''Metarhizium'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of entomopathogenic fungi in the

Clavicipitaceae The Clavicipitaceae are a family of fungi within the order Hypocreales. A 2008 estimate placed 43 genera in the family, but recent work has increased this number to 97. Phylogeny Molecular phylogenetic analysis of multigene DNA sequence data in ...

family. With the advent of genetic profiling, placing these fungi in proper taxa has now become possible. Most turn out to be the asexual forms (

anamorph In mycology, the terms teleomorph, anamorph, and holomorph apply to portions of the life cycles of fungi in the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota: *Teleomorph: the sexual reproductive stage (morph), typically a fruiting body. *Anamorph: an a ...

s) of fungi in the phylum

Ascomycota Ascomycota is a phylum of the kingdom Fungi that, together with the Basidiomycota, forms the subkingdom Dikarya. Its members are commonly known as the sac fungi or ascomycetes. It is the largest phylum of Fungi, with over 64,000 species. The defi ...

, including ''

Metacordyceps ''Metacordyceps'' is a genus of fungi in the family Clavicipitaceae. The anamorph In mycology, the terms teleomorph, anamorph, and holomorph apply to portions of the life cycles of fungi in the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota: *Teleomo ...

'' spp.

Species

Before molecular techniques were introduced at the end of the 20th century, ''Metarhizium'' species were identified on morphological (notably conidial) characteristics. The 'original' species included: '' M. anisopliae'' (with '' M.a. var. major''), '' M. brunneum'', '' M. cicadinum'', '' M. cylindrosporum'', '' M. flavoviride'', '' M. taii'', '' M. truncatum'', and '' M. viridicolumnare''. In 2009, nine former varieties of the type species '' M. anisopliae'' were assigned species status. New species have continued to be identified, with original names sometimes re-instated (notably '' M. brunneum''). The first complete chromosome length genome sequence for any ''Metarhizium'' was carried-out for this species at Swansea University in 2021. The ''

index fungorum ''Index Fungorum'' is an international project to index all formal names (scientific names) in the fungus kingdom. the project is based at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, one of three partners along with Landcare Research and the Institute of M ...

'' currently (2021) lists: # ''

Metarhizium aciculare ''Metarhizium'' is a genus of entomopathogenic fungi in the Clavicipitaceae family. With the advent of genetic profiling, placing these fungi in proper taxa has now become possible. Most turn out to be the asexual forms (anamorphs) of fungi in ...

'' H. Iwasaki, Tokiwa & Nonaka (2019) # ''

Metarhizium acridum ''Metarhizium acridum'' is the new name given to a group of fungal isolates that are known to be virulent and specific to the Acrididea (grasshoppers). Previously, this species has had variety status in ''Metarhizium anisopliae'' (var. ''acrid ...

'' (Driver & Milner) J.F. Bisch., S.A. Rehner & Humber (2009) (previously ''M. anisopliae'' var. ''acridum'') # '' Metarhizium alvesii'' R.B. Lopes, M. Faria, C. Montalva & R.A. Humber (2018) # ''

Metarhizium anisopliae ''Metarhizium robertsii'' formerly known as ''M. anisopliae'', and even earlier as ''Entomophthora anisopliae'' (basionym) is a fungus that grows naturally in soils throughout the world and causes disease in various insects by acting as a paras ...

'' (Metschn.) Sorokīn (1883) # '' Metarhizium argentinense'' A.C. Gutierrez, A. Leclerque & C.C. Lopez Lastra (2019) # '' Metarhizium atrovirens'' (Kobayasi & Shimizu) Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014) # '' Metarhizium baoshanense'' Z.H. Chen, Ling Xu, X.N. Yang, Y.G. Zhang & Y.M. Yang (2018) # '' Metarhizium bibionidarum'' O. Nishi & H. Sato (2017) # '' Metarhizium blattodeae'' C. Montalva, Humber, K. Collier & C. Luz (2016) # '' Metarhizium brachyspermum'' Koh. Yamam., Ohmae & Orihara (2019) # '' Metarhizium brasiliense'' Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014) # '' Metarhizium brittlebankisoides'' (Zuo Y. Liu, Z.Q. Liang, Whalley, Y.J. Yao & A.Y. Liu) Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014) # ''

