Morphological and molecular characteristics of Isaria at Xuan Son National Park and Copia Nature Reserve

DOI: 10.18173/2354-1059.2021-0017

Abstract

The fungal genus Isaria includes important entomopathogenic species, which account for a large number of species of the Cordycipitaceae. Currently, Isaria species have been found in all continents of the Earth with 284 species described but 72 species were widely accepted, and with many applications in pharmacy and agriculture. There have been 11 Isaria species recorded in Vietnam. In our study at Copia Nature Reserve, Son La province and Xuan Son National Park, Phu Tho province, 51 fungal samples were collected on Lepidoptera and Coleoptera larvae, of which 5 fungal samples belonged to the Isaria genus. Based on morphological and molecular characteristics, the samples were identified to Isaria cicadae, I. fumosorosea, I. tenuipes and I. amoene-rosea. Further studies are needed to clarify Isaria sp. XS97 identification.