Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this study was to characterize the molecular relationship, origin and historical biogeography of the species in important brown rot fungal genus Laetiporus from East Asia, Europe, Pan-America, Hawaii and South Africa. We used six genetic markers to estimate a genus-level phylogeny including (1) the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), (2) nuclear large subunit rDNA (nrLSU), (3) nuclear small subunit rDNA (nrSSU), (4) translation elongation factor 1-α (EF-1α), (5) DNA-directed RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (RPB2), and (6) mitochondrial small subunit rDNA (mtSSU).ResultsResults of multi-locus phylogenetic analyses show clade support for at least seventeen species-level lineages including two new Laetiporus in China. Molecular dating using BEAST estimated the present crown group diverged approximately 20.16 million years ago (Mya) in the early Miocene. Biogeographic analyses using RASP indicated that Laetiporus most likely originated in temperate zones with East Asia and North America having the highest probability (48%) of being the ancestral area.ConclusionsFour intercontinental dispersal routes and a possible concealed dispersal route were established for the first time.
Highlights
The aim of this study was to characterize the molecular relationship, origin and historical biogeography of the species in important brown rot fungal genus Laetiporus from East Asia, Europe, Pan-America, Hawaii and South Africa
Benefiting from the development of DNA technology and molecular analysis methods, studies of fungal molecular phylogeny and biogeography have been conducted in recent decades [1,2,3]
The genus Laetiporus was supported with low levels of support on the stem branches
Summary
The aim of this study was to characterize the molecular relationship, origin and historical biogeography of the species in important brown rot fungal genus Laetiporus from East Asia, Europe, Pan-America, Hawaii and South Africa. Benefiting from the development of DNA technology and molecular analysis methods, studies of fungal molecular phylogeny and biogeography have been conducted in recent decades [1,2,3]. Laetiporus Murrill (Fomitopsidaceae, Polyporales) is a cosmopolitan genus, typified by L. sulphureus (Bull.) Murrill [9]. Species in this genus grow from cold temperate to tropical zones and are associated with Betulaceae, Burseraceae, Elaeocarpaceae, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, Meliaceae, Myrtaceae, Oleaceae, Pinaceae, Salicaceae, Sapindaceae and Taxaceae [10,11,12,13,14,15]. Some taxa of Laetiporus are valuable sources of medicine, such as ergosterol and acetyl eburicoic acid [19, 20]
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