Clavicipitaceae Rogerson.
A molecular phylogenetic investigation of Clavicipitaceae by Sung et al. (2007) with an emphasis on Cordyceps revealed that both Clavicipitaceae and Cordyceps were not monophyletic. Two additional families, Cordycipitaceae and OphioCordycipitaceae, were recognized and species previously classified in Cordyceps were supported as members of all three families. The Clavicipitaceae is one of the most heterogeneous fungal families in the order Hypocreales (Ascomycota) and is associated with various hosts-insects, plants, fungi, and invertebrates (Gams & Zare 2003, Spatafora et al. 2007, Sung et al. 2007, Steiner et al. 2011, Kepler et al. 2012b). Genera occurring on insects include Aschersonia, Conoideocrella, Helicocollum, Metarhizium, Moelleriella, Nigelia, Orbiocrella, Papiliomyces, Petchia, Purpureomyces, Regiocrella, Samuelsia, Sungia and Yosiokobayasia. Metarhizium species are well-known entomopathogens in the Clavicipitaceae and are associated with both insects and plants. Furthermore, they play roles as endophytes and rhizosphere-inhabiting fungi (Greenfield et al. 2016, Nishi & Sato 2019, Mongkolsamrit et al. 2020). Tyrannicordyceps was proposed as a new genus associated with fungi, producing yellow or bright red stromata attacking the sclerotia of Claviceps (Kepler et al. 2012b). Clavicipitaceous fungi associated with plants have been described for species in Aciculosporium, Atkinsonella, Balansia, Claviceps, Epichloë, Heteroepichloë, Myriogenospora, Morakotia, Periglandula, Shimizuomyces and Ustilaginoidea. Species in Aciculosporium, Atkinsonella, Balansia, Epichloë, Myriogenospora and Parepichloë have been documented as fungal endophytes of grasses, and in their life cycle they can form ascomata (sexual morph) on these host plants (Cheplick & Faeth 2009, Torres & White 2009).