Notes on the circumscription of the lichens Lecanora leprosa and L. sulphurescens (Lecanoraceae, lichenised Ascomycotina)

Lecanora leprosa and L. sulphurescens are two commonly misidentified pantropical lichens. A detailed circumscription is presented to help overcome such difficulties. Both species contain a chemosyndrome of chlorodepsidones based on gangaleoidin. The new depsidone chlorolecideoidin (methyl 2,4,9-trichloro-3,8-dihydroxy-1,6-dimethyl-11-oxo-11H-dibenzo[b,e][1,4]-dioxepin- 7-carboxylate) has been shown to be a minor component of both species.Lecanora leprosa und L. sulphurescens sind zwei häufig fehlbestimmte pantropische Flechten. Eine ausführliche Beschreibung der beiden Arten wird vorgelegt. Beide Arten enthalten ein auf Gangaleoidin basierendes Chemosyndrom von Chlordepsidonen. Das neue Depsidon Chlorlecideoidin (Methyl 2,4,9-Trichlor-3,8-dihydroxy-1,6-dimethyl-11-oxo-11Hdibenzo[ b,e][1,4]-dioxepin-7-carboxylat) wird beschrieben. Es kommt in beiden Arten als Nebeninhaltsstoff vor

Whole-genome sequence data uncover widespread heterothallism in the largest group of lichen-forming fungi

Fungal reproduction is regulated by the mating-type (MAT1) locus, which typically comprises two idiomorphic genes. The presence of one or both allelic variants at the locus determines the reproductive strategy in Fungi – homothallism vs. heterothallism. It has been hypothesized that self-fertility via homothallism is widespread in lichen-forming fungi. To test this hypothesis, we characterized the MAT1 locus of 41 genomes of lichen-forming fungi representing a wide range of growth forms and reproductive strategies in the class Lecanoromycetes, the largest group of lichen-forming fungi. Our results show the complete lack of genetic homothallism suggesting that lichens evolved from a heterothallic ancestor. We argue that this may be related to the symbiotic lifestyle of these fungi, and may be a key innovation that has contributed to the accelerated diversification rates in this fungal group

IMA Genome - F15: Draft genome assembly of Fusarium pilosicola, Meredithiella fracta, Niebla homalea, Pyrenophora teres hybrid WAC10721, and Teratosphaeria viscida

No abstract available.The Meredithiella fracta genome, the Galaxy server is in part funded by Collaborative Research Centre 992 Medical Epigenetics and German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)-National Research Foundation (NRF) Centre of Excellence in Plant Health Biotechnology (CPHB), South Africa and the DSTNRF SARChI chair in Fungal Genomics for the Fusarium pilosicola, Teratosphaeria viscida and Meredithiella fracta genomes.http://www.imafungus.orgam2022BiochemistryForestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsMicrobiology and Plant Patholog

Ancestral State Reconstruction Reveals Rampant Homoplasy of Diagnostic Morphological Characters in Urticaceae, Conflicting with Current Classification Schemes

Urticaceae is a family with more than 2000 species, which contains remarkable morphological diversity. It has undergone many taxonomic reorganizations, and is currently the subject of further systematic studies. To gain more resolution in systematic studies and to better understand the general patterns of character evolution in Urticaceae, based on our previous phylogeny including 169 accessions comprising 122 species across 47 Urticaceae genera, we examined 19 diagnostic characters, and analysed these employing both maximum-parsimony and maximum-likelihood approaches. Our results revealed that 16 characters exhibited multiple state changes within the family, with ten exhibiting >eight changes and three exhibiting between 28 and 40. Morphological synapomorphies were identified for many clades, but the diagnostic value of these was often limited due to reversals within the clade and/or homoplasies elsewhere. Recognition of the four clades comprising the family at subfamily level can be supported by a small number carefully chosen defining traits for each. Several non-monophyletic genera appear to be defined only by characters that are plesiomorphic within their clades, and more detailed work would be valuable to find defining traits for monophyletic clades within these. Some character evolution may be attributed to adaptive evolution in Urticaceae due to shifts in habitat or vegetation type. This study demonstrated the value of using phylogeny to trace character evolution, and determine the relative importance of morphological traits for classification

Phylogeny of the family Cladoniaceae (Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota) based on sequences of multiple loci

Cladoniaceae is a family of lichenized fungi that belongs to the Lecanorales, Ascomycota. The family is distributed widely, although several genera are restricted to the Southern Hemisphere. The circumscriptions of the genera and species in the family have traditionally been based on thallus morphology, the type of vegetative propagules and the secondary metabolites. However, numerous species are highly variable phenotypically, making their delimitation problematic. In the present study a new phylogeny of Cladoniaceae is constructed using five loci (ITS rDNA, IGS rDNA, RPB2, RPB1, EF-1a) from a worldwide sample of 643 specimens representing 304 species. Cladoniaceae was resolved as a monophyletic group. The circumscription of the genera and the relationships among them are discussed. Pycnothelia, Carassea and Metus are closely related, forming a sister clade to the larger genus Cladonia. Cladia in its recent wide sense turned out to be paraphyletic, including species that have been recognized in Thysanothecium and Notocladonia. Cladonia was resolved as monophyletic, with C. wainioi as the earliest diverging lineage. Eleven major clades were resolved in Cladonia. No synapomorphies were found for most of them. We propose the new genera Pulchrocladia and Rexia, as segregates of Cladia, five new combinations, and the resurrection of the genus Heterodea.This study received funding from the Academy of Finland Grant No. 211171 and the SYNTHESYS ES-TAF-922 (S. Stenroos); the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program under Grant No. PIEFGA-2013-625653; Juan de la CiervaIncorporacion no. 2015-23526; Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO) (R. Pino-Bodas); and the project CGL2013-41839-P led by A. R. Burgaz (T. Ahti and R. Pino-Bodas)

