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Yang EF, Dai DQ, Bhat JD, Dawoud TM, Promputtha I, Adikaram N, Stephenson SL, Karunarathna SC, Tibpromma S. Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Studies of Saprobic Fungi Associated with Mangifera indica in Yunnan, China. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:680. [PMID: 37367616 DOI: 10.3390/jof9060680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungi are a large and diverse group of microorganisms, and although the estimated number of species ranges between 2 and 11 million, only around 150,000 species have been described thus far. The investigation of plant-associated fungi is beneficial for estimating global fungal diversity, for ecosystem conservation, and for the continued development of industry and agriculture. Mango, one of the world's five most economically important fruit crops, is grown in over 100 countries and has been demonstrated to have a great economical value. During surveys of mango-associated saprobic fungi in Yunnan (China), we discovered three new species (Acremoniisimulans hongheensis, Chaenothecopsis hongheensis and Hilberina hongheensis) and five new records. The phylogenetic analyses of multi-gene sequences (LSU, SSU, ITS, rpb2, tef1-α and tub2) coupled with morphological examinations were used to identify all the taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Er-Fu Yang
- Center for Yunnan Plateau Biological Resources Protection and Utilization, College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Master of Science Program in Applied Microbiology (International Program), Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Dong-Qin Dai
- Center for Yunnan Plateau Biological Resources Protection and Utilization, College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China
| | - Jayarama D Bhat
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Biology Division, Vishnugupta Vishwavidyapeetam, Ashoke, Gokarna 581326, India
| | - Turki M Dawoud
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Itthayakorn Promputtha
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Nimal Adikaram
- National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka
| | - Steven L Stephenson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Samantha C Karunarathna
- Center for Yunnan Plateau Biological Resources Protection and Utilization, College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China
- National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka
| | - Saowaluck Tibpromma
- Center for Yunnan Plateau Biological Resources Protection and Utilization, College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China
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Beimforde C, Schmidt AR, Tuovila H, Kaulfuss U, Germer J, Lee WG, Rikkinen J. Chaenothecopsis (Mycocaliciales, Ascomycota) from exudates of endemic New Zealand Podocarpaceae. MycoKeys 2023; 95:101-129. [DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.95.97601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The order Mycocaliciales (Ascomycota) comprises fungal species with diverse, often highly specialized substrate ecologies. Particularly within the genus Chaenothecopsis, many species exclusively occur on fresh and solidified resins or other exudates of vascular plants. In New Zealand, the only previously known species growing on plant exudate is Chaenothecopsis schefflerae, found on several endemic angiosperms in the family Araliaceae. Here we describe three new species; Chaenothecopsis matai Rikkinen, Beimforde, Tuovila & A.R. Schmidt, C. nodosa Beimforde, Tuovila, Rikkinen & A.R. Schmidt, and C. novae-zelandiae Rikkinen, Beimforde, Tuovila & A.R. Schmidt, all growing on exudates of endemic New Zealand conifers of the Podocarpaceae family, particularly on Prumnopitys taxifolia. Phylogenetic analyses based on ribosomal DNA regions (ITS and LSU) grouped them into a distinct, monophyletic clade. This, as well as the restricted host range, suggests that all three taxa are endemic to New Zealand. Copious insect frass between the ascomata contain ascospores or show an early stage of ascomata development, indicating that the fungi are spread by insects. The three new species represent the first evidence of Chaenothecopsis from any Podocarpaceae species and the first from any gymnosperm exudates in New Zealand.
