Current nomenclatural changes in Cordyceps sensu lato and its multidisciplinary impacts.

Innumerable name changes have occurred in Cordyceps and allied taxa, after the phylogenetic classification of Cordyceps, coupled by the application of one fungus one name after the amendment of ICN. Complying with one fungus one name, many generic names have been protected for monophyletic clades in Clavicipitaceae and Ophiocordycipitaceae that have made tremendous transfer of Cordyceps spp. to both sexual and asexual genera. Species compositions of the accepted genera Ophiocordyceps, Tolypocladium, Metarhizium, Perennicordyceps, Polycephalomyces and Purpureocillium are briefly discussed to update the readers with the current placements of Cordyceps spp. Some examples of frequent name changes of Cordyceps spp. are also mentioned, with reference to use of older scientific names in non-mycological publications.

IKK ß -Targeted Anti-Inflammatory Activities of a Butanol Fraction of Artificially Cultivated Cordyceps pruinosa Fruit Bodies.

The inhibitory activities of the Cordyceps pruinosa butanol fraction (Cp-BF) were investigated by determining inflammatory responses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 macrophage cells and by evaluating HCl/ethanol (EtOH)-triggered gastric ulcers in mice. The molecular mechanisms of the inhibitory effects of Cp-BF were investigated by identifying target enzymes using biochemical and molecular biological approaches. Cp-BF strongly inhibited the production of NO and TNF-α, release of reactive oxygen species (ROS), phagocytic uptake of FITC-dextran, and mRNA expression levels of interleukin (IL)-6, inducible NO synthase (iNOS), and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)-α in activated RAW264.7 cells. Cp-BF also strongly downregulated the NF-κB pathway by suppressing IKKß according to luciferase reporter assays and immunoblot analysis. Furthermore, Cp-BF blocked both increased levels of NF-κB-mediated luciferase activities and phosphorylation of p65/p50 observed by IKKß overexpression. Finally, orally administered Cp-BF was found to attenuate gastric ulcer and block the phosphorylation of IκBα induced by HCl/EtOH. Therefore, these results suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity of Cp-BF may be mediated by suppression of IKKα and its downstream NF-κB activation. Since our group has established the mass cultivation conditions by developing culture conditions for Cordyceps pruinosa, the information presented in this study may be useful for developing new anti-inflammatory agents.

Fruiting Body Formation of Cordyceps militaris from Multi-Ascospore Isolates and Their Single Ascospore Progeny Strains.

Interest in commercial cultivation and product development of Cordyceps species has shown a recent increase. Due to its biochemical and pharmacological effects, Cordyceps militaris, commonly known as orange caterpillar fungus, is being investigated with great interest. Cultivation of C. militaris has been practiced on a large scale in order to fulfill a demand for scientific investigation and product development. Isolates of C. militaris can be easily established from both spores and tissue. For isolation of spores, ascospores released from mature stromata are trapped in sterile medium. Multi-ascospore isolates, as well as combinations of single ascospore strains, are used for production of fruiting bodies. Progeny ascospore strains can be isolated from artificial fruiting bodies, thus, the cycle of fruiting body production can be continued for a long period of time. In this study, we examined fruiting body production from multi-ascospore isolates and their progeny strains for three generations. F(1) progeny strains generally produced a larger number of fruiting bodies, compared with their mother multi-ascospore isolates; however, F(2) and F(3) progeny strains produced fewer fruiting bodies. Optimum preservation conditions could help to increase the vitality of the progeny strains. In order to retain the fruiting ability of the strains, further testing of various methods of preservation and different methods for isolation should be performed.

Cultural Characteristics of Ophiocordyceps heteropoda Collected from Korea.

Isolates of Ophiocordyceps heteropoda (Kobayasi) collected from Mt. Halla on Jeju-do, Korea were tested for mycelial growth on different agar media and in the presence of different carbon and nitrogen sources. Similarly, isolates were also incubated at different temperatures as well as under continuous light and dark conditions. Growth was better on Hamada agar, basal medium, and malt-yeast agar, but poor on Czapek-Dox agar. Different carbon sources such as dextrin, saccharose, starch, lactose, maltose, fructose, and dextrose resulted in better growth. Complex organic nitrogen sources such as yeast extract and peptone revealed the most effective growth. Mycelial growth was best at 25℃. The growth rate was faster in the dark than the light, but mycelial density was less compact in the dark.

