Slow algae, fast fungi: exceptionally high nucleotide substitution rate differences between lichenized fungi Omphalina and their symbiotic green algae Coccomyxa

Omphalina basidiolichens are obligate mutualistic associations of a fungus of the genus Omphalina (the exhabitant) and a unicellular green alga of the genus Coccomyxa (the inhabitant). It has been suggested that symbiotic inhabitants have a lower rate of genetic change compared to exhabitants because the latter are more exposed to abiotic environmental variation and competition from other organisms. In order to test this hypothesis we compared substitution rates in the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) among fungal species with rates among their respective algal symbionts. To ensure valid comparisons, only taxon pairs (12) with a common evolutionary history were used. On average, substitution rates in the ITS1 portion of Omphalina pairs were 27.5 times higher than rates in the corresponding pairs of Coccomyxa since divergence from their respective ancestor at the base of the Omphalina/Coccomyxa lineage. Substitution rates in the 5.8S and the ITS2 portions were 2.4 and 18.0 times higher, respectively. The highest rate difference (43.0) was found in the ITS1 region. These are, to our knowledge, the highest differences of substitution rates reported for symbiotic organisms. We conclude that the Omphalina model system conforms to the proposed hypothesis of lower substitution rates in the inhabitant, but that the mode of transmission of the inhabitant (vertical versus horizontal) could be a prevailing factor in the regulation of unequal rates of nucleotide substitution between co-evolving symbionts. Our phylogenetic study of Coccomyxa revealed three main lineages within this genus, corresponding to free-living Coccomyxa, individuals isolated from basidiolichens Omphalina and Coccomyxa isolated from ascolichens belonging to the Peltigerales.     

New insights into diversity and selectivity of trentepohlialean lichen photobionts from the extratropics

Aerial green algae of Trentepohliaceae can form conspicuous free-living colonies, be parasites of plants or photobionts of lichen-forming ascomycetes. So far, their diversity in temperate regions is still poorly known as it has been mostly studied by phenotypic approaches only. We present new insights in the phylogenetic relationships of lichenized representatives from temperate and Mediterranean parts of Europe by analysis of 18S rRNA and rbcL gene fragments, and nuclear ITS sequence data. For this purpose we isolated the trentepohlialean photobionts from lichens representing different genera. Algal cultures from lichenized and free-living Trentepohliaceae were used to design new primers for amplification of the marker loci. We constructed a phylogenetic hypothesis to reveal the phylogenetic placements of lichenized lineages with 18S rRNA and rbcL sequences. ITS variation among the clades was substantial and did not allow including them in the general phylogenetic assessment, yet ITS appears to be a promising marker for DNA-barcoding approaches. Specific algae were found in particular lichen but the overall diversity of photobionts was limited. The multilocus tree does not support the current morphological classification of genera in Trentepohliaceae, suggesting that morphology is more variable than previously thought in this group of algae.     

青藏高原黄绿蜜环菌纯培养菌种的分离培养及分子鉴定

首次从采自青藏高原、与高原牧草嵩草属Kobresia草本植物形成外生菌根的黄绿蜜环菌Armillarialuteo-virens子实体中分离获得一组织分离菌株,运用rDNA-ITS和rDNA-IGS-1测序技术对该组织分离菌株是否为黄绿蜜环菌的纯培养菌种进行分子鉴定,并基于黄绿蜜环菌的5.8S/ITS和IGS-1序列进行核酸序列数据库GenBank同源性检索比对、构建系统发育树。结果表明,本研究获得的黄绿蜜环菌子实体组织分离菌株即为其纯培养菌种。基于ITS的系统发育分析表明黄绿蜜环菌与口蘑科内其它属间物种的系统发育关系较远;基于IGS-1的系统发育分析表明黄绿蜜环菌与蜜环菌属内的其它种序列差异较大,系统发育关系较远,而与Lepiota属内的部分种具有较近的系统发育关系。本研究首次基于分子手段对我国青藏高原的黄绿蜜环菌种进行了分离培养、分子鉴定和系统发育分析,为黄绿蜜环菌的科学分类提供了分子依据。     

