Reproduction of Fig 1 of [31] as requested by Reviewer #1: Cultivation of mature Cordyceps sinensis specimens in paper cups and collection of ascospores.

Mature Cordyceps sinensis specimens were cultivated in our Xining laboratory (altitude of 2,254 m) (SR1(A) Fig). The fully ejected ascospores were collected using double layers of autoclaved weighing papers (SR1(B) Fig). Numerous semi-ejected ascospores adhering to the outer surface of an ascus (SR1(C) Fig) during the massive ejection of ascospores. The stromal fertile portion (SFP) densely covered with numerous ascocarps is labeled with “]”. (ZIP)