Towards a phylogenetic reappraisal of <I>Parmulariaceae</I> and <I>Asterinaceae</I> (<I>Dothideomycetes</I>)

Abstract

Members of the Asterinaceae and Parmulariaceae are obligate biotrophic fungi with a pantropical distribution that grow in direct association with living plant tissues and produce external ascomata and bitunicate asci. These fungi are poorly known, with limited information about their taxonomic position in the Dothideomycetes. Much of what is known is conjectural and based on observation of morphological characters. An assessment of the phylogenetic position of the Asterinaceae and Parmulariaceae is provided based on a phylogenetic analysis of the nrDNA operon (ITS) and the large subunit rDNA (LSU) sequence data obtained from fresh material of selected species collected in Brazil. Three key species were included and epitypified, namely Asterina melastomatis, which is the type species for the type genus of the Asterinaceae; Prillieuxina baccharidincola (Asterinaceae); and Parmularia styracis, which is the type species for the type genus of the Parmulariaceae. An LSU rDNA phylogenetic analysis was performed indicating the correct phylogenetic placement of the Asterinales within the Dothideomycetes. From this initial analysis it is clear that the Parmulariaceae as currently circumscribed is polyphyletic, and that the Asterinaceae and Parmulariaceae are related, which justifies the maintenance of the order Asterinales. Asterotexis cucurbitacearum is recognised as distinct from other Dothideomycetes and placed in the newly proposed family and order (Asterotexiaceae, Asterotexiales), while the higher order phylogeny of Inocyclus angularis remains unresolved. Additionally, Lembosia abaxialis is introduced as a novel species and the phylogenetic placement of the genera Batistinula and Prillieuxina is clarified.

Studies on Parmulariaceae I. A phylogeny based on available sequence data; introducing Parmulariales ord. nov., and Hemigraphaceae, Melaspileellaceae and Stictographaceae fam. nov.

“…The family Parmulariaceae comprises more than 30 genera with extremely varied characters and is polyphyletic (Guatimosim et al 2015). Genera such as Aldona, Aldonata, Dictyocyclus and Hemigrapha are not typical of the family when compared with the type (Inácio & Cannon 2008, Tian et al 2015.…”

“…Genera such as Aldona, Aldonata, Dictyocyclus and Hemigrapha are not typical of the family when compared with the type (Inácio & Cannon 2008, Tian et al 2015. There are few studies relating to the phylogeny of Parmulariaceae (Guatimosim et al 2015, Hyde et al 2016, Liu et al 2017, as genera of this family are unculturable, therefore it is hard to obtain their DNA sequence data. However, sequence data is available for Hemigrapha, Inocyclus and Parmularia with DNA extracted from fresh specimens.…”

Mycosphere notes 51-101. Revision of genera in Perisporiopsidaceae and Pseudoperisporiaceae and other Ascomycota genera incertae sedis

“…Inácio and Cannon (2008) designated specimens of I. psychotriae in K as lectotype, and in NY as isolectotype because the type material has not been seen. Guatimosim et al (2015) used sequence data of I. angularis in their phylogenetic tree and concluded that the phylogeny of Inocyclus in Parmulariaceae is unresolved because sequence data of type species is unavailable. The morphology of I. psychotriae ( Fig.…”

Asterina arxii‐batistae sp. nov. (Asterinaceae) on fabaceous hosts in Brazil

“…Fungi in the genus Asterina are cosmopolitan, but are most commonly found in the tropics, where ca. 90% of the species are described (Farr & Rossman, ; Guatimosim et al., ; Hosagoudar & Abraham, ).…”