An overview of the systematics of the Sordariomycetes based on a four-gene phylogeny

Ning Zhang, Lisa A. Castlebury, Andrew N. Miller, Sabine M. Huhndorf, Conrad L. Schoch, Keith A. Seifert, Amy Y. Rossman, Jack D. Rogers, Jan Kohlmeyer, Brigitte Volkmann-Kohlmeyer, Gi Ho Sung

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The Sordariomycetes is one of the largest classes in the Ascomycota, and the majority of its species are characterized by perithecial ascomata and inoperculate unitunicate asci. It includes more than 600 genera with over 3000 species and represents a wide range of ecologies including pathogens and endophytes of plants, animal pathogens and mycoparasites. To test and refine the classification of the Sordariomycetes sensu Eriksson (2006), the phylogenetic relationship among 106 taxa from 12 orders out of 16 in the Sordariomycetes was investigated based on four nuclear loci (nSSU and nLSU rDNA, TEF and RPB2), using three species of the Leotiomycetes as outgroups. Three subclasses (i.e. Hypocreomycetidae, Sordariomycetidae and Xylariomycetidae) currently recognized in the classification are well supported with the placement of the Lulworthiales in either a basal group of the Sordariomycetes or a sister group of the Hypocreomycetidae. Except for the Microascales, our results recognize most of the orders as monophyletic groups. Melanospora species form a clade outside of the Hypocreales and are recognized as a distinct order in the Hypocreomycetidae. Glomerellaceae is excluded from the Phyllachorales and placed in Hypocreomycetidae incertae sedis. In the Sordariomycetidae, the Sordariales is a strongly supported clade and occurs within a well supported clade containing the Boliniales and Chaetosphaeriales. Aspects of morphology, ecology and evolution are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1076-1087
Number of pages12
JournalMycologia
Volume98
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2006

Keywords

  • Classification
  • Ecology
  • Evolution
  • Hypocreomycetidae
  • Sordariomycetidae
  • Xylariomycetidae

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Physiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'An overview of the systematics of the Sordariomycetes based on a four-gene phylogeny'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this