Sorobiellomyces jilinensis gen. et sp. nov. (Polycephalomycetaceae) and Niveomyces pseudoalbus sp. nov. (Cordycipitaceae): Two hyperparasitic fungi associated with Ophiocordyceps

Hyperparasitism in fungi remains poorly understood and documented, despite its ecological significance. In this study, a hyperparasitic fungus associated with Ophiocordyceps jilinensis was collected in Jilin Province, China. A new genus, Sorobiellomyces gen. nov., is proposed to accommodate Sorobiellomyces jilinensis sp. nov., which is parasitic on an entomopathogenic host. Morphological observations and multilocus phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, SSU, LSU, tef 1-α, rpb 1, and rpb 2 sequence data placed S. jilinensis within Polycephalomycetaceae as a distinct lineage. Sorobiellomyces is characterized by a white to yellowish hyphal covering, absence of synnemata, and cylindrical to subulate phialides producing hyaline, ovoid conidia. Ophiocordyceps jilinensis is redescribed and illustrated. In addition, Niveomyces pseudoalbus sp. nov. is introduced based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. These results expand the diversity of Polycephalomycetaceae and Cordycipitaceae and provide new data on fungal hyperparasitism.