Lecanicillium Explained

Lecanicillium is a genus of fungi in the order Hypocreales and is described as anamorphic Cordycipitaceae; 21 species are currently described.^[1] Some of these entomopathogenic fungus species were previously widely known as Verticillium lecanii (Zimmerman) Viegas.^[2] This genus was first named and introduced by Rasoul Zare (IRIPP) and Walter Gams (CBS).

Species

The IndexFungorum records the following species:

• Lecanicillium acerosum W. Gams, H.C. Evans & Zare 2001
• Lecanicillium antillanum (R.F. Castañeda & G.R.W. Arnold) Zare & W. Gams 2001
• Lecanicillium aphanocladii Zare & W. Gams 2001
• Lecanicillium aranearum (Petch) Zare & W. Gams 2001
• Lecanicillium araneicola Sukarno & Kurihara 2009
• Lecanicillium attenuatum Zare & W. Gams 2001
• Lecanicillium dimorphum (J.D. Chen) Zare & W. Gams 2001
• Lecanicillium evansii Zare & W. Gams 2001
• Lecanicillium flavidum (W. Gams & Zaayen) W. Gams & Zare 2008
• Lecanicillium fungicola (Preuss) Zare & W. Gams 2008; Anamorphic Cordycipitaceae
  • Lecanicillium fungicola var. aleophilum (W. Gams & Zaayen) W. Gams & Zare 2008
  • Lecanicillium fungicola var. fungicola (Preuss) Zare & W. Gams 2008
• Lecanicillium fusisporum (W. Gams) Zare & W. Gams 2001
• Lecanicillium kalimantanense Kurihara & Sukarno 2009
• Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimm.) Zare & W. Gams 2001: pathogens of soft scale insects (Coccidae)
• Lecanicillium longisporum (Petch) Zare & W. Gams 2001: pathogens of aphids
• Lecanicillium muscarium (Petch) Zare & W. Gams 2001: pathogens of whiteflies and thrips
• Lecanicillium nodulosum (Petch) Zare & W. Gams 2001
• Lecanicillium pissodis Kope & I. Leal 2006
• Lecanicillium psalliotae (Treschew) Zare & W. Gams 2001
• Lecanicillium saksenae (Kushwaha) Kurihara & Sukarno 2009
• Lecanicillium tenuipes (Petch) Zare & W. Gams 2001
• Lecanicillium wallacei (H.C. Evans) H.C. Evans & Zare 2008

At least 15 products based on Lecanicillium spp. have been, or are in the process of being commercialized as biological pesticides, against a variety of pests in numerous countries worldwide.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Book: Kirk PM, Cannon PF, Minter DW, Stalpers JA . Dictionary of the Fungi . 10th . CABI . Wallingford . 2008. 150 . 978-0-85199-826-8.
2. Zare R, Gams W . A revision of Verticillium sect. Prostrata. III. Generic classification . Nova Hedwigia . 72 . 3–4 . 329–337 . 2001 . 10.1127/nova.hedwigia/72/2001/329 .
3. M.R. . de Faria . Wraight . S.P. . Mycoinsecticides and mycoacaricides: a comprehensive list with worldwide coverage and international classification of formulation types . Biological Control . 43 . 3 . 237–256 . 2007 . 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2007.08.001 . 2007BiolC..43..237F .