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Molecular phylogenetic studies on the Diatrypaceae based on rDNA-ITS sequences
Francisco Javier Acero1, Vicente González, Javier Sánchez-Ballesteros
1Departamento de Biotecnología Microbiana, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Campus Cantoblanco, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid 28049, Spain.
Mycologia
|December 15, 2010
Summary
Phylogenetic analysis of the Diatrypaceae family reveals that current genera are not monophyletic, indicating a need for taxonomic revision based on ITS sequence data.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Molecular Systematics
- Fungal Taxonomy
Background:
- The order Diatrypales comprises a single family, Diatrypaceae, with five main genera: Diatrype, Diatrypella, Cryptosphaeria, Eutypa, and Eutypella.
- Understanding the phylogenetic relationships within Diatrypaceae is crucial for accurate fungal classification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phylogenetic relationships among the five main genera of the Diatrypaceae family.
- To assess the monophyly of existing genera using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences.
Main Methods:
- Sequencing of the complete ITS region (ITS1, 5.8S rRNA gene, and ITS2) from 53 isolates.
- Phylogenetic reconstruction using parsimony analysis and neighbor-joining analysis.
- Identification of tandem repeated motifs in the ITS1 region.
Main Results:
- Parsimony analysis identified nine monophyletic groups and one distinct isolate, but these did not align with traditional taxonomic schemes.
- None of the studied genera (Diatrype, Diatrypella, Cryptosphaeria, Eutypa, Eutypella) were found to be monophyletic.
- Genera like Diatrype and Eutypa were split into multiple clades, and Diatrypella showed no clear monophyletic association, suggesting convergent evolution of traits like multisporate asci.
Conclusions:
- The current classification of Diatrypaceae genera is not supported by molecular phylogenetic data.
- A revision of the taxonomic concepts within the Diatrypaceae family is necessary.
- Molecular data, particularly ITS sequences, provide a more robust framework for understanding evolutionary relationships in this fungal family.
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