Enhancing Effect of Shimizuomyces paradoxus on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Canola, Plant Growth of Cucumber, and Harvest of Tomato.

Shimizuomyces paradoxus showed no inhibitory effect against plant pathogen fungi, such as Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and Alternaria solani. The S. paradoxus culture filtrate showed higher seed germination and seedling growth rates in canola than distilled water and potato-dextrose broth. A conidial suspension of 1.0×10(4)/mL resulted in the highest growth stimulating effects on total plant length, and fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots in cucumber, when compared to the highest suspension concentration. Total plant length and shoot weight increased with the foliar spray treatment, and root length and root weight increased by simultaneous treatments of soil drenching and foliar spray in cucumber. Lower concentrations of the S. paradoxus conidial suspension increased the harvest of tomato fruit.

Growth and Cultural Characteristics of Ophiocordyceps longissima Collected in Korea.

We investigated the effect of nutritional and environmental factors on Ophiocordyceps longissima mycelial growth. The longest colony diameter was observed on Schizophyllum (mushroom) genetics complete medium plus yeast extract, Schizophyllum (mushroom) genetics minimal medium, and Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA); however, malt-extract yeast-extract agar, SDA plus yeast extract, yeast-extract malt-extract peptone dextrose agar, SDA, oatmeal agar, and potato dextrose agar showed higher mycelia density. A temperature of 25℃ was optimum and 7.0 was the optimum pH for mycelial growth. Colony diameter was similar under light and dark conditions. Maltose and yeast extract showed the highest mycelial growth among carbon and nitrogen sources respectively. The effect of mineral salts was less obvious; however, K(3)PO(4) showed slightly better growth than that of the other mineral salts tested. Among all nutrition sources tested, complex organic nitrogen sources such as yeast extract, peptone, and tryptone were best for mycelial growth of O. longissima. Ophiocordyceps longissima composite medium, formulated by adding maltose (2% w/v), yeast extract (1% w/v), and K(3)PO(4) (0.05% w/v) resulted in slightly longer colony diameter. In vitro mycelial O. longissima growth was sustainable and the production of fruiting bodies could be used for commercial purposes in the future.

Successful Development of Cordyceps bassiana Stromata from Beauveria bassiana.

A specimen of Beauveria bassiana was collected from Yang-yang of Gangwon province, Korea in October 2006. Conidial isolates were prepared from the specimen by the dilution method and inoculated in brown rice medium for fruiting body production. After nearly two months incubation for perithecial stromata developed from single isolates as well as from their combinations. They were determined as Cordyceps bassiana by observing the stromatal characters and their conidial structures. This is the first report of the development of C. bassiana from B. bassiana cultures.

Cultural Characteristics and Fruiting Body Production in Cordyceps bassiana.

Single ascospore isolates of Cordyceps bassiana were observed for their colony pigmentation on Sabouraud Dextrose agar plus Yeast Extract (SDAY) plates and were inoculated in a brown rice medium for production of fruiting bodies. Colony pigmentation did not show any relationship with perithecial stromata formation. The isolates were also grown on opposite sides of SDAY agar plates and were observed for vegetative compatibility. Neither vegetative compatibility nor perithecial stromata could be found to be related to each other. It was concluded that fertile fruiting body production was independent of colony pigmentation and vegetative compatibility. Synnemata formation was found to be more common than perithecial stromata formation. This might be due to its highly conidiogenous anamorphic stage, i.e., Beauveria bassiana.

Optimum Conditions for Artificial Fruiting Body Formation of Cordyceps cardinalis.

Stromatal fruiting bodies of Cordyceps cardinalis were successfully produced in cereals. Brown rice, German millet and standard millet produced the longest-length of stromata, followed by Chinese pearl barley, Indian millet, black rice and standard barley. Oatmeal produced the shortest-length of fruiting bodies. Supplementation of pupa and larva to the grains resulted in a slightly enhanced production of fruiting bodies; pupa showing better production than larva. 50~60 g of brown rice and 10~20 g of pupa mixed with 50~60 mL of water in 1,000 mL polypropylene (PP) bottle was found to be optimum for fruiting body production. Liquid inoculation of 15~20 mL per PP bottle produced best fruiting bodies. The optimal temperature for the formation of fruiting bodies was 25℃, under conditions of continuous light. Few fruiting bodies were produced under the condition of complete darkness, and the fresh weight was considerable low, compared to that of light condition.

