ON THE PHYLOGENY OF OPHIOSTOMA, CERATOCYSTIS-SS, AND MICROASCUS, AND RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN OPHIOSTOMA BASED ON PARTIAL RIBOSOMAL DNA-SEQUENCES

Phylogenetic analysis of partial rDNA sequences suggests that Ophiostoma should remain the sole genus of the Ophiostomataceae, and this should be the sole family within the Ophiostomatales, whereas Ceratocystis s.s. would be best disposed within the Microascales. Although morphological criteria suggest that the genus Ophiostoma is heterogeneous, analysis of partial small subunit rDNA sequence data shows that Ophiostoma (excluding 0. roraimense) represents a monophyletic taxon. Analysis of a partial large subunit rDNA data set, which included sequences from 55 species assignable to Ophiostoma, failed to support the strict subdivision of the genus based on either ascospore characters or the nature of the anamorph.