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Title: PHYLOGENY OF THE ZYGOMYCOTA BASED ON NUCLEAR RIBOSOMAL SEQUENCE DATA

Author
item WHITE, MERLIN - UNIV OF KANSAS
item JAMES, TIMOTHY - DUKE UNIV, DURHAM NC
item O Donnell, Kerry
item CAFARO, MATIAS - UNIV PUERTO RICO
item TANABE, YUUHIKO - IBARAKI, JAPAN
item SUGIYAMA, JUNTA - TOKYO, JAPAN

Submitted to: Mycologia
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2006
Publication Date: 12/15/2006
Citation: White, M.M., James, T.Y., O Donnell, K., Cafaro, M.J., Tanabe, Y., Sugiyama, J. 2006. Phylogeny of the Zygomycota based on nuclear ribosomal sequence data. Mycologia. 98:872-884.

Interpretive Summary: We collected and analyzed DNA sequence data to better understand the evolutionary origin and relationships of one of the major phyla of agronomically-important true Fungi, the Zygomycota. One of the major findings of this study is that this phylum appears to be artificial in that the DNA-based analyses suggest that the Zygomycota did not have a single evolutionary origin. Although 12 natural evolutionary lineages were identified, only some of these correspond to the 9 orders of Zygomycota currently recognized. For example, the agriculturally-important group of biocontrol fungi comprising the Entomophthorales appeared to have multiple independent evolutionary origins. The robust phylogenetic framework developed in this study will benefit agricultural scientists and biotechnologists because of it’s robust power in predicting the pathogenic and toxigenic potential and natural product chemistry of novel isolates within this ubiquitous group of Fungi.

Technical Abstract: The Zygomycota are an ecologically heterogenous assemblage of non-zoosporic fungi that are comprised of two classes, Zygomycetes and Trichomycetes. Phylogenetic analyses have suggested they are artificial and the phylum is polyphyletic. This result stems from the observation that two of four orders of Trichomycetes are actually related to the Mesomycetozoa protists that diverged near the fungal/animal split. Current circumscription of the Zygomycota includes only orders with representatives that produce zygospores. We present a molecular-based phylogeny including recognized representatives of the Zygomycetes and Trichomycetes with a combined dataset for nuclear rRNA 18S, 5.8S and 28S genes. Tree reconstruction by Bayesian analyses suggested the Zygomycota is paraphyletic. Although 12 clades were identified, only some of these correspond to the 9 orders of Zygomycota currently recognized. A large superordinal clade, comprising the Dimargaritales, Harpellales, Kickxellales, and Zoopagales, grouping together many symbiotic fungi, also is identified in part by a unique septal structure. Although Harpellales and Kickxellales are not monophyletic, these lineages are distinct from the Mucorales, Endogonales, and Mortierellales which appear more related to the Ascomycota+Basidiomycota+Glomeromycota. The final major group, the insect-associated Entomophthorales, appears to be polyphyletic. In the present analyses Basidiobolus and Neozygites group within Zygomycota, but not with the Entomophthorales. Clades are discussed with special reference to traditional classifications, mapping morphological characters, and ecology, where possible. This is considered a snapshot of our current phylogenetic perspective of the Zygomycota, which is intended to stimulate further investigations of the group.