Multiple origins of the ascidian-Prochloron symbiosis: molecular phylogeny of photosymbiotic and non-symbiotic colonial ascidians inferred from 18S rDNA sequences

In the tropics, certain didemnid ascidians harbor the prokaryotic photosymbiont Prochloron. To date, this photosymbiosis has been found in four didemnid genera that include non-symbiotic species. Here, we report the molecular phylogeny of symbiotic and non-symbiotic didemnids based on their 18S rDNA sequences. The data cover all four genera containing symbiotic species and one other genus comprised of only non-symbiotic species. Near-complete nucleotide sequences of 18S rDNAs were determined for four non-didemnid species and 52 didemnid samples (five genera), including 48 photosymbiotic samples collected from the Ryukyu Archipelago, the Great Barrier Reef, Hawaii, and Bali. Our phylogenetic trees indicated a monophyletic origin of the family Didemnidae, as well as each of the didemnid genera. The results strongly support the hypothesis that establishment of the ascidian-Prochloron symbiosis occurred independently in the Didemnidae lineage at least once in each of the genera that possess symbiotic species.     

Diversification of the North American shrub genus Ceanothus (Rhamnaceae): conflicting phylogenies from nuclear ribosomal DNA and chloroplast DNA

Ceanothus comprises ～55 morphologically and ecologically diverse species of woody perennials endemic to North America. Interpretations of the natural history of Ceanothus have served as a general model of evolution for woody perennials with simple entomophilous pollination systems, but these interpretations lacked explicit phylogenetic context. We used cladistic analysis of sequences of the chloroplast-encoded matK and the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and 5.8S coding region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) to reconstruct the phylogeny of Ceanothus. The nuclear and organellar phylogenies exhibited very low levels of both topological and character congruence. Subgenera Ceanothus and Cerastes are monophyletic sister taxa in both phylogenies, but both data sets suffer from a lack of resolution below the level of subgenus. Lack of taxonomic congruence between the two data sets may be a result of introgression and/or lineage sorting. The ITS tree was accepted as the better estimate of a species phylogeny for Ceanothus, on the assumption that nuclear markers are less prone to introgression. Three of five polytypic species in the ITS data set were paraphyletic, and four of six polytypic species in the matK data set were paraphyletic. This study demonstrates the degree to which matched independent data sets can produce conflicting summaries of evolutionary history.     

Evolution of Lycopodiaceae Inferred from Spacer Sequencing of Chloroplast rRNA Genes

Nucleotide sequences of a chloroplast rDNA region including 8 bp from the 3" end of 23S rDNA–ITS2–4.5S rDNA–ITS3–5S rDNA–ITS4 (approximately 800 bp) were determined in 25 species of Lycopodiaceae and two species of the genus Isoetes. The rate of molecular evolution of spacers significantly varied in different Lycopsida taxa. A phylogenetic analysis by the neighbor-joining (NJ) method revealed that the family Lycopodiaceae is monophyletic. The topology of phylogenetic trees suggests the isolation of four or probably five genera in family Lycopodiaceae. For these genera, synapomorphic indels were detected. The obtained data were compared with the results of phylogenetic analysis of Lycopsida with regard to other sequences. The relationships of taxa within the family Lycopodiaceae is discussed.     

基于ITS序列对中国簇毛黄耆亚属（黄耆属）系统学问题的初步研究

测定了簇毛黄耆亚属（Pogonophace)4组8种和外类群Caragana roborovskyi的ITS序列,从GenBank中调出相关12属47种的ITS序列,组成数据距阵,应用PAUP程序中的最大简约法构建了系统发育树状图。扁荚组（Sect.Sesbanella)与亚属其余类群在系统树上处于不同的分支,亲缘关系较远这个亚属不是一个单系类群;膨果组（Sect.Bibracteola)。背扁组（Sect.Phyllolobium)和袋果组（Sect.Trichostylus)作为一个单系类群能得到ITS序列的支持,但与分组以及膨果组下系的划分都得不到ITS序列分析的支持。     

