Molecular phylogeny of Pilaira (Mucorales, Zygomycetes) inferred from ITS rDNA and pyrG sequences.

Liu X.-Y., Wang Y.-N. & Zheng R.-Y. (2012) Molecular phylogeny of Pilaira (Mucorales, Zygomycetes) inferred from ITS rDNA and pyrG sequences.

Sydowia 64 (1): 55–66

Pilaira is one of the three genera in Pilobolaceae. All of them are difficult to preserve. Only six out of the 12 recorded species are available for studies nowadays. Molecular phylogeny of 21 strains of Pilaira was reconstructed in this study by using ITS rDNA and pyrG sequences. These two loci displayed different phylogenetic histories of Pilaira, though P. anomala and P. moreaui formed two paraphyletic groups becoming monophyletic with the inclusion of P. praeampla and P. subangularis, respectively. Comparing morphospecies with phylospecies, complete concordances were shown in 12 strains. Partial consistencies were observed in another five isolates. Absolute discrepancies were revealed for the remaining four collections. Combined analyses of morphology and molecular biology resolved most taxa of Pilaira, while the disagreements found in this study suggest that this genus is still dynamic in lineage splitting and its phylogeny might be further resolved on the basis of thorough consideration of information from more strains and more loci. The potential difficulty in further study is also discussed.

Keywords: Ribosomal DNA, OMPD, Pilobolaceae, Incomplete lineage sorting