A new view on the morphology and phylogeny of eugregarines suggested by the evidence from the gregarine Ancora sagittata (Leuckart, 1860) Labbé, 1899 (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida)

Background Gregarines are a group of early branching Apicomplexa parasitizing invertebrate animals. Despite their wide distribution and relevance to the understanding the phylogenesis of apicomplexans, gregarines remain understudied: light microscopy data are insufficient for classification, and electron microscopy and molecular data are fragmentary and overlap only partially. Methods Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, PCR, DNA cloning and sequencing (Sanger and NGS), molecular phylogenetic analyses using ribosomal RNA genes (18S (SSU), 5.8S, and 28S (LSU) ribosomal DNAs (rDNAs)). Results and Discussion We present the results of an ultrastructural and molecular phylogenetic study on the marine gregarine Ancora sagittata from the polychaete Capitella capitata followed by evolutionary and taxonomic synthesis of the morphological and molecular phylogenetic evidence on eugregarines. The ultrastructure of Ancora sagittata generally corresponds to that of other eugregarines, but reveals some differences in epicytic folds (crests) and attachment apparatus to gregarines in the family Lecudinidae, where Ancora sagittata has been classified. Molecular phylogenetic trees based on SSU (18S) rDNA reveal several robust clades (superfamilies) of eugregarines, including Ancoroidea superfam. nov., which comprises two families (Ancoridae fam. nov. and Polyplicariidae) and branches separately from the Lecudinidae; thus, all representatives of Ancoroidea are here officially removed from the Lecudinidae. Analysis of sequence data also points to possible cryptic species within Ancora sagittata and the inclusion of numerous environmental sequences from anoxic habitats within the Ancoroidea. LSU (28S) rDNA phylogenies, unlike the analysis of SSU rDNA alone, recover a well-supported monophyly of the gregarines involved (eugregarines), although this conclusion is currently limited by sparse taxon sampling and the presence of fast-evolving sequences in some species. Comparative morphological analyses of gregarine teguments and attachment organelles lead us to revise their terminology. The terms “longitudinal folds” and “mucron” are restricted to archigregarines, whereas the terms “epicystic crests” and “epimerite” are proposed to describe the candidate synapomorphies of eugregarines, which, consequently, are considered as a monophyletic group. Abolishing the suborders Aseptata and Septata, incorporating neogregarines into the Eugregarinida, and treating the major molecular phylogenetic lineages of eugregarines as superfamilies appear as the best way of reconciling recent morphological and molecular evidence. Accordingly, the diagnosis of the order Eugregarinida Léger, 1900 is updated.

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Integrative taxonomy and molecular phylogeny of three poorly known tintinnine ciliates, with the establishment of a new genus (Protista; Ciliophora; Oligotrichea)

BMC Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.1186/s12862-021-01831-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rui Wang ◽

Yang Bai ◽

Tao Hu ◽

Dapeng Xu ◽

Toshikazu Suzuki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Trees ◽

New Genus ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Integrative Taxonomy ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Lsu Rdna ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

Ciliary Tuft

Abstract Background The taxonomic classification of the suborder Tintinnina Kofoid & Campbell, 1929, a species-rich group of planktonic ciliated protistans with a characteristic lorica, has long been ambiguous largely due to the lack of cytological and molecular data for most species. Tintinnopsis is the largest, most widespread, and most taxonomically complex genus within this group with about 170 species occurring in nearshore waters. Previous molecular phylogenetic studies have revealed that Tintinnopsis is polyphyletic. Results Here we document the live morphology, infraciliature, gene sequences, and habitat characteristics of three poorly known tintinnine species, viz. Tintinnopsis karajacensis Brandt, 1896, Tintinnopsis gracilis Kofoid & Campbell, 1929, and Tintinnopsis tocantinensis Kofoid & Campbell, 1929, isolated from the coastal waters of China. Based on a unique cytological feature (i.e., an elongated ciliary tuft with densely arranged kinetids) in the former two species, Antetintinnopsis gen. nov. is erected with Antetintinnopsis hemispiralis (Yin, 1956) comb. nov. (original combination: Tintinnopsis hemispiralis Yin, 1956) designated as the type species. Moreover, A. karajacensis (Brandt, 1896) comb. nov. (original combination: Tintinnopsis karajacensis Brandt, 1896) and A. gracilis (Kofoid & Campbell, 1929) comb. nov. (original combination: Tintinnopsis gracilis Kofoid & Campbell, 1929) are placed in a highly supported clade that branches separately from Tintinnopsis clades in phylogenetic trees based on SSU rDNA and LSU rDNA sequence data, thus supporting the establishment of the new genus. One other species is assigned to Antetintinnopsis gen. nov., namely A. subacuta (Jörgensen, 1899) comb. nov. (original combination Tintinnopsis subacuta Jörgensen, 1899). Conclusions The findings of the phylogenetic analyses support the assertion that cytological characters are taxonomically informative for tintinnines. This study also contributes to the broadening of our understanding of the tintinnine biodiversity and evolution.

