Molecular phylogeny of Boliniales (Sordariomycetes) with an assessment of the systematics of Apiorhynchostoma, Endoxyla and Pseudovalsaria

Abstract

The systematics of the ascomycete genera Apiorhynchostoma, Endoxyla and Pseudovalsaria are reevaluated based on the comparison of cultural characteristics, teleomorph morphology and DNA sequence data. Analyses of sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the ribosomal DNA operon and the large subunit (LSU) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA gene resolve Boliniales as a robustly supported lineage comprising Apiorhynchostoma, Camarops, Camaropella, Cornipulvina, Endoxyla and Pseudovalsaria. Within Boliniales, species of Endoxyla form a strongly supported lineage. Apiorhynchostoma curreyi and Pseudovalsaria ferruginea group with Cornipulvina ellipsoides. Species of Camarops are paraphyletic and comprise two clades, one of which includes Camaropella. Boliniaceae is emended, Endoxyla mallochii is described as new and Apiorhynchostoma trabicola is considered a synonym of Apiorhynchostoma altipetum. We also propose the combinations Endoxyla occulta, Endoxylina luteobasis and Jobellisia peckii. Keys to genera included in the Boliniaceae and to species of Apiocamarops, Apiorhynchostoma and Endoxyla are provided.

• Boliniaceae
• hyaline cap
• infrequently collected microfungi
• lignicolous pyrenomycetes
• porate ascospores
• systematics

Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the help of Gary McNeely, Walter Gams and two anonymous reviewers for their useful suggestions and critical comments that improved this paper. We also thank the curators of DAOM, FH, K, NBM, NY, PRM and Z for the loan of specimens in their care. Special thanks are extended to Jennifer Wilkinson (DAOM) for providing information regarding a number of critical herbarium labels. David Malloch is acknowledged for encouraging one of us (WAU) to study Endoxyla for her MSc thesis and to continue working on these and other infrequently collected Boliniales.

Our work was financially supported by a discovery grant from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada to WAU, by National Foundation of the Czech Republic ( GAP 506/12/0038) to MR, and as a long-term research development project of the Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences (No. RVO 67985939) and of the Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences (No. RVO 61388971). The Canada Foundation for Innovation is also gratefully acknowledged for infrastructure awards to WAU.