基于rDNAITS序列分析Alternaria与相似属的关系及A.leucanthemi的分类地位

对Alternaria,Stemphylium,Ulocladium,Nimbya,Embellisia等五个形态相似属的代表性种进行了5.8S/ITS区段序列测定,连同从GenBank下载的相关有性型Pleospora,Lewia的同项资料,由Neighbor-joining方法构建系统发育树。序列对比结果显示,所有参试的菌株/种的5.8SrDNA序列保守程度较高,ITS序列变化较大,ITS1比ITS2变化更大。由5.8S/ITS构建的系统发育树可以足够将供试菌区分到属;系统发育树显示Alternaria,Ulocladium,Nimbya和Embellisia系统学关系较近,又存在一定的分化;Stemphylium聚在相对较远的分支上,与上述四属关系较远,相对独立进化;有性型的Pleospora与无性型的Stemphylium被聚到一个分支,这种不同阶段菌株在遗传基础上的一致,充分证明所用方法及所选测序的rDNA区段对本类群真菌的分类很有价值。Alternarialeucanthemi位于系统发育树的外侧,较为独立进化,与Alternaria的其它种亲缘关系较远,却与Stemphyliumspp.和Bipolarisspp.关系较近,对其目前的分类地位提出质疑。     

Comparisons of phylogenetic hypotheses among different data sets in dwarf dandelions (Krigia,Asteraceae): Additional information from internal transcribed spacer sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA

The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the 18 S–25 S nuclear ribosomal DNA repeat was sequenced from 19 populations of the tribeLactuceae, including all species of dwarf dandelion (Krigia) and five outgroup genera. The incidence of length changes and base substitutions was at least two times higher for ITS 1 than ITS 2. Interspecific sequence divergence withinKrigia averaged 9.62% (1.61%–15.19%) and 4.26% (0%–6.64%) in ITS 1 and ITS 2, respectively. Intergeneric sequence divergence ranged from 15.6% to 44.5% in ITS 1 and from 8.0% to 28.6% in ITS 2. High sequence divergence and homoplasy among genera of tribeLactuceae suggest that the phylogenetic utility of ITS sequence data is limited to interspecific studies or comparisons among closely related genera. Trees generated from ITS sequences are essentially identical to those from restriction site comparisons of the entire nuclear ribosomal (nr) DNA region. The degree of tree resolution differed depending on how gaps were treated in phylogenetic analyses. The ITS trees were congruent with the chloroplast DNA and morphological phylogenies in three major ways: 1) the sister group relationship betweenKrigia andPyrrhopappus; 2) the recognition of two monophyletic sections,Krigia andCymbia, in genusKrigia; and 3) the monophyly of theK. occidentalis-K. cespitosa clade in sect.Cymbia. However, the two nrDNA-based trees are not congruent with morphology/chloroplast DNA-based trees for the interspecific relationships in sect.Krigia. An average of 22.5% incongruence was observed among fourKrigia data sets. The relatively high degree of incongruence among data sets is due primarily to conflict between trees based on nrDNA and morphological/cpDNA data. The incongruence is probably due to the concerted evolution of nrDNA repeating units. The results fromKrigia and theLactuceae suggest that nrDNA data may have limited utility in phylogenetic studies of plants, especially in groups which exhibit high levels of sequence divergence. Our combined phylogenetic analysis as a total evidence shows the least conflict to each of the individual data sets.     

Phylogenetic relationships in Maloideae (Rosaceae): evidence from sequences of the internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA and its congruence with morphology

We used sequences from both internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and a small portion of the 5.8S gene of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) for phylogenetic reconstruction of 19 genera of Maloideae and four potential outgroups from the Rosaceae. Parsimony analyses indicate that Maloideae are not monophyletic; Vauquelinia, which is traditionally placed in Spiraeoideae, and two genera of the Maloideae, Eriobotrya and Rhaphiolepis, form a well-supported clade that is the sister to the remainder of the subfamily. Although our ITS phylogenetic hypothesis is highly resolved, there is considerable homoplasy, and support, as indicated by bootstrap values and decay indices, is relatively weak for all groups except four: Eriobotrya-Rhaphiolepis-Vauquelinia, Crataegus-Mespilus, Amelanchier-Peraphyllum-Malacomeles, and Cydonia-Pseudocydonia. Our DNA sequence data do not support a broad interpretation of Sorbus. Intergeneric hybridization, which is prevalent in Maloideae, occurs between genera that are far removed from one another on our most-parsimonious trees. We infer an overall phylogeny from separate analyses of ITS DNA sequences and recently published morphological and wood anatomical studies of Maloideae and from analyses after pooling these data sets. The four most strongly supported clades of the ITS phylogeny appear in the phylogeny based on pooled data.     

