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Issue: Vol. 750 No. 4: 9 Apr. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-04-09
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.750.4.1
Page range: 219-237
Abstract views: 0
PDF downloaded: 0

Taxonomy and phylogeny of Pleurocordyceps (Polycephalomycetaceae, Hypocreales) associated with ants and cicadas from Malaysia, including a new species and new records

Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan, UMS, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan, UMS, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Centre for Research on Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources (COR_SUNR), Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Hab Pendidikan Tinggi Pagoh, KM 1, Jalan Panchor, 84600 Panchor, Johor, Malaysia
Centre for Research on Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources (COR_SUNR), Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Hab Pendidikan Tinggi Pagoh, KM 1, Jalan Panchor, 84600 Panchor, Johor, Malaysia
Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan, UMS, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
arthropod hosts entomopathogenic fungi Pleurocordyceps synnema three taxa typification Fungi

Abstract

Pleurocordyceps is a group of hyperparasites that infects invertebrates, plants, and other fungi. It belongs to the family Polycephalomycetaceae, a newly established family separated from Ophiocordycipitaceae, order Hypocreales which includes several genera such as Dingleyomyces, Paradingleyomyces, Perennicordyceps, Pleurocordyceps, and Polycephalomyces. Pleurocordyceps currently comprises 26 species reported from South American and Asian regions In Asia, Malaysia has diverse forest ecosystems and rich fungal diversity; however, no previous studies have been reported on the occurrence of Pleurocordyceps species. The aim of the study is to explore the Pleurocordyceps diversity tropical rainforests of Malaysia using morpho-molecular analyses. During a fungal survey in Malaysia, fungicolous fungus associated with ants and cicadas nymphs were collected and subjected to morphological and molecular assessments. Two genetic loci—the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1α) gene—were used to construct both individual and concatenated phylogenetic trees. The study describes a new species, Pleurocordyceps cornusynnemata sp. nov. (BORH/F03651) from an ant, and two new records of P. aurantiaca (BORH/F03651), and P. nipponica (UTHM-CEF003.1) from Diptera and cicada nymph, respectively. These findings expand the knowledge of the geographic distribution of Pleurocordyceps and provide the first baseline data for the genus in Malaysia, thereby improving understanding of the diversity and evolutionary relationships within Polycephalomycetaceae.

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How to Cite

Shahbaz, M., Mohadden, F.Z., Rong, J.S.Y., Wei, Y.J. & Seelan, J.S.S. (2026) Taxonomy and phylogeny of Pleurocordyceps (Polycephalomycetaceae, Hypocreales) associated with ants and cicadas from Malaysia, including a new species and new records. Phytotaxa 750 (4): 219–237. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.750.4.1