Characteristics of Metacordyceps yongmunensis, a New Species from Korea.

Metacordyceps yongmunensis is a newly reported species from Korea, which is very similar to Cordyceps species in morphological characters. It grows on large lepidopteran pupa, and numerous white stromata grow on a single host. Mycelial growth characteristics of M. yongmunensis isolates were studied in different media and at different temperatures. Also, different carbon sources, nitrogen sources, and mineral salts were tested for mycelial growth of M. yongmunensis. Schizophyllum (mushroom) genetics complete medium plus yeast extract, Schizophyllum (mushroom) genetics minimal medium, and Martin's peptone dextrose agar produced longer colony diameters and more compact mycelial density than other media. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth was 25℃. Carbon sources such as sucrose, soluble starch, dextrose, glucose, dextrin, maltose, and fructose showed better mycelial growth, whereas peptone, yeast extract and tryptone resulted in the best mycelial growth of all of the nitrogen sources tested. All of the mineral salts tested showed similar growth as the control, except K2HPO4 which showed longer colony diameter and more compact mycelial density. The compact colonies were white and cottony with a greenish margin. The results showed that M. yongmunensis is an easy fungus to growas it grew from 30 to more than 50 mm in 2 wk.

Cultural Characteristics of Shimizuomyces paradoxus Collected from Korea.

This study investigated the cultural characteristics of Shimizuomyces paradoxus in different nutritional and environmental conditions. The highest mycelial growth was observed in Schizophyllum (mushroom) genetics complete medium plus yeast extract agar medium, and the optimal temperature and pH were 25℃ and pH 8.0, respectively. The optimal carbon and nitrogen sources were 1% dextrose and 1% peptone in agar. However, in liquid culture the highest dry mycelium weight was found for the potato dextrose agar and potato sucrose agar broths. The optimum inoculum size was five mycelial discs (5 mm) per 100 mL of broth, and the optimum liquid culture period was 25 days. This is the first ever report of S. paradoxus cultural characteristics.

Growth and Cultural Characteristics of Cordyceps cardinalis Collected from Korea.

Cordyceps cardinalis was reported in Japan and the USA in 2004, and its fruiting bodies have recently been cultured in Korea. Herbarium specimens preserved at the Cordyceps Research Institute, Mushtech, Korea were revised and identified as C. cardinalis, based on morphological characters and conidial structures. Most of the C. cardinalis specimens were collected from Mt. Halla in Jeju-do. The effects of various nutritional sources and environmental conditions such as temperature and pH on mycelial growth of C. cardinalis were studied. Oatmeal agar, Martin's peptone dextrose agar, and Schizophyllum (mushroom) genetics complete medium plus yeast extract resulted in the best mycelial growth. Among carbon sources, cereals, and nitrogen sources, maltose, oatmeal, and peptone resulted in the best mycelial growth respectively. Mineral salts helped to increase growth rate but only resulted in thin mycelial density, similar to water agar. A temperature of 25℃ and a pH of 7 resulted in the highest mycelial growth. Based on these results, a Cordyceps cardinalis composite medium (CCM) was formulated with 1% maltose, 2% oatmeal, 1% peptone, and 2% agar. Use of the CCM resulted in slightly better mycelial growth than that of other commonly used agar media. Only organic nitrogen sources imparted a reddish pigmentation to the agar media, but this character diminished after several subcultures. A 7 day culture duration resulted in the best mycelial growth.

Heterothallic Type of Mating System for Cordyceps cardinalis.

Cordyceps cardinalis successfully produced its fruiting bodies from multi-ascospore isolates. However, subcultures of multi-ascospore isolates could not produce fruiting bodies after few generations. Fruiting body production also differed from sector to sector of the same isolate. Single ascospore isolates were then co-inoculated in combinations of two to observe the fruiting characteristics. Combinations of certain isolates produced perithecial stromata formation, whereas other combinations did not produce any fruiting bodies. These results show that C. cardinalis is a heterothallic fungus, requiring two isolates of opposite mating types for fruiting body production. It was also shown that single ascospore isolates are hermaphrodites.

