Abstract
Relationships between Scopulariopsisspecies and allied fungi were studied by sequencing a 350 bp gene region of the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (LSUrDNA). In addition, a limited morphological dataset of nine characters was included in the cladistic analysis. Nineteen mitosporic strains (nine Scopulariopsis, five Wardomyces, three Doratomyces, one Trichurusand one Scedosporiumspecies) and 21 meiosporic strains (14 Microascus, 4 Kerniaand 3 Pithoascusspecies) were studied. The data were analysed using parsimony methods. Based on the analyses, the studied microascaceous fungi are divided to 12 molecular lineages. Most of the opportunistic human pathogenic Scopulariopsisspecies are placed in one clade (‘Microascus manginiiClade’). Most synnematous anamorphs with Scopulariopsislikeconidia (Doratomycesand Trichurus) are placed in another clade (‘Microascus albonigrescensClade’), together with Wardomyces. Microascus sensu latocan be divided into seven clades which also incorporate all studied Pithoascus, Scopulariopsis, Wardomycesand Trichurusspecies and most of the Doratomycesspecies. Most of the Kerniateleomorphs and one Doratomycesspecies are placed in a different main clade, together with Pseudallescheriaand Petriella. Future alternatives in the taxonomy of Microascusinclude splitting the genus or redefining it to include deviating taxa. More molecular data need to be obtained and considered in either case.
