Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Genus Amphichorda (Bionectriaceae): An Update on Beauveria-like Strains and Description of a Novel Species from Marine Sediments

The genus Amphichorda has been recently re-erected as an independent lineage from Beauveria, circumscribed within Cordycipitaceae. However, its phylogenetic relationships with other members of this family remain obscure. In our ongoing efforts to expand the knowledge on diversity culturable ascomycetes Mediterranean Sea, we isolated several specimens Amphichorda. Preliminary sequence analyses revealed great distance accepted species and a close relation Onychophora coprophila. is monotypic enteroblastic conidiogenous cells, presumably related Acremonium (Bionectriaceae), while exhibits holoblastic conidiogenesis. Here, examine representative strains elucidate taxonomy aforementioned fungi, combining morphological, ultrastructure multi-locus (ITS, LSU, tef1, BenA). results member Bionectriaceae, where asexual morphs represent transition between conidiogenesis for group fungi. We also describe illustrate littoralis sp. nov. propose coprophila comb. addition, establish key phenotypic features distinguish demonstrate higher salt tolerance degree A. littoralis, consistent marine origin. This work provides comprehensive framework future studies in genus.