First documented occurrence of Neoconidiobolus lachnodes (Drechsler) B. Huang & Y. Nie (Zoopagomycota, Entomophthorales) in central China

Abstract

Neoconidiobolus lachnodes (Drechsler) B. Huang & Y. Nie was originally isolated from plant debris in Florida, United States of America, in 1954. Here, we report the first documented occurrence of N. lachnodes in central China. Morphologically, this fungus is characterized by its abundant aerial hyphae, typically arranged closely, with hyphae aggregating into chlamydospores during the later stages of growth. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the N. lachnodes isolate from China (RCEF 7519) is closely related to the reference strain N. lachnodes (ARSEF 700). To elucidate the phylogenetic position of N. lachnodes within the Neoconidiobolus lineage, we included two nucleotide sequences of EFL and mtSSU loci. This discovery significantly expands the known geographic distribution of N. lachnodes.

Keywords

• Neoconidiobolaceae
• Morphology
• Phylogeny
• Saproph