A new 18S rRNA phylogeny of uncultured predacious fungi (Zoopagales)

ABSTRACT

Previous molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that families in Zoopagales are not monophyletic. To test the monophyly of genera and species in the order, we used a single-cell approach to generate nuclear 18S rRNA (18S) sequences for 10 isolates representing nine taxa. We provide the first sequences for the genus Zoopage and additional sequences for taxa in Cocholonema, Acaulopage, and Zoophagus. Our results reveal that Zoophagus, Zoopage, and Acaulopage tetraceros are not monophyletic. We conclude that morphology alone is not sufficient to delineate genera and species in the order and encourage studies that increase genetic sampling of taxa including type species.

KEYWORDS:

• Acaulopage
• Cochlonema
• single-cell amplification
• Stylopage
• Zoopage
• Zoopagomycota
• Zoophagus

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Robert Harold Davis, Lovina Davis, Jim Davis, Vickie Davis, and Elizabeth Rhodes for the samples yielding the Ohio Acaulopage sp., Zoopage sp., and Cochlonema odontosperma isolates; Jason Martin for the sample yielding the Alabama isolate of Acaulopage tetroceros; and Brandon Hassett for the moose dung. We thank Robby Robinson and the ZyGoLife project for the opportunity to sample in Tempe, Arizona.

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Additional information

Funding

This project was funded by National Science Foundation (NSF) grant DEB 1441677.