Complete mitochondrial genome of Pleurocordyceps sinensis (Hypocreales, Ascomycota), a species with uncertain family-level taxonomic assignment

The complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of the ex-type strain of Pleurocordyceps sinensis, a fungus originally isolated from Ophiocordyceps sinensis, was sequenced, and assembled as a single circular DNA of 31,841 bp. The mt genome encoded 15 conserved proteins (rps3, cox1, cox2, cox3, cob, atp6, atp8, atp9, nad1, nad2, nad3, nad4, nad4L, nad5, and nad6), 2 rRNA (rnl and rns), and 25 tRNA, as well as 10 additional non-conserved open reading frames (ncORFs). Comparative analyses showed that mt genomes within the order Hypocreales encoded the same number and synteny of conserved protein coding genes despite an obvious size variation among this group of fungi. Phylogenetic analyses using 14 conserved protein sequences revealed that this fungus may not belong to the current designated family Ophiocordycipitaceae but is more closely related to the species of Clavicipitaceae. The mt genome presented herein would give valuable information on reconstructing the evolutionary history of clavi-cipitaceous fungi and also aid in resolving the family-level taxonomic assignment of Polycephalomyces s. l. species.

Automated summary

This study sequenced and analyzed the mitochondrial genome of Pleurocordyceps sinensis, revealing a potential taxonomic assignment to the Clavicipitaceae family rather than the Ophiocordycipitaceae family, providing valuable information for resolving the classification of Polycephalomyces species.