Typification and delimitation of Omphalina Quel

The typification of the genus Omphalina Quél, is discussed. There is conclusive evidence to prove that the type should be Omphalina umbellifera (L. ex Fr.) Quél. = O. ericetorum (Fr. ex Fr.) M. Lange and not a species now referred to as O. pseudoandrosacea (Bull, ex St.–Amans) Mos. = O. grisella (Weinm.) Mos. A neotype for O. ericetorum is selected. The recent classifications of Omphalina and related genera are not convincing, and a rearrangement of Gerronema, Phaeotellus, Ric–kenella , and Haasiella inside genus Omphalina is proposed. A series of corresponding new combinations are made or validated.     

Phylogeny and biogeography of the flowering plant genus Styrax (Styracaceae) based on chloroplast DNA restriction sites and DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region

Phylogenetic relationships within the flowering plant genus Styrax were investigated with DNA sequence data from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) and with chloroplast DNA restriction site data from the genes trnK, rpoC1, and rpoC2. The data sets from each genome were analyzed separately and in combination with parsimony methods. The results strongly support the monophyly of each of the four series of the genus but provide little phylogenetic resolution among them. Reticulate evolution may at least partly explain discordance between the molecular phylogenetic estimates and a prior morphological estimate within series Cyrta. The historical biogeography of the genus was inferred with unweighted parsimony character optimization of trees recovered from a combined ITS and morphological data set, after a series of combinability tests for data set congruence was conducted. The results are consistent with the fossil record in supporting a Eurasian origin of Styrax. The nested phylogenetic position of the South American members of the genus within those from southern North America and Eurasia suggests that the boreotropics hypothesis best explains the amphi-Pacific tropical disjunct distribution occurring within section Valvatae. The pattern of relationship recovered among the species of section Styrax ((western North America + western Eurasia) (eastern North America + eastern Eurasia)) is rare among north-temperate Tertiary forest relicts. The monophyly of the group of species from western North America and western Eurasia provides qualified support for the Madrean-Tethyan hypothesis, which posits a Tertiary floristic connection among the semiarid regions in which these taxa occur. A single vicariance event between eastern Asia and eastern North America accounts for the pattern of relationship among intercontinental disjuncts in series Cyrta.     

Slow algae, fast fungi: exceptionally high nucleotide substitution rate differences between lichenized fungi Omphalina and their symbiotic green algae Coccomyxa

Omphalina basidiolichens are obligate mutualistic associations of a fungus of the genus Omphalina (the exhabitant) and a unicellular green alga of the genus Coccomyxa (the inhabitant). It has been suggested that symbiotic inhabitants have a lower rate of genetic change compared to exhabitants because the latter are more exposed to abiotic environmental variation and competition from other organisms. In order to test this hypothesis we compared substitution rates in the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) among fungal species with rates among their respective algal symbionts. To ensure valid comparisons, only taxon pairs (12) with a common evolutionary history were used. On average, substitution rates in the ITS1 portion of Omphalina pairs were 27.5 times higher than rates in the corresponding pairs of Coccomyxa since divergence from their respective ancestor at the base of the Omphalina/Coccomyxa lineage. Substitution rates in the 5.8S and the ITS2 portions were 2.4 and 18.0 times higher, respectively. The highest rate difference (43.0) was found in the ITS1 region. These are, to our knowledge, the highest differences of substitution rates reported for symbiotic organisms. We conclude that the Omphalina model system conforms to the proposed hypothesis of lower substitution rates in the inhabitant, but that the mode of transmission of the inhabitant (vertical versus horizontal) could be a prevailing factor in the regulation of unequal rates of nucleotide substitution between co-evolving symbionts. Our phylogenetic study of Coccomyxa revealed three main lineages within this genus, corresponding to free-living Coccomyxa, individuals isolated from basidiolichens Omphalina and Coccomyxa isolated from ascolichens belonging to the Peltigerales.     