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Thiyagaraja V, Ertz D, Lücking R, Wanasinghe DN, Aptroot A, Cáceres MEDS, Hyde KD, Tapingkae W, Cheewangkoon R. Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Reassessment of Pyrgidium (Mycocaliciales) and Investigation of Ascospore Morphology. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8090966. [PMID: 36135691 PMCID: PMC9500946 DOI: 10.3390/jof8090966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycocaliciales comprise non-lichenized either saprotrophic or lichenicolous fungi which occur in temperate and tropical regions. The mazaediate, saprotrophic and monospecific genus, Pyrgidium, is currently assigned to this order, yet the phylogenetic placement of the genus has remained uncertain due to the absence of molecular data. In order to investigate the systematic position of Pyrgidium, two specimens collected in Brazil and Thailand, respectively, were used to generate mtSSU, SSU, LSU and ITS sequences. However, given that most other representatives of this order only have LSU and ITS sequences available, the phylogenetic reconstruction was limited to these two markers. The phylogenetic analyses confirmed placement of the genus within Mycocaliciales, the genus possessing a sister group relationship with the lichenicolous genus Sphinctrina. Detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations are provided, including those for type specimens of the various synonyms subsumed under the hitherto only accepted species, Pyrgidium montellicum (Beltr.) Tibell. The ascospore morphology was investigated using compound and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed for the ascospore size using PC-ORD 7. The molecular data and re-examination of the type specimens support the monospecific nature of this genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinodhini Thiyagaraja
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Centre of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand
- Centre for Mountain Futures (CMF), CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Biodiversity and Biogeography of East Asia (KLPB), Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
- CIFOR-ICRAF China Program, World Agroforestry Centre, East and Central Asia, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Damien Ertz
- Research Department, Meise Botanic Garden, Nieuwelaan 38, BE-1860 Meise, Belgium
- Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Service Général de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique, Rue A. Lavallée 1, BE-1080 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Robert Lücking
- Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 6–8, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dhanushka N. Wanasinghe
- Centre for Mountain Futures (CMF), CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Biodiversity and Biogeography of East Asia (KLPB), Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
- CIFOR-ICRAF China Program, World Agroforestry Centre, East and Central Asia, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming 650201, China
| | - André Aptroot
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Avenida Costa e Silva, s/n Bairro Universitário, Campo Grande CEP 79070-900, Brazil
| | | | - Kevin D. Hyde
- Centre of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand
- Centre for Mountain Futures (CMF), CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Biodiversity and Biogeography of East Asia (KLPB), Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
- CIFOR-ICRAF China Program, World Agroforestry Centre, East and Central Asia, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Wanaporn Tapingkae
- Department of Animal and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Ratchadawan Cheewangkoon
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Correspondence:
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Tischer M, Gorczak M, Bojarski B, Pawłowska J, Hoffeins C, Hoffeins HW, Wrzosek M. New fossils of ascomycetous anamorphic fungi from Baltic amber. Fungal Biol 2019; 123:804-810. [PMID: 31627856 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2019.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Three new fossils of saprotrophic fungi are presented and described from Baltic amber, dated to Eocene epoch (Paleogene, upper to mid-Eocene). All belong to Ascomycota and are represented by hyphae as well as asexual reproduction structures allowing to assign them to present genera, respectively Periconia, Penicillium and Scopulariopsis. These material provide both the first and the oldest known fossil record of the mentioned taxa, making these data valuable for the knowledge about the evolutionary history of the Ascomycota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Tischer
- Department of Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Center, University of Warsaw, ul. Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland; Department for Animal Evolution and Biodiversity, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Michał Gorczak
- Department of Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Center, University of Warsaw, ul. Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Błażej Bojarski
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Entomology and Museum of Inclusions in Amber, University of Gdańsk, ul. Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Julia Pawłowska
- Department of Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Center, University of Warsaw, ul. Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Marta Wrzosek
- Department of Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Center, University of Warsaw, ul. Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland
