Metarhizium taii var. chongqingensis nov., anamorph of Cordyceps chongqingensis sp. nov. isolated from a low altitude area in Chongqing, China.

Previously, a new Cordyceps species was isolated from a low altitude area in Chongqing, China, and named Cordyceps chongqingensis sp. nov. In this study, its anamorph was isolated and designated CQM1T. It grew optimally on Czapek medium supplied with 0.5% silkworm flour and 0.5% soybean oil meal at 25 degrees C, pH 5.0-5.5. The phenotypic and molecular characteristics were investigated for its identification and typing. Morphological observations under a microscope revealed that this anamorph of Cordyceps chongqingensis sp. nov. was a new species of Metarhizium. Moreover, it was identified as one of the variants of Metarhizium taii based on sequences of 26S rDNA D1/D2 and ITS regions, and thus named Metarhizium taii var. chongqingensis nov.