Phylogenetic relationships within the cyst-forming nematodes (Nematoda, Heteroderidae) based on analysis of sequences from the ITS regions of ribosomal DNA

The ITS1, ITS2, and 5.8S gene sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA from 40 taxa of the family Heteroderidae (including the genera Afenestrata, Cactodera, Heterodera, Globodera, Punctodera, Meloidodera, Cryphodera, and Thecavermiculatus) were sequenced and analyzed. The ITS regions displayed high levels of sequence divergence within Heteroderinae and compared to outgroup taxa. Unlike recent findings in root knot nematodes, ITS sequence polymorphism does not appear to complicate phylogenetic analysis of cyst nematodes. Phylogenetic analyses with maximum-parsimony, minimum-evolution, and maximum-likelihood methods were performed with a range of computer alignments, including elision and culled alignments. All multiple alignments and phylogenetic methods yielded similar basic structure for phylogenetic relationships of Heteroderidae. The cyst-forming nematodes are represented by six main clades corresponding to morphological characters and host specialization, with certain clades assuming different positions depending on alignment procedure and/or method of phylogenetic inference. Hypotheses of monophyly of Punctoderinae and Heteroderinae are, respectively, strongly and moderately supported by the ITS data across most alignments. Close relationships were revealed between the Avenae and the Sacchari groups and between the Humuli group and the species H. salixophila within Heteroderinae. The Goettingiana group occupies a basal position within this subfamily. The validity of the genera Afenestrata and Bidera was tested and is discussed based on molecular data. We conclude that ITS sequence data are appropriate for studies of relationships within the different species groups and less so for recovery of more ancient speciations within Heteroderidae.     

Phylogeny and biogeography of Juglans (Juglandaceae) based on matK and ITS sequence data

We investigated phylogenetic and biogeographic relationships within Juglans (walnuts), a Tertiary disjunct genus, using 15 species of Juglans and related (Juglandaceae) outgroups. The relationships were analyzed using nucleotide sequences of the chloroplast gene matK and its flanking spacers and of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and 5.8S gene of the nuclear ribosomal DNA. The DNA sequences provided 246 informative characters for parsimony analysis. ITS data supported as monophyletic groups the four generic sections, Cardiocaryon, Dioscaryon, Rhysocaryon, and Trachycaryon. Within Rhysocaryon, the temperate black walnuts and the tropical black walnuts were supported as monophyletic groups. When the two data sets were combined, J. cinerea was nested within Cardiocaryon. Combined analysis with published nuclear DNA restriction site data placed J. cinerea in a monophyletic group with Cardiocaryon. These analyses consistently supported Juglans as a monophyletic group and as the sister group to the genus Pterocarya. The results of this work are consistent with the known geological history of Juglans. The fossil record suggests that the butternuts had evolved by the early Oligocene in North America. The presence of butternuts in Eurasia could be the result of migration from North America to Eurasia during the warming trend of the mid Oligocene.     

中国双缘衣属(双缘衣科)地衣一新种

现分类系统中,双缘衣属隶属于子囊菌门,茶渍纲,厚顶盘亚纲,文字衣目,双缘衣科。全世界有48种,被确认为单系类群的小属。利用形态学、解剖学、生物化学以及分子生物学方法,对采自天山西部的双缘衣属地衣标本进行分类学研究,发现了双缘衣属地衣1个新种：绿盘双缘衣Diploschistes viridis (属于双缘衣亚属)。基于最大似然分析(ML)和贝叶斯分析(BI)构建了基于ITS位点系统发育树,详细描述该种的形态特征、分布及栖息地等情况,并提供了地衣体的彩色图片。     

Phylogenetic position of endosymbiotic green algae in Paramecium bursaria Ehrenberg from Japan