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Samarakoon MC, Hyde KD, Hongsanan S, McKenzie EHC, Ariyawansa HA, Promputtha I, Zeng XY, Tian Q, Liu JK(J. Divergence time calibrations for ancient lineages of Ascomycota classification based on a modern review of estimations. FUNGAL DIVERS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s13225-019-00423-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Grimaldi DA, Sunderlin D, Aaroe GA, Dempsky MR, Parker NE, Tillery GQ, White JG, Barden P, Nascimbene PC, Williams CJ. Biological Inclusions in Amber from the Paleogene Chickaloon Formation of Alaska. AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES 2018. [DOI: 10.1206/3908.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David A. Grimaldi
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York
| | - David Sunderlin
- Department of Geology & Environmental Geosciences, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania
| | - Georgene A. Aaroe
- Department of Geology & Environmental Geosciences, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania
| | - Michelle R. Dempsky
- Department of Geology & Environmental Geosciences, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania
| | - Nancy E. Parker
- Department of Geology & Environmental Geosciences, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania
| | - George Q. Tillery
- Department of Geology & Environmental Geosciences, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania
| | - Jaclyn G. White
- Department of Geology & Environmental Geosciences, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania
| | - Phillip Barden
- Department of Biology, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark
| | - Paul C. Nascimbene
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York
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Honegger R, Edwards D, Axe L, Strullu-Derrien C. Fertile Prototaxites taiti: a basal ascomycete with inoperculate, polysporous asci lacking croziers. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 373:20170146. [PMID: 29254969 PMCID: PMC5745340 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The affinities of Prototaxites have been debated ever since its fossils, some attaining tree-trunk proportions, were discovered in Canadian Lower Devonian rocks in 1859. Putative assignations include conifers, red and brown algae, liverworts and fungi (some lichenised). Detailed anatomical investigation led to the reconstruction of the type species, P. logani, as a giant sporophore (basidioma) of an agaricomycete (= holobasidiomycete), but evidence for its reproduction remained elusive. Tissues associated with P. taiti in the Rhynie chert plus charcoalified fragments from southern Britain are investigated here to describe the reproductive characters and hence affinities of Prototaxites Thin sections and peels (Pragian Rhynie chert, Aberdeenshire) were examined using light and confocal microscopy; Přídolí and Lochkovian charcoalified samples (Welsh Borderland) were liberated from the rock and examined with scanning electron microscopy. Prototaxites taiti possessed a superficial hymenium comprising an epihymenial layer, delicate septate paraphyses, inoperculate polysporic asci lacking croziers and a subhymenial layer composed predominantly of thin-walled hyphae and occasional larger hyphae. Prototaxites taiti combines features of extant Taphrinomycotina (Neolectomycetes lacking croziers) and Pezizomycotina (epihymenial layer secreted by paraphyses) but is not an ancestor of the latter. Brief consideration is given to its nutrition and potential position in the phylogeny of the Ascomycota.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'The Rhynie cherts: our earliest terrestrial ecosystem revisited'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosmarie Honegger
- Institute of Plant and Microbiology, University of Zürich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Dianne Edwards
- School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Lindsey Axe
- School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
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Ekanayaka AH, Ariyawansa HA, Hyde KD, Jones EBG, Daranagama DA, Phillips AJL, Hongsanan S, Jayasiri SC, Zhao Q. DISCOMYCETES: the apothecial representatives of the phylum Ascomycota. FUNGAL DIVERS 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s13225-017-0389-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Tuovila H, Davey ML, Yan L, Huhtinen S, Rikkinen J. New resinicolous Chaenothecopsis species from China. Mycologia 2014; 106:989-1003. [PMID: 24891410 DOI: 10.3852/13-178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Four new resinicolous species of Chaenothecopsis are described from China: Chaenothecopsis perforata from exudate of Rhus chinensis (Anacardiaceae), C. pallida from exudate of Ailanthus altissima (Simaroubaceae), C. resinophila from exudate of Kalopanax septemlobus (Araliaceae) and C. hunanensis from resin of Pinus massoniana (Pinaceae). All the new species are compared with previously described resinicolous mycocalicioid taxa, and several new features in these species are presented. The newly described species cannot always be distinguished by any single character, but they all possess unique combinations of morphological, chemical and ecological features. Several aspects in the ecology and evolution of boreal and tropical resinicolous species are briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Tuovila
- Department of Biosciences, P.O. Box 65, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marie L Davey
- Arctic Biology Department, University Centre in Svalbard, P.O. Box 156, N-9171 Longyearbyen, Norway
| | - Lihong Yan
- Hunan Province Forest Botanical Garden, Botanical Garden Road 111, Dongjingpu, Yuhua District, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China (P.C. 410116)
| | - Seppo Huhtinen
- Herbarium, University of Turku, FIN-20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Jouko Rikkinen
