A molecular phylogeny and a new classification of parmelioid lichens containing Xanthoparmelia­type lichenan (Ascomycota: Lecanorales)

Abstract

Generic concepts in the parmelioid lichens have been discussed intensively over the past three decades without reaching a broad consensus. We have now employed molecular data from three genes to provide a basis for a revised generic concept of the parmelioid lichens containing Xanthoparmelia­type lichenan. The phylogeny of the parmelioid lichens containing Xanthoparmelia­type lichenan was reconstructed using a combined Bayesian analysis of nuclear ITS, LSU rDNA and mitochondrial SSU rDNA sequences, and a maximum parsimony analysis was also made for comparison. 179 new partial sequences of 58 taxa were generated and 12 sequences were downloaded from GenBank. Our results indicate that the lichens containing Xanthoparmelia­type lichenan form a monophyletic group. However, the segregates proposed earlier do not form distinct clades within the group. Alternative hypotheses of monophyletic Karoowia and Neofuscelia that are not nested within Xanthoparmelia were rejected with our dataset; Karoowia is polyphyletic, and Neofuscelia is reduced to synonymy under Xanthoparmelia. Xanthomaculina convoluta also belongs to Xanthoparmelia. Since we were unable to sequence the umbilicate type species of Xanthomaculina, we refrain from synonymizing that genus with Xanthoparmelia here. The synonymy of Chondropsis and Paraparmelia under Xanthoparmelia already proposed is supported. The revised and enlarged genus Xanthoparmelia includes species that have cell walls with Xanthoparmelia­type lichenan, a palisade plectenchyma with a pored epicortex, lack pseudocyphellae, with usually simple rhizines, generally bifusiform conidia, and medullary chemical diversity. Ten new names are proposed, and 129 new combinations are made into Xanthoparmelia.

The lichen-forming fungi of the Xanthoparmelia pulla group (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota) in Poland

“…Molecular studies have shown, however, that the genus Neofuscelia was polyphyletic, with its clades scattered within Xanthoparmelia. Consequently, the species of the genus Neofuscelia have been included in the Xanthoparmelia [11].…”

“…Molecular studies have shown, however, that the genus Neofuscelia was polyphyletic, with its clades scattered within Xanthoparmelia. Consequently, the species of the genus Neofuscelia have been included in the Xanthoparmelia [11].Xanthoparmelia pulla group includes about 25 taxa dispersed throughout the world, seven of which occur in Europe [12]. Due to the frequent absence of apothecia and the lack of obvious differences in their structure, these taxa are traditionally distinguished on the basis of morphological features of the thallus, such as the color of lower cortex, shape of lobes and the presence or absence of vegetative propagules [12].…”

Pseudocyphellae ontogeny and thallus anatomy in species of Punctelia Krog (Parmeliaceae, lichenized Ascomycota)

“…The most recently reported phylogenies mainly focus on specific groups or species (Blanco et al 2004;Crespo et al 2004;Lendemer & Hodkinson 2010;Alors et al 2016), and the circumscription of the genus remains unestablished. Anatomical studies have proven to be important, supplying additional data for the group distinction.…”

Modeling the potential distribution of three lichens of the Xanthoparmelia pulla group (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota) in Central Europe

“…Due to the brown color of the thalli, and lack of atranorin, usnic and isousnic acids in the upper cortical layer, these species have been until recently classified as a separate genus Neofuscelia Essl. However, molecular studies have shown that Neofuscelia genus was polyphyletic, with the clades scattered within Xanthoparmelia [1]. Consequently, the species of Neofuscelia genus have been synonymized with Xanthoparmelia.…”

“…The genus Xanthoparmelia is one of the largest within the Parmeliaceae, including over 800 species of lichen-forming fungi [1,2]. Most of these grow on siliceous rocks in dry and well-sunlit places, including arid and semiarid Mediterranean climates.…”