Endosymbiotic green algae of Japanese Paramecium bursaria were phylogenetically analyzed based on DNA sequences from the ribosomal DNA operon (18S rDNA, ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, and ITS2). Phylogenetic trees constructed using 18S rDNA sequences showed that the symbionts belong to the Chlorella sensu stricto (Trebouxiophyceae) group. They are genetically closer to the C. vulgaris Beijerinck group than to C. kessleri Fott et Nováková as proposed previously. Branching order in C. vulgaris group was unresolved in 18S rDNA trees. Compared heterogeneities of 18S rDNA, ITS1, 5.8S r, and ITS2 among symbionts and two Chlorella species, indicated that the ITS2 region (and probably also ITS1) is better able to resolve phylogenetic problems in such closely related taxa. All six symbiotic sequences obtained here (approximately 4000-bp sequences of 18S rDNA, ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, and ITS2) were completely identical in each, strongly suggesting a common origin.     

奥利亚罗非鱼与尼罗罗非鱼rDNA内转录间隔区序列特征

核糖体DNA内转录间隔区(internal transcribed spacers,ITS)是经常被用作种和种群水平系统研究的分子序列.本文分离了奥利亚罗非鱼(Oreochromis aureus)、尼罗罗非鱼(O.niloticus)内转录间隔区,包括部分185序列,ITS1、5.8S、ITS2全序列及部分28S序列.4尾奥利亚罗非鱼的10个克隆序列分析表明,其存在长度不同的a、b两种类型ITS1.a型长为536 bp,GC含量为69.96%;b型长为520 bp,GC含量为69.04%～69.42%.4尾尼罗罗非鱼的10个克隆序列分析表明,其只存在a型ITS1,长为536～540 bp,GC含量为69.42%～70.19%.与b型ITS1相比,a型ITS1在16～31 nt有16 bp片段(GGCCCGCCTCGGCGC)的插入.奥利亚罗非鱼和尼罗罗非鱼共20条ITS序列中,5.8S长度均为157 bp,GC含量为56.69%～57.96%;ITS2为408 bp,GC含量为72.79%～74.26%.奥利亚罗非鱼和尼罗罗非鱼ITS区序列相似性高达98.2%,表明这两种罗非鱼亲缘关系很近.此外,本文对14尾奥利亚罗非鱼、15尾尼罗罗非鱼以及15尾奥尼罗非鱼[O.aureus(♂)×O.niloticus(♀)]ITS1的扩增结果显示,奥利亚罗非鱼均有a、b两种类型ITS1;15尾尼罗罗非鱼中1尾为a、b两类型ITS1,14尾为a型ITS1;15尾奥尼罗非鱼中则有6尾具有a、b两类型ITS1,9尾为单一的a型ITS1.分析表明,奥利亚罗非鱼在ITS1这个位点一致性高,但尼罗罗非鱼中有1尾混杂了奥利亚罗非鱼的基因,同时也说明分子生物学手段应用于种质鉴定比形态学手段更为精确.     

基于ITS序列探讨荻属及其近缘植物的系统发育关系

荻属是禾本科的一个小属,其分类地位存在争议。通过测定和从Gen Bank中提取荻属Triarrhena及其近缘植物的ITS序列,以芦苇Phragmites australis为外类群,采用MP(maximum parsimony)和NJ(neighbor-joining)分析方法进行了系统发育分析,这两种方法得到的系统发育树基本相同。荻属和芒属Miscauthus的种类形成一个单系类群;河八王Narenga porphyrocoma与芒属和荻属的植物聚在一起并构成姐妹群;白茅Imperata cylindrica与斑茅Saccharum arundinaceum聚成一小支并构成姐妹群,白茅与荻属的关系较远;荻属植物归并到芒属更为合理,不支持将荻属置入白茅属或另立一属的观点。斑茅与白茅、河八王及蔗茅Erianthus fulvus系统发育关系较近,而与滇蔗茅E.rockii及甘蔗属的竹蔗Saccharum sinense、甘蔗S.officinarum、细秆甘蔗S.barberi和甜根子草S.spontaneum的关系较远。甘蔗属、河八王属及蔗茅属关系复杂,还需要进一步研究。