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Speciation in the genera Anthericum and Chlorophytum (Asparagaceae) in Ethiopia—a molecular phylogenetic approach

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.297.2.2 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 297 (2) ◽

pp. 139 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Charlotte Sletten Bjorå ◽

MARTE ELDEN ◽

INGER NORDAL ◽

ANNE K. BRYSTING ◽

TESFAYE AWAS ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Sister Group ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Group Relations ◽

Variation Patterns ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

Lowland Area ◽

A New Species ◽

Scanning Electron

Sister group relations of Ethiopian species of Anthericum and Chlorophytum and variation patterns in the C. gallabatense and C. comosum complexes were studied using molecular phylogenetic analyses, morphometrics, and scanning electron microscopy of seed surfaces. Results indicate that molecular data largely support previous morphological conclusions, and that speciation has occurred in Ethiopia at least three times in Anthericum and repeatedly within different subclades of Chlorophytum. Areas particularly rich in endemic species are the lowland area around Bale Mountains in SE Ethiopia and in the Beninshangul Gumuz regional state in W Ethiopia near the border to Sudan. A new species, Chlorophytum mamillatum Elden & Nordal, is described, and the names C. tordense and C. tetraphyllum are re-instated.

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A revision of the Leptogium saturninum group in North America

The Lichenologist ◽

10.1017/s0024282916000323 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 48 (5) ◽

pp. 387-421 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Daphne F. STONE ◽

James W. HINDS ◽

Frances L. ANDERSON ◽

James C. LENDEMER

Keyword(s):

North American ◽

Morphological Study ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Lower Surface ◽

Molecular Data ◽

The North ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

Nrits Sequence

AbstractA revision of the North American members of the Leptogium saturninum group (i.e. species with long lower-surface hairs, isidia, and usually smooth upper surface) is presented based on molecular phylogenetic analyses of mtSSU and nrITS sequence data, together with an extensive morphological study. Three species supported by both molecular and morphological characteristics are recognized: L. acadiense sp. nov. (distinguished by granular saturninum-type isidia, medulla composed of irregularly arranged or perpendicular hyphae), L. cookii sp. nov. (distinguished by cylindrical saturninum-type isidia) and L. hirsutum (distinguished by hirsutum-type isidia and medulla composed of loosely intertwined hyphae). One species supported by morphological characteristics, but for which no molecular data could be generated, is also recognized: L. compactum sp. nov. (distinguished by hirsutum-type isidia and medulla composed of tightly packed hyphae). Finally, L. saturninum (distinguished by granular saturninum-type isidia and medulla composed of perpendicular and parallel hyphae) is supported by morphological characteristics but molecular data from geographically diverse populations, including those near the type locality, indicate that the morphologically defined species is paraphyletic. Leptogium burnetiae is excluded from North American based on morphological study of the type. The species are described and illustrated in detail, and are distinguished morphologically by their isidium development, morphology of mature isidia, and pattern of hyphae in the medulla in transverse sections near lobe margins. A key to the members of the L. saturninum group and related species is also presented.

