Keithomyces neogunni

Keithomyces neogunnii (T.C. Wen & K.D. Hyde)) Luangsa-ard, Thanakitp. & Samson, in Mongkolsamrit et al, Stud. Mycol. 95: 191 (2020)

Basionym: Metacordyceps neogunnii T.C. Wen & K.D. Hyde, Phytotaxa 302: 33. 2017.

Index Fungorum no IF551950; Facesoffungi number FoF 01915.

Sexual morph: Stromata arising from head of host (larvae of Lepidoptera), solitary or in groups of 2–3, rarely branched, 40–80 mm long, 2–6 mm wide, pallid, fleshy. Stipe cylindrical 2–4 mm wide, white to grey, fleshy, glabrous, enlarging abruptly at fertile portion. Fertile portion round head-shape, 10–12 mm long, 3–6 mm wide, white to grey (fresh specimen). Ascomata crowded, completely immersed, ampuliform, ovoid to oblong, 630–830 × 240–340 μm (x = 732 × 278, n = 10), curved, with the ostioles opening on the surface of the fertile head. Peridium 24–38 μm (x = 29, n = 15) wide, comprising three layers. Asci 250–480 × 3–5 μm (x = 347 × 3.8, n = 10), 8-spored, hyaline, narrowly cylindrical, possessing a prominent apical cap. Apical cap 5–8 × 3–6 μm (x = 7.2 × 4.7, n = 15). Ascospores 330–460 × 2–3 μm (x = 397 × 2.6, n = 15), hyaline, filiform, multi-septate, disarticulating into secondary ascospores. Secondary ascospores 2.5–4 × 1.5–2 μm (x = 3 × 1.9, n = 15), cylindrical, hyaline. Asexual state: Paecilomyces-like. Conidiophores short, hyaline, smooth, up to 60 μm long, mostly arising from aerial hyphae. Conidiogenous cells swollen globose at basal portion, tapering into thin and long cylindrical neck, smooth, hyaline, 12–21.5 × 2–3 μm, sometimes proliferating. Conidia ellipsoidal, ovoid or fusiform, 1-celled, spinulose conidia, 3.5–5 × 2–3 μm, in long divergent, dry chains. (Wen et al. 2017)

Culture characteristics: Colonies on Czapek agar, attaining a diameter of 25–30 mm within 14 d at 25 °C, dense, white at first, becoming pale to grey; brownish or dark brown at center, reddish brown at margin, slightly penetrating medium, reverse similar in colour (Wen et al. 2017).

Known hosts and distributions: On larvae of Lepidoptera living in soil (Anhui, Guangdong, Guizhou, Henan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan and Yunnan Province, China) (Wen et al. 2017).

Important value: Traditional Chinese medicine (Wen et al. 2017)

Sequence data: GZUH SB13050302 (SSU = KU729722, ITS = KU729716, TEF = KU729727, RPB1 = KU729732) (Wen et al. 2017).