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Title: FURTHER NOTES ON THE MOLECULAR TAXONOMY OF METARHIZIUM

Author
item HUANG, B. - ANHUI AGR. UNIVERSITY
item Humber, Richard
item LI, S. - CHINESE ACAD. OF SCIENCE
item LI, Z. - ANHUI AGR. UNIVERSITY
item HODGE, K. - CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Mycotaxon
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/19/2006
Publication Date: 6/16/2006
Citation: Huang, B., Humber, R.A., Li, S., Li, Z., Hodge, K.T. 2006. Further notes on the molecular taxonomy of metarhizium. Mycotaxon. 94:181-187.

Interpretive Summary: The taxonomic status was re-evaluated for a number of Chinese isolates of METARHIZIUM; these fungi had been described as new species and the cultures of these fungi had remained largely unavailable to laboratories outside China. Genomic sequences used previously to reclassify the genus METARHIZIUM were surveyed for these isolates in question to verify their status as either new or as previously recognized species of METARHIZIUM. Since the taxonomic value of morphological characters in this genus are now regarded to be unreliable, molecular evaluations were necessary to clarify their status. Our results indicated that all of these 'new' species are synonymous with previously recognized species and identifications for some previously unidentified METARHIZIUM isolates were assigned. The results of this study reinforce the idea that the molecular classification of METARHIZIUM proposed in 2000 is comparatively robust, and that there may be a lesser degree of variation in this genus than was thought to be the case. The results also provide some further indication of how great a range of genomic variation might be accepted within METARHIZIUM.

Technical Abstract: The ITS-1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA regions from METARHIZIUM GUIZHOUENSE, M. PINGSHAENSE, M. IADINI, and four other METARHIZIUM isolates were amplified and sequenced. Bayesian analyses showed M. PINSHAENSE should be treated as synonym of M. ANISOPLIAE var. ANISOPLIAE; that M. GUIZHOUENSE should be treated as a synonym of M. ANISOPLIAE var. ANISOPLIAE; and that M. IADINI is a later synonym of M. FLAVOVIRIDE var. PEMPHIGI. Several previously unidentified isolates, RCEF0898, ACCC30130 and RCEF1259, the taxonomic positions of which have been unclear or suspicious, were identified as M. ANISOPLIAE var. ANISOPLIAE, M. ANISOPLIAE var. ANISOPLIAE, and M. FLAVOVIRIDE var. PEMPHIGI, respectively.