Metarhizium brunneum ''Metarhizium brunneum'', is the re-instated name of a group of reassigned ''Metarhizium'' isolates, previously grouped in the species "'' Metarhizium anisopliae'' var. ''anisopliae''": based on a multigene phylogenetic approach using near-compl ...

'' Petch (1935) # '' Metarhizium campsosterni'' (W.M. Zhang & T.H. Li) Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014) # '' Metarhizium carneum'' (Duché & R. Heim) Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014) # ''

Metarhizium chaiyaphumense ''Metarhizium'' is a genus of entomopathogenic fungi in the Clavicipitaceae family. With the advent of genetic profiling, placing these fungi in proper taxa has now become possible. Most turn out to be the asexual forms (anamorphs) of fungi in ...

'' Tasan., Khons., Thanakitp., Mongkols. & Luangsa-ard (2017) # '' Metarhizium cicadinum'' (Höhn.) Petch (1931) # '' Metarhizium cylindrosporum'' Q.T. Chen & H.L. Guo (1986) # ''

Metarhizium dendrolimatilis ''Metarhizium'' is a genus of entomopathogenic fungi in the Clavicipitaceae family. With the advent of genetic profiling, placing these fungi in proper taxa has now become possible. Most turn out to be the asexual forms (anamorphs) of fungi in ...

'' Z.Q. Liang, Wan H. Chen, Y.F. Han & X. Zou (2017) # ''

Metarhizium flavoviride ''Metarhizium flavoviride'' is the name given to a group of fungal genetic isolate, isolates that are known to be virulent against Hemiptera and some Coleoptera. Spores (conidia) are light grey-green and oval-shaped (approximately 7-11 µm ...

'' W. Gams & Rozsypal (1973) # '' Metarhizium frigidum'' J.F. Bisch. & S.A. Rehner (2007) # ''

Metarhizium gaoligongense ''Metarhizium'' is a genus of entomopathogenic fungi in the Clavicipitaceae family. With the advent of genetic profiling, placing these fungi in proper taxa has now become possible. Most turn out to be the asexual forms (anamorphs) of fungi in ...

'' Z.H. Chen & L. Xu (2018) # '' Metarhizium globosum'' J.F. Bisch., S.A. Rehner & Humber (2009) # '' Metarhizium granulomatis'' (Sigler) Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014) # ''

Metarhizium gryllidicola ''Metarhizium'' is a genus of entomopathogenic fungi in the Clavicipitaceae family. With the advent of genetic profiling, placing these fungi in proper taxa has now become possible. Most turn out to be the asexual forms (anamorphs) of fungi in ...

'' Khons., Thanakitp. & Luangsa-ard (2020) # '' Metarhizium guniujiangense'' (C.R. Li, B. Huang, M.Z. Fan & Z.Z. Li) Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014) # ''

Metarhizium indigoticum ''Metarhizium'' is a genus of entomopathogenic fungi in the Clavicipitaceae family. With the advent of genetic profiling, placing these fungi in proper taxa has now become possible. Most turn out to be the asexual forms (anamorphs) of fungi in ...

'' (Kobayasi & Shimizu) Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014) # '' Metarhizium kalasinense'' Tasan., Khons., Thanakitp., Mongkols. & Luangsa-ard (2017) # ''

Metarhizium khaoyaiense ''Metarhizium'' is a genus of entomopathogenic fungi in the Clavicipitaceae family. With the advent of genetic profiling, placing these fungi in proper taxa has now become possible. Most turn out to be the asexual forms (anamorphs) of fungi in ...

