''Purpureocillium'' is a fungal

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

in the

Ophiocordycipitaceae Ophiocordycipitaceae is a family of parasitic fungi in the Ascomycota, class Sordariomycetes. Genera *'' Blistum'' *'' Didymobotryopsis'' *'' Haptocillium'' *'' Harposporium'' (Anamorphic) *'' Ophiocordyceps''; anamorphic genera: **''Hirsutella ...

family. The genus now contains at least 5 species with the type species ''Purpureocillium lilacinum'', a common

saprobic Saprotrophic nutrition or lysotrophic nutrition is a process of chemoheterotrophic extracellular digestion involved in the processing of decayed (dead or waste) organic matter. It occurs in saprotrophs, and is most often associated with fungi (f ...

, filamentous

fungus A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from th ...

. It has been isolated from a wide range of habitats, including cultivated and uncultivated

soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth or dirt, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life. Some scientific definitions distinguish ''dirt'' from ''soil'' by restricting the former te ...

forest A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...

grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur natur ...

desert A desert is a barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to denudation. About on ...

estuarine An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and maritime environment ...

sediments and sewage sludge, and insects. It has also been found in

nematode The nematodes ( or grc-gre, Νηματώδη; la, Nematoda) or roundworms constitute the phylum Nematoda (also called Nemathelminthes), with plant-Parasitism, parasitic nematodes also known as eelworms. They are a diverse animal phylum inhab ...

eggs, and occasionally from females of root-knot and cyst nematodes. In addition, it has frequently been detected in the

rhizosphere The rhizosphere is the narrow region of soil or substrate that is directly influenced by root secretions and associated soil microorganisms known as the root microbiome. Soil pores in the rhizosphere can contain many bacteria and other microor ...

of many crops. The species can grow at a wide range of temperatures – from for a few isolates, with optimal growth in the range . It also has a wide pH tolerance and can grow on a variety of substrates. ''P. lilacinum'' has shown promising results for use as a

biocontrol agent Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also invo ...

to control the growth of destructive

root-knot nematodes Root-knot nematodes are plant-parasitic nematodes from the genus ''Meloidogyne''. They exist in soil in areas with hot climates or short winters. About 2000 plants worldwide are susceptible to infection by root-knot nematodes and they cause appro ...

Species and phylogeny

''Species fungorum'' and GBIF currently list: * ''

Purpureocillium atypicola ''Purpureocillium atypicola''Spatafora, Quandt, Kepler, Sung, Shrestha, Hywel-Jones, Luangsa-ard (2015) ''IMA Fungus'' 6(2): 361. is a species of fungus, previously known as ''Nomuraea atypicola'', in the family Ophiocordycipitaceae with no subs ...

'' (Yasuda) Spatafora, Hywel-Jones & Luangsa-ard, 2015 * ''

Purpureocillium lavendulum ''Purpureocillium'' is a fungal genus in the Ophiocordycipitaceae family. The genus now contains at least 5 species with the type species ''Purpureocillium lilacinum'', a common saprobic, filamentous fungus. It has been isolated from a wide rang ...

'' Perdomo, Dania García, Gené, Cano & Guarro, 2013 * ''

Purpureocillium lilacinum ''Purpureocillium lilacinum'' is a species of filamentous fungus in the family Ophiocordycipitaceae. It has been isolated from a wide range of habitats, including cultivated and uncultivated soils, forests, grassland, deserts, estuarine sedime ...

'' (Thom) Luangsa-ard, Houbraken, Hywel-Jones & Samson, 2011 * ''

Purpureocillium sodanum ''Purpureocillium'' is a fungal genus in the Ophiocordycipitaceae family. The genus now contains at least 5 species with the type species ''Purpureocillium lilacinum'', a common saprobic, filamentous fungus. It has been isolated from a wide rang ...

'' Papizadeh, Soudi, Wijayaw., Shahz.Faz. & K.D.Hyde, 2016 * ''

Purpureocillium takamizusanense ''Purpureocillium'' is a fungal genus in the Ophiocordycipitaceae family. The genus now contains at least 5 species with the type species ''Purpureocillium lilacinum'', a common saprobic, filamentous fungus. It has been isolated from a wide rang ...

'' (Kobayasi) S.Ban, Azuma & Hirok.Sato, 2015 * a number of unclassified isolates. ''P. lilacinum'' was previously considered to be

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...

and was classified with the Fungi Imperfecti or

Deuteromycetes The fungi imperfecti or imperfect fungi, are fungi which do not fit into the commonly established taxonomic classifications of fungi that are based on biological species concepts or morphological characteristics of sexual structures because thei ...

, fungi for which perfect (i.e., sexually reproducing) states have rarely been found. "''

Paecilomyces ''Paecilomyces'' is a genus of fungi. A number of species in this genus are plant pathogens. Several of the entomopathogenic species, such as "'' Paecilomyces fumosoroseus''" have now been placed in the genus ''Isaria'': in the order Hypocreale ...

lilacinus''" was classified in the section ''Isarioidea'', for which perfect states had not been found. Many isolates of ''P. lilacinum'' have been identified from around the world and it is accepted that variation exists within the species. Phylogenetic analysis of ''P. lilacinum'' isolates show that it is not related to ''

Trichoderma ''Trichoderma'' is a genus of fungi in the family Hypocreaceae that is present in all soils, where they are the most prevalent culturable fungi. Many species in this genus can be characterized as opportunistic avirulent plant symbionts. This ref ...

'', ''

Gliocladium ''Gliocladium''Corda (1840) ''Icon. fung. (Prague)'' 4: 30. is an asexual fungal genus in the Hypocreaceae. Certain other species including ''Gliocladium virens'' were recently transferred to the genus ''Trichoderma'' and ''G. roseum'' became '' ...

'' and ''

Hypocrea ''Hypocrea'' is a genus of fungi in the family Hypocreaceae. The widespread genus is estimated to contain 171 species that grow on rotten wood, and are often associated with other fungi. Anamorphic genera associated with ''Hypocrea'' include ''Ac ...

'' and more related to entomopathogenic genera such as ''

Hirsutella ''Hirsutella'' is a genus of asexually reproducing fungi in the Ophiocordycipitaceae family. Originally described by French mycologist Narcisse Théophile Patouillard in 1892, this genus includes species that are pathogens of insects, mites and ne ...

'' and ''

Ophiocordyceps ''Ophiocordyceps'' is a genus of fungi within the family Ophiocordycipitaceae. The widespread genus, first described scientifically by British mycologist Tom Petch in 1931, contains about 140 species that grow on insects. Anamorphic genera that c ...

'' in the Hypocreales.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q55761280 Carnivorous fungi Fungi of Asia Fungi of Europe Fungi of North America Fungi of South America Ophiocordycipitaceae