Screening of Biodegradable Function of Indigenous Ligno-degrading Mushroom Using Dyes.

The process of biodegradation in lingo-cellulosic materials is critically relevant to biospheric carbon. The study of this natural process has largely involved laboratory investigations, focused primarily on the biodegradation and recycling of agricultural by-products, generally using basidiomycetes species. In order to collect super white rot fungi and evaluate its ability to degrade lingo-cellulosic material, 35 fungal strains, collected from forests, humus soil, livestock manure, and dead trees, were screened for enzyme activities and their potential to decolorize the commercially used Poly-R 478 dye. In the laccase enzymatic analysis chemical test, 33 white rot fungi and 2 brown rot fungi were identified. The degradation ability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) according to the utilized environmental conditions was higher in the mushrooms grown in dead trees and fallen leaves than in the mushrooms grown in humus soil and livestock manure. Using Poly-R 478 dye to assess the PAH-degradation activity of the identified strains, four strains, including Agrocybe pediades, were selected. The activities of laccase, MnP, and Lip of the four strains with PAH-degrading ability were highest in Pleurotus incarnates. 87 fungal strains, collected from forests, humus soil, livestock manure, and dead trees, were screened for enzyme activities and their potential to decolorize the commercially used Poly-R 478 dye on solid media. Using Poly-R 478 dye to assess the PAHdegrading activity of the identified strains, it was determined that MKACC 51632 and 52492 strains evidenced superior activity in static and shaken liquid cultures. Subsequent screening on plates containing the polymeric dye poly R-478, the decolorization of which is correlated with lignin degradation, resulted in the selection of a strain of Coriolus versicolor, MKACC52492, for further study, primarily due to its rapid growth rate and profound ability to decolorize poly R-478 on solid media. Considering our findings using Poly-R 478 dye to evaluate the PAH-degrading activity of the identified strains, Coriolus versicolor, MKACC 52492 was selected as a favorable strain. Coriolus versicolor, which was collected from Mt. Yeogi in Suwon, was studied for the production of the lignin-modifying enzymes laccase, manganese-dependent peroxidase (MnP), and lignin peroxidase (LiP).

Cordycepin inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is a common procedure for treating atherosclerosis, but its efficacy is limited because of the occurrence of restenosis within 3-6 months after angioplasty. Restenosis is induced by the remodeling of the vessel wall and/or the accumulation of cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) in the intimal layer. Therefore, the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) system may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of restenosis or atherosclerosis. Cordycepin is reported to possess many pharmacological activities including immunological stimulating, anti-cancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. The effect of cordycepin on restenosis has not yet been clearly elucidated. Therefore, in the present study, we tested the role of cordycepin on the MMP system in vascular smooth muscle cells. In the carotid artery of a balloon-injured Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat, neointimal formation was reduced by treatment with cordycepin (20 microM/day, i.p), which inhibited the proliferation of rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RaoSMCs). To investigate the mechanism by which cordycepin inhibits the remodeling of the vessel wall and/or the accumulation of cells and ECM, we examined the activation of MMP systems in collagen type I-activated RaoSMCs. Cordycepin markedly inhibited the activation of MMP-2 and -9 as well as the expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) in a dose-dependent manner in collagen type I-activated RaoSMCs. Moreover, cordycepin suppressed cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression related to hyperplasia of RAoSMCs. Taken together, these data suggest that cordycepin may induce antiproliferation in RAoSMCs via the modulation of vessel wall remodeling. Therefore, cordycepin may be a potential therapeutic approach to treat restenosis.

Phellinus linteus inhibits inflammatory mediators by suppressing redox-based NF-kappaB and MAPKs activation in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage.

