title: Novel endophytic lineages of Tolypocladium provide new insights into the ecology and evolution of Cordyceps-like fungi.
abstract: The objective of this study was to identify a group of unknown endophytic fungal isolates from the living sapwood of wild and planted Hevea (rubber tree) populations. Three novel lineages of Tolypocladium are described based on molecular and morphological data. Findings from this study open a window for novel hypotheses regarding the ecology and role of endophytes within plant communities as well as trait evolution and potential forces driving diversification of Cordyceps-like fungi. This study stresses the importance of integrating asexual and sexual fungal states for a more complete understanding of the natural history of this diverse group. In addition, it highlights the study of fungi in the sapwood of tropical trees as habitat for the discovery of novel fungal lineages and substrate associations.
authors.affiliation: Clark University, Biology Department, 950 Main Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01610 rgazis@clarku.edu.
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gazis
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, 2112 Plant Sciences Building, College Park, Maryland 20742.
authors.forename: Demetra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Skaltsas
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, 2112 Plant Sciences Building, College Park, Maryland 20742, and Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela de Biología, Apdo. 11501-2060, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Priscila
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chaverri
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D032661:Cordyceps; D004463:Ecology; D060026:Endophytes; D028482:Hevea / Q000382:microbiology*; D058507:Host Specificity; D006999:Hypocreales / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013172:Spores, Fungal; D013559:Symbiosis
keywords: Hevea; biocontrol; entomopathogens; inter-kingdom host jump; sapwood; species concept; species delimitation