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Molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological variation point to taxonomic problems among four genera of parasitoid doryctine wasps (Hymenoptera : Braconidae)

Invertebrate Systematics ◽

10.1071/is14064 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (6) ◽

pp. 591 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Marco Gebiola ◽

Antonio P. Garonna ◽

Umberto Bernardo ◽

Sergey A. Belokobylskij

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Molecular Evidence ◽

A Posteriori ◽

Morphological Examination ◽

Ongoing Effort ◽

The Status ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic

Doryctinae (Hymenoptera : Braconidae) is a large and diverse subfamily of parasitic wasps that has received much attention recently, with new species and genera described and phylogenies based on morphological and/or molecular data that have improved higher-level classification and species delimitation. However, the status of several genera is still unresolved, if not controversial. Here we focus on two related groups of such genera, Dendrosoter Wesmael–Caenopachys Foerster and Ecphylus Foerster–Sycosoter Picard & Lichtenstein. We integrated morphological and molecular (COI and 28S–D2 genes) evidence to highlight, by phylogenetic analyses (maximum likelihood and Bayesian) and a posteriori morphological examination, previously overlooked variation, which is here illustrated and discussed. Monophyly of Dendrosoter and Caenopachys and the presence of synapomorphic morphological characters support synonymy of Caenopachys under Dendrosoter. Low genetic differentiation and high variability for putatively diagnostic morphological characters found in both C. hartigii (Ratzeburg) and C. caenopachoides (Ruschka) supports synonymy of D. caenopachoides under D. hartigii, syn. nov. Morphological and molecular evidence together also indicate independent generic status for Sycosoter, stat. rev., which is here resurrected. This work represents a further advancement in the framework of the ongoing effort to improve systematics and classification of the subfamily Doryctinae.

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A revision of the genus Seligeria (Seligeriaceae, Bryophyta) in Russia inferred from molecular data

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.323.1.2 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 323 (1) ◽

pp. 27 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

VLADIMIR E. FEDOSOV ◽

ALINA V. FEDOROVA ◽

ELENA A. IGNATOVA ◽

MICHAEL S. IGNATOV

Keyword(s):

Sequence Data ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Phylogenetic Group ◽

Undescribed Species ◽

Dna Sequence Data ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

Nuclear Its ◽

Sister Relationships ◽

Central Strand

The genus Seligeria is revised based on morphological and DNA sequence data of nuclear ITS and chloroplastic trnL-F. Fifteen species from most infrageneric units of the genus are recovered in two well supported phylogenetic clusters that are also distinctive in morphology. The clade with the type species of the genus, S. pusilla, includes also S. donniana, S. brevifolia, S. calcarea, S. patula, S. tristichoides, S. trifaria, and S. oelandica. These species are characterized by short, cupulate or turbinate capsules widened towards the mouth, and the lack of a stem central strand. Another clade includes species with rather long, mainly ovate to cylindrical capsules and more or less developed stem central strand: S. campylopoda, S. recurvata, S. subimmersa, S. diversifolia, and S. polaris. These two clusters do not show sister relationships, but the second one appears more closely related to the Blindia clade. To resolve the apparent paraphyly, the latter phylogenetic group is segregated in a genus Blindiadelphus. In some aspects of morphology and ecology it is intermediate between Seligeria s. str. and Blindia, but differs from both genera in subquadrate upper leaf cells and thin- to moderately thick-walled rectangular exothecial cells. Molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed heterogeneity within the specimens previously referred to Blindiadelphus campylopodus, indicating a presence in Asian Russia of an undescribed species that is described here as Blindiadelphus sibiricus. It differs from B. campylopodus by the larger spores and typically rounded leaf apices. The isotype specimen of S. galinae appeared to be nearly identical to S. donniana in the sequences of ITS and trnL-F, and examination of morphology revealed no substantial differences between these species. Thus, we consider S. galinae as a synonym of S. donniana. The genus Blindiadelphus includes species of Seligeria subg. Blindiadelphus and S. subg. Cyrtoseligeria, which however are found intermingled in the molecular phylogenetic analysis. Thus the genus Blindiadelphus is accepted without any infrageneric taxa. The phylogenetic tree is congruent with the subdivision of the genus Seligeria s.str into subg. Seligeria, subg. Anodon, subg. Megalosporia and one newly established subgenus Robustidontia for S. brevifolia.

