An evaluation of the monophyly of Massarina based on ribosomal DNA sequences

Abstract

The monophyletic status of the genus Massarina was evaluated on the basis of phylogenetic analysis of the partial small subunit gene (SSU), internal transcribed spacers (ITS 1 & 2), and 5.8S gene sequences of the ribosomal DNA. Species of Massarina used in the study clustered into two distinct clades with high bootstrap support in trees generated from maximum parsimony, weighted parsimony, maximum likelihood, and neighbor-joining analyses. The hypothesis that Massarina species belong to a phylogenetically monophyletic group is rejected. Species with narrowly fusiform ascospores form a monophyletic clade with Lophiostoma, a genus highly similar in morphology. The five species currently accepted in Massarina with such spore morphology are here transferred into the genus Lophiostoma. Massarina species with broadly fusiform to ellipsoidal ascospores are retained as Massarina s. str., lectotypified by M. eburnea. Massarina walkeri is presently excluded from both Massarina and Lophiostoma. The transfer of M. papulosa to a new genus Oletheriostrigula is verified.

• ascomycetes
• fungi
• Lophiostoma
• Lophiostomataceae

This research was funded by The Hong Kong Research Grants Council. E.C.Y. Liew thanks the University of Hong Kong for a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship. The technical assistance of V.M. Ranghoo and D. Alex is gratefully acknowledged. Dr R.C. Summerbell is warmly thanked for critically reading the text.