Phylogenomic analysis of 2556 single-copy protein-coding genes resolves most evolutionary relationships for the major clades in the most diverse group of lichen-forming fungi

Phylogenomic datasets continue to enhance our understanding of evolutionary relationships in many lineages of organisms.However,genome-scale data have not been widely implemented in reconstructing relationships in lichenized fungi.Here we generate a data set comprised of 2556 single-copy protein-coding genes to reconstruct previously unresolved rela-tionships in the most diverse family of lichen-forming fungi,Parmeliaceae.Our sampling included 51 taxa,mainly from the subfamily Parmelioideae,and represented six of the seven previously identified major clades within the family.Our results provided strong support for the monophyly of each of these major clades and most backbone relationships in the topology were recovered with high nodal support based on concatenated dataset and species tree analyses.The alectorioid clade was strongly supported as sister-group to all remaining clades,which were divided into two major sister-groups.In the first major clade the anzioid and usneoid clades formed a strongly supported sister-group relationship with the cetrarioid?hypogymnioid group.The sister-group relationship of Evernia with the cetrarioid clade was also strongly supported,whereas that between the anzioid and usneoid clades needs further investigation.In the second major clade Oropogon and Platismatia were sister to the parmelioid group,while the position of Omphalora was not fully resolved.This study demonstrates the power of genome-scale data sets to resolve long-standing,ambiguous phylogenetic rela-tionships of lichen-forming fungi.Furthermore,the topology inferred in this study will provide a valuable framework for better understanding diversification in the most diverse lineage of lichen-forming fungi,Parmeliaceae.

Lichenicolous fungi of the genus Abrothallus (Dothideomycetes: Abrothallales ordo nov.) are sister to the predominantly aquatic Janhulales

This study provides new insights on the phylogenetic position of the lichenicolous fungal genus Abrothallus based on six molecular markers(nuSSU,nuLSU,mtSSU,RPB1,RPB2 and TEF-α).In a broad-scale analysis,we detected high support for inclusion of the genus within Dothideomycetes.A further analysis provided support for Abrothallus as a member of the subclass Pleosporomycetidae as a sister group of Jahnulales,an order of aquatic Dothideomycetes.Given the exclusive characters of this group of apotheciate fungi within the Dothidiomycetes,a new monotypic order Abrothallales is here introduced together with the new family Abrothallaceae.In a multi-locus analysis(based on the six loci indicated above plus ITS)restricted to 12 putative Abrothallus species,two clearly separated clades were observed:one comprising species growing on lichens of the families Parmeliaceae and Ramalinaceae,and the second including species that live on lichens of the order Peltigerales and the family Cladoniaceae.

Using a temporal phylogenetic method to harmonize familyand genus-level classification in the largest clade of lichen-forming fungi

Although classification at supra-specific ranks is inherently arbitrary,comparable taxonomic ranks within clades can facilitate more consistent classifications and objective comparisons among taxa.Different circumscriptions of the hyper-diverse lichen-forming fungal family Parmeliaceae and widely different generic circumscriptions among authors have been proposed.For this study,we use a recently developed temporal approach that uses timecalibrated chronograms to identify temporal bands for specific ranks in Parmeliaceae and allied groups with the overarching goal of establishing a consistent,stable classification.A data set of 330 species,representing 73 genera in the family and 52 species of related families was used to address the circumscription of Parmeliaceae and its genera following the proposed temporal approach.Based on the results of this study,we propose a revised,temporal-based classification for Parmeliaceae,including all clades that share a common ancestor 102.13–112.88 Ma for families and a time window of 29.45–32.55 Ma for genera.Fortyfive of the currently accepted genera in Parmeliaceae were supported in their current circumscription.Two subfamilies are accepted within Parmeliaceae:Protoparmelioideae Divakar et al.subfam.nov.,including Protoparmelia and the resurrected genus Maronina,and Parmelioideae,including the bulk of genera in the family.The new genus Austromelanelixia Divakar et al.is proposed to accommodate a clade of southern Hemisphere species previously included in Melanelixia.Eumitria and tentatively Dolichousnea are resurrected as genera separate from Usnea.The following genera are reduced to synonymy:Allocetraria,Cetrariella,Usnocetraria,and Vulpicida with Cetraria;Arctocetraria,Cetreliopsis,Flavocetraria,Kaernefeltia,Masonhalea,Tuckermanella,and Tuckermannopsis with Nephromopsis;and the lichenicolous genera Nesolechia and Raesaenenia with the lichen-forming genera Punctelia and Protousnea,respectively.A total of 47 new combinations and three new names at the species level are proposed.

Towards a revised generic classification of lecanoroid lichens(Lecanoraceae,Ascomycota)based on molecular,morphological and chemical evidence

Abstract The phylogenetic relationship of lecanoroid lichens is studied using two data sets:1)a 2-locus data set including 251 OTUs representing 150 species,and 2)a 6-locus data set with 82 OTUs representing 53 species.The genus Lecanora as currently circumscribed is shown to be highly polyphyletic and several genera,including Adelolecia,Arctopeltis,Bryonora,Carbonea,Frutidella,Lecidella,Miriquidica,Palicella,Protoparmeliopsis,Pyrrhospora,and Rhizoplaca are nested within Lecanora sensu lato.A core group of Lecanora is supported as monophyletic and includes species of the L.carpinea,L.rupicola,and L.subcarnea groups,and a core group of the L.subfusca group.Three monophyletic clades that are well supported in our analyses and well characterized by phenotypical characters are accepted here:1)Myriolecis to accommodate the Lecanora dispersa group and Arctopeltis;2)Protoparmeliopsis for the L.muralis group;and 3)Rhizoplaca is emended to include three placodioid taxa previously classified in Lecanora(L.novomexicana.L.opiniconensis,L.phaedrophthalma),whereas R.aspidophora and R.peltata are excluded from Rhizoplaca.The latter is transferred into Protoparmeliopsis.Lecidella is strongly supported as a monophyletic group.Our studies indicate the presence of additional clades of species currently placed in Lecanora sensu lato that warrant taxonomic recognition but additional data will be necessary before the circumscription of these entities is fully understood.37 new combinations are proposed into the genera Myriolecis(30),Protoparmeliopsis(2),and Rhizoplaca(5).