Molecular phylogeny of Diploschistes inferred from ITS sequence data

Abstract

The phylogeny of the genus Diploschistes was investigated using nucleotide sequences of the nuclear ITS rDNA region (ITS1, ITS2 and 5.8S rDNA). Sequences of 22 Diploschistes species were aligned to those of six other species of Thelotremataceae, Graphis scripta and Aspicilia cinerea, with the last used as an outgroup. The alignment was analysed cladistically using maximum parsimony. In the most parsimonious trees, Diploschistes is monophyletic, with D. ocellatus being a sister group to the remaining Diploschistes spp. (= Diploschistes s. str.). A previous cladistic analysis of morphological data suggested an evolutionary trend within the genus from perithecioid to urceolate ascomata. The present ITS data suggest the opposite: perithecioid ascomata are apparently an apomorphic character within the genus, with the actinostomus group forming a derived monophyletic clade. However, the topology within Diploschistes s. str. Lacks strong bootstrap support.

Journey from the West: Did tropical Graphidaceae (lichenized Ascomycota: Ostropales) evolve from a saxicolous ancestor along the American Pacific coast?

“…Diploschistes , Heiomasia , and Phaeographopsis in the same family are other examples ( Martín et al, 2003 ;Nelsen et al, 2010 ;Rivas Plata et al, 2012, 2013. However, many Graphidaceae behave differently, in that morphologically or ecologically unique lineages are phylogenetically close to other lineages, such as Cruentotrema , the Topeliopsis -like Chapsa meridensis , and the mazaediate Nadvornikia hawaiiensis ( Mangold et al, 2008 ;Rivas Plata and Lumbsch, 2011 ;Rivas Plata et al, 2012, 2013.…”

“…However, many Graphidaceae behave differently, in that morphologically or ecologically unique lineages are phylogenetically close to other lineages, such as Cruentotrema , the Topeliopsis -like Chapsa meridensis , and the mazaediate Nadvornikia hawaiiensis ( Mangold et al, 2008 ;Rivas Plata and Lumbsch, 2011 ;Rivas Plata et al, 2012, 2013. Even Diploschistes is nested within Graphidoideae, although its correct position within the subfamily is unresolved ( Martín et al, 2003 ;Fernández-Brime et al, 2011 ;. The situation in Redonographoideae is different, since this lineage is the fi rst known supported sister group to subfamily Graphidoideae.…”

“…With the data available, ancestral character state analysis indicates a tropical-epiphytic ancestor for Graphidaceae, with lineages such as Diploschistes being derived ( Rivas Plata and Lumbsch, 2011 ). Thus far, it has been diffi cult to test this hypothesis further, since Diploschistes evolved on a very long stem branch and its closest living relative remains unknown ( Martín et al, 2003 ;Fernández-Brime et al, 2011 ;. Also, no other predominantly or exclusively nontropical, nonepiphytic lineage was known in the family except for the monospecifi c genera Anomalographis , Gymnographa , Gymnographopsis , and Sarcographina ( Staiger, 2002 ;Archer, 2009 ).…”

First report of the pantropical species Diploschistes rampoddensis from Europe

“…Distribution & habitat -Since Diploschistes rampoddensis was first described by Nylander (1900) from material collected in Rampodde, Sri Lanka, it has been recorded from a few Asian and Australasian localities: China (see examined specimens), India and Nepal (Pant & Upreti 1993), Indonesia (Lumbsch 1993), and Papua New Guinea (Martín et al 2003). The lichen usually occurs in lowlands and only rarely appears at high elevations of the intertropical region (Lumbsch 1993).…”

“…One of the few species occurring in tropical areas is D. rampoddensis, a taxon that was first described by Nylander (1900, as Urceolaria rampoddensis) from the locality of Rampodde (Sri Lanka). According to the literature (Nylander 1900, Lumbsch 1993, Pant & Upreti 1993, Martín et al 2003 and unpublished herbarium specimens, this species appears to be quite rare and has previously been recorded only from a few localities in tropical and subtropical Asia and Oceania.…”