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Open Access Phylogeny, evolution and a re-classification of the Lichinomycetes

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The Lichinomycetes is an independent lichenized lineage within theAscomycota comprisingca. 390 species and 50 genera. Very few studies have dealt with family and genus classification using molecular data and many groups are in need of thorough revision. Thus, we constructed a multilocus phylogeny (mtSSU, RPB2 and mcm7 gene regions) including 190 specimens of Lichinomycetes belonging to 126 species. Ancestral state reconstruction analyses were carried out to trace the evolution of selected characters. The current classification scheme of the Lichinomycetes based on morphological and anatomical characters is in great conflict with the phylogenetic relationships resulting from the present study. The results suggest substantial non-monophyly at the family and genus levels. A revised classification is proposed here and an overview of genera accepted in the Lichinomycetes is given. Ancestral Lichinomycetes are reconstructed as crustose with pycnoascocarps and octosporous asci. We used a combination of characters to delineate groups including the ascoma development and the type of asci. The revised classification includes 11 new genera, five resurrected genera, and 54 new combinations distributed in four families (three emended and one new). Three new species are also described.

Keywords: ANCESTRAL RECONSTRUCTION; ASCOMA ONTOGENY; GLOEOHEPPIACEAE; HEPPIACEAE; LICHINACEAE; NEW TAXA; PELTULACEAE

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: Area of Biodiversity and Conservation, Department of Biology and Geology, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry, Rey Juan Carlos University, E-28933 Móstoles, Spain 2: Department of Botany, Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, SE-10405 Stockholm, Sweden 3: Herbarium Hamburgense, Institute for Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, Ohnhorststr. 18, D-22609, Hamburg, Germany

Publication date: December 1, 2024

This article was made available online on November 21, 2024 as a Fast Track article with title: "Phylogeny, evolution and a re-classification of the Lichinomycetes".

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  • Studies in Mycology is an international journal which publishes systematic monographs of filamentous fungi and yeasts, and special topical issues related to all fields of mycology, biotechnology, ecology, molecular biology, pathology and systematics. The journal is Open-Access and contains monographs or topical issues (5–6 papers per issue). There are no restrictions of length, although it is generally expected that manuscripts should be at least 50 A4 pages in print.
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