A new circumscription of the genus Varicellaria (Pertusariales, Ascomycota)

The lichen-forming genus Pertusaria under its current circumscription is polyphyletic and its phylogenetic affiliations are uncertain. Here we study the species of the genera Pertusaria and Varicellaria which containlecanoric acid as major constituent, have disciform apothecia, strongly amyloid asci, non-amyloid hymenial gel, 1-2-spored asci, and 1- or 2-celled ascospores with thick, 1-layered walls. We infer phylogenetic relationships using maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses based on four molecular loci (mtSSU, nuLSU rDNA, and the protein-coding, nuclear RPB1 and MCM7 genes). Our results show that the lecanoric acid-containing species form a well-supported, monophyletic group, which is only distantly related to Pertusaria s.str. The phylogenetic position of this clade is unclear, but placement in Pertusaria s.str. is rejected using alternative hypothesis testing. The circumscription of the genus Varicellaria is enlarged to also include species with non-septate ascospores. Seven species are accepted in the genus: Varicellaria culbersonii (Vězda) Schmitt & Lumbsch, comb. nov., Varicellaria hemisphaerica (Flörke) Schmitt & Lumbsch, comb. nov., Varicellaria kasandjeffii (Szatala) Schmitt & Lumbsch, comb. nov., Varicellaria lactea (L.) Schmitt & Lumbsch, comb. nov., Varicellaria philippina (Vain.) Schmitt & Lumbsch, comb. nov., Varicellaria rhodocarpa (Körb.) Th. Fr., and Varicellaria velata (Turner) Schmitt & Lumbsch, comb. nov. A key to the species of Varicellaria is provided

Molecular data indicate that Rhytidhysteron rufulum (ascomycetes, Patellariales) in Costa Rica consists of four distinct lineages corroborated by morphological and chemical characters

Rhytidhysteron rufulum is a poorly known, common, pantropical species, capable of utilizing different substrata and occupying diverse habitats, and is the only species of its genus in Costa Rica. We have employed molecular, morphological, and chemical data to assess the variability and differentiation of R. rufulum in Costa Rica, including sites from the Pacific and Atlantic coast. Phylogenetic analyses of nuclear ITS rDNA sequences revealed the presence of four distinct lineages in the R. rufulum complex. Re-examination of the morphology and anatomy showed differences between these lineages in ascomatal, ascal, and ascospore size that have previously been regarded as intraspecific variations. In addition, there was a correlation between molecular phylogenies and chemical components as determined by hplc and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Two lineages (clades I and II) produced the palmarumycins MK-3018, CJ-12372, and CR1, whereas clade III produced dehydrocurvularin, and clade IV unidentified compounds. Our results based on a polyphasic approach contradict previous taxonomic interpretations of one morphologically variable species.Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía/[R-CM-INBIO-05-2006-OT]/MINAE/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de BiologíaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigación en Biología Celular y Molecular (CIBCM)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de Químic

A Molecular Phylogeny of the Lichen Genus <i>Lecidella</i> Focusing on Species from Mainland China

The phylogeny of Lecidella species is studied, based on a 7-locus data set using ML and Bayesian analyses. Phylogenetic relationships among 43 individuals representing 11 Lecidella species, mainly from mainland China, were included in the analyses and phenotypical characters studied and mapped onto the phylogeny. The Lecidella species fall into three major clades, which are proposed here as three informal groups–Lecidella stigmatea group, L. elaeochroma group and L. enteroleucella group, each of them strongly supported. Our phylogenetic analyses support traditional species delimitation based on morphological and chemical traits in most but not all cases. Individuals considered as belonging to the same species based on phenotypic characters were found to be paraphyletic, indicating that cryptic species might be hidden under these names (e.g. L. carpathica and L. effugiens). Potentially undescribed species were found within the phenotypically circumscribed species L. elaeochroma and L. stigmatea. Additional sampling across a broader taxonomic and geographic scale will be crucial to fully resolving the taxonomy in this cosmopolitan genus

A Molecular Phylogeny of the Lichen Genus <i>Lecidella</i> Focusing on Species from Mainland China

<div><p>The phylogeny of <i>Lecidella</i> species is studied, based on a 7-locus data set using ML and Bayesian analyses. Phylogenetic relationships among 43 individuals representing 11 <i>Lecidella</i> species, mainly from mainland China, were included in the analyses and phenotypical characters studied and mapped onto the phylogeny. The <i>Lecidella</i> species fall into three major clades, which are proposed here as three informal groups–<i>Lecidella stigmatea</i> group, <i>L</i>. <i>elaeochroma</i> group and <i>L</i>. <i>enteroleucella</i> group, each of them strongly supported. Our phylogenetic analyses support traditional species delimitation based on morphological and chemical traits in most but not all cases. Individuals considered as belonging to the same species based on phenotypic characters were found to be paraphyletic, indicating that cryptic species might be hidden under these names (e.g. <i>L</i>. <i>carpathica</i> and <i>L</i>. <i>effugiens</i>). Potentially undescribed species were found within the phenotypically circumscribed species <i>L</i>. <i>elaeochroma</i> and <i>L</i>. <i>stigmatea</i>. Additional sampling across a broader taxonomic and geographic scale will be crucial to fully resolving the taxonomy in this cosmopolitan genus.</p></div