10.3390/md13084934
  5. Gonçalves, M.F.M., Vicente, T.F.L., Esteves, A.C. & Alves, A. (2020) Novel halotolerant species of Emericellopsis and Parasarocladium associated with macroalgae in an estuarine environment. Mycologia 112: 154–171. https://doi.org/10.1080/00275514.2019.1677448
  6. Hennings, P. (1897) Beiträge zur Pilzflora Südamerikas II. Hedwigia 36: 190–246.
  7. Hyde, K.D., Noorabadi, M., Thiyagaraja, V., He, M., Johnston, P., Wijesinghe, S., Armand, A. & Biketova, A.Yu. (2024) The 2024 Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa. Mycosphere 15: 5146–6239. https://doi.org/10.5943/mycosphere/15/1/25
  8. Jones, E.B.G., Pang, K.L., Abdel-Wahab, M.A., Scholz, B., Hyde, K.D., Boekhout, T., Ebel, R., Rateb, M.E., Henderson, L., Sakayaroj, J., Suetrong, S., Dayarathne, M.C., Kumar, V., Raghukumar, S., Sridhar, K.R., Bahkali, A.H.A., Gleason, F.H. & Norphanphoun, C. (2019) An online resource for marine fungi. Fungal Diversity 96: 347–433. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-019-00426-5
  9. Krauss, U., Ten Hoopen, M., Rees, R., Stirrup, T., Argyle, T., George, A., Arroyo, C., Corrales, E. & Casanoves, F. (2013) Mycoparasitism by Clonostachys byssicola and Clonostachys rosea on Trichoderma spp. from cocoa (Theobroma cacao) and implication for the design of mixed biocontrol agents. Biological Control 67: 317–327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2013.09.011
  10. Liu, Y.J., Whelen, S. & Hall, B.D. (1999) Phylogenetic relationships among ascomycetes: Evidence from an RNA polymerse II subunit. Molecular Biology and Evolution 16: 1799–1808. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a026092
  11. O’Donnell, K. & Cigelnik, E. (1997) Two divergent intragenomic rDNA ITS2 types within a monophyletic lineage of the fungus Fusarium are nonorthologous. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 7: 103–116. https://doi.org/10.1006/mpev.1996.0376
  12. Oh, S.Y. (2024) The complete mitochondrial genome of Clonostachys farinosa (Bionectriaceae, Hypocreales). Mitochondrial DNA Part B 9: 583–587. https://doi.org/10.1080/23802359.2024.2347510
  13. Parthasarathy, R., Chandrika, M., Sruthi, D., Yashavantha Rao, H.C. & Jayabaskaran, C. (2023) Clonostachys rosea, a marine algal endophyte, as an alternative source of chrysin and its anticancer effect. Archives of Microbiology 205: 275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-023-03615-8
  14. Perera, R., Hyde, K., Maharachchikumbura, S., Jones, E., McKenzie, E., Stadler, M., Lee, H., Samarakoon, M., Ekanayaka, A., Camporesi, E., Liu, J. & Liu, Z. (2020) Fungi on wild seeds and fruits. Mycosphere 11: 2108–2480. https://doi.org/10.5943/mycosphere/11/1/14
  15. Rehner, S.A. & Buckley, E. (2005) A Beauveria phylogeny inferred from nuclear ITS and EF1-α sequences: evidence for cryptic diversification and links to Cordyceps teleomorphs. Mycologia 97: 84–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/15572536.2006.11832842
  16. Rossman, A.Y. (2014) Lessons learned from moving to one scientific name for fungi. IMA Fungus 5: 81–89. https://doi.org/10.5598/imafungus.2014.05.01.10
  17. Rossman, A.Y., Seifert, K.A., Samuels, G.J., Minnis, A.M., Schroers, H.J., Lombard, L., Crous, P.W., Põldmaa, K., Cannon, P.F., Summerbell, R.C., Geiser, D.M., Zhuang, W., Hirooka, Y., Herrera, C., Salgado-Salazar, C. & Chaverri, P. (2013) Genera in Bionectriaceae, Hypocreaceae, and Nectriaceae (Hypocreales) proposed for acceptance or rejection. IMA Fungus 4: 41–51. https://doi.org/10.5598/imafungus.2013.04.01.05
  18. Schroers, H.J. (2001) A monograph of Bionectria (Ascomycota, Hypocreales, Bionectriaceae) and its Clonostachys anamorphs. Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Utrecht, 214 pp.
  19. Schroers, H.J., Samuels, G.J., Seifert, K.A. & Gams, W. (1999) Classification of the mycoparasite Gliocladium roseum in Clonostachys as C. rosea, its relationship to Bionectria ochroleuca, and notes on other Gliocladium-like fungi. Mycologia 91: 365–385. https://doi.org/10.1080/00275514.1999.12061028
  20. Spegazzini, C. (1919) Fungi Costaricenses Nonnulli. Boletin de la Academia Nacional de Ciencias en Córdoba: 23–563.
  21. Toledo, A.V., Virla, E., Humber, R.A., Paradell, S.L. & Lastra, C.C.L. (2006) First record of Clonostachys rosea (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) as an entomopathogenic fungus of Oncometopia tucumana and Sonesimia grossa (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in Argentina. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 92: 7–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2005.10.005
  22. Torcato, C., Gonçalves, M.F.M., Rodríguez-Gálvez, E. & Alves, A. (2020) Clonostachys viticola sp. nov., a novel species isolated from Vitis vinifera. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 70: 4321–4328. https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.004286
  23. Vilgalys, R. & Hester, M. (1990) Rapid genetic identification and mapping of enzymatically amplified ribosomal DNA from several Cryptococcus species. Journal of Bacteriology 172: 4238–4246. https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.172.8.4238-4246.1990
  24. Wang, Y., Tang, D.X., Luo, R., Wang, Y.B., Thanarut, C., Dao, V.M. & Yu, H. (2023) Phylogeny and systematics of the genus Clonostachys. Frontiers in Microbiology 14: 1117753. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1117753
  25. White, T.J., Bruns, T., Lee, S. & Taylor, J. (1989) Amplification and direct sequencing of fungal ribosomal RNA genes for phylogenetics. CA Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 315–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-372180-8.50042-1
  26. Zhao, L., Groenewald, J.Z., Hernández-Restrepo, M., Schroers, H.J. & Crous, P.W. (2023) Revising Clonostachys and allied genera in Bionectriaceae. Studies in Mycology 105: 205–266. https://doi.org/10.3114/sim.2023.105.03
  27. Zheng, C.J., Kim, C.J., Bae, K.S., Kim, Y.H. & Kim, W.G. (2006) Bionectins A−C, epidithiodioxopiperazines with anti-MRSA activity, from Bionectra byssicola F120. Journal of Natural Products 69: 1816–1819. https://doi.org/10.1021/np060348t

How to Cite

Apurillo, C.C.S., Phukhamsakda, C., Thiyagaraja, V., Saichana, N., Gunarathne, A., Hyde, K.D. & Jones, E.G. (2026) New insights into Clonostachys: description of a novel species and expanded host range. Phytotaxa 741 (1): 71–84. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.741.1.7