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Morphology and molecules: the Sebacinales, a case study

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Abstract

Morphological and molecular discrepancies in the biodiversity of monophyletic groups are challenging. The intention of this study was to find out whether the high molecular diversity in Sebacinales can be verified by micromorphological characteristics. Therefore, we carried out molecular and morphological studies on all generic type species of Sebacinales and additional representative taxa. Our results encouraged us to disentangle some phylogenetic and taxonomic discrepancies and to improve sebacinalean classifications. This comprises generic circumscriptions and affiliations, as well as higher taxon groupings. At the family level, we redefined the Sebacinaceae, formerly the Sebacinales group A, and set it apart from the Sebacinales group B. For taxonomical purposes, it seems appropriate to refer Paulisebacina, Craterocolla, Chaetospermum, Globulisebacina, Tremelloscypha, and Sebacina to the Sebacinaceae and Piriformospora, and Serendipita to the Sebacinales group B. At the lower taxonomic level, we propose within the Sebacinaceae (1) to introduce Paulisebacina for Sebacina allantoidea, (2) to transfer Efibulobasidium rolleyi into a new monotypic genus, Globulisebacina, (3) to include Tremellostereum in Tremelloscypha, (4) to transfer Sebacina amesii into Tremelloscypha, (5) to combine S. helvelloides and S. concrescens in their own genus, Helvellosebacina, (6) to transfer Tremellodendron spp. into Sebacina, (7) to define S. epigaea s.str. without cystidia and flagelliform dikaryophyses, but with star-shaped resting spores, and (8) to separate S. cystidiata with simultaneously irregular germinating spores and inconspicuous cystidia, and S. flagelliformis with flagelliform dikaryophyses from S. epigaea s.str. Additional clades in Sebacina, based on molecular differences, cannot be distinguished morphologically at present.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a research grant, OB 24/30-1, of the German Research Council (DFG). We are very grateful to R. Kirschner for a critical pre-review of the manuscript and helpful comments, and to V. Bandala, L. Ryvarden, S. Setaro, and L. Tedersoo for providing fungal material. Laboratory assistance of S. Silberhorn is gratefully acknowledged.

Author Contributions

FO, KR, and SG collected fungal samples, FO performed the microscopic work and illustrations, and wrote the paper. KR and SG conceived and designed the molecular studies, and constructed the phylogenetic tree. RB added critical comments.

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  1. Evolutionäre Ökologie der Pflanzen, Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 1, 72076, Tübingen, Germany

    Franz Oberwinkler, Kai Riess, Robert Bauer & Sigisfredo Garnica

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  1. Franz Oberwinkler
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  2. Kai Riess
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  4. Sigisfredo Garnica
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Correspondence to Sigisfredo Garnica.

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Oberwinkler, F., Riess, K., Bauer, R. et al. Morphology and molecules: the Sebacinales, a case study. Mycol Progress 13, 445–470 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11557-014-0983-1

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