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Issue: Vol. 782 No. 3: 30 Oct. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-10-30
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.782.3.4
Page range: 254-268
Abstract views: 22
PDF downloaded: 0

Simplicillium sansuiense sp. nov. (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales), a novel species isolated from maize rhizosphere soil in Guizhou, China

Sansui County Agricultural Development Center; Sansui; Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture; Guizhou 556500; China
State Key Laboratory of Discovery and Utilization of Functional Components in Traditional Chinese Medicine & School of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Guizhou Medical University; Guian New Area; Guizhou 561113; China
State Key Laboratory of Discovery and Utilization of Functional Components in Traditional Chinese Medicine & School of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Guizhou Medical University; Guian New Area; Guizhou 561113; China
State Key Laboratory of Discovery and Utilization of Functional Components in Traditional Chinese Medicine & School of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Guizhou Medical University; Guian New Area; Guizhou 561113; China
State Key Laboratory of Discovery and Utilization of Functional Components in Traditional Chinese Medicine & School of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Guizhou Medical University; Guian New Area; Guizhou 561113; China
Fungi 1 new taxon entomopathogenic fungi multigene phylogeny taxonomy

Abstract

Simplicillium is a diverse genus of fungi in Cordycipitaceae that occurs in a wide range of ecological niches, including soil, insects, plants, and other fungi. During a survey of fungal diversity in maize rhizosphere soil from Guizhou Province, China, three isolates representing an undescribed species of Simplicillium were obtained. Phylogenetic analyses based on a combined dataset of six loci (ITS, nrSSU, nrLSU, tef-1α, rpb1, and rpb2) revealed that the three isolates formed a distinct and highly supported monophyletic lineage within Simplicillium. The new lineage was recovered as sister to a clade comprising S. zunyiense, S. cantharise, and S. araneicola. Morphologically, the new species is characterized by moderately growing colonies on PDA, abundant white fluffy to cottony aerial mycelium, solitary slender phialides, ellipsoidal to cylindrical conidia, the absence of spherical slimy heads, and the absence of octahedral crystals. Based on phylogenetic evidence and morphological characteristics, the fungus is described herein as Simplicillium sansuiense sp. nov. This study expands the known diversity of Simplicillium and provides a taxonomic basis for future studies on the species diversity, ecology, and biological functions of the genus.

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How to Cite

Yang, Z., Chen, H., Wang, Y., Wang, Y. & He, Y. (2026) Simplicillium sansuiense sp. nov. (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales), a novel species isolated from maize rhizosphere soil in Guizhou, China. Phytotaxa 782 (3): 254–268. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.782.3.4