ARS | Publication request: REVEALING UNDISCOVERED LINEAGES IN THE ASCOMYCETES

Submitted to: Inoculum
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: April 1, 2004
Publication Date: June 15, 2004
Citation: Rossman, A.Y., Aime, M.C., Castlebury, L.A., Farr, D.F. 2004.Revealing undiscovered lineages in the ascomycetes.Inoculum.55(4):33

Technical Abstract: With the increased use of molecular tools to determine biological diversity, ecologists are demonstrating the ubiquitous and diverse presence of fungi in terrestrial habitats. Two recent ecological studies using sequences to identify fungi present numerous fungal lineages that do not match any of the groups represented by sequences in GenBank. These are considered by ecologists to represent groups of fungi that are new to science. Systematic studies reveal numerous undiscovered lineages for fungi that are well-known, named and described. This suggests that many groups of well-known fungi still are not represented by sequences in GenBank. Examples of newly discovered lineages of Ascomycetes will be presented. The well-known coelomycetous fungi Chaetomella raphigera and Pilidium concavum with congeneric species represents a new lineage allied with the Leotioales. In addition to being isolated from soil worldwide, C. raphigera may be pathogenic on blueberries in Florida. Black mold, Stachybotrys chartarum, the notorious indoor air fungus, and other species of Stachybotrys are determined to be closely related to Myrothecium and the obscure tropical fungus Didymostilbe echinostriata. Members of both genera produce macrocyclic trichothecenes. These fungi represent a new lineage in the well-studied Hypocreales. A fungus commonly found on reed grass, Phragmites australis, throughout North America represents a new genus in the Schizothyriaceae. No members of the loculoascomycete families Saccardiaceae and Schizothyriaceae have previously been sequenced. Within the Diaporthales a newly discovered lineage that is well-defined based on sequence data has been revealed for a hodge-podge of species previously been placed in other genera. The type species for most of these genera belong elsewhere in the order. Many groups of well-known ascomycetes especially coelomycetes, members of the Leotiales and tropical microfungi have not been sequenced. It is premature to assume that the sequences without a match in GenBank are undescribed fungal species.