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First Record of Ophiocordyceps dipterigena Berk. & Broome (Ophiocordycipitaceae) in the Himalayas

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Abstract

The Himalayas host a variety of unique species; however, their diversity and ecology have yet to be explored. We are reporting Ophiocordyceps dipterigena Berk. & Broome for the first time from the Indian Himalayas; stromata of the species emerging from the thorax and stroma with Hirsutella anamorphs emerging from the anus of an adult Robber fly; as well as the ecological notes pertaining to the status of this parasitic species in the Sikkim Himalayas, and also the potent medicinal properties of the species are discussed here.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Forests, Environment and Wildlife Management Department, Government of Sikkim; G.B Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Sikkim Unit; Department of Zoology, Sikkim University; and BAMOS-NCS for supporting our study. We would also like to thank the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Japan, for providing information to access the online digital herbarium. Lastly, field suggestion and encouragement by Usha Lachungpa, Dr. Bhoj Kumar Acharya, Dr. H.K. Badola and friends will be highly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Sikkim Regional Centre, Pangthang, Gangtok, India

    Prem K. Chhetri & Bijoy Chhetri

  2. Forest Environment & Wildlife Management Department, Deorali, Gangtok, Sikkim, India

    Prem K. Chhetri

  3. Sikkim Biodiversity Board, Forest and Environment Department, Deorali, Gangtok, Sikkim, India

    Bharat K. Pradhan

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  1. Prem K. Chhetri
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  2. Bharat K. Pradhan
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  3. Bijoy Chhetri
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Correspondence to Bijoy Chhetri.

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Chhetri, P.K., Pradhan, B.K. & Chhetri, B. First Record of Ophiocordyceps dipterigena Berk. & Broome (Ophiocordycipitaceae) in the Himalayas. Natl. Acad. Sci. Lett. 43, 367–369 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-019-00857-3

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