Mycosphaerellaceae - Chaos or clarity?

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Plant Pathology
• Fungal Taxonomy

Background:

• Mycosphaerellaceae fungi cause significant plant diseases globally.
• Accurate taxonomy is crucial for managing agricultural, horticultural, and forestry impacts.
• Previous studies identified distinct genera but lacked comprehensive phylogenetic resolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To resolve phylogenetic relationships within the Mycosphaerellaceae family.
• To clarify the taxonomic position of cercosporoid fungi.
• To provide a stable taxonomic framework for the Mycosphaerellaceae.

Main Methods:

• Multigene phylogenetic analysis using LSU, ITS, and rpb2 markers.
• Analysis of 415 isolates representing 297 taxa, including ex-type strains.
• Phylogenetic and morphological character assessment.

Main Results:

• Many established Mycosphaerellaceae genera were found to be paraphyletic.
• Several generic names were resurrected (e.g., Cercosporidium, Fulvia).
• 32 new genera were described, bringing the accepted total to 120, with some cercosporoid genera remaining unresolved.

Conclusions:

• The study establishes a robust phylogenetic framework for Mycosphaerellaceae taxonomy.
• Resurrected and new genera improve taxonomic stability.
• Further research is needed for unresolved cercosporoid genera and pending collections.