The mushroom Phellinus linteus has been known to exhibit potent biological activity. In contrast to the immuno-potentiating properties of Phellinus linteus, the anti-inflammatory properties of Phellinus linteus have rarely been investigated. Recently, ethanol extract and n-BuOH fractions from Phellinus linteus were deemed most effective in anti-inflammatory activity in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The regulatory mechanisms of Phellinus linteus butanol fractions (PLBF) on the pharmacological and biochemical actions of macrophages involved in inflammation have not been clearly defined yet. In the present study, we tested the role of PLBF on anti-inflammation patterns in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. To investigate the mechanism by which PLBF inhibits NO and PGE2 production as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, we examined the activation of IkappaB and MAPKs in LPS-activated macrophages. PLBF clearly inhibited nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB p65 subunits, which correlated with PLBF's inhibitory effects on IkappaBalpha phosphorylation and degradation. PLBF also suppressed the activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases including p38 and stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK). Furthermore, macrophages stimulated with LPS generated ROS via activation of membrane-bound NADPH oxidase, and ROS played an important role in the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and MAPKs. We demonstrated that PLBF directly blocked intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with LPS much as the NADPH oxidase inhibitors, diphenylene iodonium, and antioxidant pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate did. The suppression of NADPH oxidase also inhibited NO production and iNOS protein expression. Cumulatively, these results suggest that PLBF inhibits the production of NO and PGE2 through the down-regulation of iNOS and COX-2 gene expression via ROS-based NF-kappaB and MAPKs activation. Thus, PLBF may provide a potential therapeutic approach for inflammation-associated disorders.

A multi-gene phylogeny of Clavicipitaceae (Ascomycota, Fungi): identification of localized incongruence using a combinational bootstrap approach.

Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses were conducted to address the evolution of Clavicipitaceae (Ascomycota). Data are presented here for approximately 5900 base pairs from portions of seven loci: the nuclear ribosomal small and large subunit DNA (nrSSU and nrLSU), beta-tubulin, elongation factor 1alpha (EF-1alpha), the largest and second largest subunits of RNA polymerase II (RPB1 and RPB2), and mitochondrial ATP Synthase subunit 6 (mtATP6). These data were analyzed in a complete 66-taxon matrix and 91-taxon supermatrix that included some missing data. Separate phylogenetic analyses, with data partitioned according to genes, produced some conflicting results. The results of separate analyses from RPB1 and RPB2 are in agreement with the combined analyses that resolve a paraphyletic Clavicipitaceae comprising three well-supported clades (i.e., Clavicipitaceae clade A, B, and C), whereas the tree obtained from mtATP6 is in strong conflict with the monophyly of Clavicipitaceae clade B and the sister-group relationship of Hypocreaceae and Clavicipitaceae clade C. The distribution of relative contribution of nodal support for each gene partition was assessed using both partitioned Bremer support (PBS) values and combinational bootstrap (CB) analyses, the latter of which analyzed bootstrap proportions from all possible combinations of the seven gene partitions. These results suggest that CB analyses provide a more consistent estimate of nodal support than PBS and that combining heterogeneous gene partitions, which individually support a limited number of nodes, results in increased support for overall tree topology. Analyses of the 91-taxa supermatrix data sets revealed that some nodes were more strongly supported by increased taxon sampling. Identifying the localized incongruence of mtATP6 and analyses of complete and supermatrix data sets strengthen the evidence for rejecting the monophyly of Clavicipitaceae and much of the current subfamilial classification of the family. Although the monophyly of the grass-associated subfamily Clavicipitoideae (e.g., Claviceps, Balansia, and Epichloë) is strongly supported, the subfamily Cordycipitoideae (e.g., Cordyceps and Torrubiella) is not monophyletic. In particular, species of the genus Cordyceps, which are pathogens of arthropods and truffles, are found in all three clavicipitaceous clades. These results imply that most characters used in the current familial classification of Clavicipitaceae are not diagnostic of monophyly.

Ethanol extract of Inonotus obliquus inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.

Inonotus obliquus (Pers.:Fr.) Pil. is a white rot fungus that belongs to the family Hymenochaetaceae of Basidiomycetes. Extracts and fractions of this fungus have been known to have biological activities, including antimutagenic, anticancer, antioxidative, and immunostimulating effects. Recently, there have been reports that the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of the methanol extract of I. obliquus may be due to the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression via the down-regulation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) binding activity. However, the effects of I. obliquus on Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation of inflammatory mediator production have not yet been elucidated. In the present study, a 70% ethanol extract of I. obliquus (IOE70) showed antioxidative effects. We also tested the ability of the I. obliquus extract to inhibit the inflammatory cascades in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. The NO inhibition of IOE70 was better than that of other ethanol extracts from I. obliquus. To investigate the mechanism by which IOE 70 inhibits NO production and iNOS and COX-2 expression, we examined the activations of IkappaBalpha, Akt, and c-Jun NH(2) -terminal kinase (JNK) in LPS-activated macrophages. IOE70 markedly inhibited the phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha, Akt, and MAPKs in dose-dependent manners in LPS-activated macrophages. Taken together, these experiments demonstrated that IOE70 inhibition of LPS-induced expression of iNOS and COX-2 protein is mediated by Akt and JNK. Based on our findings, the most likely mechanism that can account for this biological effect of IOE70 involves the inhibition of NF-kappaB through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt/IkappaB pathway and the inhibition of JNK activation. Thus, IOE70 might have useful clinical applications in the management of inflammatory diseases and may also be useful as a medicinal food.