- Department of Biosciences, P.O. Box 65, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland
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Beimforde C, Feldberg K, Nylinder S, Rikkinen J, Tuovila H, Dörfelt H, Gube M, Jackson DJ, Reitner J, Seyfullah LJ, Schmidt AR. Estimating the Phanerozoic history of the Ascomycota lineages: combining fossil and molecular data. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2014; 78:386-98. [PMID: 24792086 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2014.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2013] [Revised: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The phylum Ascomycota is by far the largest group in the fungal kingdom. Ecologically important mutualistic associations such as mycorrhizae and lichens have evolved in this group, which are regarded as key innovations that supported the evolution of land plants. Only a few attempts have been made to date the origin of Ascomycota lineages by using molecular clock methods, which is primarily due to the lack of satisfactory fossil calibration data. For this reason we have evaluated all of the oldest available ascomycete fossils from amber (Albian to Miocene) and chert (Devonian and Maastrichtian). The fossils represent five major ascomycete classes (Coniocybomycetes, Dothideomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, Laboulbeniomycetes, and Lecanoromycetes). We have assembled a multi-gene data set (18SrDNA, 28SrDNA, RPB1 and RPB2) from a total of 145 taxa representing most groups of the Ascomycota and utilized fossil calibration points solely from within the ascomycetes to estimate divergence times of Ascomycota lineages with a Bayesian approach. Our results suggest an initial diversification of the Pezizomycotina in the Ordovician, followed by repeated splits of lineages throughout the Phanerozoic, and indicate that this continuous diversification was unaffected by mass extinctions. We suggest that the ecological diversity within each lineage ensured that at least some taxa of each group were able to survive global crises and rapidly recovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Beimforde
- Courant Research Centre Geobiology, University of Göttingen, Goldschmidtstraße 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Kathrin Feldberg
- Systematic Botany and Mycology, Faculty of Biology, University of Munich (LMU), Menzinger Str. 67, 80638 Munich, Germany
| | - Stephan Nylinder
- Department of Botany, Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jouko Rikkinen
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hanna Tuovila
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heinrich Dörfelt
- Microbial Communication, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Neugasse 25, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Matthias Gube
- Microbial Communication, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Neugasse 25, 07743 Jena, Germany; Department of Soil Science of Temperate Ecosystems, Büsgen Institute, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Daniel J Jackson
- Courant Research Centre Geobiology, University of Göttingen, Goldschmidtstraße 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Joachim Reitner
- Courant Research Centre Geobiology, University of Göttingen, Goldschmidtstraße 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Leyla J Seyfullah
- Courant Research Centre Geobiology, University of Göttingen, Goldschmidtstraße 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexander R Schmidt
- Courant Research Centre Geobiology, University of Göttingen, Goldschmidtstraße 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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On the relation of Potamomyces armatisporus to the fossil form-type Mediaverrunites and its taxonomical and ecological implications. FUNGAL ECOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2013.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Prieto M, Wedin M. Dating the diversification of the major lineages of Ascomycota (Fungi). PLoS One 2013; 8:e65576. [PMID: 23799026 PMCID: PMC3683012 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2013] [Accepted: 04/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Establishing the dates for the origin and main diversification events in the phylogeny of Ascomycota is among the most crucial remaining goals in understanding the evolution of Fungi. There have been several analyses of divergence times in the fungal tree of life in the last two decades, but most have yielded contrasting results for the origin of the major lineages. Moreover, very few studies have provided temporal estimates for a large set of clades within Ascomycota. We performed molecular dating to estimate the divergence times of most of the major groups of Ascomycota. To account for paleontological uncertainty, we included alternative fossil constraints as different scenarios to enable a discussion of the effect of selection of fossils. We used data from 6 molecular markers and 121 extant taxa within Ascomycota. Our various 'relaxed clock' scenarios suggest that the origin and diversification of the Pezizomycotina occurred in the Cambrian. The main lineages of lichen-forming Ascomycota originated at least as early as the Carboniferous, with successive radiations in the Jurassic and Cretaceous generating the diversity of the main modern groups. Our study provides new information about the timing of the main diversification events in Ascomycota, including estimates for classes, orders and families of both lichenized and non-lichenized Ascomycota, many of which had not been previously dated.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Prieto
- Department of Botany, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden.
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