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.

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).

Hidden diversity of marine borderline lichens and a new order of fungi:Collemopsidiales(Dothideomyceta)

The fungal genus Collemopsidium comprises species that develop so-called borderline lichen symbioses with algae or cyanobacteria.Together with morphologically similar pyrenocarpous fungi it has been assigned to the family Xanthopyreniaceae.The adscription of this family to higher taxonomic ranks remain uncertain.Using sequence data of five nuclear genomic regions(nuLSU,nuSSU,tef1-α,rpb1 and rpb2)and onemitochondrial locus(mtSSU)we found that the studied representatives of this family are placed in the Dothideomyceta,yet relationships with the classes Dothideomycetes and Arthoniomycetes remain uncertain.We describe the new order Collemopsidiales to accommodate the genus Collemopsidium(paraphyletic as currently understood)and the lichenicolous genus Zwackhiomyces.Using five fungal fossils as calibrations points,we infer an age of c.230 Mya for the crown of Collemopsidiales.Based on two molecular markers,we also provide insight into the global diversity of marine species of the genus Collemopsidium.According to the species delimitation algorithm GMYC,c.26 putative species exist,far more than the six species recognized hitherto.We have confirmed this result by comparing the two alternative species models by means of Bayes factors,using path sampling and stepping-stone sampling algorithms to estimate the marginal likelihood of each model.Finally,our observations suggest rock-boring ability evolved in parallel in the different lineages within this group of fungi.

Global assessment of genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity in the lichen-forming species Tephromela atra

Understanding how many species exist and the processes by which they form remains a central topic of ecological and evolutionary biology,but represents a special challenge within microbial groups.The lichen-forming fungi represent one of the best examples in which species evolution and diversity create patterns of high phenotypic plasticity coupled with wide geographic distributions.We sampled the lichen-forming species Tephromela atra and related species at a world-wide scale to reconstruct a phylogenetic hypothesis using three nuclear markers.Samples were also studied for morphological and chemical traits to assess how well the phenotypic relationships with species,previously segregated from T.atra,agrees with molecular data.We used a genealogical concordance approach and identified 15 monophyletic clades,which may represent independent lineages.By combining morphological and chemical characters,ecological preferences and geographic origin we distinguish six different species.Although subtle phenotypical traits are frequently used for describing previously cryptic species in fungi,the continuum of variability found in morphology and chemical patterns in T.atra prevents the description of new taxa with characteristic traits.We observed that phenotypic characters arise in parallel at local or regional scale but are not correlated with genetic isolation.Therefore,they are insufficient for characterizing species with broad geographic ranges within T.atra.

Refined families of Dothideomycetes:orders and families incertae sedis in Dothideomycetes

Numerous new taxa and classifications of Dothideomycetes have been published following the last monograph of families of Dothideomycetes in 2013.A recent publication by Honsanan et al.in 2020 expanded information of families in Dothideo-mycetidae and Pleosporomycetidae with modern classifications.In this paper,we provide a refined updated document on orders and families incertae sedis of Dothideomycetes.Each family is provided with an updated description,notes,including figures to represent the morphology,a list of accepted genera,and economic and ecological significances.We also provide phylogenetic trees for each order.In this study,31 orders which consist 50 families are assigned as orders incertae sedis in Dothideomycetes,and 41 families are treated as families incertae sedis due to lack of molecular or morphological evidence.The new order,Catinellales,and four new families,Catinellaceae,Morenoinaceae Neobuelliellaceae and Thyrinulaceae are introduced.Seven genera(Neobuelliella,Pseudomicrothyrium,Flagellostrigula,Swinscowia,Macroconstrictolumina,Pseudobogoriella,and Schummia)are introduced.Seven new species(Acrospermum urticae,Bogoriella complexoluminata,Dothiorella ostryae,Dyfrolomyces distoseptatus,Macroconstrictolumina megalateralis,Patellaria microspora,and Pseu-domicrothyrium thailandicum)are introduced base on morphology and phylogeny,together with two new records/reports and five new collections from different families.Ninety new combinations are also provided in this paper.