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Title: Spicellum ovalisporum

Author
item SEIFERT, KEITH - AGRI-FOOD CANADA
item Rehner, Stephen
item OKADA, GEN. - RIKEN BIOSRCE CNTR.JAPAN
item SUGITA, TAKASHI - MEIJI UNIV., JAPAN

Submitted to: Fungal Planet
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/21/2008
Publication Date: 2/20/2008
Citation: Seifert, K.A., Rehner, S.A., Okada, G., Sugita, T. 2008. Spicellum ovalisporum. Fungal Planet. 28:1-2.

Interpretive Summary: Insects especially bees are beneficial to agriculture because of their ability to pollinate plants. However, insects may become sick and die when they are infected with microorganisms including fungi. In this research a new species of fungus was discovered in association with leaf cutter bees. This previously unknown fungus is named, described and illustrated. These results will be useful to scientists such as insect pathologists and agronomists working to determine the microorganisms that kill beneficial insects such as leaf cutter bees.

Technical Abstract: A new species of fungi was discovered that is associated with the leaf-cutter bee Megachile rotundata. It is described as Spicellum ovalisporum and is similar to the type and only species in Spicellum, namely S. roseum except that the conidia are ellipsoid to ovate, 3.5–5.5 x 2–2.5 µm. As the neighbour joining analysis shows, the two species have similar internal transcribed spacer sequences. In addition, the genus Spicellum is shown to be distinct from Trichothecium. Both species of the genus can be assigned to the anamorphic Hypocreales, Bionectriaceae