NRPS (non-ribosomal pepetide synthetase) plays an important role in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, which includes economically important compounds such as antibiotics, antitumor agents, immune-suppressants, siderophores, toxins, etc. In most cases, however, their functions and biosynthesizing pathways have been still remained riddles because of their cryptic expression and recalcitrant genetics. In our previous genome analyses of Cordyceps bassiana C101, we predicted the sequences of secondary metabolite biosynthesizing gene clusters, which contain non-ribosomal pepetide synthetases whose functions are already known such as beauvericin, bassianolide, bassiatin, tenellin, beauverolides, and oosporein. The authors focused on nrps6 that has not been functionally studied. The single-gene deletion and overexpression mutants were established via Agrobacterium-mediated transformations. PCR, quantitative real-time PCR, and southern blot analyses were carried out to confirm the correct single-gene integrated homologous recombination. In further study, comparative metabolic profiling between wild-type and mutant strains will be followed by their detailed chemical structure analysis through NMR spectroscopy.

Cordyceps species (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) were previously mentioned under dominant genera such as basidiomycetous Clavaria Vaill. ex L. and ascomycetous Sphaeria Haller. Cordyceps Fr. was coined by Fries (1818) from a combination of a Greek word cordyle, meaning a club, and a Latin word caput, meaning a head. Cordyceps was, however, ranked at tribal level under Sphaeria by Fries (1823). Link (1833) later re-elevated Cordyceps to genus level. As a result, there was variation on author citation of Cordyceps in different botanical codes such as Cordyceps (E. M. Fries) Link (1833), Cordyceps E. M. Fries (1818) and Cordyceps Fr. (1824). In 19th and 20th centuries, more and more species were described, with necessity to divide Cordyceps into subgenera, sections and subsections based on morphological similarities. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies, however, showed that Cordyceps is polyphyletic and its members are dispersed in various clades within Hypocreales. As a consequence, Cordyceps was amended in strict sense by Sung et al. (2007) and distantly related clades were named under separate genera. Here, we review recent nomenclatural changes of Cordyceps-related fungi in light of recent changes in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN).

Cordyceps sensu lato contains more than 400 entomopathogenic and mycoparasitic species. It was traditionally classified in Clavicipitaceae of Hypocreales and recently phylogenetically separated into several genera such as Cordyceps Fr. 1818 emend. G. H. Sung et al.(Cordycipitaceae Kreisel ex Sung et al.), Elaphocordyceps G. H. Sung & Spatafora and Ophiocordyceps Petch emend. G. H. Sung et al.(Ophiocordycipitaceae G. H. Sung et al.), and Metacordyceps G. H. Sung et al . and Tyrannicordyceps Kepler & Spatafora (Clavicipitaceae (Lindau) Earle ex Rogerson). Some species of Cordyceps sensu lato (e.g., C. militaris and C. pruinosa) are highly regarded as medicinal mushrooms in East Asia. Beauveria species, on the other hand, are widely used as potential biocontrol agents for insects in agriculture and forest due to their wide host range and global distribution. A recently described Beauveria species, Beauveria sungii S.A. Rehner & Humber 2011, is here shown as the anamorph of Cordyceps scarabaeicola Y. Kobayasi 1976 based on the teleomorphic material and phylogenetic analysis of the B.sungii isolate KACC 47482. In Cordyceps sensu stricto clade, Cordyceps Fr. 1818 is an older generic name than Beauveria Vuill. 1912 .Hence ,C. scarabaeicola is suggested to be adopted for B. sungii on the priority basis of both generic name and species epithet in view of the recent revision of Article 59 of the Melbourne Code (recently changed to the ‘International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plant’orICN). Based on one fungus = one name principle, all legitimate Beauveria species are also proposed to be transferred to Cordyceps. The consequences of abandonment of dual nomenclature for pleomorphic fungi are also briefly discussed with reference to Cordyceps and Beauveria.

Beauveria bassiana is one of universal insect pathogenic fungi that have been used for biocontrol agent against insect pests. This fungus has also been studied for medicinal use. To meet for commercial use, the artificial production of the fruit body of this fungus has been established by the Mushtech Co in Korea. This study was carried out to define the morphological features of the fruit body of B. bassiana developed through artificial cultivation. For the observation of mycelia growth, B. bassiana was cultured on the Sabouraud Dextrose agar plus Yeast Extract(SDAY), nut-supplemented medium, and Fe ion-supplemented SDAY at 25℃ for 15 days. The variation of colony color was observed between the different media. Strong pigmentation was observed on Fe ion-supplemented SDAY. To investigate morphological characteristics of fruit body, geminating ascospores and vegetative hyphae were observed though light microscopy and scanning microscope. During seven weeks of cultivation period, the development process of apical fertile part of stromata can be separated by the development stage of perithecia. To understand the developing process of fruit body at the transcript level, investigating process of distinct gene expression according to cultural condition and developmental stage was discussed.