Phylogenetic Reassessment, Taxonomy, and Biogeography of Codinaea and Similar Fungi

Martina Réblová,Andrew N Miller,Miroslav Kolařík,Jana Nekvindová,Margarita Hernández-Restrepo,Kamila Réblová,František Sklenář

doi:10.3390/jof7121097

Abstract

The genus Codinaea is a phialidic, dematiaceous hyphomycete known for its intriguing morphology and turbulent taxonomic history. This polyphasic study represents a new, comprehensive view on the taxonomy, systematics, and biogeography of Codinaea and its relatives. Phylogenetic analyses of three nuclear loci confirmed that Codinaea is polyphyletic. The generic concept was emended; it includes four morphotypes that contribute to its morphological complexity. Ancestral inference showed that the evolution of some traits is correlated and that these traits previously used to delimit taxa at the generic level occur in species that were shown to be congeneric. Five lineages of Codinaea-like fungi were recognized and introduced as new genera: Codinaeella, Nimesporella, Stilbochaeta, Tainosphaeriella, and Xyladelphia. Dual DNA barcoding facilitated identification at the species level. Codinaea and its segregates thrive on decaying plants, rarely occurring as endophytes or plant pathogens. Environmental ITS sequences indicate that they are common in bulk soil. The geographic distribution found using GlobalFungi database was consistent with known data. Most species are distributed in either the Holarctic realm or tropical geographic regions. The ancestral climatic zone was temperate, followed by transitions to the tropics; these fungi evolved primarily in Eurasia and Americas, with subsequent transitions to Africa and Australasia.

Highlights

The genus Codinaea [1] is a phialidic dematiaceous hyphomycete and it was originally clearly defined, its taxonomy has undergone many changes over the years
The genus Codinaea has become a large heterogeneous group of phialidic dematiaceous hyphomycetes with hyaline, setulate conidia, and for more than 30 years was considered synonymous with the genus Dictyochaeta
Little was known about their systematics and global biogeography

Summary

Introduction

The genus Codinaea [1] is a phialidic dematiaceous hyphomycete and it was originally clearly defined, its taxonomy has undergone many changes over the years. Codinaea was introduced for a single species, C. aristata, occurring on a decaying stem of Rubus sp. According to the original description and illustration, it was characterized by colonies composed of sterile, thick-walled, dark brown, several-septate setae accompanied by shorter, simple, pale brown conidiophores arising with these setae in tufts, terminal phialidic conidiogenous cells abruptly contracted at the apex (indicating the presence of a flared collarette) and hyaline, falcate, aseptate conidia with an indistinct basal scar and a simple setula at both ends (Figure 1). Codinaea aristata has since become a taxonomic enigma. This species has not been recorded in the literature since its description.

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