Morphological and Phylogenetic Analyses of Two Unreported Species of Entomogenous Fungi Blackwellomyces calendulinus and Neoaraneomyces araneicola in Korea

This study reports the isolation and characterization of two previously unrecorded fungal strains, designated KNUF-23-232 and KNUF-23-344. The initial classification was based on an examination of their morphological and cultural characteristics. To further confirm their identities and elucidate their evolutionary relationships, molecular phylogenetic analyses were conducted using sequences from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the large subunit of 28S rRNA (LSU), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2), and translation elongation factor-1α (TEF1). The largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1) was also amplified for strain KNUF-23-344. The cultural and morphological traits of strain KNUF23-232 were consistent with those of Blackwellomyces calendulinus BCC 68502T, whereas those of strain KNUF-23-344 corresponded to Neoaraneomyces araneicola DY101711T. The integration of morphological and phylogenetic analyses led to the identification of KNUF-23232 as B. calendulinus and KNUF-23-344 as N. araneicola. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first documentation of B. calendulinus and N. araneicola in Korea.