Parametarhizium (Clavicipitaceae) gen. nov. With Two New Species as a Potential Biocontrol Agent Isolated From Forest Litters in Northeast China

A novel genus Parametarhizium with two new entomopathogenic species, Parametarhizium changbaiense and Parametarhizium hingganense, was introduced based on their morphological characteristics and a multigene phylogenetic analysis, which were isolated from the forest litters collected in Northeast China. To infer their phylogenetic relationships, a six-gene dataset consisting of DNA fragments of [nuclear small subunit rDNA (SSU) + LSU + TUB + TEF + RPB1 + RPB2] was used for phylogenetic analysis, including 105 related fungi. The new genus Parametarhizium formed a monophyletic clade basal to Metarhizium and its related genera (formerly Metarhizium sensu lato). Parametarhizium can be morphologically distinguished from related genera by the combination of the following characteristics: formation of white to yellow colonies on different media, candelabrum-like arrangement of cylindrical or obpyriform phialides, and small subglobose to ellipsoidal conidia. Both P. hingganense and P. changbaiense exhibited anti-insect activities against three farmland pests Monolepta hieroglyphica, Callosobruchus chinensis, and Rhopalosiphum maidis. This is the first report of entomopathogenic fungi exhibiting the anti-insect activity against Mo. hieroglyphica.