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Herzog Vindicated: Integrative Taxonomy Reveals that Trichostomum brachydontium (Pottiaceae, Bryophyta) Comprises Several Species

10.20944/preprints202112.0480.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rosa M. Ros ◽

Olaf Werner ◽

Ron D. Porley

Keyword(s):

Incomplete Lineage Sorting ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Integrative Taxonomy ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Phylogenetic Study ◽

Lineage Sorting ◽

New Name ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic Study ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

Phylogenetic Lineages

The morphologically variable moss Trichostomum brachydontium is very common in south and west Europe, particularly under Mediterranean and Atlantic climates. A morphological study was conducted alongside a molecular phylogenetic study based on nr ITS and cp rbcL regions in order to assess if T. brachydontium is an exceptionally polymorphic species as evidenced by the number of described infraspecific taxa from the last century or, alternatively, if it includes more than one species, and if so, to find the valid name for them. Phylogenetic analyses of both nuclear and chloroplast datasets show that there are four well-supported clades. While the ITS based tree is in good agreement with the morphological data, there are a few inconsistencies with reference to the rbcL tree; this may be explained by incomplete lineage sorting or by hybridization. The morphological survey revealed well-defined discriminate differences between the four phylogenetic lineages. The taxonomic conclusions include the recognition of four species: T. brachydontium s.s., T. herzogii (a new name proposed for var. cuspidatum), T. littorale and T. meridionale (a new name proposed for var. densum). Lectotypes are designated for T. brachydontium and T. littorale. Our results underline the ongoing need of integrative studies to examine further the underestimated diversity of the T. brachydontium complex in other regions.

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Hermatomyces trangensis sp. nov., a new dematiaceous hyphomycete (Hermatomycetaceae, Pleosporales) on sugar palm in Thailand

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.391.5.1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 391 (5) ◽

pp. 277 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

SALILAPORN NUANKAEW ◽

SATINEE SUETRONG ◽

TUKSADON WUTIKHUN ◽

UMPAWA PINRUAN

Keyword(s):

Sequence Data ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Lateral View ◽

Lsu Rdna ◽

Molecular Evidence ◽

Rdna Its ◽

The Family ◽

Southern Thailand ◽

Peripheral Cells

A new species of a hyphomycetous fungus, Hermatomyces trangensis, was collected during an investigation of the diversity of palm fungi in Na Yong district, Trang province, Southern Thailand, and is introduced in this paper based on morphological and molecular evidence. The fungus is characterized by the production of only one type of conidia, globose or subglobose in front view, broadly ellipsoidal or oblong in lateral view, with dark brown to black central cells and subhyaline to pale brown peripheral cells and sporulation in culture. Phylogenetic analyses of combined SSU rDNA, LSU rDNA, ITS rDNA, TEF1 and RPB2 sequence data using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference approaches placed the fungus within a strongly supported clade with other Hermatomyces species within the family Hermatomycetaceae (Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes). Morphologically, it is similar to other taxa with only one type of conidia such as H. sphaericus, H. sphaericoides and H. verrucosus but molecular data clearly support H. trangensis as distinct from those species.

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Molecular phylogenetic study of the tribe Tropidieae (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae) with taxonomic and evolutionary implications

PhytoKeys ◽

10.3897/phytokeys.140.46842 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 140 ◽

pp. 11-22

Author(s):

Izai A. B. Sabino Kikuchi ◽

Paul J. A. Keβler ◽

André Schuiteman ◽

Jin Murata ◽

Tetsuo Ohi-Toma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ribosomal Dna ◽

Phylogenetic Relationships ◽

Phylogenetic Trees ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Nuclear Ribosomal Dna ◽

Phylogenetic Study ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic Study ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

High Support ◽

Photosynthetic Ability

The orchid tribe Tropidieae comprises three genera, Tropidia, Corymborkis and Kalimantanorchis. There are three fully mycoheterotrophic species within Tropidieae: Tropidia saprophytica, T. connata and Kalimantanorchis nagamasui. A previous phylogenetic study of K. nagamasui, based only on plastid matK data, placed K. nagamasui outside the clade of Tropidia and Corymborkis without support. In this study, we performed phylogenetic analyses using a nuclear ribosomal DNA spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2), a low-copy nuclear coding gene (Xdh) and a mitochondrial intron (nad1b-c intron) to study the phylogenetic relationships within Tropidieae. We included six photosynthetic and all three fully mycoheterotrophic Tropidieae species. The resulting phylogenetic trees placed these fully mycoheterotrophic species inside the Tropidia clade with high support. In our trees, these three species do not form a monophyletic group together, because the photosynthetic T. graminea is nested amongst them. Our results also suggest that the loss of photosynthetic ability occurred at least twice in Tropidia.

