12 research outputs found
New primers for promising single-copy genes in fungal phylogenetics and systematics
Developing powerful phylogenetic markers is a key concern in fungal phylogenetics. Here we report degenerate primers that amplify the single-copy genes Mcm7 (MS456) and Tsr1 (MS277) across a wide range of Pezizomycotina (Ascomycota). Phylogenetic analyses of 59 taxa belonging to the Eurotiomycetes, Lecanoromycetes, Leotiomycetes, Lichinomycetes and Sordariomycetes, indicate the utility of these loci for fungal phylogenetics at taxonomic levels ranging from genus to class. We also tested the new primers in silico using sequences of Saccharomycotina, Taphrinomycotina and Basidiomycota to predict their potential of amplifying widely across the Fungi. The analyses suggest that the new primers will need no, or only minor sequence modifications to amplify Saccharomycotina, Taphrinomycotina and Basidiomycota
Unravelling the phylogenetic relationships of lichenised fungi in Dothideomyceta
We present a revised phylogeny of lichenised Dothideomyceta
(Arthoniomycetes and Dothideomycetes) based on a combined
data set of nuclear large subunit (nuLSU) and mitochondrial small subunit
(mtSSU) rDNA data. Dothideomyceta is supported as monophyletic with
monophyletic classes Arthoniomycetes and Dothideomycetes;
the latter, however, lacking support in this study. The phylogeny of
lichenised Arthoniomycetes supports the current division into three
families: Chrysothrichaceae (Chrysothrix),
Arthoniaceae (Arthonia s. l., Cryptothecia,
Herpothallon), and Roccellaceae (Chiodecton, Combea,
Dendrographa, Dichosporidium, Enterographa, Erythrodecton, Lecanactis,
Opegrapha, Roccella, Roccellographa, Schismatomma, Simonyella). The
widespread and common Arthonia caesia is strongly supported as a
(non-pigmented) member of Chrysothrix. Monoblastiaceae, Strigulaceae,
and Trypetheliaceae are recovered as unrelated, monophyletic clades
within Dothideomycetes. Also, the genera Arthopyrenia
(Arthopyreniaceae) and Cystocoleus and Racodium
(Capnodiales) are confirmed as Dothideomycetes but unrelated
to each other. Mycomicrothelia is shown to be unrelated to
Arthopyrenia s.str., but is supported as a monophyletic clade sister
to Trypetheliaceae, which is supported by hamathecium characters. The
generic concept in several groups is in need of revision, as indicated by
non-monophyly of genera, such as Arthonia, Astrothelium, Cryptothecia,
Cryptothelium, Enterographa, Opegrapha, and Trypethelium in our
analyses
A class-wide phylogenetic assessment of Dothideomycetes
We present a comprehensive phylogeny derived from 5 genes, nucSSU, nucLSU
rDNA, TEF1, RPB1 and RPB2, for 356 isolates and 41
families (six newly described in this volume) in Dothideomycetes. All
currently accepted orders in the class are represented for the first time in
addition to numerous previously unplaced lineages. Subclass
Pleosporomycetidae is expanded to include the aquatic order
Jahnulales. An ancestral reconstruction of basic nutritional modes
supports numerous transitions from saprobic life histories to plant associated
and lichenised modes and a transition from terrestrial to aquatic habitats are
confirmed. Finally, a genomic comparison of 6 dothideomycete genomes with
other fungi finds a high level of unique protein associated with the class,
supporting its delineation as a separate taxon
A class-wide phylogenetic assessment of Dothideomycetes
We present a comprehensive phylogeny derived from 5 genes, nucSSU, nucLSU rDNA, TEF1, RPB1 and RPB2, for 356 isolates and 41 families (six newly described in this volume) in Dothideomycetes. All currently accepted orders in the class are represented for the first time in addition to numerous previously unplaced lineages. Subclass Pleosporomycetidae is expanded to include the aquatic order Jahnulales. An ancestral reconstruction of basic nutritional modes supports numerous transitions from saprobic life histories to plant associated and lichenised modes and a transition from terrestrial to aquatic habitats are confirmed. Finally, a genomic comparison of 6 dothideomycete genomes with other fungi finds a high level of unique protein associated with the class, supporting its delineation as a separate taxon
Heveochlorella (Trebouxiophyceae): a little-known genus of unicellular green algae outside the Trebouxiales emerges unexpectedly as a major clade of lichen photobionts in foliicolous communities
Foliicolous lichens are formed by diverse, highly specialized fungi that establish themselves and complete their life cycle within the brief duration of their leaf substratum. Over half of these lichen-forming fungi are members of either the Gomphillaceae or Pilocarpaceae, and associate with Trebouxia-like green algae whose identities have never been positively determined. We investigated the phylogenetic affinities of these photobionts to better understand their role in lichen establishment on an ephemeral surface. Thallus samples of Gomphillaceae and Pilocarpaceae were collected from foliicolous communities in southwest Florida and processed for sequencing of photobiont marker genes, algal cultivation and/or TEM. Additional specimens from these families and also from Aspidothelium (Thelenellaceae) were collected from a variety of substrates globally. Sequences from rbcL and nuSSU regions were obtained and subjected to Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analyses. Analysis of 37 rbcL and 7 nuSSU algal sequences placed all photobionts studied within the provisional trebouxiophycean assemblage known as the Watanabea clade. All but three of the sequences showed affinities within Heveochlorella, a genus recently described from tree trunks in East Asia. The photobiont chloroplast showed multiple thylakoid stacks penetrating the pyrenoid centripetally as tubules lined with pyrenoglobuli, similar to the two described species of Heveochlorella. We conclude that Heveochlorella includes algae of potentially major importance as lichen photobionts, particularly within (but not limited to) foliicolous communities in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The ease with which they may be cultivated on minimal media suggests their potential to thrive free-living as well as in lichen symbiosis.Financial support was provided from the following sources. To AdlR: Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness grant CTM2012-38222-C02-02. To SPO: Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness grants CTM2012-38222-C02-02 and RYC-2014-16784. To MPN: University of Chicago (Committee
on Evolutionary Biology; William Harper Rainey Fellowship), Botanical Society of America (J.S. Karling Graduate Student Research Award), and the Field Museum (Brown Family Fellowship). To RL: NSF DEB 0715660 “Neotropical Epiphytic Microlichens – An Innovative Inventory of a Highly Diverse yet Little Known Group of Symbiotic Organisms” and the Caterpillar companyPeer Reviewe