ARS | Publication request: Description and Phylogenetic Placement of Beauveria Malawiensis Sp. Nov. (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales)

Submitted to: Mycotaxon
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: September 5, 2006
Publication Date: October 10, 2006
Citation: Rehner, S.A., Aquino De Muro, M., Bischoff, J. 2006. Description and phylogenetic placement of beauveria malawiensis sp. nov. (cordycipitaceae, hypocreales). Mycotaxon 98:137-145.

Interpretive Summary: Beauveria is a fungal genus of soil-borne insect parasites that infect many important agricultural insect pests. The use of Beauveria species as biological insecticides can potentially reduce the expense and environmental risks posed by chemical pesticides. We describe a new species, Beauveria malawiensis, on the basis of cultural, morphological and molecular features. This research will be used by scientists developing environmentally safe strategies for managing agricultural insect pests.

Technical Abstract: A new entomopathogenic species, Beauveria malawiensis, is described. B. malawiensis was isolated from a cadaver of Phoracantha semipunctata (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Morphologically, B. malawiensis is distinguished by its pink colony color, terminal and intercalary clusters of inflated conidiophores that give rise to multiple rachiform conidiogenous cells, and holoblastic cylindrical conidia. Phylogenetic analysis of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1-') sequences place B. malawiensis in a clade containing Cordyceps scarabaeicola, B. caledonica, and B. vermiconia, which are distinguished by elliptical, cylindrical and comma-shaped conidia, respectively