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Evidence from the resurrected family Polyrhabdinidae Kamm, 1922 (Apicomplexa: Gregarinomorpha) supports the epimerite, an attachment organelle, as a major eugregarine innovation

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.11912 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. e11912

Author(s):

Gita G. Paskerova ◽

Tatiana S. Miroliubova ◽

Andrea Valigurová ◽

Jan Janouškovec ◽

Magdaléna Kováčiková ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Light Microscopy ◽

Dna Sequences ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Strong Support ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Lsu Rdna ◽

The Family ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

And Function

Background Gregarines are a major group of apicomplexan parasites of invertebrates. The gregarine classification is largely incomplete because it relies primarily on light microscopy, while electron microscopy and molecular data in the group are fragmentary and often do not overlap. A key characteristic in gregarine taxonomy is the structure and function of their attachment organelles (AOs). AOs have been commonly classified as “mucrons” or “epimerites” based on their association with other cellular traits such as septation. An alternative proposal focused on the AOs structure, functional role, and developmental fate has recently restricted the terms “mucron” to archigregarines and “epimerite” to eugregarines. Methods Light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy, molecular phylogenetic analyses of ribosomal RNA genes. Results We obtained the first data on fine morphology of aseptate eugregarines Polyrhabdina pygospionis and Polyrhabdina cf. spionis, the type species. We demonstrate that their AOs differ from the mucron in archigregarines and represent an epimerite structurally resembling that in other eugregarines examined using electron microscopy. We then used the concatenated ribosomal operon DNA sequences (SSU, 5.8S, and LSU rDNA) of P. pygospionis to explore the phylogeny of eugregarines with a resolution superior to SSU rDNA alone. The obtained phylogenies show that the Polyrhabdina clade represents an independent, deep-branching family in the Ancoroidea clade within eugregarines. Combined, these results lend strong support to the hypothesis that the epimerite is a synapomorphic innovation of eugregarines. Based on these findings, we resurrect the family Polyrhabdinidae Kamm, 1922 and erect and diagnose the family Trollidiidae fam. n. within the superfamily Ancoroidea Simdyanov et al., 2017. Additionally, we re-describe the characteristics of P. pygospionis, emend the diagnoses of the genus Polyrhabdina, the family Polyrhabdinidae, and the superfamily Ancoroidea.

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Species recognition and phylogeny of Thelotrema species in Australia (Ostropales, Ascomycota)

Australian Systematic Botany ◽

10.1071/sb07049 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 217 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

H. Thorsten Lumbsch ◽

Armin Mangold ◽

María P. Martín ◽

John A. Elix

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Trees ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Species Recognition ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Morphological Evidence ◽

Morphological Studies ◽

Morphological Differences ◽

Crustose Lichens

Species circumscriptions based on morphological data are difficult in crustose lichens with limited characters as they often show remarkable variability. An example is the genus Thelotrema s.str., a speciose genus of mostly tropical lichens. Morphological studies on Australian Thelotrema spp. were accompanied by a phylogenetic analysis of mt SSU rDNA sequence data of 19 species, including 25 newly obtained sequences. We performed maximum parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of 50 samples, representing 25 species. Our results indicate that more species need to be accepted in Thelotrema than previously thought. Subtle morphological differences were found to be associated with independent lineages in the phylogenetic trees. Furthermore, monophyly of Thelotrema s.str. is strongly supported. On the basis of the corroboration of morphological evidence by molecular data, the new species Thelotrema capetribulense Mangold, T. crespoae Mangold, Lumbsch & Elix, T. oleosum Mangold, and T. pseudosubtile Mangold are described. The new combinations Chapsa phlyctidioides (Müll.Arg.) Mangold and Thelotrema defossum (Müll.Arg.) Mangold are proposed.

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