'' (Hywel-Jones) Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014) # '' Metarhizium koreanum'' Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014) # '' Metarhizium kusanagiense'' (Kobayasi & Shimizu) Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014) # '' Metarhizium lepidiotae'' (Driver & Milner) J.F. Bisch., S.A. Rehner & Humber (2009) # '' Metarhizium lepidopterorum'' W.H. Chen, Y.F. Han, J.D. Liang & Z.Q. Liang (2019) # ''

Metarhizium majus ''Metarhizium majus'' is the name given to a group of fungal isolates that are known to be virulent against Scarabaeidae, a family of beetles. Previously, this species has had variety status in ''Metarhizium anisopliae'' (var. ''majus'') and i ...

'' (J.R. Johnst.) J.F. Bisch., S.A. Rehner & Humber (2009) # '' Metarhizium marquandii'' (Massee) Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014) # '' Metarhizium minus'' (Rombach, Humber & D.W. Roberts) Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014) # '' Metarhizium novozealandicum'' (Driver & Milner) Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014) # '' Metarhizium owariense'' (Kobayasi) Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014) # '' Metarhizium pemphigi'' (Driver & Milner) Kepler, Humber & S.A. Rehner (2014) # '' Metarhizium phasmatodeae'' Khons., Thanakitp. & Luangsa-ard (2020) # ''

Metarhizium prachinense ''Metarhizium'' is a genus of entomopathogenic fungi in the Clavicipitaceae family. With the advent of genetic profiling, placing these fungi in proper taxa has now become possible. Most turn out to be the asexual forms (anamorphs) of fungi in ...

'' Tasan., Khons., Thanakitp., Mongkols. & Luangsa-ard (2017) # '' Metarhizium pseudoatrovirens'' (Kobayasi & Shimizu) Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014) # '' Metarhizium purpureogenum'' O. Nishi, S. Shimizu & H. Sato (2017) # '' Metarhizium reniforme'' (Samson & H.C. Evans) Luangsa-ard, Boucias & Hywel-Jones (2017) # '' Metarhizium rileyi'' (Farl.) Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014) # ''

Metarhizium robertsii ''Metarhizium robertsii'' formerly known as ''M. anisopliae'', and even earlier as ''Entomophthora anisopliae'' (basionym) is a fungus that grows naturally in soils throughout the world and causes disease in various insects by acting as a paras ...

'' J.F. Bisch., S.A. Rehner & Humber (2009) # ''

Metarhizium rongjiangense ''Metarhizium'' is a genus of entomopathogenic fungi in the Clavicipitaceae family. With the advent of genetic profiling, placing these fungi in proper taxa has now become possible. Most turn out to be the asexual forms (anamorphs) of fungi in ...

'' W.H. Chen, Y.F. Han, J.D. Liang & Z.Q. Liang (2019) # ''

Metarhizium samlanense ''Metarhizium'' is a genus of entomopathogenic fungi in the Clavicipitaceae family. With the advent of genetic profiling, placing these fungi in proper taxa has now become possible. Most turn out to be the asexual forms (anamorphs) of fungi in ...

'' Luangsa-ard, Thanakitp., Tasan., Mongkols. & Hywel-Jones (2017) # ''

Metarhizium taii ''Metarhizium'' is a genus of entomopathogenic fungi in the Clavicipitaceae family. With the advent of genetic profiling, placing these fungi in proper taxa has now become possible. Most turn out to be the asexual forms (anamorphs) of fungi in ...

'' Z.Q. Liang & A.Y. Liu (1991) # ''

Metarhizium takense ''Metarhizium'' is a genus of entomopathogenic fungi in the Clavicipitaceae family. With the advent of genetic profiling, placing these fungi in proper taxa has now become possible. Most turn out to be the asexual forms (anamorphs) of fungi in ...

