Determination of the anamorph of Cordyceps sinensis inferred from the analysis of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers and 5.8S rDNA

The anamorph determination of Cordyceps sinensis remains problematic due to the lack of clear links between the sexual and conidial forms of the fungus. In this study, we applied molecular approaches to analyze the genetic variation of Cordyceps sinensis and its allies to identify the anamorph-teleomorph connection. The sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) and 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene of Cordyceps sinensis (teleomorph) collected from Qingzang plateau (altitude over 4000m), Tibet and several related asexual conidial forms were determined. The sequence comparison showed that Cordyceps sinensis was most closely related to Hirsutella sinensis, and was clearly divergent from Paecilomyces sinensis, Stachybotrys sp. or Tolypocladium sp.; distance values, estimated according to Kimura two-parameter models between Cordyceps sinensis and Hirsutella sinensis, were extremely low (<0.02), whereas distance values between Cordyceps sinensis and Paecilomyces sinensis, Stachybotrys sp. and Tolypocladium sp. were 0.34, 0.21 and 0.25, respectively. Taken together, Hirsutella sinensis and Cordyceps sinensis are the different stages of the life cycle stages of the same organism. Hirsutella sinensis is therefore the anamorph of Cordyceps sinensis, rather than Paecilomyces sinensis or other species. The possible reasons as to why different taxa can be obtained when culturing Cordyceps sinensis are also discussed.