Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Fungi

Abstract

Two important volumes facilitating the identification of plant-parasitic fungi are welcomed: BRANDENBURGER (1985) compiled a vast amount of literature data on parasitic fungi (excluding macromycetes) that attack vascular plants in Europe;ELLIS and ELLIS (1985) present very useful observations and some keys as well as original illustrations on a more critically selected range of fungi growing on land plants, mainly British, also arranged according to host substrates. A volume on fungus-insect relationships (WHEELER and BLACKWELL 1984) contains chapters on the evolution of symbiotic associations.In a review of protein and nucleic acid sequences and ultrastructure data as a basis for the reconstruction of eukaryote phylogeny, McQUADE (1983) concludes that great uncertainty on the origin of the eumycetes persists, but the models available so far are consistent with the hypothesis that the chytrids represent ancestors to the eumycetes. PRILLINGER (1984) continued his previously reported studies on the nuclear conditions in chitinous fungi . Yeasts or yeast-like growth are considered a primitive type of morphological organization. The previously postulated evolution from mitotic to meiotic propagation is supported by further data. The capacity to form vegetative anastomoses is interpreted as an advanced character. a) Development of Fruit-bodiesIn his last paper, CHADEFAUD (1984) summarized his controversial views on the development of the "gametophytic gyno-carpophore" in the asco-and basidiomycetes. (More under Sect. 8.c . , Basidiomycota). b) ChemotaxonomyThe distribution of ubiquinones in 218 species of the major families of higher fungi shows a remarkable uniformity, with the Q-I0(H ) system predominating in the Pyrenomycetes and Dothideales and the Q-9 system in the Homobasidiomycetes; Heterobasidiomycetes have either Q-9 or Q-10. Greater diversity is found among the Plectomycetes and i~~-~~-our previous contributions . the second author deals with the taxonomy of basidiomycetes and the senior author with remaining groups.