'' Tasan., Thanakitp., Mongkols. & Luangsa-ard (2017) # ''

Metarhizium truncatum ''Metarhizium'' is a genus of entomopathogenic fungi in the Clavicipitaceae family. With the advent of genetic profiling, placing these fungi in proper taxa has now become possible. Most turn out to be the asexual forms (anamorphs) of fungi in ...

'' Petch (1931) # '' Metarhizium viride'' (Segretain, Fromentin, Destombes, Brygoo & Dodin ex Samson) Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014) # '' Metarhizium viridicolumnare'' (Matsush.) Matsush. (1993) # ''

Metarhizium viridulum ''Metarhizium'' is a genus of entomopathogenic fungi in the Clavicipitaceae family. With the advent of genetic profiling, placing these fungi in proper taxa has now become possible. Most turn out to be the asexual forms (anamorphs) of fungi in ...

'' (Tzean, L.S. Hsieh, J.L. Chen & W.J. Wu) B. Huang & Z.Z. Li (2004) # '' Metarhizium yongmunense'' (G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung & Spatafora) Kepler, S.A. Rehner & Humber (2014)

Other Reclassified Species Names

* ''M. album'' Petch, 1931 is now assigned to ''M. anisopliae'' * '' M. glutinosum'' is now placed in the

Stachybotryaceae The Stachybotryaceae are a family of fungi in the order Hypocreales The Hypocreales are an order of fungi within the class Sordariomycetes. In 2008, it was estimated that it contained some 237 genera, and 2647 species in seven families. Si ...

as '' Albifimbria (

Myrothecium ''Myrothecium'' is a genus of fungi in the order Hypocreales and is now placed in the family Stachybotryaceae. Species The Catalogue of Life The Catalogue of Life is an online database that provides an index of known species of animals, pla ...

) verrucaria'' (Alb. & Schwein.) L. Lombard & Crous * ''M. martiale'' is now placed as '' Nigelia martiale'' (Speg.) Luangsa-ard & Thanakitp. (

Teleomorphs

The teleomorphs of ''Metarhizium'' species appear to be members of the genus ''

''. ''Metacordyceps taii'' (as ''Cordyceps taii'') has been described as the teleomorph of ''Metarhizium taii'': a name that has now been restored. Whether the other varieties of ''M. anisopliae'' have their own teleomorphs is not yet clear. Some, if not most, strains of ''M. anisopliae'' possibly have lost the capability of reproducing sexually.

Natural pesticide

The artificially grown fungi's spores are also used as a natural pesticide. Certain strains are advised against use in food-growing fields and in close proximity to water sources due to risk of their contamination.In this case only ''

'' F52 strain is concerned.

Locust control

In the 1990s, the LUBILOSA research programme proved that '' M. acridum'' in its spore form was effective in killing locusts and other members of the Acrididea families with no deleterious effects found in field trials on any nontarget species except for the domesticated silk worm ''

Bombyx mori The domestic silk moth (''Bombyx mori''), is an insect from the moth family Bombycidae. It is the closest relative of ''Bombyx mandarina'', the wild silk moth. The silkworm is the larva or caterpillar of a silk moth. It is an economically imp ...

''. It is currently produced as a

biopesticide A Biopesticide is a biological substance or organism that damages, kills, or repels organisms seens as pests. Biological pest management intervention involves predatory, parasitic, or chemical relationships. They are obtained from organisms inclu ...

under the name Novacrid by the company Eléphant Vert in their factory in

Meknès Meknes ( ar, مكناس, maknās, ; ber, ⴰⵎⴽⵏⴰⵙ, amknas; french: Meknès) is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco, located in northern central Morocco and the sixth largest city by population in the kingdom. Founded in the 11th ...

Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to A ...

. The same company recently (2019) obtained the licence to produce and market the original product developed by LUBILOSA, which is called Green Muscle. A third product, Green Guard, is produced by BASF of

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...

for the control of Australian plague locusts and wingless grasshoppers.BASF website
/ref>

Notes

References

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q713212 Sordariomycetes genera Clavicipitaceae Parasitic fungi