Phylogenetic classification of Cordyceps and the clavicipitaceous fungi.

Cordyceps, comprising over 400 species, was historically classified in the Clavicipitaceae, based on cylindrical asci, thickened ascus apices and filiform ascospores, which often disarticulate into part-spores. Cordyceps was characterized by the production of well-developed often stipitate stromata and an ecology as a pathogen of arthropods and Elaphomyces with infrageneric classifications emphasizing arrangement of perithecia, ascospore morphology and host affiliation. To refine the classification of Cordyceps and the Clavicipitaceae, the phylogenetic relationships of 162 taxa were estimated based on analyses consisting of five to seven loci, including the nuclear ribosomal small and large subunits (nrSSU and nrLSU), the elongation factor 1alpha (tef1), the largest and the second largest subunits of RNA polymerase II (rpb1 and rpb2), beta-tubulin (tub), and mitochondrial ATP6 (atp6). Our results strongly support the existence of three clavicipitaceous clades and reject the monophyly of both Cordyceps and Clavicipitaceae. Most diagnostic characters used in current classifications of Cordyceps (e.g., arrangement of perithecia, ascospore fragmentation, etc.) were not supported as being phylogenetically informative; the characters that were most consistent with the phylogeny were texture, pigmentation and morphology of stromata. Therefore, we revise the taxonomy of Cordyceps and the Clavicipitaceae to be consistent with the multi-gene phylogeny. The family Cordycipitaceae is validated based on the type of Cordyceps, C. militaris, and includes most Cordyceps species that possess brightly coloured, fleshy stromata. The new family Ophiocordycipitaceae is proposed based on Ophiocordyceps Petch, which we emend. The majority of species in this family produce darkly pigmented, tough to pliant stromata that often possess aperithecial apices. The new genus Elaphocordyceps is proposed for a subclade of the Ophiocordycipitaceae, which includes all species of Cordyceps that parasitize the fungal genus Elaphomyces and some closely related species that parasitize arthropods. The family Clavicipitaceaes. s. is emended and includes the core clade of grass symbionts (e.g., Balansia, Claviceps, Epichloë, etc.), and the entomopathogenic genus Hypocrella and relatives. In addition, the new genus Metacordyceps is proposed for Cordyceps species that are closely related to the grass symbionts in the Clavicipitaceaes. s.Metacordyceps includes teleomorphs linked to Metarhizium and other closely related anamorphs. Two new species are described, and lists of accepted names for species in Cordyceps, Elaphocordyceps, Metacordyceps and Ophiocordyceps are provided.

Effect of Various Sawdusts and Logs Media on the Fruiting Body Formation of Phellinus gilvus.

Present experiments were conducted to determine the possibility of artificial culture with various sawdust of P. gilvus. The pH value was 6.0 of oak sawdust, 6.5 of mulberry sawdust, 6.6 of elm sawdust, 6.3 of acacia sawdust and 6.1 of apple tree sawdust. Mycelial density on elm sawdust and acacia sawdust were lower than those of oak sawdust, and apple sawdust. Weight of fresh fruiting body showed that 179 g on oak tree, 227 g on oak sawdust, 21 g on elm tree, 76 g on elm sawdust, 106 g on apple tree, and 170 g on apple sawdust. Among them, the yield of oak substrates was the highest whereas acacia sawdust was the lowest, and it is concluded that the yields of sawdust substrates were higher than log substrates. P. gilvus grown on various sawdusts and logs used in this study have shown similar in anti-tumor activity against P388.